Want to make your Christmas shopping easy and fun to do this year? Get your present shopping done at one of the many, lovely Christmas markets in South Africa.
There’s something for everyone at a market, whether that be toys, homemade deli foods or crafts.
There’s bound to be a Christmas market near you as they pop up in all the little corners of South Africa.
Here are just a few that promise fun, food, and festivity for the entire family.
This market is based at the food court in the Tyger Valley mall in Bellville, Cape Town. It is popular for its crafts, clothing, décor, and yummy treats. It boasts 240 exhibitors, and offers bath goodies, pet products, jewellery, and homemade toys.
It runs from November to December and entry is free. Check out the locally made products for that perfect, thoughtful gift made with love by Capetonians.
Also read: The best Christmas markets in Cape town
Based in Constantia, Cape Town, this market is well known for offering one-of-a-kind treasures, and what says thoughtfulness more than a unique gift? Entry is free, and the market runs from the 8th to the 22nd of December at the Cape Academy in Constantia.
The atmosphere of the market is very festive and cheerful. In fact, they advertise themselves as being “the market that makes Christmas merry”. Vendors offer a wide range of beautiful, locally-crafted items and conscious gifts. Indulge yourself in the food and buying gifts such as plants, pottery, handmade Christmas decor, and toys to fill up the Christmas stockings.
There are over 6,500 products to choose from, so you will definitely be able to tick off some of your Christmas list items.
Starting on the 13th December, this festive market is the perfect gifting go-to for those based in the Peninsula who don’t want to travel across the mountain during the busy-season in Cape Town. It’s located in the hall of Sun Valley Primary School in Sun Valley and has over 100 local exhibitors selling a range of gifts for all ages and budgets.
Entry and parking is free and there is cake and coffee to fuel you while you are doing your Christmas shopping. It’s the perfect place to support small businesses and the moms in the Peninsula highly recommend it for finding Christmas goodies.
While it is unlikely that we will have a snowy white Christmas Day in South Africa, that doesn’t mean that we can’t experience the festivities of a European-style Christmas. This German-inspired Market is exactly that – a market with a Christmas theme based on German traditions and customs.
It runs every Advent Saturday (the four Saturdays before Christmas) and is located at Section Street 33, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. Food, candles, flowers, and décor items with that European touch are available. They even sell ‘real’ Christmas trees from Europe. Imbibe the German food, music, and decorations to get you in that holiday spirit.
If you blink, you will miss it. This market runs only from the 19th to the 21st of December, and you can find it at the Sunningdale Sports Complex, Cape Town. It is more of a late afternoon/evening market, providing entertainment whilst you shop.
Lots of yummy food, live music, and over 100 traders make it a market with a Christmas ambience, so it is easy to complement your Christmas list shopping with a vibey summer’s evening with friends and family. There’s a fully stocked bar and a street food village to make the time even more mellow.
The Best Things Ever organisation is hosting a Christmas gifting and summer holidays pop up market at the Trovato House in Wynberg on the 13th and 14th of December.
This promises to be a lovely festive market with free wine tasting, music, and vendors selling last minute Christmas gifts and summer essentials, like skincare, bags, sunglasses, footwear, and candles. Browse everything from springbok venison to silk scarves, to homemade Greek snacks; it’s all waiting for your retail pleasure.
The proceeds go towards supporting local NPOs, so take some time to browse their wares whilst enjoying the setting of the beautiful heritage gardens at the Trovato House.
This market runs from the 29th of November to the 24th of December in the Edgemead community hall, Cape Town. With over 200 vendors, some of which come from George, Montagu, and Riversdale, there is something for everyone. This includes items like jewellery, textiles, ceramics, baked goods, and preserves, which have become favourites amongst the regular shoppers. This much-anticipated market under twinkling lights with Christmas music playing in the background makes for a mellow, stress-free Christmas shopping experience.
This market, perched on a hill in the Shongweni Valley in KZN, is no run-of-the-mill market. It not only hosts a multitude of traders selling everything from deli food to art, but also features live music on two stages, kids’ playgrounds, a nature trail, and train rides. The market is open in the mornings only of the 6th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 20th, and 21st of December. There is plenty of seating, dogs are welcome, and the views are spectacular.
The Rosebank Sunday Market is a great market place in Rosebank, Johannesburg, to source that special something for your loved ones this Christmas. It happens every Sunday, between now and the last one on the 21st of December, and you are bound to find some goodies to snap up from the crafts to delicious food, all set in sparkling Christmas ambience of lights and live music. It includes a drinks selection offering craft beer, cocktails, wine and has lots of delicious Christmas delectables for you to nibble on whilst shopping.
Entry is free and you can find the market on the Level 4 undercover parking of Rosebank Mall.
Also read: The best Christmas markets in Johannesburg
Pretoria’s Vintage, Decor & Gift Show at Irene Village Mall has over 150 market stalls with a wide variety of handmade, high-quality crafts, Christmas decor, Christmas stockings, linen, toys, jewellery, clothing, leather bags and shoes, artisanal bakes, and Christmas lights. So much to taste, touch, and take home! Entry is free and it takes place on the 16th December at the beautiful location of the Irene Village Mall, Centurion. There’s also a vintage carousel, Christmas carols, and entertainment for families.
On the 9th, 16th, and 20th of December 2025, the Bryanston Market in Sandton, Johannesburg hosts moonlit evening Christmas markets. A veritable smorgasbord of gifting options awaits you whilst meandering among the moonlit and Christmas-light lit stalls.
There is a free Craft Corner for the kids and children’s story time accompanied with a complementary hot chocolate. Expect to find crafts, stunning home décor, jewellery, and gourmet delights and treats. The market also provides gift wrapping services and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The Christmas Village is exactly what it sounds like, a festival extravaganza at Emperor's Palace, which runs from the 4th to the 31st of December. Tickets are R60 for children and R90 for adults. You can find the Christmas Village on the fifth floor of the covered parking garage. This year you can shop for gifts while the kids experience Christmas magic in the winter wonderland of twinkling lights and festive activities.
Some of the attractions include Santa Claus making a guest appearance, the North Pole, the Enchanted Forest, the Garden of Light, and the Tombola Alley where the whole family can have fun and play games. Vendors offer a festive variety of treats, gifts, and food.
As part of its “Destination Christmas” theme, the Melrose Arch centre includes a whole round up of activities right up until Christmas, including the Jameson Festive Market on the 26th and 27th of December, during which you can indulge in whiskey, listen to live entertainment, and enjoy cocktail week specials. It also includes the Melrose Arch Fun Zone, where there'll be a pop-up rollerskating rink and the Melrose Arch Christmas market itself runs from the 10th to 15th of December, 3pm to 9pm in the Square. Stalls will be offering one-of-a-kind crafts, gifts, and seasonal treats under twinkling lights and festive décor.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! On the 22nd of December, the Avalon Market at Kidd’s Beach will be hosting Santa Claus, while vendors will be offering a wide variety of stocking-fillers and treats for those last minute gifts. There will be a plethora of exciting activities for the children, such as pony rides and jumping castles and freshwater fishing.
The Christmas spirit is fizzing in the country. Keep an eye out on social media for Christmas markets happening near you, and be kind to yourself - take some well-deserved R&R time to indulge in the festive cheer, treats and goodies with your family and friends.
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