In depth · Christmas & New Year
Christmas in Warsaw: the tree on Castle Square, the markets and the Wigilia table
In Advent, Warsaw lights up: an almost thirty-metre tree on Castle Square, illuminations along the Royal Route, markets on the Old Town walls and by the Palace of Culture, and at home the meatless feast of Wigilia on Christmas Eve. From the Warsaw Tourism Office, checked 31 October 2026.
Updated October 2026
The tree and the illuminations
Every winter an almost thirty-metre Christmas tree stands on Castle Square, beside the Royal Castle, as a permanent part of the city’s Christmas illuminations; go for an evening walk to see the lights and decorations along the streets (Warsaw Tourism Office).
The Christmas markets
The Old Town Christmas market is on the Piotr Biegański Intermural Walkway, just off Castle Square, with stalls of handicrafts, traditional crafts, art, food and spiced mulled wine. By the Palace of Culture and Science, the city held its first Warsaw Christmas Market, a Christmas village, last season, and Highline Warsaw on the Varso Tower turned into a winter scene above the city. The 2026/27 dates are not yet published: check go2warsaw.pl before you go.
Skating by the Mermaid
On the Old Town Market Place, by the Mermaid, the ice rink opens at the beginning of December (Warsaw Tourism Office).
The Wigilia table
On Wigilia, 24 December, families across Poland, and in Warsaw, prepare a special dinner. Today it includes fish dishes such as carp, various types of herring, beetroot dishes, forest mushrooms and soured cabbage, with dried-fruit kompot to drink. Traditionally there should be many dishes, as many as twelve, and every one should be tried, out of respect for the fruits of the earth (Warsaw Tourism Office).
The old Warsaw menus were richer still: in 1860, the Warsaw cookery writer Lucyna Ćwierczakiewiczowa suggested almond soup, kale with caramelised chestnuts, and rice with saffron and chocolate.
Tasty gifts
Take home smoked goose and goose dripping, dried mushrooms and dried fruit for kompot, and E. Wedel’s chocolates and halva, especially ptasie mleczko, “bird’s milk”, and the hand-decorated wafer torciki (Warsaw Tourism Office).
Our advice
Go to Castle Square at dusk for the tree, walk the Royal Route for the lights, and end the evening on the 53rd floor of the Varso Tower. Book Christmas Eve dinner early: many restaurants close or serve a set Wigilia menu.
Questions and answers
When are the Warsaw Christmas markets in 2026?
The 2026/27 dates are not yet published; last season the Old Town market ran to 6 January. Check go2warsaw.pl.
What do Poles eat on Christmas Eve?
Wigilia: a meatless supper of carp and herring, beetroot dishes, forest mushrooms and soured cabbage, traditionally twelve dishes.
Sources: go2warsaw.pl (“Which Christmas market to visit in Warsaw”, “End-of-year treats”, “Royal Castle”), checked 31 October 2026. 2026/27 market dates to be added when published.