When we hear “Christmas tourism in Romania“, our mind usually turns to Sibiu, Brașov, or maybe the lavish decorations in Bucharest. But in recent years, a city in Southern Romania managed to climb to the top of European rankings and become a real phenomenon – that is Craiova. The city, otherwise known for its industrial history, is transformed during Christmas into a breathtaking fairy tale, ready to compete with the biggest German and Austrian markets. Prepare for a journey filled with thousands of lights and impressive decorations, like those we have only seen in the French Alsace region! It is time to find out why Craiova deserves the title of “The Christmas capital of Romania”.
Where is located and how to get there
Craiova is located in Southern Romania, in the historical region of Oltenia, and is one of the largest cities in the country. Geographically speaking, it is conveniently located close to the northern border of Bulgaria, which makes it an extremely accessible destination from our country.
For those traveling from Western Bulgaria, the “New Europe” bridge connecting Vidin and Calafat is the best and fastest route. For those from the Eastern part of the country, like us, I would recommend using the “Danube Bridge” at Ruse. Despite the several years of ongoing repair, it remains the fastest connection to Romania. After crossing into Giurgiu, there is a new intercity road (503 – you can enter this location as an intermediate point HERE), which is brand new and still doesn’t appear as a main route in Google Maps. It leads to the main road number 6, continuing towards Alexandria.
See car rental options in Romania
For visitors from the rest of Europe, Craiova has Craiova International Airport (CRA). Low-cost airlines connect the airport to several major destinations on the old continent! With the help of bus №9 from the city transport, the connection to the city center is easy and fast.
Where to stay
Parking in Craiova, like in most larger Romanian cities, can be a bit chaotic, especially in the central areas. The large underground parking lot in the center (Parcarea subterană) absorbs the main flow of tourists in the weeks before Christmas, but even it is overcrowded on weekends. Therefore, the best advice we can give is to look for accommodation with a convenient parking option and to make sure the place is close to the center – this way you can leave your car parked for the entire stay.
We visited the city in 2024 and stayed at ContaApart. This is a building with self-contained apartments, located literally across from the center, which was extremely convenient for pedestrian access to the Christmas markets. The apartments are clean, spacious, and offer everything necessary, and communication with the hosts was very easy. Proof that we are satisfied is the fact that we plan to stay there again in 2025. Parking is available on the street in front of the building, but we managed to find a free spot with ease. The only negative is that with the growing popularity of Craiova, accommodation prices are skyrocketing every year…
See more places to stay in Craiova
The Craiova Christmas Market – General Information
It’s time for the essence of our trip to Craiova – the Christmas Market! It creates a complete experience that attracts more and more visitors from all over Europe every year. The main reason for this success is the fact that the market is spread across several key locations in the city, and each one offers a different atmosphere and focus.
Every year, the organizers choose a different theme (in 2024 it was “Beauty and the Beast,” in 2025 it is “The Nutcracker”), which guarantees that the decorations and installations are fresh and unique, and you might be surprised on a return visit. Admission to all areas of the Christmas market is absolutely free. Payment is only required for attractions like the ice rink and the Ferris wheel, as well as for food and drinks.
The Craiova Christmas Market opens in mid-November and continues to operate until the beginning of January. The Christmas huts (commercial areas) usually operate from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The light installations turn on after sunset and stay lit until late. We visited on Friday and Saturday, and while the last weekday was relatively quiet, the crowds on Saturday evening were enormous! That’s why in 2025 we have planned two nights again, but on Thursday and Friday, to calmly enjoy the Christmas magic in Craiova!
💡In 2025, Friday was also extremely busy and everywhere was overflowing with people. If you have the opportunity to visit on a weekday, I highly recommend it.
Piața William Shakespeare – The entertainment zone
The Craiova Christmas Market is intelligently distributed to offer a different experience at each location. Our first stop was Piața William Shakespeare, where children can spend several hours playing and doing various activities!
This area is a small amusement park! Here is the Ferris wheel, which is not the largest, but offers a great panoramic view of some of the light installations in the surrounding streets. Besides it, there are several carousels, a small train, bumper cars, and other interesting activities.
This part of the market is noisier and more dynamic, filled with laughter and joy. The stalls here mainly offer sweet temptations, candy, and cotton candy – ideal for boosting energy between attractions.
Along Strada Panait Moșoiu towards Piața Frații Buzești
After you finish the fun at “Shakespeare” Square, head towards Strada Panait Moșoiu – this is the next part of the magical Christmas route. This pedestrian street is exquisitely decorated with teddy bears, Christmas ornaments, and neatly wrapped gifts. The Christmas idyll is complemented by several cozy establishments, ideal for a short break.
After a short walk, you reach Piața Frații Buzești (in Google Maps the square is marked as Piața Buzeşti Brothers), where in our opinion are the most beautiful decorations in Craiova! Here you will find more stalls with mulled wine (vin fiert), lángos, and other Romanian delicacies. A two-story carousel takes center stage, attracting the youngest visitors and adding another dose of classic Christmas charm. It was difficult for us to pull a three-year-old away from it … This part of the market is more focused on photo zones (there are many Instagrammable spots) and the authentic Romanian atmosphere.
Strada Lipscani and Piața Regele Ferdinand și Regina Maria
The thousands of luminous elements, forming a light tunnel, are a natural guide for the correct direction – Strada Lipscani. The street is covered with countless lights that create a starry rain effect and are the perfect background for festive photos. It is difficult not to be captivated by the eye-catching decorations, but still be sure not to miss Pasajul Lipscani – it is worth peeking in to see its colorful stained glass.
