The best Christmas markets in Italy: 2023/24 locations and dates

The best Christmas markets in Italy: Christmas 2023/24 guide to the best holiday markets in Italy to enjoy Christmas Italy (Last update September 2023)

There is nothing better to immerse yourself in the festive spirit than to visit a Christmas market and Italy has many beautiful ones worth experiencing.

The best Christmas markets in Italy are traditionally in the region of Alto Adige and Trentino, in the North East of the country, an area with strong influences from Austria and Germany, the cradle of European Christmas markets

However, there are many other towns and regions that have embraced the tradition of holiday markets: these are some of the best!

The best Christmas markets in Italy in 2023 at a glance

Italian Christmas markets to visit in 2023 include:

• Bolzano (Alto Adige)
• Vipiteno Alto Adige)
• Merano (Alto Adige)
• Brunico (Alto Adige)
• Bressanone (Alto Adige)
• Trento (Trentino)
• Arco (Trentino)
• Verona (Veneto)
• Gubbio (Umbria)

The markets are wonderful for a festive afternoon out with the kids and are the best place to meet Santa in Italy or, how we call Italian Santa: Babbo Natale!

Bolzano Christmas market

The Christmas market in Bolzano is the biggest in Italy and runs over the course of over one month in Bolzano’s stunning Walther.

The Bolzano Christmas market is wonderful.

Piazza Walter is a fantastic backdrop, with its church with colorful roof and my children always have a great time here, eating the delicious South Tyrolean specialties and taking in the fairytale architecture of this area.

Dates: 24th November 2023 (opening ceremony on the 23rd) – 6th January 2024

Location: Piazza Wernher, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy

Opening times: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm with reduced hours on the following dates:

• Monday to Thursday: 11.00am – 19.00 (7pm)
• Friday-Saturday-Sunday: 10am – 19.oo (7pm)
• 24 December: 10.00- 14.00
• 25th December: closed
• 31st December: 10.00 – 18.00
• 1st January: ore 12.00 – 19.00

Full program: here

Merano Christmas market

The Merano Christmas market runs for the whole festive period in the lovely town of Merano, where the streets fill with food and crafts stands.

Dates: 24th November 2023 – 6th January 2024

Opening Hours:

• Monday – Thursday 10.00h – 19.00h (food stands stay open a little later than this)
• Friday-Saturday: 10.00h – 20.00h
• 24th December: 10.00h-15.30h
• 25 December: closed
• 31st December: 10.00-15.30
• 6the January: 10.00h-20.00h

Full program: here

Vipiteno Christmas Market

The Christmas market in Vipiteno is a wonderful opportunity to visit this lovely town. The market stands out, especially for its traditional craft stands and wooden figurines.

Something special: don’t miss the Nativity scenes in the town’s medieval tower and the opportunity to take a romantic horse and carriage ride around town!

Where: Vipiteno town

Dates: 24th November 2023 – 6th January 2024

Opening hours: 10.00h to 19.00 with the following exceptions:

• 23rd December: 17.00-19.00
• 24th December: 10.00h – 13.00h
• 25th December: closed
• 31st December: 10.00h – 17.00h
• 1st January: 13.00 -19.00

Full program: here

Brunico Christmas markets

The lovely town of Brunico hosts a wonderful Christmas market known for both its food and crafts stands.

Brunico was my favorite city when I was a child and it still has a special place in my heart, with its pretty street and fairytale-like street and houses!

Family special: every weekend, the market hosts special events for kids such as workshops to build bug hotels, bake cookies or make Christmas presents with their own hands!

Where: Brunico old town center

Dates: 24th November 2023 – 6th January 2024

Opening Hours: 10.00-19.00 with the following exceptions:

• 24th December: 10.00h – 14.00h
• 25th December: closed
• 31st December: 10.00h – 19.00h
• 1st January: 10.00h – 19.00h

Full program: here

Bressanone Christmas Market

Bressanone/Brixen puts on a wonderful Christmas market plus something special: the option to visit the Nativity Museum, showcasing the incredible local art of figurine making!

Dates: 24th November 2023- 6th January 2024

Opening hours:

Monday-Thursday: 11.00am – 19.00

Friday, Sunday and festivities: 10.00 – 19.00

• 24th December: 10.00am – 16.00
• 25th December: closed
• 31st December: 10.00h-16.00
• 1st January: 12-00h-19.00
• 6th January: 10.00h – 18.00

Full program: here

Other Christmas markets in Alto Adige

As well as the town mentioned above, several smaller centers host Christmas markets so if you are skiing in the area, chances are there is one you can check out near you!

