December in Kraków with your team — ideas for a company outing and Christmas dinner
December is the easiest month for a team outing in Kraków, because the city prepares half of the programme for you. The Christmas Market fills the Main Square, nativity scenes appear at the Mickiewicz monument, ice rinks open for the season, and the whole Old Town can be covered on foot in a single afternoon. Below you will find ideas for a team day out, practical dates and a sample plan that ends with a Christmas dinner.
When should you plan a December team outing?
As early as possible — December Thursdays and Fridays are the first to disappear from restaurant and venue calendars. Book in October and you choose the date; book in December and you take what is left, usually a Monday or a Tuesday.
It is also worth matching the date to the city’s calendar. According to the organiser, the Christmas Market on the Main Square will open on 27 November 2026 and run until early January, so it will be a backdrop for your walk throughout December. The nativity scene competition traditionally takes place on the first Thursday of December, and the ice rinks usually open in the first week of the month — the city and organisers announce exact dates in the autumn.
A guided walk through the Old Town and Kazimierz
This is the simplest item on the programme and the best one to start with: nobody has to prepare, and the team talks on the way, not only at the table. The Main Square — Wawel — Kazimierz route is 2–3 km, or two to three hours at a relaxed pace with stops.
The easiest way to find a licensed guide is through a guides’ association. The Kraków Tourist Guides Association has around 130 guides working in 16 languages — useful if your team is international. A full list of organisations is available in the city guides directory on krakow.travel. December afternoons are short, so start the walk before 3 pm and plan the final part under the Christmas lights.
The Christmas Market on the Main Square — how to visit with a group
On a weekday and before dark. At weekends the market can be so crowded that a group falls apart after the first few stalls. In 2025 there were 105 craft and food stalls on the square — a lot for one walk, so agree on a fixed meeting point, for example at the entrance to the Cloth Hall.
A simple format works well for groups: half an hour to wander between the stalls, a team photo by the Christmas tree, and on you go.
Kraków nativity scenes — the competition and the exhibition
The Kraków nativity scene (szopka krakowska) is one of the few things you will not see anywhere else. On competition day, makers set out their work on the steps of the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Main Square; in 2025 this ran from 10 am to 12 noon, followed by a procession around the square. The date of the 84th edition will be announced by the Museum of Kraków in the autumn.
If your outing falls later, the award-winning scenes can be seen at the post-competition exhibition in the Krzysztofory Palace at Main Square 35 — the previous edition ran from 8 December to 1 March.
Ice skating — team building on the move
For teams who would rather move than sightsee, an ice rink is the simplest idea for an hour together. The closest one to the Old Town is the rink by Galeria Krakowska on Jan Nowak-Jeziorański Square, a few minutes from the main railway station. Ice Park in Jordan Park next to the Błonia meadow is larger: in the 2025/26 season it had around 3,000 m² of ice, including a 360-metre ice trail, which comfortably fits a bigger group.
In previous seasons both rinks opened in early December; check opening hours and prices for winter 2026/27 before booking.
Rynek Underground — plan B for bad weather
December in Kraków can be wet, so it is good to have an indoor option. Rynek Underground lies literally beneath the Main Square, which makes it easy to fit between the market and dinner — a few metres underground and several centuries of the medieval city’s history.
Keep the opening hours in mind: last entry is 75 minutes before closing, and the museum is closed on the second Monday of each month. According to the museum’s schedule, in December Rynek Underground will be closed on 14, 24 and 25 December, and on Tuesdays it is open only until 3 pm.
Workshops and tastings — for teams who prefer to do things
More and more companies swap sightseeing for making something together. The most popular formats in Kraków are pierogi-making workshops, food walks around Kazimierz with tastings in several places, and escape rooms. Each usually takes two to three hours and combines well with dinner on the same day.
How to plan a December afternoon
Go from activity to the table, with dinner close to the last stop. A sample plan for a team of 20–40 people:
- 1:30 pm — meet in the centre, guided walk through the Main Square, Wawel and Kazimierz
- 4:00 pm — the Christmas Market on the Main Square, or Rynek Underground if it rains
- 5:00 pm — ice rink or a workshop for those who want it, free time for the rest
- 6:30 pm — the formal part: year-end summary and wishes
- 7:00 pm — Christmas dinner
Distances are the key. If the restaurant is within walking distance of the Main Square, nobody has to order taxis at December’s busiest time, and latecomers can easily join.
Where to have a team Christmas dinner in central Kraków?
Close to your walking route — ideally where the formal part fits too. MidTown Restaurant at the Best Western Plus Kraków Old Town, ul. Świętej Gertrudy 6, sits right by the Planty park, about 500 m from the Main Square. Its room holds up to 100 guests and is reserved exclusively for groups above roughly 20–30 people. The 2026 Christmas menu includes three served dinners and two cold buffets, from PLN 75 per person including VAT. The year-end summary can be held beforehand in the Parkowa conference room on the ground floor, and anyone arriving by car can leave it in the hotel car park in the very centre of the city.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kraków Christmas Market in 2026?
According to the organiser, the Christmas Market on the Main Square will open on 27 November 2026 and run until early January 2027. In 2025 the market ran from 28 November to 1 January and had 105 craft and food stalls.
When is the Kraków nativity scene competition?
Traditionally on the first Thursday of December, on the steps of the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Main Square. The date of the 84th edition will be announced by the Museum of Kraków. The award-winning scenes can then be seen at the post-competition exhibition in the Krzysztofory Palace, usually until late February or early March.
What can a company group do in Kraków in December?
The most popular ideas are a guided walk through the Old Town and Kazimierz, a visit to the Christmas Market on the Main Square, ice skating, Rynek Underground, and pierogi-making workshops or a food walk around Kazimierz. All of them fit into one afternoon that ends with a Christmas dinner in the centre.
How far in advance should you book a company Christmas party in Kraków?
Ideally in September or October. December Thursdays and Fridays at restaurants and venues in the centre are booked first, and late enquiries are usually left with the start of the week.
Where in central Kraków can you host a Christmas party for 50 people?
For a group of this size, look for a private room within walking distance of the Main Square. MidTown Restaurant at ul. Świętej Gertrudy 6, about 500 m from the Main Square, has a room for up to 100 guests, reserved exclusively for groups above roughly 20–30 people, and a Christmas menu from PLN 75 per person including VAT.