# Christmas markets in Romania 2026: the list by city, dates and what you will find [Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Guides](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides) Published on 4 November 2026 · Facts checked on 4 November 2026 Romania has at least 11 large Christmas markets, in the historic centres of its cities, and the first two, in [Craiova](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mihai-viteazul-craiova) and [Sibiu](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mare-sibiu), open in 2026 on 13 November. The most searched for is the one in Craiova, which fills Mihai Viteazul Square and the surrounding streets until January and came first in the European Best Destinations online vote in November 2025. Cluj-Napoca follows on 20 November, Bucharest and Târgu Mureș on 27 November, Timișoara on 29 November. This guide puts all the markets in one table, with the venue, the dates of the 2026 edition (or the pattern of past editions, where the organiser has not announced them yet) and the entry, then takes each city in turn, with what you will find and how to get there. At the end come the markets that suit children, a comparison of the best known ones and practical tips. The daily schedule, the concerts and the prices of the attractions are announced by the organisers close to the opening; the pages of the squares link to them. ## In short - The first Christmas markets of 2026 open on 13 November, in Craiova (until 3 January 2027) and in Sibiu (until 3 January 2027). - Cluj-Napoca opens the market in Piața Unirii on 20 November 2026, under the City Hall's concession contract; Bucharest (Constitution Square) and Târgu Mureș (Piața Teatrului) open on 27 November, Timișoara on 29 November. - For Brașov, Oradea, Constanța, Iași and Arad, the dates of the 2026 edition had not been officially announced on 4 November 2026; they usually open between the end of November and the beginning of December. - Entry is free at all the large markets; you pay for the products in the stalls and for the attractions, such as the Ferris wheel, the ice rink or the carousel. - The Craiova market came first in Europe in the European Best Destinations online vote in November 2025, with more than 142,000 votes. - The markets that usually have an ice rink are Sibiu (600 m², in the Grand Square), Craiova, Oradea (in Piața Ferdinand) and Alba Iulia; in Cluj, the ice rink is at the Winter Fair next to the Sports Hall. ## Christmas markets in Romania 2026: the list by city The table covers the large markets, in the order in which they are searched for. “2026 dates” are the ones announced by the organiser (the City Hall, the association that runs the market or the company that holds the concession); where there is no announcement yet, it says “not announced on 4 November 2026”, and the “Pattern” column shows what past editions were like. Each city has its own section below. The pages of the squares, with visiting hours, access and parking: [Mihai Viteazul Square (Piața Mihai Viteazul)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mihai-viteazul-craiova) (Craiova), [Grand Square (Piața Mare)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mare-sibiu) (Sibiu), [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-cluj-napoca) in Cluj-Napoca, [Constitution Square (Piața Constituției)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-constitutiei) (Bucharest), [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-oradea) in Oradea, [Constanța Peninsula](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/peninsula-constanta), [Council Square (Piața Sfatului)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-sfatului-brasov) (Brașov), [Victory Square (Piața Victoriei)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-victoriei-timisoara) (Timișoara), [Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bulevardul-stefan-cel-mare-iasi) (Iași), [Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-trandafirilor-targu-mures) in Târgu Mureș and [Avram Iancu Square in Arad](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-avram-iancu-arad). | City | Venue | 2026 dates | Pattern of past editions | Entry | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Craiova | Mihai Viteazul Square and the streets of the centre | 13 November 2026 – 3 January 2027 | from mid-November to early January | free | | Sibiu | Grand Square (Piața Mare) | 13 November 2026 – 3 January 2027 | from mid-November to early January | free | | Cluj-Napoca | Piața Unirii | 20 November 2026 – 1 January 2027 (concession contract) | 2025: 21 November – 1 January | free | | Bucharest | Constitution Square | 27 November – 27 December 2026 | from late November to late December | free | | Oradea | Piața Unirii and Piața Ferdinand | not officially announced on 4 November 2026 (Visit Oradea shows 27 November – 26 December, without a year) | 2025: 28 November – 26 December | free | | Constanța | Piața Ovidiu and Poarta 6 Park | not announced on 4 November 2026 | 2025: 27 November – 27 December | free | | Brașov | Council Square (Piața Sfatului) | not officially announced on 4 November 2026 (calendars in the press give 27 November – 3 January) | 2025: 30 November – 11 January | free | | Timișoara | Victory Square, Piața Libertății, Central Park | 29 November 2026 – 7 January 2027 | 2025: 30 November – 7 January | free | | Iași | Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt Boulevard | not announced on 4 November 2026 | 2025: 30 November – 5 January | free | | Târgu Mureș | Piața Teatrului, next to the Flower Clock | 27 November – 27 December 2026, daily 11:00–21:00 | from December to January | free | | Arad | Cathedral Square, Reconciliation Park, Avram Iancu Square | not announced on 4 November 2026 | 2025: 22 November – 11 January | free | *The 2026 dates come from the organisers' announcements (targuldecraciun.ro for Sibiu, the rules of the Timișoara Municipal House of Culture, Bucharest City Hall, Craiova City Hall and Târgu Mureș City Hall, as quoted in the press), checked on 4 November 2026. The 2025 editions come from the City Halls' press releases and from the press (Digi24, 22 November 2025; Agerpres). Entry to the market is free; the attractions and the products are paid for.