Kraków Christmas Market food: some of the best dishes to try

It’s practically impossible to visit the Kraków Christmas Market without becoming infused with the festive spirit and wanting to eat everything in sight. Below, we’ve made a list of the deliciousness that is Kraków Christmas Market food. 

One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive at the Kraków Christmas Market are piles of Poland’s signature smoked cheese: Oscypek. Baked in the open and served with a generous dollop of cranberry jam, these artfully carved cheeses are just begging to be taken home and turned into a toasted sandwich.

Chocolate may be an integral part of any festive celebration but the vendors in the market still like to get inventive. Here you’ll find chocolate in every form, from bars to cotton reels to hacksaws. There’s even a special kind of bright pink, lavender-covered ‘chocolate’ bar made out of chestnuts which is far too pretty to eat. If you want to explore Poland’s sweet treats beyond the Christmas markets, consider renting a car in Kraków so you can explore more of the country's confectionery.

When it comes to trying out Kraków Christmas Market food, the city’s jam should certainly feature on your list. After all, it’s a long-held truth that no matter how good something is, it can always be improved with jam – even smoky Oscypek. You’ll find stall after stall serving vibrantly delicious pots of jam. Ranging from tart cranberry and blood-orange marmalade through peach and strawberry preserves, to the rose or prune jam that fills those mouthwatering pączki (doughnuts).

The freshly baked wheels of sourdough bread at the market are responsible for the truly gigantic sandwiches you will see throughout the Kraków Christmas Markets. Freshly sliced, grilled and then topped with heavily seasoned roast lamb and beef, these sandwiches are sure to get your mouth watering.

Kielbasa (or Polish sausage) is undoubtedly one of the best foods in Kraków to try out. Smoked and cured beforehand and then cooked on outdoor barbecues, the sausages on offer come from all over Poland and bring unique regional flavours to the bustling city square. Try the kiełbaski myśliwska (hunter’s sausage), a smoked pork sausage with crushed juniper berries or the juicy kiełbasa czosnkowa (garlic sausage).

The jewel-like hard candy sold at the Kraków Christmas Market comes both in traditional and non-traditional forms. It’s a paradise for shoppers with a sweet tooth. Even those who opt for savoury snacks might struggle to withstand the lure of these hand-painted sweet treats.

Stalls selling candied nuts are dotted around the market and can usually be recognised by the long queues. Follow the heavenly smell and get your almonds, peanuts and chestnuts fresh out of a roasting pan or pre-packaged to offer as a gift.

Pork knuckle – or golonka as it’s known to the locals – is another delicious dish to try on your festive adventure. Typically, pork knuckle is flavourful, tender and succulently smoky. You might find this snack paired with thinly sliced potatoes, but it’s tasty enough by itself.

While this technically isn’t a food, it still had to make a feature on the list. The recipe for the Kraków Market mulled wine is a closely guarded secret but you can expect notes of cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Served hot from a booth designed to look like a giant barrel, this mulled wine perfectly compliments an evening spent admiring the market light displays.