Having recently completed December 2018, 10-days of “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour, we can’t express enough excitement about this unique, small-group, holiday adventure in Poland. It truly was magical! We’re so ready to go next year! Are you ready to join us? We hope that after we’ll summarize and show you thru photos all the fun activities, dining and sightseeing included, you’ll be ready to GO!

Group photo by Warsaw’s Royal Castle giant Christmas tree

Our group of 16 from the USA and Australia, met up in Warsaw on December 6th, day one, which happened to be Saint Nicholaus Day. We started the day with city tour led by a local guide, easy stroll thru Christmas Market where we sipped mulled wine and began our Christmas shopping. Since one our guests celebrated her Birthday on December 6th, we’ve invited Santa to our Welcome Dinner at Ale Gloria restaurant to give her and the rest of guests gifts.

Santa ornament at Warsaw’s Christmas Market

On the second day of “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour in Warsaw, we all participated in a hands-on Polish “Wigilia” – Christmas Eve dinner – Polish cooking class and after toured the Warsaw Uprising Museum.  The “Wigilia” dishes we prepared included: traditional clear borscht with “uszka” – little dumplings filled with mushrooms, pierogi with sauerkraut and mushrooms, pikeperch with hard boiled, then chopped eggs and melted butter, sweet pierogi stuffed with prunes and hazelnuts mixed with honey and spices and herring with gingerbread and walnuts. Everything was delicious and so much fun to prepare together in four small teams as each team tackled one recipe.

Everyone busy making Christmas Eve – Polish Wigilia dinner – dishes during our cooking class in Warsaw

Joanna and Jacqueline proudly displaying their culinary talents making “uszka” – little dumplings served boiled with clear borscht – Smacznego! – Enjoy!

Group photo with our chef and instructor Gieno Mientkiewicz in Warsaw, Poland

Enjoying traditional Christmas Eve dinner dishes – Wigilia – we’ve prepared in Warsaw, Poland

Day three of “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” trip we spent in Poznan, in the Greater Poland region and about three hours drive west from Warsaw.  Upon arrival in Poznan, we toured this historic Polish city with a local guide and then visited Croissant Museum downtown and watched how St. Martin’s croissants are made and got to taste these delicious sweet treats this city is so famous for. But the highlight of being in Poznan was the beautiful Christmas Market, spread out from the Market Square all the way to Plac Niepodleglosci. In addition, our tour was scheduled to arrive in Poznan for the annual Ice Carving Festival. We got to watch the most spectacular ice sculptures being carved on a huge stage by very talented artists from all over the world. To finish up our day in Poznan, we dined at Ratuszova restaurant on the main Market Square and enjoyed delicious dinner with wine.

Christmas tree at Poznan’s Christmas Market

Ice sculptures of Poznan’s famous fighting billy goats

Mulled wine hall at Poznan’s Christmas Market

On day four we’ve explored beautiful Wroclaw on “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour. We visited Panorama Raclawicka, did a city tour with local guide, ate delicious lunch at Pod Fredra restaurant and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Wroclaw’s festive Christmas Market, our favorite!

Wroclaw’s Christmas Market at night

One of Wroclaw gnomes dressed up for Christmas

On day five we continued exploring Wroclaw. We walked around the Market Square and spectacular Christmas Market with our local guide, got introduced to new Wroclaw gnomes, shopped at Cepelia store and Hala Targowa indoor fresh food market, saw the UNESCO Centennial Hall and enjoyed dinner at Jadka restaurant.

Christmas tree at Wroclaw’s Christmas Market

Gingerbread hearts at Wroclaw’s Market Square

One of the many souvenirs from 2018 Wroclaw’s Christmas Markets

Wroclaw Christmas Market at night

On day six we arrived in Kraków on “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour. On the way to Krakow we visited Tyskie Brewery with beer tasting. Upon arrival in Krakow made a stop by the UNESCO Krakow Nativity Crèches – “SZOPKI” display at Celestat. After early dinner at our hotel we ventured to Krakow’s beautiful Christmas Market.