* ## What has been announced for the 2026 Christmas markets **Craiova opens first, on 13 November.** Craiova City Hall has announced the 2026 edition from 13 November to 3 January 2027, with the theme “Tărâmul Elfilor” (“The Land of the Elves”), in Mihai Viteazul Square; the organisers have promised an ice rink, a carousel, workshops and a spot for photos with Santa Claus. The 2025 edition, “The Nutcracker”, was extended by a week after the announced closing, so the end date may change this year too. Sibiu opens on the same day, with an arts programme that had not been published on 4 November. **Bucharest: 27 November – 27 December, in Constitution Square.** Bucharest City Hall has announced 133 stalls, a 30 m Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel, and the lights in the city go on on the evening of the opening. For the other markets in Bucharest (University Square, the Opera, Drumul Taberei), the 2026 dates had not been announced. **Târgu Mureș starts earlier.** Past editions began in December; for 2026, the City Hall has announced 27 November – 27 December, daily 11:00–21:00, with the festive lights switched on on 5 December. **Timișoara changes the map.** The rules of the 2026 edition place the market in Victory Square, Piața Libertății and Central Park (the traders' stalls in Piața Libertății), from 29 November 2026 to 7 January 2027; in 2025 it was in Victoriei, Libertății, Sfântul Gheorghe and Unirii squares. **What is still missing.** In Brașov, Oradea, Constanța, Iași and Arad there was no official announcement of the 2026 edition on 4 November. - [Mihai Viteazul Square (Piața Mihai Viteazul)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mihai-viteazul-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Craiova, DJ · Free · 30 min The central square of Craiova, pedestrianised, with the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave and a fountain, between the Administrative Palace of the Prefecture and the former Palace Hotel; in winter, the main site of the Christmas market. - [Constitution Square (Piața Constituției)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/constitution-square) — Monuments and historic sites · București · Free · 30 min The wide esplanade in front of the Palace of the Parliament, at the end of Bulevardul Unirii: a venue for big concerts and New Year's Eve shows and home to the Bucharest Christmas Market. ## The Craiova Christmas market 2026 The Craiova market is the most searched for in the country: it fills [Mihai Viteazul Square (Piața Mihai Viteazul)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mihai-viteazul-craiova), between the Administrative Palace and the former Hotel Palace, and spreads along the streets of the old centre. The 2026 edition runs from **13 November to 3 January 2027**, with the theme “Tărâmul Elfilor” (“The Land of the Elves”); every year has a different theme, and the decorations and attractions change. In recent editions you found wooden stalls with ornaments, sweets, traditional food and mulled wine, a large Christmas tree, festive lights, a little train, a carousel and an ice rink for children, plus a stage with carols, children's theatre and shows. Entry is free. The square is pedestrianised; the car stays on a nearby street or in a public car park, usually paid, and on the market's weekends the spaces fill up quickly. Craiova is ~230 km from Bucharest (~2 hours 40 minutes), and from the railway station to the square it is ~2.3 km. The schedule by day, the prices and what else to see in the city are in the [guide to the Craiova Christmas market](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/targul-de-craciun-craiova). - [Mihai Viteazul Square (Piața Mihai Viteazul)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mihai-viteazul-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Craiova, DJ · Free · 30 min The central square of Craiova, pedestrianised, with the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave and a fountain, between the Administrative Palace of the Prefecture and the former Palace Hotel; in winter, the main site of the Christmas market. ## The Sibiu Christmas market 2026 The Sibiu market stands in the [Grand Square (Piața Mare)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mare-sibiu), in the upper town, and in 2026 it runs from **13 November to 3 January 2027**. The organiser, the Events for Tourism Association, gives on the market's website the hours Monday to Friday 11:00–22:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:00–22:00, with free entry. The stalls and the stage take up most of the square. The organiser announces more than 120 exhibitors from 36 counties and from other countries, an ice rink of 600 m² (300 people at a time), a 22 m Ferris wheel (30 lei), a