What would Advent mountainous region of Italy in the Alps be without its many traditional Christmas markets in South Tyrol? Something would be missing – you are absolutely right! Illuminated Christmas trees, original products and arts and crafts on the various stalls, lots of culinary delicacies, hot punch or a nice mulled wine, and the most beautiful places on the most beautiful squares in the region …
It is a rather mountainous region of Italy in the Alps, with peaks of almost 4,000 metres and popular sites such as the Dolomites of Sesto Natural Park. Not so high up, you can visit several villages that also hold Christmas markets such as Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Vipiteno or Brunico. Don’t miss them!
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Best Christmas Markets in South Tyrol
Bolzano Christmas Market
- Italian: Mercatino di Natale di Bolzano
- Address: Piazza Walther in the city centre
- Dates: 28 November to 6 January 2025
- Opening hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday – Sunday + public holidays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Inauguration – 28.11: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
24.12.2024: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
25.12.2024: closed
31.12.2024: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
01.01.2025: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Bolzano Christmas market is the best known of the South Tyrolean Christmas markets and the most historic in the region, having been held for the first time in 1991. Its Christmas celebrations take place in the streets of the centre and it is notable for its decorations, with the typical wooden chalets resembling the huts of the Christmas markets of Europe. In fact, if you’ve never visited the area before, you may be surprised to learn that German is widely spoken and there are quite a few Germanic traditions that are also common here, including the tradition of Christmas markets. Bolzano is considered the gateway to the Dolomites.
One of the curiosities of the Tyrolean Christmas markets is gastronomy. Speck, a very typical smoked ham with an aftertaste of garlic and different herbs such as laurel or juniper, is very typical and can of course be tasted at the Christmas markets in Bronzano. Strudel, an apple dessert wrapped in filo pastry, is also typical of South Tyrol.
Bressanone Christmas Market
- Italian: Mercatino di Natale di Bressanone
- Address: Piazza Palazzo Vescovile, 1, 39042 Bressanone
- Dates: 29 November to 6 January 2025
- Opening hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday – Sunday and public holidays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
24.12.2024 + 31.12.2024: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
25.12.2024: closed
01.01.2025: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
06.01.2025: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The food stands will remain open a little longer on all days.
Bressanone is another of the villages where you can visit the South Tyrolean Christmas markets. It is another small fairytale village surrounded by mountains and known for its cathedral, with a cloister more than 800 years old.
The pretty Piazza Duomo hosts its Christmas market with wooden chalets where you can buy typical Alto Adige handicraft products such as scented candles, felt shoes or the best wooden Christmas crafts.
Besides strolling through its cobbled streets you can also visit the Diocesan Museum of Bronzano to see one of the most outstanding collections of nativity scenes in the world. It is located inside the Diocesan Palace, where a mapping is projected daily at 17:30, 18.30 and on Fridays at 19:30.
Brunico Christmas Market
- Italian: Mercatino di Natale Brunico
- Address: Via Bastioni and in the new Piazza Municipio
- Dates: 29 November to 6 January 2025
- Opening hours:
Mondays – Sundays and public holidays: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
24.12.2024: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
25.12.2024: closed
31.12.2024: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
01.01.2025: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Gastronomy:
Sunday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Brunico is a village with a medieval old town and is surrounded by some of South Tyrol’s most popular peaks such as the Plan de Cornes – Kronplatz, with over 2,400 metres in the vicinity. The atmosphere here is unbelievably romantic and dreamy: the unique old town of Bruneck with its medieval charm, the nearby Bastions, and the imposing snow-capped Kronplatz in the background transform reality into a magical Christmas tale.
Brunico’s Christmas Market with more than 35 craft stands where you can buy Christmas tree decorations, wooden toys, ceramics, leather goods, but also typical food. A must is the baked potato stall in the Puste oven, well known in Brunico.
All this, together with a special programme for the little ones (every Saturday and Sunday), with the St Nicholas parade and the living nativity scene, makes for a romantic as well as entertaining experience for your Christmas in Bruneck. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can watch the artisans at the Sternbach Palais in Ragen in Slopra, while every Monday there is a guided tour of the old town centre.
Merano Christmas market
- Italian: Mercatino di Natale di Merano
- Address: Piazza della Rena
- Dates: 29 November – 6 January 2025
Merano is the second largest town in Trentino with over 40,000 inhabitants, so its Christmas celebrations are lively and busy. You’ll find a Christmas market along the river Passirio with more than 60 beautifully decorated houses. Also in the Piazza Terme is a skating rink and the 6 Kugln, a peculiar restaurant in the shape of 6 giant spheres in which you can dine inside with the best Christmas decorations.