Counting all the Christmas trees along the street with the child, we unconsciously hear a children’s choir singing Christmas songs! We have reached the church Biserica Sfântul Ilie. Even the light rain couldn’t spoil the pleasant atmosphere, on the contrary – the reflections of the thousands of lights on the wet asphalt turned the scene into an even more magical and cozy Christmas picture.
The street leads to Piața Regele Ferdinand și Regina Maria. This location is also part of the Christmas market, but it is usually dedicated to more specific or unconventional installations that change with the year’s theme. For example, during our visit in 2024, the theme here was a bit surprising and bold – an installation dedicated to “Star Wars”! To be honest, it felt strange to me, but this shows that Craiova is not afraid to experiment and combine the traditional Christmas spirit with modern trends.
The culinary zone or the food street – Calea Unirii
It’s hard for me to describe how the eyes of a Romanian cuisine lover and grill fan wander when they find themselves on Calea Unirii street … The stalls are literally overflowing with delicacies, with the focus mainly on Romanian meat specialties. Prices are slightly lower than those in central restaurants, but unfortunately, the options for tables are very limited. They are almost always full, and finding a free dining area becomes difficult, especially during peak hours.
Although everything looks very appetizing in the display cases, when it is cold outside, as it was during our visit, the meat cools down very quickly – from the moment you take it until you reach a table and start eating. This can make the consumption less pleasant, especially if you are with children whose eating happens a bit slower. We tried it on the first evening (because we managed to find a spot), but we would not repeat it on our upcoming visit in 2025.
💡I lied… tempted by the wonderful stalls, we ate there again in 2025. This time we also grabbed a palinka (Romanian brandy) and things were a little more pleasant.
Piața Alexandru Ioan Cuza – The heart of Christmas Craiova
Here is the culmination of the Craiova Christmas market – Piața Alexandru Ioan Cuza! This huge central square is the real proof that Craiova deserves the title of “The Christmas Capital of Romania”. Things here are massive, lavish, and entirely subject to the specific annual theme.
The first thing that catches the eye is the Christmas tree – it is not just big, but is often designed to be the most impressive in Romania, covered with thousands of lights that pulse to the rhythm of the festive music. The ice rink unfolds around the tree, which is one of the biggest attractions. It is beautifully lit and offers fun until late in the evening.
And the small stalls are shaped like a fairy-tale castle, gingerbread, or other thematic objects and in themselves add a magical touch to the overall appearance. Here is also the big stage, where different types of events are constantly held – concerts by local performers and choirs, children’s shows, and many others.
Santa Claus flying over the square
One of the most memorable moments that turn Craiova into a truly magical place is the installation of the flying Santa Claus. A structure is stretched over the entire square, along which Santa Claus’s sleigh passes, creating the illusion that he is actually flying over the city to deliver his gifts. This happens exactly at 6:30 PM. So be there at least around 6:00 PM to be able to take a strategic place while waiting for the white-bearded old man, because the square is bursting with people… This detail, along with the thousands of other luminous elements, makes the atmosphere absolutely unique and creates an unforgettable memory for the youngest visitors!
During our second visit, we were lucky enough to be in the square on November 27, 2025, when Craiova was crowned the best Christmas market in Europe – 2026! This was accompanied by an impressive fireworks display, adding even more magic to the spectacular event.
More decorations along Strada Alexandru Ioan Cuza and the lights of English Park
The magic of Craiova does not end only with the main squares! The city turns into a complete Christmas experience, and the decorations stretch throughout the center. Don’t miss a walk along Strada Alexandru Ioan Cuza. This street is one of the main thoroughfares of the city, which turns into a pedestrian zone every evening. You will find more great festive decorations along it!
Be sure to pass through the English Park. Attractive light installations are positioned among its trees and alleys. This creates an atmosphere of a quiet forest fairy tale and is the ideal place for a short break from the market crowds.
More sights in Craiova
If you have decided to spend a few days in Craiova, the city has things to offer outside the Christmas magic. The daylight hours are ideal for viewing the architectural and cultural sights conveniently located in the central part.
For art lovers, you can visit Muzeul de Artă Craiova. This museum is known for its rich collection of Romanian art, but it is also the place where in 1940, the Treaty of Craiova was signed, returning the territory of Southern Dobrudzha to Bulgaria – a fact that has special significance for us.
In close proximity to the center, you can also see several impressive churches. Catedrala Mitropolitană „Sfântul Mare Mucenic Dimitrie” is the main spiritual center of Oltenia, while Biserica Maicii Domnului din Craiova impresses with classical architecture. If you want to immerse yourself in the history of the region, visit Muzeul de Istorie și Arheologie al Olteniei (the Museum of History and Archaeology), which gives an excellent overview of the region’s past.
Places to eat in Craiova
After hours of wandering among the thousands of lights and the cold, good food is a must! The culinary scene in Craiova is a pleasant surprise – it offers an excellent combination of delicious traditional Romanian cuisine in classic beer houses, modern brunch spots for a lazy start to the day, and an abundance of boutique pastry shops that tempt with perfect desserts. Of course, during the busy Christmas period, finding a free table is very difficult, but with an advance reservation and a little luck, it is not impossible. In a detailed article, we have set aside all the Places to Eat in Craiova that we visited!
For a final
Unlike most articles on the site, only photos taken with a phone were used for this one… The camera stayed in the hotel so we could fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere, without being distracted by settings, lenses, and searching for the perfect shot. And in the end, the Craiova Christmas market pleasantly charmed us! It is not just a collection of a few stalls, but a lavish and massive experience, spread throughout the entire city center! With its thematic decorations, incredible light installations, and bold approach to attractions, Craiova manages to create a real Christmas fairy tale. If you are looking for a European Christmas market that combines the scale of the big Western cities with easier accessibility and a unique Romanian spirit, Craiova is the right destination.