carousel (20 lei a ride) and a themed lift up to Santa Claus's House, with tickets online; a one-day ticket for the main attractions costs 99 lei. The market's website also carries the City Hall's webcam in the Grand Square. The [Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/turnul-sfatului-sibiu), next to the square, has been closed for restoration since January 2026, for about two years. Sibiu is ~275 km from Bucharest and ~175 km from Cluj-Napoca; from the railway station you walk up in ~20 minutes. The details are in the [guide to the Sibiu Christmas market](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/targul-de-craciun-sibiu). - [Grand Square (Piața Mare)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/grand-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Sibiu, SB · Free · 45 min · Top 100 The main square of old Sibiu, about 140 by 90 metres, enclosed by merchants' houses with "eyes" in their roofs, by the Brukenthal Palace, the Jesuit church and the Council Tower. ## The Cluj-Napoca Christmas market 2026 The Cluj market is held in [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-cluj-napoca), around St Michael's Church. The City Hall granted the space for five years, from 2023, to the company Fantesia UNTOLD SRL, and the contract sets the dates of the 2026 edition: **20 November 2026 – 1 January 2027**. The arts programme and the hours had not been announced on 4 November. In 2025 the market was called “Planeta Crăciun” (“Planet Christmas”) and had a Ferris wheel, stalls and Santa's Little House, with workshops for children in the evening. The ice rink is not in the square but at the Winter Fair on the esplanade of the Horia Demian Sports Hall, organised separately (in 2025, from 28 November). The square is in the city centre, ~2.5 km from the railway station (~35 minutes on foot) and ~9 km from the airport. Cars cannot enter the pedestrian part; you park in a nearby car park or come on one of the CTP lines, which have stops on the sides of the square. - [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii) — Monuments and historic sites · Cluj-Napoca, CJ · Free · 30 min The central square of Cluj, with the Gothic St Michael's Church, the 1902 equestrian statue of Matthias Corvinus and the façades of the Bánffy Palace and the surrounding houses. ## The Bucharest Christmas market 2026 The capital's main market, organised by Bucharest City Hall, is in [Constitution Square (Piața Constituției)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-constitutiei), in front of the Palace of Parliament, from **27 November to 27 December 2026**. The City Hall has announced 133 stalls, a 30 m Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel; past editions also had Santa Claus's House, a carousel and a stage with carols and concerts. Entry, including to Santa Claus's House, is free; the Ferris wheel and the carousel are paid for. As a rule, the hours are Monday to Friday 12:00–22:00 and at weekends 10:00–22:00; the 2026 schedule is announced at the opening. The nearest metro stations are Izvor (~10 minutes on foot) and Piața Unirii (~15 minutes). Bucharest has several markets. In 2025 there was also one in University Square, next to the [University Palace of Bucharest](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-universitatii-bucuresti) (29 November – 28 December), one on the esplanade of the [Bucharest National Opera](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/opera-nationala-bucuresti) (6–28 December) and West Side Christmas Market, a private market in [Drumul Taberei Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parcul-drumul-taberei), with an ice rink and a Ferris wheel (28 November – 28 December). Which one to choose is in the [guide to the Christmas markets in Bucharest](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/targuri-de-craciun-bucuresti). - [Constitution Square (Piața Constituției)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/constitution-square) — Monuments and historic sites · București · Free · 30 min The wide esplanade in front of the Palace of the Parliament, at the end of Bulevardul Unirii: a venue for big concerts and New Year's Eve shows and home to the Bucharest Christmas Market. - [Drumul Taberei Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/drumul-taberei-park) — Parks and gardens · București · Free · 1 – 1½ hours The largest park in the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood, redeveloped in 2013–2015, with a boating lake, a cable-stayed footbridge with a red pylon and greenhouses of exotic plants. ## The Oradea Christmas market The Oradea market, organised by Visit Oradea together with the City Hall, takes up two squares, on either side of the Crișul Repede river: [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-oradea), with the Christmas tree, the 30 m Ferris wheel and some of the stalls, and Piața Ferdinand, where the ice rink is. In 2025 the ice rink had natural ice, over 520 m². The market usually closes on 26 December, earlier than most; the Ferris wheel and the ice rink stay open for a few days afterwards. In 2025 it ran from 28 November to 26 December. For 2026, the market's page on the Visit Oradea website showed on 4 November the dates “27 November – 26 December”, without a year and without a press release for the edition, so the date is not certain yet. The stalls have crafts, decorations, toys and seasonal food, and the programme includes carols, concerts and shows for children. Entry is free; the Ferris wheel and