Christmas in Poland: 7 Reasons to plan a winter trip to Poland

With people booking Christmas holidays in various popular European destinations, Poland may not pop up as an obvious holiday destination. Poland can surprise as a perfect winter holiday destination and has a lot to offer for a weekend getaway, a skiing trip, or a gastronomic escapade. Poland is slowly climbing the overall charts of popularity as a tourist destination and it needs all the attention even in winters. Here are 7 reasons why you should consider Christmas in Poland.

Snow: Because it makes everything look beautiful

When the Polish cities deck up the streets for Christmas it looks straight out of a Hollywood movie – the right amount of magic, Christmas is supposed to have. The freshly fallen snow leads to a special atmosphere in the festivities and a ‘white Christmas’ is almost guaranteed in Poland. Make the most of the festivities by enjoying Christmas in Poland.

Fewer crowd = More fun

Unlike summer when Poland is popular as a tourist destination, winter will have fewer tourists and more locals in the churches, markets and forts. It is a great opportunity to mingle with the Polish locals and get to know more stories about the place.

Poles are extremely friendly and will go out of the way to help you, even if they cannot speak English. Their hospitality is flawless.

Christmas markets of Poland are worth taking the trip for!

With cute fairy-lit huts, stalls selling everything from Pierogi to mulled wine, there is a lot of festive entertainment including carol singing in traditional attire, art performances, orchestra sessions etc. Every big square in Polish cities is turned into a Christmas market from the first week of December. They are the one-stop destination for all the festive frolic and a place to stock up on the Christmas candies and last-minute gifts for family and friends.

Most Christmas markets in Poland are located at the popular city squares, a part of which is turned into pop-up ice rinks. A fairy light canopy, musicians playing Polish Christmas carols and Polish food, will make you get your skates on and roll over the ice. If skating is not your thing, simply stand on the sidelines and watch the enthusiasts have fun while sipping on the hot chocolate or kawa (Polish coffee with milk).

If you are spending Christmas in Krakow, you will notice cribs featuring the city’s beautiful baroque and gothic buildings and are called ‘Szopki’.  The Krakow Nativity Cribs Exhibition also known as Christmas Creche Contest, is a contest which takes place across the months of December and January. It showcases local talent wherein artists exhibit art and religious cribs around Krakow Old Town Square.

The details and use of colours of these cribs are mindblowing. The scenes can get as big as two meters by three meters and feature intricate details and stunning shades.

Polish food in Christmas

There will be no dearth of delicious food in the markets as well as malls or train stations. Restaurants and stalls will put their Christmas menu up and visitors can indulge in Polish as well as global cuisine. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, fret not as there plenty of options to choose from. Even Polish cuisine has some delicious vegetarian dishes to try! Some of the famous Polish worth trying are Pierogi, Bigos, Rosół, Gołąbki, Placki ziemniaczane, Łazanki, Czarnina, Zurek, Grochowka, Zupa pomidorowa.

Christmas dinner in Poland is special and traditional which is looked forward by the families spending this day together. Polish Christmas Wafer Tradition goes back to a long time wherein the entire family will gather around the table with the opłatek. The “oplatek” is a thin wafer, made of flour and water.

The ritual generally starts with the eldest member of the family by breaking off a piece of the wafer and passing it to another family member with a blessing. The wafer gets passed to all family members and each member gets blessed by one another. The ritual is done to express love and forgiveness for each member of the family.

Grzaniec Galicyjski – Polish drink in Christmas

Mulled wine locally also known as Grzaniec Galicyjski and otherwise popular as Glühwein or Glögg is a spiced warm wine. I never knew wine could be served hot and spicing it up could make up for a such a comforting drink in the cold weather. There are many food stalls serving the mulled wine as you go around the city exploring Christmas markets. If this doesn’t convince you to plan Christmas in Poland, I don’t know what will!

Festive architecture

Every possible fort and public buildings wear a festive look and will give the feeling of ‘right out of the fairy tale’. Polish take Christmas very seriously and museums, churches, train stations and even street light poles will make sure there is a celebration in the air.

Affordability

There is definitely value for money if you travel to Poland, as compared to other European countries. Grocery stores, restaurants and public transportation is cheaper than most other European countries! With a low tourist season in winters, the hotels also have great deals and weekend parties.

The Polish złoty is the currency of Poland. Some quick conversion as of November 2020:

1 złoty = 19.6 Indian rupees

1 Euro = 4.4 złoty

Affordable accommodation options in 5 major cities of Poland:

1) Warsaw: Warsaw Downtown Hostel, Globetrotter Hostel 

2) Kraków: Bubble Hostel, Green Hostel 

3) Wrocław: Wroclov Hostel, Big city Hostel 

4) Katowice: Hostel Katowice Centrum, W Hostel

5) Gdańsk: Grand Hostel, Hostel 22 

Christmas Shopping in Poland 

Whether you are shopping for winter wear, decorations or chimes for the Christmas tree, the Christmas markets and malls have beautiful designs and discounts. Christmas ornaments in Poland are everyone’s favourite and locals visit the Christmas markets for picking it up. The market is full of handmade items that will make for a perfect souvenir. You can pick up handmade plates, jewellery made of gold, silver and amber, ceramic figurines, wooden cutlery like spoons, forks, plates, and serving dishes.

Poland is also famous for its Bolesławiec Pottery and you can pick up something for your kitchen or showcase.

Weather in Poland at Christmas

The weather in Poland around Christmas is snowy with rain and chilly winds, but a trip to Krakow or Warsaw in December is worth it just to witness the Christmas celebrations.  The average daily temperature hovers around -1°C, which may go down to much below freezing, averaging -3°C.

While it is an extremely festive atmosphere and the lack of tourists make it even more intimate, the daylight lasts only till 3:30 – 4 pm and gives a small window to explore the country.

What to pack for Winter trip to Poland

Layers, layers and layers! Visitors need warm clothes like thermals, cardigans, sweaters, warm pants and warm boots.  make sure to carry boots/shoes which keep feet warm and are comfortable to walk for a long distance without getting wet in the rain and snow. Mufflers, woollen hat, gloves and scarf are also must to protect yourself from the cold air.

Sustainable tips for Christmas in Poland

• Though Uber cabs are available and cheap, use the extremely efficient public transport which ensures last-mile connectivity.
• Try the local items at streets, rather than going to the chain restaurants. It gives a fair chance of earning for the locals.
• Poland heavily relies on coal energy and has huge power plants all over the country. Switch off the electric device if not required.
• Do not litter in market squares. Dispose of plastics in the designated waste bins.

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