The best Christmas markets in Sydney for festive food and shopping

The ever-popular Carriageworks Farmers Markets is putting on a special Christmas edition on Saturday, December 20. Expect more than 100 stalls from market faves to guest vendors plus extended hours from 8am to 3pm. There's sure to be many merry additions to the usual farm-fresh produce, like  hocks of ham, Christmas puddings and festive fruitcakes. 

Cue 'Jingle Bells' for your office commute: the beloved annual Martin Place Christmas Markets are back for 2025. Held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from November 27 until  December 20 (11am - 9:30pm), it will feature artisan shopping, festive food and joyful entertainment under the city’s iconic Christmas tree. Buy gifts for your loved ones and support small businesses at the same time. How’s that for Christmas cheer? You’ll find these Christmas markets in the pedestrian boulevard of Martin Place in the heart of the city, above the Martin Place metro station.

If you dig the idea of a chilly European-style Christmas market, then boy, do we have the thing for you. From December 11-21 (yep, that's 11 magical nights!), you get to eplore 120 stalls brimming with Australian-made gifts, homewares, festive creations, food and wine. Indulge in the Wine & Dine Village, featuring NSW’s finest wineries, distilleries, masterclasses and tastings, or savour gourmet street food. With live music (jazz, folk, and soul) performances each night and sparkling lights, the area around Circular Quay and The Rocks will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland. 

For a Polish take on the Euro Christmas market experience, beeline for the Polish Club Ashfield on Sunday, December 7. You’ll find their Grand Salon transformed into a bustling community market with food, crafts, entertainment and goodies galore. To keep you fuelled, they're serving up pillowy pierogi (dumplings stuffed with white cheese or meat), kielbasa (Polish sausages) and pączki (giant doughnuts filled with jam), plus a whole heap of ciasto (cakes). Pick-A-Tree will be selling live Christmas trees from 9:30am, the proceeds of which will go towards Addi Road Food Pantry. Find out more here.

Sydney's largest eco-friendly ceramic studio ClayGround is playing host to its Xmas Ceramic Market. Enjoy free coffee and hot drinks as you browse hundreds of handmade ceramics, with pieces starting from just $5. Watch live pottery demonstrations, sip on delicious matcha drinks and desserts from Cya Latte, and discover one-of-a-kind gifts or the perfect platter for your next dinner party. It's all going down at ClayGround's Rosebery studio on Sunday, November 23 from 10am until 4pm. Entry is free, but you’ll need to register over here. 

The heart of Woollahra will be tranformed into a celebration of Christmas cheer and community spirit on Thursday, November 27 from 4pm. Over 20 artisans and producers local to the Woollahra area will bring their range of bougie Christmas treats to the table. Housed in the Woollahra Hotel, shoppers at this one-evening-only fair will be come alive with Santa for photos, live jazz, a school choir and tons of artisan stalls. Woollahra Village will host late-night shopping across over 50 retailers so that you can do your Christmas shopping. 

Still hunting for gifts? The Rocks Markets has you covered with plenty of handmade treasures plus delicious bites to fuel your shopping trip. The markets are open every Friday from 10am until 3pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 5pm, until December 21. Don’t miss the sustainable ‘Wrapping for Good’ workshop on December 7 and December 14 where you can learn the art of Furoshiki, a traditional zero-waste Japanese wrapping technique. 

Markets come to mind for many when thinking about Glebe, but weekly stalls at the local primary school aren’t the only place to make a special purchase in this Inner West suburb. Only four times a year, Dr Foley Rest Park transforms into the Artisans Market Glebe to showcase a carefully curated selection of homemade Australian creations. This year, it's being held on December 6 from 10am to 3pm. Get there for a range of bespoke, boutique, upcycled and hand-crafted items that make perfect Christmas gifts.

Is that the scent of cinnamon, brandy and end-of-year anxiety in the air? 'Tis the season for festive shopping – and the Entertainment Quarter is the place to head for a massive Yuletide cheer. This year, the EQ Christmas Market is on Saturday, December 13 under the Entertainment Quarter market canopy in Moore Park. Browse a range of stalls spruiking homewares, fashion, toys and jewellery, as well as festive decorations, wrapping paper and gourmet Christmas nibbles from 10am-4pm.

Market City in Haymarket has been transformed into a festive wonderland just in time for Christmas. Running from November 6 to January 2 across Market City, Paddy’s Markets and Hay St Market, visitors can enjoy free Santa photos, roaming carollers, themed drinks, giveaways, live music and a community Christmas giving tree. The highlight? Six interactive selfie pods where you can decide if you’ve been naughty or nice. 

Held at Watermans Cove on the third Friday of every month between November to February, Barangaroo Markets are perfect for a spot of Christmas shopping. The next dates are November 21 and December 19, so add it to your Friday festivities. Indulge in gourmet bites and pick up one-of-a-kind artisan gifts just in time for Christmas.

The Blak Markets is a welcoming space for everyone to engage with the oldest continuing culture in the world. Visitors can enjoy traditional performances and ceremonies in addition to perusing an eclectic range of stalls selling a variety of art, homewares, jewellery, fashion, children’s clothing, textiles, woodwork, woven goods, plants and ethically sourced bushfoods – all of which make excellent Christmas pressies. Upcoming market dates are Sunday, November 30 on the Tallawoladah lawn in The Rocks and Sunday, December 7 at La Perouse Museum. Entry is free. Find out more here.