Kranjska Gora, the charming Alpine mountain village near the shores of Lake Janska, is located near Slovenia’s borders with Austria and Italy. As such, Christmas in Kranjska Gora is a wonderful mix of Germanic, Slavic, and Italian traditions, making it one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in Slovenia! The Kranjska Gora Christmas Market, or Alpine Village Kranjska Gora, is a must-see for anyone looking for some Slovenian Christmas cheer!
We spoke with Elizabeta S. from the Tourism Board Kranjska Gora, to get the best insider tips so you can plan a flawless visit to Kranjska Gora at Christmas.
Read Next: 13 Delightful Things to Do in Slovenia in Winter for a Fairytale Escape
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How to Visit the Kranjska Gora Christmas Market
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip to the Alpine Village Kranjska Gora this year to celebrate Advent in Kranjska Gora:
What are the dates and times for the 2019 Kranjska Gora Christmas Market?
Photo courtesy of the Archive of the Tourism Board Kranjska Gora
The Kranjska Gora Christmas Market opens on November 30th, 2019, and it closes with New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31st, 2019.
Where is the Alpine Village Kranjska Gora located?
Photo courtesy of the Archive of the Tourism Board Kranjska Gora
The Christmas Market is set up in the Kranjska Gora Town Square in front of The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
What kind of entertainment will there be for adults?
Of course, you’ll want to start with some shopping at the stalls, but there are also special concerts and musical events to enjoy. If you’re coming to Kranjska Gora to ski, you can enjoy some of the special December apres-ski events to relax and unwind while staying festive!
What kind of entertainment will there be for children?
Photo courtesy of the Archive of the Tourism Board Kranjska Gora
There will be children’s music performances and special concerts for children, plus appearances by Santa Clause (St. Claus). There is also a special Live Nativity nearby in Mojstrana offered between Christmas and New Year’s.
What kind of goods will be for sale?
The goods are mostly traditional Slovenian crafts (which are some of the best in the world!). If you want some ideas of what to buy in Slovenia, here are our favorite Slovenian souvenirs. Of course, in addition to regular Slovenian souvenirs, you’ll find Christmas and Advent themed crafts, ornaments, and gifts.
What kind of food and drinks will be available?
The market serves traditional Slovenian cuisine, mulled wine, tea, and other treats to warm you up on a cold night! Bring cash, since the vendors do not take credit cards!
Is there a ticket price to get into the events?
Are there any other special festivities in Kranjska Gora this November, December, or January that travelers might want to attend?
For anyone interested in the Krampus tradition, there is a Krampus-themed event called the Fire Spectacle held towards the end of November. You can learn more about it here.
There are many events held throughout December. One especially interesting one is the Blessing of Horses, held on St. Stephen’s Day, which is December 26th. You can find out more about this year’s event here.
On New Year’s Eve, the Christmas Market hosts its last night with a big party. There are fireworks, champagne, and crowds full of cheer. You can check for more information here.
Is there anything else you would want a visitor coming to Kranjska Gora this winter to know before they visit?
There will be a free shuttle running around the Municipality to help you get around. There are a lot of other events outside of the town which are also very interesting. Make sure to visit the Advent Market and the Live Nativity in Mojstrana.
How can travelers learn more?
We have our recommendations and resources for visiting Kranjska Gora below. I want to thank Elizabeta S. from the Tourism Board Kranjska Gora for answering our questions about this spectacular event! For more detailed information about the market, check out their website, which has lots of great resources!
Where to stay in Kranjska Gora
We’re in the process of creating comprehensive guides on where to stay in various Slovenian cities, but for now, we recommend checking out Booking.com as early as possible since this is a popular time to visit the city.
What to Pack for Slovenia in Winter
We have a full Slovenia packing list, but in case you just want the quick version, here are a few essentials you shouldn’t forget to pack!
A good guidebook: While travel blogs are great, we still think a good guidebook is always handy. We suggest Lonely Planet Slovenia if you’ll be traveling quite a bit around the country, or if you are planning a multi-country Balkan trip, Lonely Planet Western Balkans includes Slovenia and many of its neighbors.
One or two swimsuits: While swimsuits may not come to mind for ski season, if you’re staying in a ski resort with a sauna, indoor pool, or steam room, you’ll likely want one! We suggest bringing two so you never have to put a cold wet one back on. We love this one.
Plenty of winter clothing: You can check our packing list above for our full winter packing suggestions for men and women. At a minimum, you’ll want to bring a warm winter jacket (I love this North Face parka), cozy snow boots, warm wool socks, touch-screen friendly gloves, a scarf, and a winter hat.
Any ski equipment and clothing: We’re not skiers ourselves, so we don’t have specific ski gear equipment, but special ski clothes — waterproof pants and jackets, goggles, etc. — and ski gear obviously should be on your packing list, unless you have decided to rent it all when you arrive at your Slovenia ski resort.
Moisturizer: Travel will beat your skin up in the best of times — and winter travel in addition to skiing will do a number on it! If you use a moisturizer at home, bring it. If you’ve never used a moisturizer before, you really should start. You’ll be happy to give your face a boost before heading outside in the cold all day.
Sunscreen: We strongly suggest wearing sunscreen when you spend time outdoors, no matter the weather outside. The higher altitudes combined with the reflection of the sun off the snow can lead to unexpected sunburns. I love this solid Neutrogena sunscreen – it’s mess-free, works well in carry-ons, is ultra-protective, and blends in well.
Read Next: Essential Slovenia Packing List: What to Wear & Pack for Slovenia
More Slovenia Travel Resources
If you’re just starting to prepare for your trip to Slovenia, read our guide to planning a trip to Slovenia which features an 11-step checklist!
Most visitors will spend time in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s wonderful capital. If you’ll be in Ljubljana in December, here’s how to visit the Ljubljana Christmas Market.
If you know you’ll be coming to Lake Bled near Christmas, check out our guide to the Lake Bled Christmas Market, the best things to do in Bled in winter, and how to celebrate Christmas in Bled. And check out the best things to do in Slovenia in winter if you’ll be seeing more of the country.
If you’re an avid photographer, you’ll find our Instagram guide to Bled helpful (Ljubljana on the way!).
Coming to Slovenia solo? Here’s our guide to staying safe in Slovenia.
If you need more Slovenia travel inspiration, check out the best places to visit in Slovenia, the best Slovenian castles, the most breath-taking Slovenian waterfalls, and what Slovenian souvenirs you should bring home.
We publish new content nearly every day! Bookmark our pages on Slovenia and the Balkans so that you don’t miss out on any new info or resources that we publish before your trip!
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
I’m sure you’re aware that travel insurance is a good idea for traveling in Slovenia (or really, any part of the world)! Allison and I have both been paying customers of World Nomads for the last three years. We love the peace of mind it gives us in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption.
While the Balkans are perfectly safe to travel around, there’s always a risk inherent in everyday travel (especially during the winter!) so it’s better to play it safe.
>> Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here <<
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Stephanie has been living in and traveling around the Balkans for the past three years. She’s written for National Geographic Online, appeared on CNN Arabic and in the New York Times, and ridden more Balkan buses than is good for a person.
