Christmas Market Craiova Romania 2024
Greetings from Romania! This time, we set out on a short trip to visit the magical Christmas Market organized in Craiova.
By chance, we had the opportunity to explore Craiova with our family. We departed from Bucharest to Craiova by bus, a journey of about three hours. By 9:00 AM, we were already on the road, and I even managed to rest a bit along the way. The trip went smoothly, and we arrived on time. Despite the rainy weather during the journey, the sun came out as we reached Craiova, blessing us with pleasant weather for our visit.
Our first stop was the bus parking area in the city center. From there, we visited the Metropolitan Cathedral “Saint Demetrius”, which is close to the Ethnographic Museum of Oltenia. We decided to skip the museum this time and instead walked to Craiova’s Old Town. I must admit, I had low expectations and estimated that 2–3 hours would be enough to explore. Oh, how wrong I was!
After just 10 minutes of walking, we arrived at Piața Mihai Viteazul, where the Christmas Market is hosted. And wow – Craiova’s Christmas Market is truly unique!
Next, we headed to the Craiova Art Museum for our scheduled visit. Although it was very crowded and appointments were not strictly followed due to the holiday season, it was worth the wait. The architecture of the building is stunning, and the paintings on display were impressive.
After the museum visit, we returned to the Christmas Market to explore as much as possible. I was amazed by how well-organized and delightful everything was. There was an open-air concert with carol singers, an outdoor ice skating rink for children, and the entire Old Town was adorned with Christmas garlands and lights. A carousel and a giant Ferris wheel offered stunning panoramic views of the city, while a small amusement park delighted the children.
At 6:30 PM, the highlight of the day arrived – Santa Claus made a grand entrance on a sleigh in the square, much to the joy of the visitors. The main street, usually bustling with traffic, was completely closed off for pedestrians, creating a festive and safe environment for everyone.
Everything was extraordinary! I had no idea this destination existed, but I will certainly return. This trip showed me that one day isn’t enough – next time, a weekend stay is a must.
Thank you, Craiova! Your Christmas Market is exceptionally beautiful, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to experience it with our family.
