Jelenia Góra lies just across the border beneath the Karkonosze Mountains, making it easy to head here for an Advent weekend combined with a trip to the mountains or a swim in thermal pools. The local Christmas market, however, doesn’t run throughout Advent but only for one December weekend.
If you plan your trip for 11 to 13 December 2026, or alternatively for the two preceding weekends at nearby Łomnica Palace, you’ll enjoy a weekend market with an accompanying programme. And if you’re looking for full-Advent markets, check out our overview where you’ll find Christmas markets in Poland all in one place.
Summary
- When: The city market in the centre runs 11–13 December 2026 (Friday to Sunday); markets at Łomnica Palace take place on weekends 28–29 November and 5–6 December 2026.
- Where: Plac Ratuszowy square in the centre of Jelenia Góra and the farm courtyard Folwark Pałacu Łomnica (approx. 8 km from the city centre).
- Opening hours: In Jelenia Góra on Friday 14:00–21:00, Saturday 10:00–21:00, and Sunday 10:00–19:00 (in Łomnica on weekends 11:00–17:00).
- Getting there: By car via Harrachov 162 km (approx. 2 h 30 min) with no Polish motorway tolls, or by direct FlixBus or train via Szklarska Poręba.
- Parking: The city centre has a paid parking zone (Strefa Płatnego Parkowania) from 8:30 to 18:30, with the first hour costing 4.00 zł (2025 rates).
- Where to stay: Within walking distance of the square (Hotel Jelonek centrum), near the thermal baths in Cieplice (Hotel Cieplice Medi & Spa), or below Sněžka mountain (Hotel Gołębiewski Karpacz).
- More: Combine your trip with a swim at Termy Cieplickie, a visit to Wang Church in Karpacz, or a drive to the markets in Wrocław (approx. 1 h 30 min by car).
The full destination guide: Poland — guide and what to see
All 2026 Christmas markets: a calendar of dates and tips on markets across Europe
When are the Christmas markets in Jelenia Góra 2026
Pre-Christmas events in Jelenia Góra and its surroundings are split between the city centre itself and the nearby palace complex in Łomnica. While in Wrocław or Katowice these are full-Advent markets, here you need to keep an eye on specific weekend dates. The city’s Jarmark Świąteczny (Polish for Christmas market) is a three-day weekend market, preceded by two Advent weekends at the farm courtyard in Łomnica.
| Market | Date 2026 | Opening hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| Jarmark Jelenia Góra | 11–13 Dec 2026 | Fri 14–21 h, Sat 10–21 h, Sun 10–19 h | Plac Ratuszowy, Jelenia Góra |
| Kiermasz Łomnica | 28–29 Nov and 5–6 Dec 2026 | Sat–Sun 11:00–17:00 | Folwark Pałacu Łomnica |
| Święto Pierników Łomnica | 7–8 Nov 2026 | Sat–Sun 11:00–17:00 | Folwark Pałacu Łomnica |
Jarmark Świąteczny at Plac Ratuszowy (11–13 Dec 2026)
The city market bears the official name Jarmark Świąteczny. Last year (2025) it ran as a Polish-Czech market as part of the INTERREG project. It takes place from Friday 11 December to Sunday 13 December 2026 at the square by the town hall (Plac Ratuszowy), so it’s a weekend market, not a full-Advent event. The organiser is Jeleniogórskie Centrum Kultury (JCK), which provides wooden stalls on the square and designates space for a craft and artisan zone.
Opening hours by day
Trading hours for the wooden stalls at Plac Ratuszowy differ slightly each day. On Friday 11 December, sales run from 14:00 to 21:00 and the cultural programme starts at 16:00. On Saturday 12 December, stalls are open from 10:00 to 21:00 with the programme starting at 15:00, and on Sunday 13 December you can shop from 10:00 to 19:00, with the programme again starting at 15:00.
What to expect: programme, St Nicholas parade and Miejska Wigilia
The detailed programme for 2026 has not yet been published by the organiser, so we’ll have to wait for the Jeleniogórskie Centrum Kultury (JCK) website for the exact schedule. However, last year’s edition in 2025 (held 12–14 December 2025) gives a good idea of what the event looks like, as it ran as part of the INTERREG Czech-Polish project “Wy i my, my i wy” with the participation of Czech partners. Last year in 2025, on Friday at 16:30, a parade of St Nicholas, elves and angels set off from the JCK building on the square, followed at 17:00 by the ceremonial opening combined with the lighting of the city (the time and format of the opening for 2026 have not yet been announced by the organiser).