Our group touring Tyskie Brewery in Tychy, Poland

Tyskie beer Christmas tree – Wesolych Swiat! – Merry Christmas!

Enjoying Tyskie beer – Na zdrowie! – Cheers!

Christmas Market in Krakow, Poland

Christmas ornaments at the Krakow’s Christmas Market

Krakow’s Szopki – Creches – a Krakow’s tradition and now on UNESCO World Heritage List

Day seven of the “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour we’ve spent in Krakow in the morning and in the afternoon drove about 30 minutes north of Krakow, to a small, snow covered and picturesque town, Bablo, where we enjoyed lunch at a local inn and after attended Christmas ornaments decorating class. This was everyone’s favorite activity, very relaxing, full of fun and laughter and we all left with hand decorated Christmas ornament of our own design.

Our guests decorating Christmas ornaments with their own designs

Christmas ornaments decorating class for sure was a fun activity

Decorated ornaments on a drying rack

One of the many beautiful Christmas ornaments for sale at the factory store

Our guests turned out to be very talented as they showed off their painted ornaments

We’ve also joined on a factory tour to learn about the Christmas ornaments production process

On day eight we traveled to Zakopane – the Winter Capital of Poland – and spent all day there exploring this gorgeous mountain town. We did the city tour, had lunch at Sabala Restaurant, got a night view of Zakopane from Gubalowka Hill and shopped at the local outdoor market.

Christmas tree on main pedestrian street – Krupowki – in Zakopane

Local cheese “oscypki” for sale at outdoor fresh food market in Zakopane

Strolling thru Krupowki street in Zakopane before dark

Krupowki street at Christmastime in Zakopane, Poland

On day nine of “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour we’ve spent baking Christmas cookies in Krakow, then toured the UNESCO Wieliczka Salt Mine and finished the day with festive dinner at Wesele restaurant on Krakow’s Market Square with another stroll thru the local magical Christmas Market at night.

Christmas cookies baking class in Krakow, Poland

Gingerbread cookies ready to be decorated

Preparing blue icing to decorate our Christmas cookies

So many Christmas cookies, so little time to eat them all…

Everyone took a bag of Christmas cookies from Poland back home

Group photo with our chef Maciej Kopczynski and Christmas cookies gift bags

On day ten “The Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” tour sadly ended in Krakow. Those who stayed an extra day or two could continue enjoying Krakow’s Market Square and stroll thru Christmas Market, listen to live concerts and continue gift shop.

Krakow UNESCO Market Square is beautiful at any time of the year but especially at Christmastime!

Grodzka street leading to Krakow UNESCO Market Square at Christmastime

Live concerts at Krakow’s Christmas Market

We’ve scheduled next year’s “Magic of Christmas Markets in Poland” trip for December 5 – 14, 2019. Our 2019 tour will follow a similar, 10-days program to this year’s trip with stops at Christmas Markets in Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw and Krakow and a day trip to Zakopane, the Winter Capital of Poland.

The trip is filling up fast for 2019, so please visit www.PolandCulinaryVacations.com for details and to make your reservation(s) TODAY! We’d love to have you join us in Poland at Christmastime for fun holiday cooking, baking, dining, sightseeing and Christmas shopping with family and friends!

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia! – Merry Christmas!

Malgorzata (Sarna) Rose, is a native of Poland. Poland Culinary Vacations grew out of her love and passion for travel and everything Polish, including fine Polish cuisine, eventually blossoming into a first-class culinary travel company. While growing up in Poland, she experienced the great joy of cooking with family and friends. Using her grandmothers' recipes and fresh ingredients from their gardens, they prepared food for weddings, parties, and traditional holidays. Now, through Poland Culinary Vacations, she wants to share that experience with you, and show you the best of everyday Polish living: the special people and their hospitality, and the heritage and traditions unique to each region. Only a native can help you discover and fully experience the authentic Poland! Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.