Subotica is an enchanting Serbian town just a few kilometers with the Hungarian border. It’s a great destination to visit year-round because the city’s beauty is in its amazing Art Nouveau architecture along with natural sites like Lake Palic. However, if you’re visiting Subotica in December or January, make sure to visit Winterfest, the Subotica Christmas Market!
Keep in mind that Serbia celebrates Christmas on January 7th and Christmas Eve is on January 6th, so if you’re used to celebrating on December 25th you’ll love being able to enjoy the Christmas season for a bit longer here! The Christmas Market in Subotica stays open much later into January than many other European Christmas Markets!
We spoke with the Subotica Tourist Organization to help you get everything you need to plan the perfect visit to the Subotica Christmas Market this year!
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How to Visit the Subotica Christmas Market
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip to the Subotica Christmas Market:
What are the dates and times for the 2019 Subotica Christmas Market?
The Subotica Christmas Market, called Winterfest, opens on December 5th, 2019 and runs until January 13th, 2020. Opening times vary by venue. Exhibitors at Winterfest will stay open quite late, some stay open very late in the evening.
Where is the Subotica Winterfest located?
What kind of entertainment will there be for adults?
What kind of entertainment will there be for children?
For children there will be a lot of delicious sweets and, of course, ice skating at the city rink, just a few meters from the center. Ergela Kelebija also organizes an annual winter riding camp for children
What kind of goods will be for sale?
The goods are mostly traditional Serbian crafts. There are regular souvenirs, Christmas ornaments, gifts, great food and drinks, and a great variety of other items for sale at the booths.
What kind of food and drinks will be available?
At Winterfest, you can find traditional and homemade food, mulled wine (gluhwein) and rum, tea, and many other things to warm you up on cold nights! One thing you shouldn’t miss to taste is kurosh cake!
Is there a ticket price to get into the events?
Are there any other special festivities in Subotica this December or January that travelers might want to attend?
How can travelers learn more?
Our organization has prepared a free walking tour for visitors and citizens, every Wednesday at 10 am and every Saturday at 1 pm. The meeting point is near the blue fountain in the center of town. There are a lot of events outside of the town which are also very interesting. Stop by the tourist center at city hall for a map of the city and list of events.
We have our recommendations and resources for visiting Subotica below. I want to thank the Subotica Tourist Organization for answering our questions about this spectacular event! For more detailed information about the market, check out Visit Subotica.
Where to stay in Subotica
We’re in the process of creating comprehensive guides on where to stay in various Serbian cities, but for now, we recommend checking out Booking.com as early as possible since this is a popular time to visit the city.
If you’ll also be spending time in other parts of Serbia, here are our recommendations for where to stay in Belgrade and Kopaonik.
What to Pack for Serbia
We have a full Serbia 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. Lonely Planet Western Balkans is the main guidebook we recommend for Serbia, as it covers the country well plus others in the region.
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.
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.
Read Next: Essential Serbia Packing List: What to Wear & What to Pack for Serbia
More Serbia Travel Resources
If this is your first trip to Serbia, check out our guide to planning a trip to Serbia and Serbia travel advice.
Headed to nearby Novi Sad? Start with our guide to the best things to do in Novi Sad and our 2-day Novi Sad itinerary. We also have a guide of the best Instagram spots in Novi Sad as well as what to do in Novi Sad in winter and how to visit the Novi Sad Christmas Market.
Most people also allocate some time for Belgrade – where we have tons of resources. We have this mega-guide to 101 things to do in Belgrade, the most Instagrammable spots in Belgrade, what to do in Belgrade in winter, and the best Belgrade street art. We also have a Serbian souvenir guide and Serbian wine guide if you want to do some shopping.
If you love guided tours, here are eleven great Belgrade tours to pick from. If you want to get out of the city for a day, here are our guide to Belgrade day trips and what you should know before renting a car in Serbia. We also have lists of our favorite places to visit in Serbia and the best Serbian towns and cities if you need more day trip inspiration.
We have tons more Serbia and Balkans resources, and we publish new content nearly daily. Bookmark our Serbia and Balkans travel pages so you can find any new resources that come out before your trip!
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
If you’re planning a trip to Serbia, it’s a good idea to travel with a valid travel insurance policy, so that you will be covered in case of an emergency. Travel insurance covers you in case of theft or an accident, which can save your trip if there’s an incident, fall (a big winter risk!), or cancellation or trip interruption.
For travel insurance, I use World Nomads. I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.
>>Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.<<
Pin this Guide to Visiting the Christmas Market in Subotica for Your Trip!
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.