Last year’s programme in 2025 also included children’s workshops, meetings with St Nicholas, concerts, a nativity scene competition and the handing over of the Bethlehem Peace Light. On Sunday at 17:15, last year’s market in 2025 closed with Miejska Wigilia (the city Christmas Eve supper). A week earlier, on Saturday 5 December 2026 at 16:30, JCK is hosting a Christmas jazz concert Swingin’ Santa by a Polish-German youth big band at the Kwadrat building (ul. Bankowa 28/30), with free entry.
Where to stay in Jelenia Góra and surroundings
Your choice of location for overnight accommodation depends on whether you want to spend your evenings right in the centre near the stalls, or combine your trip with thermal baths and mountains. We recommend not delaying your accommodation booking for the weekend of 11 to 13 December 2026, as the city will be busier. Tour operators are listing “Advent in Jelenia Góra” packages for the dates 12 to 13 December 2026.
City centre: walking distance to the market
Accommodation around Plac Ratuszowy and ul. 1 Maja is practical if you want to walk to the market and evening programme, since on Friday and Saturday sales continue until 21:00. Near ul. 1 Maja you’ll also find the train station and FlixBus stop. Right by the pedestrian zone, about 750 metres from the station, stands Hotel Jelonek centrum (ul. 1 Maja 5), housed in an 18th-century townhouse.
On the southern edge of the city on the road to Karpacz you’ll find Mercure Jelenia Góra (ul. Sudecka 63). It’s a large Accor chain hotel convenient for driving, though you’ll need to travel to reach the square.
Cieplice: near the thermal baths
The district of Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój is the spa quarter of Jelenia Góra with spa parks and the Termy Cieplickie thermal pools, from where you can reach the city centre in about 15 minutes by car or public transport. Right opposite the spa park, in the same district as the thermal baths, is Hotel Cieplice (Medi & Spa) at ul. Cervi 11.
Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba: mountain option
If you want to combine the markets with a stay in the mountains, consider the mountain resort of Karpacz below Sněžka mountain (approx. 25 minutes by car from Jelenia Góra) or alternatively Szklarska Poręba, which lies directly on the route via Harrachov and has rail connections. In Karpacz at ul. Karkonoska 14 you’ll find Hotel Gołębiewski Karpacz, a large family resort with the Tropikana aquapark.
💡 Compare what’s available on this map — you’ll immediately see how prices change a few blocks away.
Advent Market at Łomnica Palace
About 8 kilometres from the centre of Jelenia Góra lies the village of Łomnica (ul. Karpnicka 3, 58-531 Łomnica), where the palace grounds host Kiermasz Adwentowy na Folwarku (the word kiermasz in Polish means a sale market or fair, and Folwark is the palace farm courtyard). Even before Advent, on the weekend of 7–8 November 2026 (11:00–17:00), the venue holds Święto Pierników (gingerbread festival), a fair for gingerbread, honey and spice makers from Lower Silesia with gingerbread baking and decorating workshops and live music.
Dates 28–29 Nov and 5–6 Dec 2026
The Advent kiermasz at the Łomnica palace farm courtyard runs over two weekends: 28–29 November 2026 (Saturday and Sunday, with 29 Nov being the first Sunday of Advent) and then 5–6 December 2026. Both weekends are open from 11:00 to 17:00. The organiser has not yet announced admission prices for 2026; last year in 2025 the kiermasz had free admission, but check the Łomnica Palace calendar on their website before you go.
What to buy and what to do with children
At the Łomnica market you can buy handmade ornaments, gifts and regional specialities, while the programme includes live music and workshops for children and adults. Last year in 2025, the event also featured gingerbread workshops, pony rides for small children, a visit from St Nicholas, and at 15:00 a guided tour of the Grand Palace.
Christmas in the Karkonosze: Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba
Neither Karpacz nor Szklarska Poręba usually holds a regular multi-day market. In previous years these were one-day events, for example Karpacz on 10 Dec 2022 and Szklarska Poręba on 11 Dec 2022. Both places can still be visited for a mountain trip, sightseeing or skiing, if the season has already started.
Karpacz: tree lighting, Wang and Śnieżka
In Karpacz (about 25 minutes by car from Jelenia Góra), instead of a multi-day market the town holds a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Lipa Sądowa in the park. The date for 2026 has not yet been announced by the town (check karpacz.pl for the current date); last year on Saturday 6 December 2025 the programme ran from 16:00 to 18:00 (the tree was lit at 17:00) and included performances by children from Karpacz schools and kindergarten, warm drinks, homemade cakes and local specialities. When visiting the town you can stop at the wooden Norwegian Wang Church (ul. Na Śnieżkę 8), which in winter from 1 Nov to 14 Apr is open daily 9:00–17:00 (on Sunday there is a service at 10:00 and tours start only after 11:30; find admission prices at wang.com.pl).
