Winter in Gdańsk has taken on a magical glow, and the heart of the city has begun to beat to a Christmas rhythm. The opening of the Christmas Market 2024 on Friday began the season that residents and tourists had been waiting for. Targ Węglowy, ul. Bogusławskiego, ul. Tkacka, Zbrojownia Sztuki and Zespół Przedbramia have turned into a colourful space full of joy, where one of the most beautiful pre-Christmas traditions in Gdańsk takes place. On Saturday, 23 November, the Fairytale Parade and the Opening Ceremony officially inaugurated this special event, inviting everyone to celebrate the magic of the coming Christmas together.
On Friday, 22 November, Gdańsk gained a special Christmas atmosphere with the start of the Christmas Market 2024. From the very beginning the event drew residents and tourists, becoming one of the most important points in the city’s pre-Christmas calendar. At Targ Węglowy, on ul. Bogusławskiego and ul. Tkacka, and in Zbrojownia Sztuki and Zespół Przedbramia, there are 196 colourful stalls offering exceptional crafts, handicrafts and traditional Christmas products. Until 23 December, food lovers can taste dishes from 20 different cuisines of the world, while children and whole families can enjoy numerous attractions. The Market has opened its doors for 32 days, providing entertainment and joy to everyone who has come to feel the magic of the coming Christmas.
Although the Market’s wooden chalets opened for the first time on Friday, the official Opening Ceremony began on Saturday, 23 November, at 15:45. The main event of the day was launched by the Fairytale Opening Parade, an extraordinary start to a programme full of attractions. The parade, full of colourful characters and magical elements, set off from Zbrojownia Sztuki along ul. Tkacka, passed through the Market grounds and then reached the stage, where a mini show was held – the Intergenerational Tale. From the very first moments the audience could feel as if they were in a fairy tale, and the joyful atmosphere carried everyone into the magical world of Christmas.
After the mini show came the time for the official opening of the Christmas Market 2024 in Gdańsk.
– Welcome to Gdańsk, welcome to our residents and to the tourists visiting us. We declare our Gdańsk Christmas Market open. The Market has become firmly part of our Gdańsk tradition, and we always look forward eagerly to this day. Today’s ceremony begins a beautiful period of preparation for Christmas, which in our tradition is a special time, when we meet, when we draw closer to each other, when we are good to each other. I think it is also a period when we should look not only at our close family but also at other people and their needs – said Emilia Lodzińska, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk.
– I wish that we look at each other with just this kind of kindness. Not only at Christmas, but also every day, throughout the year – she adds.
Tastes of Pomerania Weekend
From Friday to Sunday, an event organised with the Samorząd Województwa Pomorskiego, Tastes of Pomerania, takes place in Zbrojownia Sztuki. It features 26 stalls with traditional, regional and organic Pomeranian products.
– The Market has been officially opened, and so it remains for me, on behalf of the Pomeranian regional government, to invite you to Zbrojownia. There we have prepared a very interesting offer, connected with the region, with our Pomerania. 26 stalls are waiting for you, where you can taste, sample and buy regional products that come from our region – said Adam Gawrylik, member of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
At the Market you can also find another stall with Pomeranian products from the National Support Centre for Agriculture – the branch in Pruszcz Gdański, where the #KupujŚwiadomie campaign is also promoted.
The partner of the event, the Energa Group, also contributed to the organisation of the Gdańsk Christmas Market. It is one of the three largest electricity suppliers in Poland. A socially responsible company that has supported events and institutions in Pomerania for many years.
– On behalf of the Energa Group, I would like to express great joy that we can be a partner of such a beautiful and extremely important event, which has special significance for the residents of Gdańsk. In this special place Christmas energy fills the air, combining tradition, joy and magic – may it warm us all throughout this magical time! In our opinion, the Gdańsk Christmas Market is the most beautiful Christmas market in Europe. That is why we encourage you to vote in the Best Christmas Markets competition, so that together we can show the world how special our city and region are – said Paweł Nowak, Vice-President of the Management Board of Energa Obrót.
This year, the Friend of the Gdańsk Christmas Market is Gdańska Infrastruktura Wodociągowo-Kanalizacyjna.
– On the occasion of our 20th anniversary, we decided to support this wonderful event, which brings together all the people of Gdańsk and visitors, and warms us on cold days. I wish you a successful pre-Christmas and Christmas time – said Jacek Skarbek, President of GIWK.
The Market’s cultural programme
In the breaks between shopping in the trading or food and drink zones, it is worth pausing for a moment at the Gdańsk Christmas Market and spending time pleasantly at one of the points of the rich cultural programme. These include Rudolph’s Christmas Challenges, a special set of activities. You will be able to solve riddles, spin the wheel of fortune and take on the “Name That Tune” challenge in a Christmas edition. There will be no shortage of meetings with Santa Claus. Those who wish can take part in the Intergenerational Workshops: Decoupage Works, or in Christmas Karaoke. During meetings with the Museum of Gdańsk, we will learn what Christmas was like in post-war Gdańsk. Children, meanwhile, will set off on the Journeys of Santa and the Snow Queen. And Friday evening will be crowned with a Winter Dance Party. These are selected items from the programme for the next six days. The detailed programme can be found at https://bozonarodzeniowy.pl/program-dzienny/.
Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2025
We would like to remind you that voting in the Best Christmas Markets in Europe competition continues until 27 November. The only representative of Poland is the Gdańsk Christmas Market. Internet users decide which Christmas market becomes the best in Europe. The link to the competition is on the page: https://jb24.gda.pl, which redirects to the place where all the best European Christmas markets are listed. Every vote counts towards winning the competition and awarding the Gdańsk event the title of the best in Europe. Let’s vote for Gdańsk and win this Christmas together!
Permanent Market attractions
The AmberSky Christmas Travel Corner is one of the favourite places of the youngest visitors. This special place offers attractions such as: the VR simulator Santa Claus’s Magic Sleigh, the Gdańsk Carousel and the spinning coaster – Spinning Barrels. The Corner also includes the Observation Wheel on Ołowianka.
At Targ Węglowy, visitors will also find the Amber Corner – an exceptional exhibition, “Treasure Box of the Future / Kapsuła Przyszłości”, which shows visitors a modern form of amber that can make a great Christmas gift.
In the very heart of Targ Węglowy stands a giant present that visitors can walk into to create a special family photograph. The GPEC Group, together with the Fundacja Hospicyjna and AMBEREXPO, prepared this magical place full of Christmas warmth in order to help those most in need. The photo can be personalised with a heartfelt message to loved ones, and the whole thing framed in a beautiful Christmas frame. The proceeds from this initiative will support the beneficiaries of the Fundacja Hospicyjna. Because this Christmas, the magic of helping is what counts.
It is worth recalling that, as is traditional, the organisers of the Gdańsk Christmas Market will also donate support to the Fundacja Hospicyjna from part of the proceeds from the sale of Market mugs, which this year are available in two versions – traditional and modern.
Stalls open to visitors:
Sunday – Thursday 12:00–20:00
Friday – Saturday 12:00–21:00
Christmas Market – 22 November – 23 December
Targ Węglowy, ul. Bogusławskiego, ul. Tkacka, Wielka Zbrojownia, Zespół Przedbramia
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