The Gdańsk Christmas Market opens on 21 November – the event that last year won the title of Best Christmas Market in Europe in the prestigious Best Christmas Markets in Europe competition! This historic victory is a source of pride and confirmation that Gdańsk is constantly developing and that the Market attracts more and more guests from Poland and abroad.
Following the victory in the Best Christmas Markets in Europe competition and in response to growing interest, this year’s Christmas Market is expanding and will cover the whole of ul. Bogusławskiego, which has gained new container buildings themed after the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre.
– Not only is this the first time our market has grown so much, but let me remind you that it is also the best Christmas market in Europe. We are very happy about that. When it gets dark earlier outside, we look forward even more to the beautiful lights and the atmosphere we create together. On Friday 21 November we start the Market, and the official opening will take place a day later in the afternoon, with a festive parade – says Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk.
– Today it is hard to believe how many doubts there once were about whether the Christmas Market would catch on, whether such a tradition fits Gdańsk at all. And yet – it is we, the women and men of Gdańsk, who co-create this market and its atmosphere. This year we have 222 stalls, of which almost 40 per cent are exhibitors from our city. Last year more than a million people visited us, which is a huge success. And although I invite everyone to enjoy the attractions, the flavours and the Christmas inspirations, I also ask: let us respect one another. Let us also use the excellent public transport. Trams will run more often, especially at weekends. It is really worth using them to enjoy the market to the full, instead of looking for a parking space. See you at the opening of our Christmas market, the best in Europe – adds the Mayor of Gdańsk.
Several new features have been prepared this year. On the extended ul. Bogusławskiego the Market’s food containers have already appeared, as well as the new Shakespeare’s Corner with the balcony of Romeo and Juliet – a nod to the neighbouring Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre. The traditional Advent Gate is also there, and Santa’s Corner has found a new space. Another Insta spot will appear too – the Shakespeare Gate. Part of the new Market space is also decorated with an illuminated roof, of which there are now four across the event. For the first time, the park on ul. Zbytki will also be lit up. The Christmas Market returns to Dziedziniec Forum Gdańsk after two years. Christmas infrastructure will be located there as well.
“First of all, I thank the Mayor and the whole team working on the Market. This year, for the first time, we are expanding further into the surrounding Śródmieście district, including the area around ul. Bogusławskiego and ul. Zbytki, and the inspiration for this was our cooperation with the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre. You could say we are creating two markets in one – a traditional one and a more
theatrical one. We put a lot of energy into dialogue with residents, because although we cause some disruption, at the same time we are building a shared, friendly atmosphere. Residents increasingly say that they like the Market – and that is an important sign for us that we are heading in the right direction. We also dream of preparing a sister cities market in the future, similar to the one Nuremberg has organised for years,” says Andrzej Bojanowski, President of Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie, the organiser of the Gdańsk Christmas Market.
Across the whole Market you will be able to try dishes from as many as 22 world cuisines – from traditional Polish, through exotic Sri Lankan cuisine, to Wagyu steak sandwiches. There will also be Christmas attractions for families: the AmberSky Christmas Travel Corner, with carousels, a Santa’s sleigh flight simulator and a new feature – a VR paragliding flight.
In addition, visitors can look forward to more than 100 programme events – from carol concerts, through children’s shows, to silent disco and dance parties. You can find them on the Main Stage, in Zbrojownia, in Katownia and at the aforementioned Advent Gate.
“It is worth adding that 62 per cent of the Market’s exhibitors come from Pomerania. This builds regional identity and shows that the Market is to a large extent our own regional, Pomeranian one,” says Adam Gawrylik, member of the board of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. “I would like to invite you to one more event. For the second time, as the Pomeranian regional government, we are presenting a group of stalls that shape our region and build our identity. These are regional products of the highest quality, often made to traditional recipes. I invite you to Tastes of Pomerania, which will take place in Zbrojownia between 21 and 23 November, from 12:00 until the evening.”
An important change this year is the introduction of a deposit system with special regional cups from Lubiana. This ecological solution will reduce waste and help keep the city clean. The deposit per cup will be PLN 30. The cups will be distributed at the chalets selling mulled wine, and returned at two special containers located on the Market grounds. This year the system will be tested, so that from the next editions it can cover all outlets serving mulled drinks.
To ensure comfort and safety for visitors, changes have been made to traffic arrangements on ul. Bogusławskiego – at weekends the street will be closed to vehicles, and nearby residents who held permits to park by the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre can use free parking spaces on ul. Rzeźnicka – after first contacting the Market Office.
ZTM will increase the frequency of trams between 6 and 21 December, so that everyone can reach the Market conveniently. The frequency of lines 6 and 10 on Saturdays and Sundays between 12:00 and 21:00 will be increased to a tram about every 10 minutes.
“The first changes to traffic arrangements were introduced during the assembly of the stalls. Ul. Bogusławskiego is one-way, and Targ Węglowy is closed to traffic. On Market weekends ul. Bogusławskiego will be closed completely, so we ask drivers to follow the signs and the instructions of the people directing traffic. We expect increased pedestrian traffic in the city centre – the crossing between Forum Gdańsk and the Market grounds will be supervised by ZTM staff, the Police and the City Guard. At the Groddecka interchange,
as last year, the left turn from al. Armii Krajowej towards ul. 3 Maja will be restricted to one lane, and traffic will be directed by Police patrols. We encourage you to use alternative car parks in the area of ul. Okopowa and the Piastowski interchange, because the car park at Forum Gdańsk fills up quickly. Up-to-date information will be available on the TRISTAR system boards and on mobile information boards,” says Agata Lewandowska, Director of the Road Traffic Management Office.
Celebrating and helping together
As is tradition, in the heart of Targ Węglowy a Christmas attraction from the GPEC Group will be waiting, prepared in cooperation with Fundacja Hospicyjna and AMBEREXPO. The proceeds from this initiative will support the people in the care of Fundacja Hospicyjna. The same will apply to the sale of the traditional collector’s Market mugs, which this year will be available in as many as four colours – part of the proceeds from their sale will go to Fundacja Hospicyjna.
“At Fundacja Hospicyjna we believe that the people in our care should have Christmas all year round – which is why every form of support matters so much to us. I am glad that, thanks to the City of Gdańsk, the GPEC Group and AMBEREXPO, we can be part of the Christmas Market. We will invite residents and guests to take Christmas photos, which will at the same time be a way of supporting our charity campaign. We will also have a stall with handicrafts made by our volunteers, and on 12 December we will invite you to the ‘Christmas Cauldron’, a music event combined with a collection for the people in our care. I encourage you to turn this magic of Christmas into the magic of helping,” says Agnieszka Paczkowska, President of Fundacja Hospicyjna.
We invite you to the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, 22 November at 16:00. The Market will run until 23 December.
We thank all the partners, sponsors and friends of the Market for their support and for co-creating this exceptional event. Together we celebrate success and grow for you!
See you at the Best Christmas Market in Europe!