the ice rink have their own tickets. The square is ~3 km from the railway station and ~7 km from the airport; car traffic around it is restricted while the market is on. The façades on the square, the [Black Eagle Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-vulturul-negru) and the [Moon Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-cu-luna), have their own pages. - [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-bihor) — Monuments and historic sites · Oradea, BH · Free · 45 min The central, pedestrianised square of Oradea, with the Town Hall Palace, the Black Eagle Palace, the Moon Church and the equestrian statue of King Ferdinand; in winter it hosts the Christmas market. ## The Constanța Christmas market In Constanța, the Christmas market is in the old town, in Piața Ovidiu on the [Constanța Peninsula](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/peninsula-constanta), in front of the statue of the poet and of the former town hall that houses the Museum of National History and Archaeology. In 2025 there was also a second decorated venue, Poarta 6 Park, and the dates were 27 November – 27 December. The 2026 edition had not been announced on 4 November. In 2025 the stalls had seasonal products and food, and for children there were workshops and meetings with Santa Claus; the decorations, among them the plush teddy bears hung on the buildings of the square, went viral. Constanța is ~226 km from Bucharest on the A2 (~2 and a half hours). The streets of the peninsula are narrow and have few parking spaces, so it is easier to come on bus 42 (Tomis Nord – Centru – Portul Tomis) or on foot from the centre; the railway station is ~2.7 km from Piața Ovidiu. What else to see in the city in winter is on the [Constanța](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/constanta) page. - [Constanța Peninsula](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/constanta-peninsula) — Monuments and historic sites · Constanța, CT · Free · 2½ – 3 hours Constanța's old town, on the site of ancient Tomis: Ovid Square, the Roman mosaic, the mosque and its minaret, the cathedral, the Genoese Lighthouse and the casino seafront, all a few steps apart. ## The Brașov Christmas market The Brașov market takes up [Council Square (Piața Sfatului)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-sfatului-brasov), with the Council House in the middle and Mount Tâmpa above the roofs, and usually runs from the end of November until after New Year. In 2025 the City Hall announced the opening on 30 November and the closing on 11 January 2026, in three venues in the centre, with registration for traders open from mid-October. For 2026, the calendars published in the press in October give the dates 27 November 2026 – 3 January 2027, but the City Hall had not published a press release for the edition on 4 November. On market days, the stalls, the Christmas tree and the stage cover part of the square and of the view of the Council House; [The Black Church](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/biserica-neagra) is right next to it. The square is pedestrianised. The car stays in a car park around the old town; from the railway station, bus 4 drops you at Livada Poștei, ~5 minutes' walk away. From Bucharest it is ~170 km (~3 hours, through the Prahova Valley), from Sibiu ~145 km. Brașov is also the gateway to the slopes: [Poiana Brașov](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/poiana-brasov) is a few kilometres away. - [Council Square (Piața Sfatului)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/council-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Brașov, BV · Free · 1 – 1½ hours · Top 100 The main square of old Brașov, lined with merchants' houses and dominated by the Council House, the old town hall with its watchtower, now the County History Museum, with Tâmpa as a backdrop. ## The Timișoara Christmas market 2026 The Timișoara market is organised by the City Hall through the Municipal House of Culture. The rules of the 2026 edition set it from **29 November 2026 to 7 January 2027**, with festive areas in [Victory Square (Piața Victoriei)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-victoriei-timisoara), Piața Libertății and Central Park; according to the rules, the stalls selling products are in Piața Libertății and are open Monday to Friday 12:00–21:00 and at weekends 10:00–22:00. Victory Square, between the Opera and the Metropolitan Cathedral, is the venue of the opening, with the lighting of the Christmas tree and the lights. In 2025 the market had a Ferris wheel, carousels, Santa's little train and a carousel Christmas tree in Piața Libertății, plus workshops, concerts and stalls with mulled wine, desserts and hot food. Entry is free. The programmes in [Union Square (Piața Unirii)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-timisoara) and at the [Banat Village Museum](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/muzeul-satului-banatean) are separate, run by Timiș County Council. The historic centre has restricted traffic; you park in a nearby car park, in the TimPark system. From the North Station it is ~1.8 km (~25 minutes on foot), and Timișoara is ~55 km from Arad on the A1. - [Victory Square (Piața Victoriei)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/victory-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Timișoara, TM · Free · 45 min Timișoara's pedestrian esplanade between the Opera in the Palace of Culture and the Metropolitan Cathedral, lined with the Corso