Christmas in Warsaw — Things to Do in December
A December guide to Warsaw: Christmas markets, light shows, fairs, illuminations, and festive events across the city.
December in Warsaw always begins with the same quiet question: Where to go? How to spend one of the most magical times of the year?
This year, the city feels a bit different — brighter and more expansive, I’d say. Familiar traditions return, but new places appear too, changing the rhythm of winter in the Polish capital.
Here is a curated look at what December looks like in Warsaw this year.
Above the city: Christmas Market in the clouds
Winter promises to impress with an experience above Warsaw — literally. Starting 1 December, the Highline Warsaw terrace on the 49th floor of the EU’s tallest building, Varso Tower, opens its doors for a new seasonal opportunity: a Christmas market suspended above the city.
A glowing garden in the sky, wrapped in lights, overlooking the city — hopefully covered with snow. Hot wine, seasonal snacks, and a panorama that feels almost unreal.
- When: 1 December 2025 – 31 January 2026
- Where: Varso Tower, Chmielna 69
- Tickets: from 45 PLN (online) / 75 PLN (on site)
Update (December 2): I haven’t visited the market yet, but after reviewing the first materials shared online, it doesn’t look as thoughtfully executed as expected. The concept felt promising, yet the result seems more like a commercial project than a festive experience. There appear to be only one or two stands with hot drinks and simple food (gofry, oscypek, sausage), with noticeably high prices — for example, winter tea or mulled wine at 40 PLN, and hot chocolate at 35 PLN.
The visual side also lacks the warmth and detail that usually make seasonal spots inviting. And honestly, it’s hard not to question whether the entry fee is worth it when the experience seems so limited. On foggy days, the view — one of the main attractions of a rooftop market — may not be visible at all.
The long-awaited Warsaw Christmas Market at Plac Defilad
For years, Warsaw dreamed of having a true Christmas Market — one that matched the scale of the city. This winter, it finally arrives.
Plac Defilad transforms into a festive village with 160 wooden cottages, Poland’s largest Ferris wheel, food, mulled wine, handicrafts, and even an open-air cinema. A place to enjoy the moment, stop for hot drinks, meet people, or simply feel the city settling into its holiday rhythm.
- When: 28 November 2025 – 1 January 2026
- Where: Plac Defilad 1
- Entry: free
- Open every day
Update (December 2): I visited the market on its first day and it was pretty nice. But now, based on what’s been shared online, it appears overcrowded — especially on weekends. A weekday visit may be a better option; otherwise, the experience can shift from festive to overwhelming. And that’s a pity, because most of us hope to enjoy Christmas markets in a relaxed weekend atmosphere — not while pushing through crowds or getting stuck in traffic.
Royal Castle illumination — “Glass Castle of Żeromski”
For a few days, the eastern facade of the Royal Castle — the side facing the Vistula — becomes a glowing stage. A multimedia projection — “Glass Castle of Żeromski” — lights up the building, weaving together the story of Stefan Żeromski, one of Poland’s most important writers, who lived here in his final years. The animation plays with shadow, rhythm, and fragments of architecture. (Projection repeats every 5 minutes)
- When: 12 – 14 December 2025 (17:00–22:00)
- Where: Royal Castle Gardens, Vistula side
- Entry: free
Winter Poster Fair
December brings back Poster Fair (Targi Plakatu), a winter fair gathering illustrators and graphic designers. It’s a place to meet artists, support their work directly, and find a gift that feels personal — posters, illustrations, prints, and more.
- When: 7 December 2025 (11:00–19:00)
- Where: Dom Towarowy Braci Jabłkowskich, Bracka 25
- Tickets: 12 PLN (on site)
ICHI — a Japanese Christmas Market
Another place for gift hunting. Cosy and full of quiet energy, ICHI brings the spirit of a traditional Japanese market to Warsaw. Created by a Japanese curator living in Poland, it’s a space of handmade objects, crafts, books, ceramics, textiles, flavours, and little treasures impossible to find anywhere else.
- When: 13 – 14 December 2025 (Sat 11:00–20:00, Sun 10:00–18:00)
- Where: Mysia 3
- Entry: free
Christmas lights on the streets
The most classical way to feel the Christmas spirit: walk. Start at Nowy Świat, continue through Krakowskie Przedmieście to Castle Square — and keep going into the Old and New Towns. Lights and decorations wrap the streets in a soft festive glow.
Neighbouring streets — Chmielna and Świętokrzyska — shine too.
Two light gardens
Royal Garden of Light — Wilanów: a glowing outdoor exhibition filled with lights, musical tunnels, and compositions inspired by King Jan III’s life — from love and diplomacy to war and return. A garden where history dissolves into colour.
- When: 18 October 2025 – 28 February 2026
- Where: Wilanów Palace Park
- Tickets: 25–55 PLN (children under 6: free)
- Open every day, closed 24 and 31 December
Magical Botanical: an immersive winter walk — a luminous journey through the four elements: air, water, fire, and earth, told through sculpture and light.
- When: until 15 February 2026
- Where: Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, Aleje Ujazdowskie 4
- Tickets: 35 PLN/47 PLN (reduced/normal)
- Closed on Wednesdays
Old Town Market Square & ice rink
Old Town Market Square in Warsaw. Photo: Warsawslook
The Old Town keeps its classic winter charm: hot beverages, food, decorations — and the ice rink in the market square, surrounded by colourful townhouses glowing under holiday lights. This is one of the most atmospheric corners of the city in December. While I’m personally not a big fan of the Barbican market, the one at the Old Town Market Square — small and cosy — feels much more attractive.
- When: 21 November 2025 – 6 January 2026 (Barbican market)
- Where: Barbican’s Miedzymurze (next to Sigismund’s Column)
- Entry: free
Ice rink:
- When: 3 December 2025 – 16 March 2026
- Where: Old Town Market Square
- Skate rental: 15 PLN / hour
It’s great to see new places emerging — and hopefully they will grow into a lasting tradition, making the season more festive and colourful. And maybe, with a bit of luck, the weather will add the final missing piece: the atmospheric snow that everyone secretly waits for at this time of year.
Sia P.
More about the Christmas Market at Plac Defilad in this article
