Christmas Markets & Winter Holidays in Romania 2026

Romania is a beautiful country to visit in the winter, especially during the annual Christmas markets. Most of the cities in Romania have their own Christmas markets, which typically take place each December.

In addition to the Christmas markets, Romania is a fantastic winter sports destination. There are many options for ski resorts and hikes in the snow-covered mountains.

Christmas Markets in Romania

Details of the Christmas Markets I’ve visited in Romania on my various winter visits.

Târgul de Crăciun din Brașov

Brasov Christmas Market is a fun place to be, especially if you enjoy the festive season. The streets of Brasov’s old town have some impressive decorations throughout. These look fantastic when walking through the city and add to the festive vibe. On Mount Tampa, overlooking the city, the famous Hollywood-style Brasov sign was lit up in seasonal colours, and it was nice to see.

The Brasov Christmas markets take place in Council Square, the city’s main square. The centrepiece of the square is the giant tree. The tree is rather impressive and nicely decorated.

They often host events in the evenings and feature a stage for live music performances across many genres. The stalls sold a variety of local produce, festive gifts and more. Many of these are handmade locally, including jewellery, clothing, and accessories. Local food products were also on sale.

There were many stalls selling warm, Christmassy drinks, including ciders, mulled wine, and other options. You can also buy street food to eat while perusing the markets and having fun. I’ve enjoyed visiting the city’s festive market many times, and it’s a great night out.

They also have an outside ice rink each winter for some fun. This is near Bastionul Țesătorilor, which is a fun option for a winter activity. If staying in the city, there are many hotel options in Brasov.

The city’s shopping malls, including AFI and Coresi, both embrace the festive period and are nicely decorated. They are also fantastic places to visit for some Christmas shopping. If you enjoy winter sports, the nearby Poiana Brasov Ski Resort is a popular place for skiing.

The 2026 event takes place from 24th November 2026 until 3rd January 2027.

Târgul de Crăciun din Sibiu

Sibiu is a pretty city in the Transylvania region of Romania and is a wonderful place to visit in winter. The old upper town is a beautiful place with lots of historic buildings. The town’s main square is home to the annual Christmas market, Târgul de Crăciun din Sibiu.

The market is held in Piața Mare and features lots of stalls and some excellent entertainment. It also has a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and an ice rink among the entertainment options at the event. The square has lots of pleasant lights and a decorative tree as its centrepiece.

The stalls mostly sell food, drinks and gifts. Some of these are rather unique, and others sell the usual festive market products. For drinks, they have mulled drinks, wines, and other hot drink options. The stalls and rides are open each day from mid-morning until well after dark.

In addition to the main event, Târgul de Crăciun din Sibiu in Piața Mare, the town has many other Christmas decorations. Overall, Sibiu is a wonderful place to visit, including during the winter holidays.

The 2026 festivities take place between 13th November and 3rd January.

Cluj-Napoca Festive Winter Market

Each year, in the main Unirii Square in Cluj-Napoca, there is the Cluj Christmas Market. The festive market runs from late November until New Year’s Day each year. Piata Unirii is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year, surrounded by striking buildings. The main sight in the square is St Michael’s Church, a stunning Roman Catholic cathedral.

During the Cluj-Napoca Christmas markets, the square is nicely decorated. The centrepiece is an enormous Christmas tree with lights and presents underneath. The entrances to the square all have arches decorated with lights. They have funfair rides, including a Ferris wheel, and lots of stalls to buy festive goods. You can also enjoy street food while enjoying entertainment on the main stage at the event.

The rest of the city is pretty vibrant too, with many buildings decorated. Things are going on at churches and restaurants as they embrace the festive period. The Iulius Shopping Mall in the city also embraces the festive fun. They have a small market outside and have wonderful Christmas decorations inside. Thus, it’s a great place to shop.

Takes Place From 21st November 2026 until 1st January 2027.

Alba Iulia

We visited the Alba Iulia Christmas market and really enjoyed it. They hold it in the main square of the Alba Carolina Citadel, which makes for an amazing backdrop. The square is nicely decorated and gorgeous to see.

There are many things to do at this Christmas market, including skating on the ice rink, attending concerts, and visiting a Santa grotto. They also have various festive stalls in the market selling gifts and decorations. There are also food stalls where you can enjoy festive street food. To wash this down, they have bars selling mulled drinks, including mulled wine or cider.

The Citadel is an amazing attraction and well worth exploring before a fun evening in the festive markets. The two cathedrals nearby are also well worth visiting. A highlight for me was the lights on the fortress walls and gates, which were really pretty.

The 2026 Markets in the Citadel run from late November until late December.

Deva Winter Fair

The Deva Christmas market takes place in the main town centre and has lots of nice decorations and stalls. It’s a fun place to visit, and the fortress overlooking the city is a nice backdrop.

The main church in the Romanian city, Biserica Buna Vestire, had some wonderful lights. The Christmas market had many stalls selling local produce and gifts. It is a great way to spend the evening out in Deva and enjoy some Christmassy food and drinks. Various stalls sell mulled drinks, which are delicious.

The city is pleasant, but we had issues with stray dogs on our visit; however, the fortress is great. I recommend visiting Corvin Castle, a short trip if staying in the city.