If you happen to visit Pomorskie in December, you should stop by Gdańsk for one of the most picturesque Christmas fairs in Europe.
There are many attractions waiting for you: delicious food, amazing handicraft, animals that talk like people, and even the opportunity to hop on Santa Claus’s sleigh. Christmas Fair in Gdańsk was officialy opened and will last until 1 January.
Delicious scents linger in the air: ginger, cinnamon, cloves, oranges, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. In combination with colourful stands, brimming with delicious food and artistic handicraft create an enchanting atmosphere. Discover special, Christmas alleys all accross the fair. Whenever you’ll go, there will be something interesting waiting for you. And if you get hungry, there’s plenty of food to choose from.
The most picturesque fair in Europe?
Gdańsk Christmas Fair is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe. Meticulously prepared colourful illuminations and design, combined with the architecture of the old town create a magical atmosphere. Gdańsk Fair, has been nominated as the only one from Poland for the “Best European Christmas Market 2020 ‘ award, organized by the European Best Destination.
Cuisine from around the world during Christmas fair in Gdańsk
Christmas fair in Gdańsk is a good time to try out different kinds of food. Here, you can enjoy Polish cuisine from different times and places. The offer is broad: home-made meats and sausages, different kinds of cheese from the south of Poland, classic bigos, blood sausage, sour rye soup, red beet soup, game meat, various kinds of honey, dumplings, and more.
The fair will also feature international cuisine: Ukrainian, Spanish, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Chinese, or from the Tatar people. The offer includes, among others: Chinese baozi, almonds in caramel, Alsatian flatbreads, roasted chestnuts, Spanish churros, waffles on a stick or Hungarian kürtőskalács. And to warm you up in chilly weather, we suggest beer with ginger or mulled wine with cloves and orange.
Crafts and handicrafts fair – artists meet in Gdańsk
There will be plenty of various gifts for your loved ones to choose from during the fair. Hand-painted glass bulbs, wooden toys and figurines of angels, folk nativity scenes, leather, amber jewellery and ceramics – selection is more than wide. Part of craft stands are located at Targ Węglowy (“the Coal Market”), but much richer selection will be available in the Great Armoury in Gdańsk from 29 November to 22 December.
When elk tells jokes
Gdańsk Christmas Fair has plenty of attractions in store for everyone. Watch out for Santa Claus himself, together with his elf helpers! Take part in various workshops, take a picture next to the Christmas tree, or kiss under a mistletoe. In the centre of the “Christmas town” at the Coal Market, a 5-metre advent gate has been built, which hides 24 windows full of surprises. Every day, from 1 to 24 December at 5 p.m. you will be able to discover one of the mysteries hiding behind each window.
One of the greatest attractions at the Coal Market, which has been very popular for a few years now, is a moose installed on the roof of one of the stands. The moose speaks to passers-by every few minutes. He tells jokes and reveals interesting facts about Gdańsk in several languages.
This year’s novelty is the Santa’s sleigh simulator, prepared in virtual reality technology. Accompanied by reindeer-robots, you will fly over different cities, and even visit the outer space. And if you really want to feel the Christmas spirit, enter the giant snow ball and take a picture in swirling snow. From 5 December, on the other hand, in Mariacka street, one of the windows will be displaying a nativity scene made of amber.
The list of all attractions is available on the official website of the fair: www.bozonarodzeniowy.gda.pl. Admission to some attractions is ticketed.