palaces and the place where Timișoara was declared the first free city in December 1989. ## The Iași Christmas market The Iași market, organised by the City Hall, stretches along the pedestrianised [Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bulevardul-stefan-cel-mare-iasi), between the City Hall and the [Palace of Culture in Iași](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-culturii-iasi). In recent editions, the wooden stalls with fairy lights had traditional products, crafts, mulled wine, pastries and food, and towards I. C. Brătianu Street there was a children's village, with a Ferris wheel. The pedestrian street fills with Christmas trees and tunnels of lights, and a net of lights is stretched above Piața Unirii. The market usually opens together with the switching-on of the festive lights, around 1 December, and runs until early January; in 2025 it was between 30 November and 5 January. The dates of the 2026 edition had not been announced on 4 November. Walking around and entering the market area are free. The boulevard is ~1 km from the railway station (~15 minutes on foot) and ~8 km from the airport; traffic in the centre is restricted, and in December, especially in the evening and at weekends, the pedestrian street is very crowded. - [Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/stefan-cel-mare-boulevard) — Monuments and historic sites · Iași, IS · Free · ½ – 1 hours The pedestrian street in the centre of Iași, from Piața Unirii to the Palace of Culture, with the Metropolitan Cathedral, Roznovanu Palace and Trei Ierarhi Church along its sides and, in winter, the city's Christmas market. ## The Târgu Mureș Christmas market 2026 In Târgu Mureș, the market is held in Piața Teatrului, at one end of [Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-trandafirilor-targu-mures), around the large Christmas tree next to the Flower Clock. For 2026, the City Hall has announced the dates **27 November – 27 December**, open daily 11:00–21:00; the city's festive lights go on on 5 December. The stalls have local craftsmen and producers, plus a food area. At weekends there are concerts, and the programme includes carols sung by children from kindergartens and schools, meetings with Santa Claus and Santa's Bus. The square is a public space, with free access. It is ~2 km from the railway station and ~18 km from Transilvania Airport; from Cluj-Napoca it is ~110 km, from Sibiu ~125 km. The roads along the sides of the park are open to traffic but close for events, and the parking spaces fill up quickly at weekends. The [Palace of Culture in Târgu Mureș](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-culturii-targu-mures) is a few steps away. - [Piața Trandafirilor (Roses Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-trandafirilor) — Monuments and historic sites · Târgu Mureș, MS · Free · 45 min The central square of Târgu Mureș, a promenade of ~550 m with the Flower Clock, the statue of Avram Iancu, the Orthodox Cathedral and historic façades; in winter, the Christmas market is held right beside it. ## The Arad Christmas market The Arad market, organised by the City Hall and the Municipal Culture Centre, has changed its venue from one year to the next. In 2023 it was right in [Avram Iancu Square in Arad](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-avram-iancu-arad), behind the Classical Theatre; since 2024 the main stalls have stood in Cathedral Square. In 2025 the City Hall set up four venues: Cathedral Square, Reconciliation Park, Avram Iancu Square and the esplanade in front of the [Arad Administrative Palace](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/palatul-administrativ-arad). The 2025 edition ran from 22 November to 11 January 2026, open daily 18:00–23:00, with a Ferris wheel and an artificial ice rink. The stalls had mulled wine, cooked dishes, sweets, gifts, toys and handicrafts, and on weekend evenings there were carol concerts. The dates of the 2026 edition had not been announced on 4 November. The market venues are in the centre, ~3 km from the railway station; Arad is ~55 km from Timișoara on the A1 and ~116 km from Oradea. - [Avram Iancu Square in Arad](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/avram-iancu-square-in-arad) — Monuments and historic sites · Arad, AR · Free · 30 min The square behind the Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre, with a park in the middle, Baroque and Secession houses and the Nádasdy and Rozsnyai palaces on its sides; in winter, part of Arad's festive route. ## Christmas markets in other Romanian cities **Alba Iulia.** In 2025 the market was in Piața Visconti, on the western side of the [Alba Carolina Fortress](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatea-alba-carolina), between 21 November and 11 January, with an ice rink, a carousel for children and a stage. The 2026 dates had not been announced. **Sighișoara.** Calendars in the press gave for 2025 a market in the [Sighișoara Citadel](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cetatea-sighisoara) between 1 December and 4 January, with lights on the streets of the citadel and choir concerts; the official programme of the 2026 edition had not been published. **Baia Mare.** The Local Council approved the 2025 edition between 28 November and 11 January 2026; in 2024 the market was in Piața Libertății, below [Stephen's Tower (Turnul Ștefan)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/turnul-stefan-baia-mare), and in Mara Park. **Bistrița.