Gdańsk Christmas market voted best in Europe
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Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
The Christmas market in the Polish city of Gdańsk has been chosen as the best in Europe in an online vote involving over 750,000 people.
The annual contest has been run since 2009 by European Best Destinations, which promotes tourism and culture across the continent. This year, Gdańsk came top, with over 92,000 votes, almost 12% of the total cast.
The organisation described Gdańsk’s Christmas market as a “hub of artistic performances and charming corners, seamlessly blending theatre, dance, carols, and the crafting of festive ornaments” in the city’s “picturesque, enchanting streets”.
The Christmas Market in #Gdansk is officially the BEST in Europe!
Gdańsk won the Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2025 competition! #VisitPoland #EuropeanBestChristmasMarketshttps://t.co/mRMFIUSv4f pic.twitter.com/1QHXnsTWrh
— Poland Tourism (@PolandtravelUS) November 27, 2024
The accolade will be celebrated on 3 December with a special event on Gdańsk’s Coal Market Square (Targ Węglowy), the heart of the fair, featuring a show of extreme acrobatics.
“Thank you for every vote you cast and for creating this magical atmosphere with us. This is our joint victory,” declared the city’s mayor, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz
Held in the city’s historic centre, which dates back to the Middle Ages and was reconstructed after World War Two, the market is renowned for its mulled wine, local delicacies, artistic performances, and artisan stalls.
After opening this year on 22 November, it will continue welcoming visitors until 23 December.
Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy oficjalnie otwarty! Teraz w okolicach Targu Węglowego możecie poczuć magię zbliżających się Świąt 🎄 Wpadajcie codziennie do 23.12 🗓️ Pamiętajcie też, że do 27.11 codziennie możecie oddawać głos na #Gdansk w plebiscycie na najlepszy jarmark świąteczny ➡️… pic.twitter.com/zRDmOSijtI
— Miasto Gdańsk (@gdansk) November 23, 2024
Visitors to the market can explore Santa’s Corner, an artistic nook, the Venetian carousel, and an angelic corner illuminated with dazzling lights, notes European Best Destinations.
One standout attraction is the talking moose, Lucek, whose witty banter and holiday spirit have made him a favourite among tourists.
In this year’s voting, second place was taken by the Christmas market in Craiova, Romania, which received over 90,000 votes, followed by Geneva in Switzerland and Riga in Latvia.
Last year, in a separate ranking, the Christmas market in Kraków, Poland’s second biggest city, was also declared Europe’s best
Kraków’s Christmas market has been named as Europe’s best in a new ranking.
Two other Polish cities, Wrocław and Poznań, also appeared in the top ten, making Poland the only country to feature three times https://t.co/RfvWknaBGi
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) November 13, 2023
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: amberexpo/gdansk.pl
Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.
