Easter Weekend in Krakow

Thinking of going to Krakow over the Easter weekend? This is the post for you!

When is the Easter Market in Krakow?

The market this year will run from April 10 until April 21st 2035. The general rules are it will open 10 to 14 days before Easter Sunday and will finish on Easter Monday.

Easter in Krakow!

Easter in Krakow is no ordinary festivity — it’s a grander spectacle than Christmas itself! However, travellers should take heed: from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, Krakow transforms. The lively bars and bustling restaurants may turn a bit more serene as locals retreat to celebrate with their families, although you won't actually notice this much on the main square. However, don’t even think about planning any travel escapades, especially on Easter Sunday, as only the most skeletal schedules will be in effect—if anything runs at all. And as for attractions, bars, and restaurants? Their opening times may well be affected, so be sure to check these out.

Oscypek smoked mountain cheese on sale in the Easter market

Kraków Easter Market

However, don't let this festive transformation deter you. The fabulous Easter market on the main square is every bit as charming as its Christmas counterpart. The weather might even treat you to a delightful touch of spring warmth, and shaking off the winter blues definitely calls for a celebration. If you're a fan of decking the halls at Christmas, you'll revel in exploring the stalls for Easter treasures, including hand crafted bunnies, Easter pottery, painted pisanki eggs, lamb shaped bread and so much more to welcome the season in style.

Easter bunnies and trinkets for sale in Krakow's Easter Market

Easter baskets and decorations in Krakow's Easter market

Easter market and Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow

Giant Easter egg, Easter market and Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow

Easter Market goodies

Easter traditions in Poland

Traditionally, the festival begins with Palm Sunday, and you'll get to see the locals in action, buying beautiful, hand-woven palms crafted from dried flowers and plants. These intricate creations are then brought to church for a blessing before they are proudly displayed at home as festive decorations. It's a sight that captures the essence of the season's spirit and showcases both the importance of tradition and devotion of the local people.

Decorating your home for Easter in Poland

Easter decorations

The focus then moves onto Good Friday which again involves a visit to a church and fasting which involves only two meals and absolutely no meat.

Easter baskets

On Easter Saturday you will witness everyone – man, woman, child – strolling to church carrying a traditional woven basket (święconka). If you happen to be on the main square outside St Mary's Basilica around noon, you can watch the quaint communal tradition of the blessing of a myriad of baskets laid out on tables.

Easter basket blessing outside St Mary's Basilica

Each basket brims with festive goodies: bread, eggs, ham, sausages, cake, salt, and a zesty piece of horseradish—all waiting to be blessed by the priest. Every item carries deep symbolic meaning: bread represents the body of Christ, eggs and meat signify new life, salt wards off evil spirits, cake endows you with the skills to tackle the coming year, and horseradish imbues physical strength.

You might even spot enthusiastic children toting a pouch of cat food in their little baskets—ensuring the family pet can partake in the Easter blessings!

On a more solemn note, a visit to a church or chapel unveils the “Grave of Jesus”—an often life-sized depiction of Christ lying in repose, surrounded by flowers and candles, serving as a poignant reminder of the sacred holiday.

Painted eggs feature prominently and their significance goes back to pagan times. They are known as pisanki eggs and symbolise fertility and rebirth. You can find out more about this fascinating tradition here.

Pisanski eggs at the Easter market in Krakow

Painted pisanki eggs at the Easter market

Easter Sunday in Krakow is the pinnacle of the "Great Week" of celebrations, and it's all about family and feasting. Families indulge in the delights from their blessed Easter baskets, which include żurek (a tangy fermented rye soup) and mazurek (a beautifully decorated pie). You'll also see the return of the painted pisanki eggs, and the table will be adorned with a doughy lamb, symbolising the resurrection of Christ.

Easter Monday is a public holiday in Poland, and the festivities take a turn for the joyous and playful. It's time for "Śmigus-Dyngus," a day dedicated to drenching each other with water—buckets, water pistols, you name it. Be warned, tourists are fair game for a good soaking!

Krakow is definitely is the place to be on Easter Monday, as it hosts the lively Emaus fair. Head over to Zwierzyniec to the convent of St. Norbert's Premonstratensian Order, also known as the Convent of the Norbertine Sisters, at ul. Kościuszki 88, Salwator. Here you'll find stalls overflowing with clay bells (to ward off evil spirits), model birds (symbolising souls), and plenty of trinkets for kids. Be prepared for a total festive overload of kiddie treasures though!

The fun doesn't stop there though. Easter Tuesday brings even more excitement in Krakow. The traditions shift to the Podgórze area of the city, where the Krakus Mound and nearby St. Benedict's Church on Lasota Hill become the focal points for the Rekawka Festival. This centuries-old tradition, rooted in pagan rituals honoring the dead, has been revived as a medieval festival complete with a bonfire, stalls, and games. The name "Rekawka" (Sleeve Festival) comes from the legend that noblemen and peasants filled their sleeves with soil to create the artificial mountain now known as Krakus Mound.

This event is a must-visit, as the view from the top of the mound offers a breath taking panorama of the city.