** The festive season begins with the switching-on of the lights in the centre, on 30 November in 2025, next to the ~18 m Christmas tree at the Evangelical Church. **Pitești.** In 2025 the market was in Piața Primăriei, between 28 November and 8 January. **Suceava, Satu Mare, Ploiești.** They have markets in the centre, but the City Halls had not published the 2026 dates on 4 November. In Satu Mare, the centre is Piața Libertății, with the [Dacia Hotel](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/hotelul-dacia-satu-mare). **Bran.** There is no Christmas market announced; [Bran Castle](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castelul-bran) has its winter opening hours on its page. - [Alba Carolina Fortress](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/alba-carolina-fortress) — Fortresses and fortifications · Alba Iulia, AB · Free · 2½ – 3 hours · Top 20 Romania's largest bastion fortress, a seven-pointed star built by the Habsburgs in 1715–1738 at Alba Iulia; baroque gates, cathedrals, the Union Hall and a changing of the guard, all with free access. - [Sighișoara Citadel](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sighisoara-citadel) — Fortresses and fortifications · Sighișoara, MS · Free · 2½ – 3 hours · UNESCO World Heritage · Top 20 A Saxon-built, still-inhabited medieval walled town on a hill above the Târnava Mare, with guild towers and the famous Clock Tower; a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. ## Christmas markets with children: ice rinks, carousels, Santa The details below come from the 2025 editions and from the 2026 announcements; the schedule with times is published at the opening. **Ice rink.** In [Sibiu](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mare-sibiu), in the Grand Square, 600 m², with room for 300 people; in [Craiova](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-mihai-viteazul-craiova), in the middle of the market; in [Oradea](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-oradea), in Piața Ferdinand, with natural ice; in Alba Iulia, in Piața Visconti; in Arad, an artificial ice rink. In Cluj, the ice rink is not in Piața Unirii but at the Winter Fair next to the Sports Hall. In Bucharest, West Side Christmas Market in [Drumul Taberei Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parcul-drumul-taberei) had an ice rink. **Santa Claus.** Santa Claus's House in [Constitution Square (Piața Constituției)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-constitutiei) has free entry; in Sibiu, a themed lift takes you up to Santa Claus's House, with tickets online; in Cluj, Santa's Little House had workshops in the evening in 2025; in [Târgu Mureș](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-trandafirilor-targu-mures) there are meetings with Santa Claus and Santa's Bus; in Craiova, the 2026 edition has a spot for photos with Santa Claus. **Carousels, little trains, Ferris wheels.** Sibiu, Craiova, Timișoara (plus a carousel Christmas tree) and Bucharest have a carousel, and Craiova and Timișoara a little train (Santa's little train); the children's village in Iași, with a Ferris wheel, stands towards I. C. Brătianu Street. The Ferris wheel is paid for everywhere: in Sibiu 30 lei, and the carousel 20 lei a ride (prices announced for 2026). With small children, go in the first part of the day, on a weekday: the queues at the ice rink and at Santa Claus are longest on weekend evenings. - [Grand Square (Piața Mare)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/grand-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Sibiu, SB · Free · 45 min · Top 100 The main square of old Sibiu, about 140 by 90 metres, enclosed by merchants' houses with "eyes" in their roofs, by the Brukenthal Palace, the Jesuit church and the Council Tower. - [Constitution Square (Piața Constituției)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/constitution-square) — Monuments and historic sites · București · Free · 30 min The wide esplanade in front of the Palace of the Parliament, at the end of Bulevardul Unirii: a venue for big concerts and New Year's Eve shows and home to the Bucharest Christmas Market. - [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii-bihor) — Monuments and historic sites · Oradea, BH · Free · 45 min The central, pedestrianised square of Oradea, with the Town Hall Palace, the Black Eagle Palace, the Moon Church and the equestrian statue of King Ferdinand; in winter it hosts the Christmas market. ## Romania's most beautiful Christmas market: which to choose **“The most beautiful” by vote.** In November 2025, the Craiova market came first in the online ranking “Best Christmas Markets in Europe” of the European Best Destinations platform, with more than 142,000 votes, ahead of Zurich (Agerpres, 27 November 2025). It is a public vote, not an assessment by a jury: Craiova City Hall paid the platform 29,690 euros to take part in the 2025–2026 edition of the competition and has climbed the ranking since 2021 (6th place), through 3rd and 2nd place, to first place. In the 2025 ranking there is no other market from Romania in the top ten. **“The biggest.”** No City Hall publishes the area of its market. European Best Destinations, the platform of the vote, presents the Craiova market as the biggest Christmas event in Europe, with more than 280,000 m², a promotional figure not confirmed by the organiser. Other markets spread over several squares: Timișoara (three venues), Arad (four), Oradea (two). By number of stalls announced, Constitution Square has 133 in 2026, and Sibiu more than 120 exhibitors. **Sibiu, Craiova or Cluj?