The Ostrava Christmas markets instantly bring to mind beautiful decorations, twinkling lights, the aroma of mulled wine, and delicious treats. This year will be no different. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the Ostrava Christmas markets – from the festive tree lighting ceremony to information about venues, the programme, and opening hours.
Where to Stay
If you’re planning to spend more than one day in Ostrava, it’s worth booking accommodation near the city centre:
You can also browse more options on Booking.com to find the best deal for your stay.
Ostrava Christmas Markets: Tree Lighting
The festive Christmas tree lighting ceremony is one of the biggest highlights of the Ostrava Christmas markets. This year it will take place on Saturday, 22 November, at Masaryk Square (Masarykovo náměstí) from 6 PM. During the evening, you can look forward to a rich programme full of music and various performances, including live bands and popular Czech artists.
TIP: Organised trips to Christmas markets are also available. You can find one on GetYourGuide.
Ostrava Christmas Markets: When and Where
The Christmas markets in Ostrava usually begin at the end of November and run until the New Year. This year they take place from 22 November 2025 to 1 January 2026.
The Ostrava Christmas markets are held across several locations:
- Masaryk Square (Masarykovo náměstí),
- Prokeš Square (Prokešovo náměstí),
- Jirásek Square (Jiráskovo náměstí),
- Dr. Edvard Beneš Square (Náměstí Dr. Edvarda Beneše).
You might also like: Christmas Markets in Brno
Masaryk Square
Masaryk Square is the main hub of the Ostrava Christmas markets. Here you’ll find a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, stalls selling Christmas ornaments, souvenirs, and delicious food and drinks.
In addition to the market stalls, you can look forward to a varied cultural programme that takes place on Masaryk Square almost every day. Visitors can enjoy live concerts spanning various genres, theatre performances, and shows by local organisations, groups, and children. You can find the detailed programme HERE.
Prokeš Square
Prokeš Square, located near the City Hall, hosts a quieter section of the Christmas markets. This square often features a cultural programme including concerts and theatre performances, so if you enjoy music and the arts, make sure to stop by.
This year you can also look forward to the festive illumination of the City Hall building and the New Town Hall tower. The entire lighting display reflects the magic of Advent and features the visual motifs of Ostrava Christmas. Part of the festive decorations includes an “OSTRAVA!!!” photo spot where you can snap a memorable picture. Additionally, a popular carol-singing event with a rich programme will take place here on Wednesday, 11 December.
Jirásek Square
Another stop on the Christmas market trail is Jirásek Square, also known as the children’s stage. The programme includes various theatre shows and educational activities with the police for children. The little ones can also enjoy a carousel and a special Christmas post office where they can send letters to Baby Jesus (Ježíšek).
Dr. Edvard Beneš Square
At Dr. Edvard Beneš Square, the biggest attraction awaits – the Christmas ice rink. It will be open from 29 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM with breaks for ice maintenance. Admission is free, and you can rent skating equipment or use the skate-sharpening service on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Christmas tree lighting at Masaryk Square?
This year, the Christmas tree in Ostrava will be lit on Saturday, 22 November, from 6 PM.
Where are the Christmas markets in Ostrava held?
The main Christmas market locations are Masaryk Square, Prokeš Square, Jirásek Square, and Dr. Edvard Beneš Square.
What attractions are suitable for children?
There’s plenty for the kids, including a carousel, craft workshops, and a nativity scene with live animals at Masaryk Square.
When do the Christmas markets in Ostrava take place?
The Ostrava Christmas markets run from 29 November 2025 to 1 January 2026.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
