Český Krumlov Christmas Markets 2026 Below the Castle

The Český Krumlov Christmas markets fill Náměstí Svornosti below the castle from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Here are the dates, the tree lighting, the weekend program and a tip for pairing the market with a game in town.

This year, the Christmas markets in Český Krumlov will once again light up Náměstí Svornosti (Concord Square) below the castle. The market opens on November 20, 2026 and closes on January 3, 2027. The stalls stand right in the historic center, so you don’t need to travel anywhere else for Advent. On Advent weekends, music and other side events are added to the mix. Below you’ll find the dates, what the stalls offer, details on the tree lighting and a plan for combining the market with a game in the Old Town lanes.

Advent at a Glance

We’ve gathered everything you need to plan your trip in one place, so you don’t have to search for long.

Daily opening hours are left out of this overview on purpose. Check them for this year’s market in the town’s events calendar before you go.

• Dates: November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027
• Location: Náměstí Svornosti in the town’s historic center
• Tree lighting: the first Sunday of Advent
• Side events: every Advent weekend
• At the stalls: food and drink specialties, including traditional punch
• Street game: Treasure Hunt Český Krumlov, 2 to 3 hours

When the Market Runs

The market opens before the first Sunday of Advent and stays open into the new year. The whole season starts on November 20, 2026, and the last day is January 3, 2027.

That means you can plan your Krumlov visit outside Advent weekends too. If you’d rather shop for gifts in peace, you have the whole week. If you’re coming mainly for the music, head there on a weekend, since every Advent weekend brings music and other side events.

The market runs into the new year, so you can also plan the trip for the days off after Christmas. Check holiday opening hours in advance, though.

What the Stalls Offer

Good food and drink are the foundation. The stalls serve food and drink specialties, including traditional punch.

There’s room for gifts as well. You can buy Christmas goods here, and among the stalls you’ll find handmade crafts, Christmas decorations and gifts.

Save the punch for after dark. The square, surrounded by historic houses, looks completely different in the evening lights than at noon, and a warm mug in your hand simply belongs to an evening stroll.

The Tree Lighting

The big moment comes on the first Sunday of Advent, when the Christmas tree lights up on the square.

If you want to stand close to the tree, arrive early and buy your punch before it starts. With small children, it pays to stay near the edge of the square, where you can easily leave if you need to.

Check the exact lighting time for this year in the town’s events calendar.

Weekend Program

The side events on the square stick to Advent weekends.

A typical Advent weekend offers both music and family entertainment. Bands and musicians from Krumlov and South Bohemia play, along with guests from other parts of the country. Sunday afternoons are mainly reserved for the family program.

The town’s events calendar publishes this year’s performers and show times. They make it easy to decide whether to come earlier or save your visit for Sunday afternoon with the kids.

Krampuslauf in the Streets

Advent in Krumlov also has a darker side, embodied by the Krampuslauf.

Demonic creatures with horns, chains and bells take to the streets to punish sinners.

For small children, it’s a very intense experience. Prepare them in advance, or watch the procession from a safe distance. The event belongs to the St. Nicholas season; the events calendar will publish the exact date and route.

Why Krumlov

The Krumlov market has a reputation beyond the Czech border. In the British newspaper The Times’ ranking of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe, it placed 9th out of 24.

Rankings only tell part of the story, though. The town itself makes the difference: winding lanes, steps up to the castle and the Vltava, whose meander wraps around the historic center. In winter it gets dark early, so an ordinary walk quickly turns into a voyage of discovery.

If you only know Krumlov from summer, you’ll see a completely different town during Advent. Less sun, more lights in the shop windows and a square that naturally gathers around the stalls in the evening.

The Market Plus a Game

The market fills your evening nicely, but the afternoon stays free. Our Treasure Hunt Český Krumlov game guides you through the Old Town with tablets or phones and our GPS app. You see the treasures right on the map on your screen, and the questions are tied to the specific places you’re walking past.

In the Treasure Hunt app, you see all the treasures on the map at once and choose the order yourself. Each game keeps a team busy for 2 to 3 hours, so you’ll easily finish it in daylight and reach the square just as the stalls light up.

For families, it’s a great way to keep up the pace and the curiosity among the landmarks. Instead of a long history lecture, the kids play to find more treasures, and the adults answer questions about houses they would otherwise walk past without a second glance.

Advent with Your Colleagues

A pre-Christmas outing with colleagues works just like a family trip: the game in the afternoon, the market in the evening.

Team-building GPS games for companies are team activities in which colleagues have to communicate and solve tasks together. After the game, the team naturally stays together and moves on to the market stalls.

We’ve been running Treasure Hunts since 2013. For a corporate group, we provide full-service event management, bring the tablets and instructors, or hand you a self-guided version of the game.

How to Plan the Day

A day in Krumlov during Advent is best planned around daylight.

With kids, schedule the game earlier so their energy lasts for the evening on the square.

• Morning: a first stroll around Náměstí Svornosti and some gift shopping
• After lunch: start Treasure Hunt Český Krumlov while it’s still light
• At dusk: head back to the square among the lit-up stalls
• Evening: punch and, on weekends, the side events on the square

FAQ

When are the Christmas markets in Český Krumlov?

This year’s market runs from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

Where is the market held?

On Náměstí Svornosti in the town’s historic center.

When is the Christmas tree lit?

The tree lights up on the first Sunday of Advent.

When are the side events on the square?

Music and other side events take place on Advent weekends; check the exact schedule in the events calendar.

How long does the game in Krumlov take?

Treasure Hunt Český Krumlov keeps a team busy for 2 to 3 hours.

You’ll enjoy the Český Krumlov Christmas markets most when you give them a whole day, not just an hour among the stalls. We’ve walked the Krumlov route in detail, so in the afternoon the treasures will lead you into lanes you wouldn’t turn into on your own, and at dusk you’ll end up on Náměstí Svornosti among the lit-up stalls. Drop us a line, tell us which Advent weekend you’re planning, and we’ll gladly get the game ready for you.

Want to try it out?

Treasure Hunt Český Krumlov

Our instructors run the game with tablets, or you start it yourselves on your phones. Tell us the number of people and the date, we will get back to you the same day.

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