** - *Dates:* Sibiu and Craiova are the longest, from 13 November to 3 January; Cluj starts on 20 November and closes on 1 January. - *Historic atmosphere:* Sibiu and Brașov have their market in a medieval square enclosed by old houses; Craiova has a themed set that changes every year, on a 20th-century esplanade; Cluj is around a Gothic church. - *Ice rink:* Sibiu and Craiova have it in the market; Cluj, separately. - *Access:* from Bucharest, Craiova is ~230 km away, Sibiu ~275 km; Cluj has an airport ~9 km from the square, Sibiu ~5 km. If you want to see two markets on one trip, Sibiu and Brașov are ~145 km apart, and Arad and Timișoara ~55 km. - [Mihai Viteazul Square (Piața Mihai Viteazul)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mihai-viteazul-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Craiova, DJ · Free · 30 min The central square of Craiova, pedestrianised, with the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave and a fountain, between the Administrative Palace of the Prefecture and the former Palace Hotel; in winter, the main site of the Christmas market. - [Grand Square (Piața Mare)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/grand-square) — Monuments and historic sites · Sibiu, SB · Free · 45 min · Top 100 The main square of old Sibiu, about 140 by 90 metres, enclosed by merchants' houses with "eyes" in their roofs, by the Brukenthal Palace, the Jesuit church and the Council Tower. - [Piața Unirii (Union Square)](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piata-unirii) — Monuments and historic sites · Cluj-Napoca, CJ · Free · 30 min The central square of Cluj, with the Gothic St Michael's Church, the 1902 equestrian statue of Matthias Corvinus and the façades of the Bánffy Palace and the surrounding houses. ## Practical tips for the Christmas markets **Entry** is free at all the large markets in this guide. You pay for the products in the stalls, food and drinks, plus the attractions: the Ferris wheel, the ice rink, the carousel, the lift up to Santa Claus's House in Sibiu. The prices are announced by the organisers at the opening; the known ones are on the pages of the squares. **Payment.** The organisers do not publish a payment rule for the stalls; bring cash as well as a card. **Parking.** The historic centres are pedestrianised or have restricted traffic, and while the market is on the surrounding streets are partly closed. The car parks in the centre, usually paid, fill up quickly at weekends; public transport or a car park further away, a ten-minute walk off, keeps you out of the queue. **Peak times.** The busiest are Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the 1 December weekend and the last weekend before Christmas. It is quieter on weekdays, before 17:00. Opening evenings, with the lighting of the tree and a concert, are also very crowded. **The cold.** You stand for a long time, outdoors, in the evening: dress in layers, with thick shoes and gloves. **The schedule changes.** On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and 1 January, many markets have shorter hours (in Timișoara, in 2025, 11:00–16:00 on 24 and 25 December and 1 January). Check the hours on the organiser's website before you set off. **Beyond the markets.** If you want to spend Christmas in the mountains, in Maramureș, in Mărginimea Sibiului or in Bukovina, the areas and attractions open over the holidays are in the guide [Christmas in Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/craciun-in-romania). ## Frequently asked questions **When does the Craiova Christmas market open in 2026?** On 13 November 2026, in Mihai Viteazul Square, with the theme “Tărâmul Elfilor” (“The Land of the Elves”); it runs until 3 January 2027, according to Craiova City Hall's announcement. Entry is free. **What is the biggest Christmas market in Romania?** No City Hall publishes the area of its market, so there is no official ranking. The Craiova market fills Mihai Viteazul Square and the streets of the centre, runs for almost two months, and European Best Destinations presents it as the biggest in Europe, with more than 280,000 m². **What is the most beautiful Christmas market in Romania?** According to the European Best Destinations online vote in November 2025, the Craiova market, which came first in Europe with more than 142,000 votes. It is a public vote; Sibiu, Brașov and Cluj are favoured for their historic squares. **How long is the Sibiu Christmas market open?** The 2026 edition runs until 3 January 2027; it opened on 13 November. The hours are Monday to Friday 11:00–22:00 and at weekends 10:00–22:00, according to the organiser's website. **Do you have to pay to enter the Christmas markets?** No: entry is free at all the large markets in Romania, including Sibiu, Craiova, Cluj and Constitution Square. You pay for the products and the attractions, for example the Ferris wheel (30 lei in Sibiu in 2026) or the ice rink. **When does the Bucharest Christmas market open in 2026?** On 27 November 2026, in Constitution Square, and it runs until 27 December, according to Bucharest City Hall. 133 stalls, a 30 m Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel have been announced. **When does the Cluj-Napoca Christmas market open in 2026?** On 20 November 2026, in Piața Unirii, closing on 1 January 2027, the dates set in the City Hall's concession contract. The arts programme is announced close to the opening. **When does the Brașov Christmas market open in 2026?