The Merano Christmas Village (at the piazza della Rena) is a popular destination for families with children. Here, the little ones can meet the mascot Goldy in his little house and participate in numerous workshops and activities for children. A space dedicated to imagination and creativity in the company of the city’s associations.
Finally, at the Merano Christmas markets, don’t miss a visit to the cosy mountain hut Almhütte with more than 100 m2, decorated in the purest South Tyrolean Christmas style and where you can taste the best local culinary specialities.
Vipiteno Christmas Market
- Italian: Mercatino di Natale di Vipiteno
- Address: Vicolo dei Cappuccini, 6, 39049 Vipiteno
- Dates: From 29 November to 6 January 2025
Vipineto is a village about 15km from the Austrian border at an altitude of 1,000m, so if you’re visiting at this time of year it’s best to pack warm clothes.
At Christmas time, Vipiteno looks like a real Christmas card and is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy, even more so if it snows. Its Christmas market is located in Piazza della Città in front of the Torre delle Dodici (Twelve Tower), visible from any part of the town, which rings its 25-bell carillon every day.
At Vipiteno’s flea markets you can buy hand-painted Christmas crafts and other products made by local artisans, such as sheep’s milk soaps, Alpine herbs, felt slippers and scented candles.
Dolomite Christmas Markets
- Italian: Mercatini di Natale delle Dolomiti
- Address: Via Franz Josef Rudigier, 39038 San Candido
- Dates: 29 November to 5 January 2025. 25.12 closed
- Opening hours: from 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
If you feel like exploring unique Christmas markets in South Tyrol ,you can head to the village of San Candido, a village situated at the foot of the popular Three Peaks of Lavadero mountain, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Dolomites in Italy.
A very traditional and small-scale Christmas market with a with local handicrafts and gastronomic specialities. Not to be missed, are the typical South Tyrolean delicacies such as ‘Lebkuchen’ (gingerbread biscuits), ‘Zelten’ (traditional sweet fruit bread), mulled wine or ‘Apfelglühmix’ (South Tyrolean apple juice boiled with orange juice and spices).
Val Gardena Christmas markets
- Italian: Mercatini di Natale in Val Gardena
- Address: Ortisei and Selva di Gardena
- Dates: from 06.12.2024 to 05.01.2025
- Opening hours: 3 pm – 7:00 pm
The days are getting shorter, the first snow has already covered the streets with its white blanket, and the streets are adorned with impressive illuminations… a truly special atmosphere that enchants young and old alike and that you can breathe in even more during the two Val Gardena Christmas Markets in Ortisei and Selva di Gardena.
In the centre of Ortisei, the Christmas Village is set up, with cosy ‘Lodenlounges’, small gastronomic huts. Here, visitors can sample local products and culinary delicacies in a romantic atmosphere.
In Selva di Val Gardena, there is Mountain Christmas: the Christmas market in perfect Alpine style, with a ‘ski theme’. In addition to the little houses, there is a snow sculpture competition.
Krampus Parades in South Tyrol
European Christmas has its own characters and one of them is the Krampus, a demon that appears in many towns and cities in Europe, such as in Munich where the popular Krampuslauf, a large parade with more than 200 Krampus, is held.
The Krampus usually arrives on 5 December, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, accompanying St. Nicholas (the saint who gave birth to Santa Claus), but since the end of November the Krampus has been up to mischief in South Tyrol.
In South Tyrol, the Krampus is a hairy demon who wears a mask carved out of wood from the Tures and Aurina valleys and a goatskin, which often gives off a very special smell.
With bells around his belly, he walks boisterously to make as much noise as possible.
The oldest Krampus race in South Tyrol takes place in Dobbiaco in the Upper Val Pusteria. Every year, more than 600 Krampus gather there and put on an unforgettable show. In Stelvio there is another tradition during St. Nicholas time. It is called ‘Klosn’: here young people dress up in colourful robes, frightening masks and heavy bells.
In South Tyrol you can visit several Krampuslauf in 2024:
Krampus Devil Run: 16 November in Nova Levante
3rd Krampus Parade: 23 November in Bronzolo
Krampuslauf devil move: 30th November in Casies
Krampus Parade in Cortaccia: 5th December in Cortaccia
Krampus parade: 5 December in Bressanone
The Devil’s Run: 7 December in Campo Tures
Krampus Show and Parede: 14 December in Sesto.