Karpacz is also the starting point for a winter trip below Śnieżka, the highest mountain in the Karkonosze, with a cable car to Kopa. Prices and cable car operation in December 2026 are not yet known, so you will need to find them yourself before you go.
Szklarska Poręba: are there Christmas markets?
Szklarska Poręba also does not usually hold a regular multi-day market. The last market we found was a one-day event on Sunday 11 December 2022 (10:00–17:00 at 4 Peron on ul. Dworcowa) with local products, ornament workshops and St Nicholas. For 2025 and 2026 we have not found a date, check the town website.
Termy Cieplickie: market and thermal baths in one trip
You can easily combine a visit to the markets in Jelenia Góra with bathing at the Termy Cieplickie thermal spa, a combination well suited to families. The complex is located in the Cieplice spa district at Park Zdrojowy 5 (Jelenia Góra-Cieplice, entrance from ul. Cervi) and is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00.
The complex includes two thermal pools with outdoor access and a SPA zone with jacuzzi, snow cave and saunas. Check admission prices before you go on the official website termycieplickie.pl or by phone +48 75 75 46 901.
How to get to Jelenia Góra and where to park
You can reach Jelenia Góra by car, by direct bus from major European hubs, or by train with a connection at Szklarska Poręba. Below you will find an overview of specific routes, times and parking rules in the centre.
By car from major European cities
When driving from abroad, check the motorway toll requirements in your country of origin. Polish sections of the routes through Harrachov or via Královec run on roads without tolls. In winter, however, allow extra time for the mountain section through Harrachov and Jakuszyce. Routes from eastern European cities may use Polish A1 and A4 to Wrocław; passenger cars up to 3.5 t do not pay tolls here (A4 Wrocław–Gliwice free since 1 July 2023).
| From | Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| Prague (via Harrachov) | D10 → Turnov → Harrachov/Jakuszyce → Szklarska Poręba → Jelenia Góra | 162 km | approx. 2 h 30 min |
| Prague (via Královec) | D11 → Hradec Králové → Trutnov → Královec/Lubawka → Jelenia Góra | 222 km | approx. 3 h 20 min |
| Prague → Karpacz | via Harrachov/Jakuszyce | 169 km | approx. 2 h 40 min |
| Prague → Szklarska Poręba | via Harrachov/Jakuszyce | 141 km | approx. 2 h 00 min |
| Brno | road 43 / D35 → Hradec Králové → Trutnov → Královec/Lubawka → Kamienna Góra → Jelenia Góra | 262 km | approx. 4 h 10 min |
| Ostrava | D1 → Polish A1 → A4 (Wrocław) → DK5 → Bolków → Jelenia Góra | 337 km | approx. 4 h 00 min |
By train via Kořenov and Szklarska Poręba
The rail connection runs on route 036 of Czech Railways from Liberec via Tanvald, Kořenov and Harrachov to Szklarska Poręba Górna station, from where you continue by regional train operated by Koleje Dolnośląskie to Jelenia Góra. According to the 2025/26 timetable (valid until 12 Dec 2026), in the winter season there is an extended train pair from Liberec at 11:35 to Szklarska Poręba Górna (return at 13:30) and at weekends also services from Liberec at 13:35 and 15:35 (return at 15:30 and 17:30).
💡 Tip: Sunday 13 December 2026, the last day of the market in Jelenia Góra, coincides with the timetable change. Check train times before you travel on IDOS or cd.cz.
By FlixBus from Prague
Direct FlixBus coaches run between Prague and Jelenia Góra (2 services daily, according to the carrier’s website the first at 10:05 and the last at 17:35). The fastest connection takes about 3 hours and 5 minutes and tickets started at around 15 USD on the carrier’s website in October 2026. In Jelenia Góra the bus stops at the railway station at ul. 1 Maja “Railway Station” stop (stand 03), from where it is about 1 km on foot to Plac Ratuszowy.
Parking in the centre
The city centre has a paid parking zone Strefa Płatnego Parkowania (renewed 23 June 2025), where you pay between 8:30 and 18:30. According to the town’s June 2025 price list (without the local JKM card), the first half hour costs 0.50 zł, the 1st hour 4.00 zł, the 2nd hour 4.50 zł, the 3rd hour 5.00 zł, each additional hour 4.00 zł and all-day parking 35.00 zł. On Friday 11 Dec 2026 you must therefore pay until 18:30; whether you also pay at weekends is not stated by the town on its website and you need to check this at the parking meter (in 2025 the zone did not include Cieplice or the area around PKP railway station).