** Brașov City Hall had not officially announced the date on 4 November 2026; calendars in the press give 27 November 2026 – 3 January 2027. In 2025, the market in Council Square opened on 30 November and ran until 11 January. **Which Christmas markets have an ice rink?** Sibiu (600 m², in the Grand Square), Craiova, Oradea (in Piața Ferdinand), Alba Iulia and Arad have had an ice rink in the market. In Cluj, the ice rink is at the Winter Fair next to the Sports Hall, and in Bucharest at West Side Christmas Market in Drumul Taberei Park. **Sibiu or Craiova: which Christmas market should you go to?** Both run from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and have an ice rink. Sibiu has its market in a medieval square, Craiova a new themed set every year, spread along the streets of the centre; from Bucharest, Craiova is ~230 km away, Sibiu ~275 km. ## Sources - [Sibiu Christmas Market: the 2026 edition (organiser)](https://targuldecraciun.ro/) - [Timișoara Municipal House of Culture: rules of the 2026 Christmas Market](https://www.casadeculturatm.ro/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Regulament_Targ-de-Craciun-2026_2.pdf) - [Timișoara Municipal House of Culture: the 2025 Christmas Market](https://www.casadeculturatm.ro/targul-de-craciun-din-timisoara-2025/) - [Visit Oradea: Oradea Christmas Market](https://visitoradea.com/ro/evenimente/targul-de-craciun-oradea) - [Agerpres: Visit Oradea press release, the 2025 Christmas Market (21 November 2025)](https://agerpres.ro/comunicate/2025/11/21/comunicat-de-presa---visit-oradea--1505064) - [Bugetul.ro: the Craiova Christmas Market 2026, “Tărâmul Elfilor” (16 October 2026)](https://www.bugetul.ro/targ-craciun-craiova-deschidere-tema-inedita-turisti/) - [Wall-Street.ro: the calendar of the 2026 Christmas markets (3 October 2026)](https://www.wall-street.ro/articol/lifestyle/calendarul-targurilor-de-craciun-2026.html) - [Euronews Romania: the Bucharest Christmas Market 2026 opens on 27 November (28 October 2026)](https://www.euronews.ro/articole/targul-de-craciun-bucuresti-2026-se-deschide-pe-27-noiembrie-cand-se-aprind-lumin) - [Bugetul.ro: Ciprian Ciucu on the Bucharest Christmas Market 2026 (31 October 2026)](https://www.bugetul.ro/targ-de-craciun-pe-economie-in-bucuresti-vom-aduce-bani-mai-multi-din-sponsorizari-anunta-ciprian-ciucu/) - [Zi de Zi: the Târgu Mureș Christmas Market 2026 (23 October 2026)](https://www.zi-de-zi.ro/2026/10/23/magia-craciunului-se-intoarce-la-targu-mures/) - [G4Media: the Cluj-Napoca Christmas Market and the concession contract (20 November 2025)](https://www.g4media.ro/clujul-se-pregateste-sa-si-deschida-targul-de-craciun-in-piata-unirii-planeta-craciun-taramul-de-poveste-cu-tematica-de-sarbatori-din-universul-untold.html) - [Agerpres: Brașov, the 2025 Christmas Market opens on 30 November (16 October 2025)](https://agerpres.ro/social/2025/10/16/brasov-targul-de-craciun-se-va-deschide-pe-30-noiembrie-au-inceput-inscrierile-pentru-comercianti-si--1494165) - [Arad City Hall: the Christmas Market, 2025 edition](https://e-guvernare.primariaarad.ro/dm_arad/portal.nsf/AllByUNID/targul-de-craciun-din-arad-editia-2025-produse-de-sarbatori-colinde-activitati-pentru-copii-001269ea) - [Baia Mare City Hall: rules of the 2025 Christmas Market (Local Council Decision 443/2025)](https://www.baiamare.ro/Baiamare/Hotarari/2025/23%20octombrie/hot443_25_Targ_de_Craciun_Anexa_1_Regulament.pdf) - [Agerpres: the opening of the Pitești Christmas Market (28 November 2025)](https://agerpres.ro/social/2025/11/28/arges-aprinderea-iluminatului-festiv-si-recital-narcisa-suciu-in-deschiderea-targului-de-craciun-de---1507003) - [Digi24: the Christmas markets in Romania in 2025 (22 November 2025)](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/evenimente/cele-mai-frumoase-targuri-de-craciun-din-romania-in-2025-orasele-unde-sunt-amenajate-piete-festive-3512203) - [Agerpres: Craiova, 1st place in the European ranking of Christmas markets (27 November 2025)](https://agerpres.ro/english/2025/11/27/craiova---1st-place-in-european-rankings-of-the-most-beautiful-christmas-markets--1507152) - [G4Media: Craiova City Hall pays for promotion on European Best Destinations (28 October 2025)](https://www.g4media.ro/primaria-craiova-plateste-aproape-30-de-mii-de-euro-pentru-promovarea-la-european-best-destinations-tinteste-primul-loc-in-clasamentul-best-christmas-markets-in-europe.html) - [European Best Destinations: Craiova Christmas Market](https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/christmas-markets/craiova/) - [Spotmedia: the Craiova Christmas Market is extended by a week (2025)](https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/timp-liber/targul-de-craciun-din-craiova-desemnat-cel-mai-frumos-din-europa-se-prelungeste-cu-o-saptamana) --- Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/christmas-markets-in-romania Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/ghiduri/targuri-de-craciun-romania.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/reisefuehrer/weihnachtsmaerkte-in-rumaenien.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/guide/mercatini-di-natale-in-romania.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/guides/marches-de-noel-en-roumanie.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/guias/mercados-de-navidad-en-rumania.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/utikalauzok/karacsonyi-vasarok-romaniaban.md Last updated: 4 November 2026 Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania