Bucharest Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Hours and Getting There

At a glance

Dates: 27 November – 27 December 2026
Where: Piața Constituției, in front of the Palace of the Parliament
Entry: Free; the Ferris wheel and the carousel are paid
Hours: As a rule, Monday–Friday 12:00–22:00, Saturday–Sunday 10:00–22:00
Organiser: Bucharest City Hall, through AEUB (Arte și Evenimente Urbane București)
Metro: Izvor (M1, M3) or Piața Unirii (M1, M2, M3)

What we know about the 2026 market

For 2026 the organiser has announced Santa's house, a Ferris wheel, a carousel and the Christmas tree, concerts, shows and activities for children, stalls with work by local craftspeople and makers, seasonal decorations, and a food area.

The operator of the Ferris wheel and the carousel is chosen at the end of October, so their ticket prices are not known yet. The organiser's documentation requires at least one wheel cabin for people with disabilities and an access ramp, and a ramp for the carousel; under the same documentation, people with disabilities, children under 3 and children at risk ride free.

Food and drink

The market rules set aside a category for traditional food cooked on site, with examples such as sarmale, pomana porcului (fried pork with polenta), beans with smoked pork knuckle, braised cabbage, sausages and skewers, plus separate categories for mulled wine and coffee. The list of accepted stallholders is published on 3 November.

Paying

Stallholders must have a till and a card terminal, except folk craftspeople and beekeepers registered as private individuals; carry some cash for the folk-craft and honey stalls. Everything on sale has to be made by the seller, and single-use plastic is not allowed.

What is different this year

In 2025 the market in Piața Constituției ran from 29 November to 28 December and was organised by the City Hall through CREART. This year CREART, ARCUB and other city cultural institutions were merged into AEUB, which runs the 2026 edition. Last winter the City Hall also ran markets in Piața Universității and on the National Opera esplanade; so far, only the Piața Constituției market has been announced for 2026. The date of the Christmas lights switch-on has not been announced yet.

Getting to Piața Constituției

The metro is the easiest way. Izvor station (M1, M3) is next to the Palace of the Parliament, and from Piața Unirii (M1, M2, M3) it is about a kilometre on foot along Bulevardul Unirii.

From Obor, take M1 towards Ștefan cel Mare (not towards Piața Iancului) and get off at Izvor, nine stops later, with no change. From the airport, bus 100 ends at Piața Unirii.

On some evenings last year traffic was restricted on parts of Bulevardul Libertății and Bulevardul Unirii. Restrictions for 2026 have not been announced, but if you drive, expect heavy traffic and little parking around the square. Bolt and Uber are widely used in Bucharest.

Other Christmas markets in Bucharest

The other winter markets in Bucharest have not announced their 2026 dates yet. For reference, this is what ran last winter:

Piața Universității, City Hall market, 29 November – 28 December 2025.
National Opera esplanade, City Hall market with the Ministry of Culture and the National Opera, 6 – 28 December 2025.
West Side Christmas Market, Drumul Taberei Park, 28 November – 27 December 2025, free entry.
Crăciunul Nordului, Romexpo, 28 November 2025 – 4 January 2026, free entry.
Winter Wonderland, Piața Alba Iulia, 27 November 2025 – 7 January 2026.
Tărâmul de Gheață, Lumea Copiilor Park, 27 November – 28 December 2025.
Târgul Metropolitan al Iernii, Circul Metropolitan, Parcul Circului (Sector 2), 1 December 2025 – 8 January 2026, with food trucks, an ice rink and a carousel.

Romanian Christmas food and drink

Vin fiert, Romanian mulled wine, in a painted ceramic mug with cinnamon, star anise and orange — Vin fiert, Romanian mulled wine.

Traditional Romanian Christmas food is largely pork-based. Traditionally the pig is slaughtered on Ignat, 20 December, and the meat goes into the dishes of the holiday table: sarmale (cabbage rolls), fresh sausages, tobă (pork head cheese in a casing), caltaboș (liver sausage), jumări (pork scratchings), piftie (pork in aspic) and roast pork. The sweet part of the table is cozonac, a rich sweet bread often filled with walnuts. Our recipe pages linked here are in Romanian.

A common winter drink is vin fiert, Romanian mulled wine: red wine heated with spices and fruit. The Christmas market rules have a separate category of stalls for it.

After the market: a Romanian dinner at Ceaun

We are Restaurant Ceaun, at Strada Maica Domnului 54, Sector 2, between Obor and Tei, in a residential part of the city. If you want a sit-down Romanian meal away from the crowds in the centre, the winter dishes on our menu include:

Prices are from our English menu. From the centre the simplest way here is Bolt or Uber, roughly 15 minutes depending on traffic. Book ahead for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Book a table See the menu

Planning more of your trip

Things to do in Bucharest What to eat in Bucharest Obor Market Bucharest flea market Casa Capșa Romanian cuisine guide

Frequently asked questions

When is the Bucharest Christmas Market 2026?

From Friday 27 November to Sunday 27 December 2026, in Piața Constituției, in front of the Palace of the Parliament.

What are the opening hours?

According to the organiser's documents, the market is open as a rule from 12:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday and from 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Days with special hours are announced by the organiser.

Is entry free?

Yes. The Ferris wheel and the carousel are paid; their prices are set once the operator is chosen.

How do I get to the Christmas market by metro?

Take the metro to Izvor (M1, M3), next to the Palace of the Parliament, or to Piața Unirii (M1, M2, M3), about a kilometre away on foot.

Can I pay by card at the stalls?

The rules require a till and a card terminal from all stallholders except folk craftspeople and beekeepers registered as private individuals, so carry some cash for those stalls.

Are there other Christmas markets in Bucharest in 2026?

So far only the Piața Constituției market has been announced. Last winter there were also markets in Piața Universității, on the National Opera esplanade, in Drumul Taberei Park, at Romexpo, in Piața Alba Iulia, in Lumea Copiilor Park and at Circul Metropolitan.

Information checked on 19 October 2026.

Bucharest Christmas Market 2026: dates, location and getting there