What to taste and what to pay with
The organiser has not published the exact stall offerings, refreshment prices or any possible mug deposit in Jelenia Góra. For warming up we recommend grzaniec, Polish mulled wine; meatless Polish options to look for include pierogi ruskie (with potatoes and curd cheese) or with cabbage and mushrooms, or oscypek (sheep’s cheese), but the organiser does not say whether stalls in Jelenia Góra will have them. Payment is in Polish złoty (PLN).
Tips for trips in the area
Since the market in Jelenia Góra itself is a smaller weekend event, you can extend your trip to nearby sights or head to larger Polish cities for full Advent markets. Within easy reach are palace estates near Jelenia Góra and the Lower Silesian capital Wrocław.
Jelenia Góra Valley of Palaces
In the so-called Valley of Castles and Palaces of Jelenia Góra you will find, in addition to Łomnica, the estates of Wojanów and Staniszów, which can serve as a place to stay or for a walk. Their operating information for December is not known, so you need to check current operations before you go.
Wrocław: large Christmas market
About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car (approximately) from Jelenia Góra lies Wrocław, which hosts a large Christmas market. In 2026 the market runs from 20 Nov 2026 to 7 Jan 2027. The town has not yet announced opening hours; in the 2025/26 season it was open daily 10:00–21:00 (closed 24 and 25 Dec and 1 Jan). For details see our article about Christmas markets in Wrocław.
💡 Tip: When driving from Ostrava on the A4 motorway, Wrocław lies directly on the route, so you can easily combine both cities in one trip.
Other markets in Poland near the border
If you want to visit other full Advent markets in Poland, we have prepared separate guides for Christmas markets in Katowice and Christmas markets in Kraków. More European tips can be found in our overview mapping the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Christmas markets in Jelenia Góra 2026?
The city Christmas market (Jarmark Świąteczny) on Plac Ratuszowy in Jelenia Góra takes place from Friday 11 December to Sunday 13 December 2026. On the first two Advent weekends 28–29 November and 5–6 December 2026, an Advent market (kiermasz) is held at Łomnica Palace (about 8 km from the centre).
What are the opening hours of the market in Jelenia Góra?
On Friday 11 December 2026, the stalls are open 14:00–21:00 (cultural programme from 16:00), and on Saturday 12 December 10:00–21:00 (programme from 15:00). On Sunday 13 December, the stalls are open 10:00–19:00 and the programme starts at 15:00.
Do the Christmas markets in Jelenia Góra run throughout Advent?
No, the market in Jelenia Góra is a three-day weekend market (11–13 December 2026), not a full Advent market like in Wrocław or Katowice.
Are there Christmas markets in Karpacz or Szklarska Poręba?
There usually isn’t a regular multi-day market there. In previous years, they were one-day events, for example Karpacz on 10 December 2022 and Szklarska Poręba on 11 December 2022. In Karpacz, the town Christmas tree lighting ceremony takes place (last year on Saturday 6 December 2025 at 17:00, programme 16:00–18:00; the 2026 date has not yet been announced, check karpacz.pl for the current date), and in Szklarska Poręba the last one-day market we found was on 11 December 2022 (for 2025 and 2026 we couldn’t find a date, check the town’s website).
How long does it take to get to Jelenia Góra from major European hubs?
The drive via the D10 through Turnov, Harrachov/Jakuszyce and Szklarska Poręba covers 162 km and takes around 2 hours 30 minutes (in winter via Jakuszyce, allow extra time). The alternative route via Hradec Králové, Trutnov and Královec/Lubawka covers 222 km and takes around 3 hours 20 minutes.
Where can I park in Jelenia Góra?
In the centre, the Strefa Płatnego Parkowania (paid parking zone) applies (8:30–18:30), where the first half-hour costs 0.50 zł, 1 hour costs 4.00 zł and all-day parking costs 35.00 zł (price list 6/2025). On Friday 11 December until 18:30, you have to pay; the town doesn’t specify the weekend regime and you need to check on the ticket machine; in 2025, the zone didn’t include Cieplice or the area around PKP railway station.
Do I need a motorway vignette for Poland?
For a car on routes via Harrachov or Královec, there is no Polish toll; however, in Czechia you need a Czech motorway vignette (D10, D11, D1). From Ostrava, the route runs along the Polish A1 and A4 to Wrocław; cars up to 3.5 t don’t pay tolls here (A4 Wrocław–Gliwice free from 1 July 2023).
Where should I stay for the Christmas markets in Jelenia Góra?
For walking access to the square, choose the centre (Hotel Jelonek centrum, or if you’re driving, Mercure Jelenia Góra on the edge of town); near the thermal baths in Cieplice, try Hotel Cieplice (Medi & Spa). In the mountain town of Karpacz (around 25 minutes by car), family accommodation with a water park is available at Hotel Gołębiewski Karpacz.
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