Brasov Christmas Markets & Festive Celebrations 2026

The city of Brasov is a great place to visit for a winter holiday or for the Christmas markets. The town has a lot going on around the markets, and lots of Christmas decorations, too.

It’s a great, different place to spend Christmas. There are many traditions that are fully embraced and seem less commercialised. Spending the festive season in Brasov was a real treat and something very different for me.

When Are The 2026 Festive Events?

The Brasov Christmas markets take place from 24th November 2026 until 3rd January 2027. The markets are open daily from 10 am until 10 pm unless there’s entertainment on, when they stay open later.

What To Expect At Brasov Christmas Market

Christmas Decorations & Lights

The streets of Brasov have impressive decorations throughout the old town. These were a pleasure to walk through after dark and really added to the vibe.

The famous Hollywood-style Brasov sign on the mountain overlooking the town was colourful. It changed colours frequently during the festive season. A pleasant touch. They adorned many of the major buildings with lights throughout the period. These were pretty special. Also, most businesses embraced the festivities and had great festive decorations.

The Brasov Christmas Tree

Smack bang in the middle of Council Square next to City Hall is a giant Christmas tree. This is the centrepiece of the decorations, with all the attractions and the Christmas market nearby. This is a rather impressive tree and very photogenic all around the square.

Christmas Markets In The Main Square

Brașov hosts a Christmas market in Council Square, which in summer looks completely different, with many people dining there. The market wasn’t the biggest that I had been to. Then again, those that we visited before were world-famous markets. There are also many other festive markets in Romania to enjoy, some of which are a short day trip away.

Christmas Market Stalls

The stalls sold a variety of local produce, some ideal things for gifts for the festive season. Many of these are handmade locally, including jewellery, clothing, and accessories. Local food products were also on sale, including cheeses, cold cuts and honey.

There were many stalls selling warm Christmassy drinks. These were ideal on a cold winter’s evening. Drinks included warm ciders, mulled wines, and other options laced with Christmas flavours.

One of my favourite Christmas stalls was selling jams and chutney, something I enjoy with cheese. They had some great flavours, including a garlic jam. You can find many others selling local cakes, cured meats and cheeses.

Other stalls sell handicrafts, souvenirs, arts, and festive decorations that make perfect gifts for tourists. Most accept cash and card; however, some are cash-only.

Nativity Santa’s Grotto & Rides

Also in the main square is a carousel and Santa’s grotto for children to enjoy while visiting the market. At the edge near the Black Church is a cool nativity scene.

Festive Bars & Restaurants

The format of bars and restaurants in Brasov changes in the winter months from mainly outdoor seating to indoor seating. This sometimes makes the venue busier than in the warmer months due to reduced seating capacity.

However, aside from the New Year celebrations, it wasn’t a struggle to find an empty table in the Old Town area. One of my favourite places for a meal out at Christmas is Casa Tudor, as it has amazing food, entertainment, and decorations.

Christmas Shopping

What’s Christmas without giving a few gifts to those close to you? There are many options for places to purchase Christmas gifts. First up, you have the stalls at the Christmas markets in the city centre.

There are a few malls in the city, including AFI and Coresi. Both malls have Christmas decorations and are fun places to visit during the festive period. Carrefour Supermarket in the Astra district is also great for purchasing festive food and supplies.

Are Shops Open?

Most shops closed on the key days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. However, some stayed closed for longer over the festive period. Many had festive decorations throughout the Christmas period.

We found that some of the 24/7 shops, local stores and petrol stations were open. Also, at the Christmas markets in the city centre, a few places were open. The longest fast-food queue I’ve ever seen was at the Arsta McDonald’s drive-through on Boxing Day.

Traditional Family Events

Cutting The Pig

Pork plays a central part in Romanian Christmases, and there are traditions tied to this. Families traditionally purchase a pig for the festivities, and it’s traditionally slaughtered on the 20th of December, or St Ignatius Day. Families then process the meat into cuts for the festivities, make sausages and store some for the rest of the winter.

To honour the pig and enjoy the fresh pork, they hold a wake for it. This involved quite a feast, along with some tuica and wine.

Christmas Eve & Day Celebrations

I celebrated a traditional Christmas with my extended family in Brasov and went with the flow. It mainly centred around food and drink, much of which was homemade and delicious. Christmas Eve is a big thing, with large family groups getting together for a bit of a feast. Dishes mostly included pork in one form or another. Sarmale, a traditional stuffed cabbage dish, was a delight. They serve this at most celebrations in Transylvania.

What I called Kentucky Fried Brain was on the menu. This was delicious in terms of taste, but I was not so keen on the texture. There were roasted meats galore with carb and vegetable options. One standout condiment was a combination of beetroot and horseradish. This really was delicious, and I have gained some since my trip to spice up dishes.

To make me feel at home, they gave me a turkey to cook – great fun. I embraced this and incorporated Romanian influences into the cooking. Stuffed the turkey with a mixture of local spicy sausage, onion, garlic, and loads of herbs. I basted it and dusted it with smoky paprika to create a spicy, crispy skin. This turned out well and was certainly more flavourful than plain old turkey. The day was great fun, exchanging little gifts and grazing on great food while getting slightly tipsy.

Is Brasov Worth Visiting For Christmas?

I’ve really enjoyed my visits to Brasov for the Christmas holidays. However, if you don’t enjoy the short days and cold weather, it might not be the best time for you to visit. Highlights of this time of year for me include the Christmas markets and lights. The nearby snow-covered mountains are also a big plus for me.