Some pretty Christmas markets in the area take place in San Candido, Castelrotto, Dobbiaco and Ortisei, all wonderful locations for holidaying in the Dolomites.

Trento Christmas market

The Trento Christmas market is more recent than others in the same area but has quickly gained popularity thanks to its wonderful stands that fill two large piazzas.

The market usually has over 90 stands with food and local crafts and it is only gaining popularity so it is one to watch for the coming years!

Where: Trento town center

Dates: 18th of November 2023 – 7th of January 2024. One of the longest-running in the area.

You can find the official info here

Christmas market at Arco, near Lake Garda

If Lake Garda is in your plans, then you should not miss the Christmas Market in Arco, a wonderfully atmospheric town on the mountains near Lake Garda.

The market opens as early as the 16th of November and a visit can easily be combined with a stop in nearby Riva del Garda, a wonderful lakeside town with beautiful mountain views.

The small town of Arco and its ancient streets are the perfect backdrops for the festive Christmas huts, farm and shows.

Dates: specific days between 17th November 2023 – 8th January 2024, find the official calendar here They promise fireworks on the 8th of December too!

Verona Christmas market

Verona hosts a wonderful Christmas market in German tradition organized in partnership with the Christkindlmarkt of Nuremberg, Germany.

The market takes place in Piazza dei Signori and spreads in other locations in the city, making November/December a special time to visit this romantic city!

Dates: 17th November – 26th December 2023 These dates are provisional, yet their announcement alings with previous years.

Opening hours:

• Sunday to Thursday: 10.00h – 21.30h
• Friday, Saturday, pre-festive days: 10.00h – 23.00h
• 24th December: 10.00h – 17.00h
• 25the December: opens at 16.00
• 26th December: 10.00h – 18.00h

Aosta Christmas Market – Marché Vert Noël 2023

On the opposite side of Italy from the markets above, the Aosta Christmas market is a lovely surprise for those venturing to this area in winter.

In the beautiful setting of Aosta city center, the market develops in the three main Aosta squares, effectively turning the city into a delightful Christmas village.

Well worth coming here if you are looking for an easy day trip from Turin in winter or a stop on the way to the slopes in Courmayeur or Valtournanche!

• When: 25th Novembre 2023 7th January 2024

Official dates, addresses and info here

Christmas Market in Gubbio, Umbria (2023 dates yet to be confirmed by the organizers)

The lovely and historical town of Gubbio in Umbria has a strong Christmas tradition and it is famous for something special: the biggest Christmas tree in the world!

The tree is not only huge but unique: rather than a large fir tree in the center of a piazza, the Gubbio Christmas tree appears on the slope of Mount Ingino, shaped by hundreds of light sources!

As well as the beautiful tree, lit up every night from the 7th of December 2023, to the end of the festive period, Gubbio also has a German-style Christmas market with food and craft stands called Christmas Land.

Dates for 2022:

• 19, 20, 26, 27 November
• 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18 December
• Everyday 24 December to 1stth January

Opening hours: 10.00 – 20.00h

Official info and exact dates / time of each specific event here

Montepulciano Christmas Market

If you are exploring Tuscany this December, then you may want to consider adding a stop in Montepulciano and its lovely Christmas market!

Hosted in one the most beautiful piazzas in Italy, Piazza Grande, the market is one of the nicest in the area and a great excuse to visit what I personally consider one of the most beautiful villages in Tuscany and in Italy in general.

• Where: Piazza Grande, Montepulciano, prov. of Siena.
• When: 18, 19, 25, 26 November, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 December 2023 Then everyday 22 December -7th January
• Opening hours: 10.30 -19.30 Except 25 December: afternoon only

Montepulciano also has a fun Babbo Natale (Santa) Village in the Fortress:

Where: Medieval Fortress

When: 18. 19, 25, 26 November 2023; 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 26 December 2023 Thne 27th December to 7th January 2024.

Opening Hours: 10.30 -19.00

Full program and info here

The best Christmas markets in Italy’s main cities

Christmas markets also lit up the streets and piazzas of some of Italy’s main cities and they can be a lovely stop to add to your sightseeing itinerary if you are visiting Italy in December!

Naples Christmas market (rather: street!)

The place to go if you are in Naples at Christmas is Via San Gregorio Armeno, famous for all its incredible nativity figurines artisan production, unique in the world!

Rome

Rome has several Christmas markets, the most famous of all being the one held in Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in the city.

The market is hit and miss in terms of quality, the high affluence and standard of years ago having slipped in the last few editions.

Despite this, if you are in Rome in December or January, you cannot miss at least a walk here: if nothing else, the square will alone be worth your time!

Florence Christmas market (2023 dates to be confirmed by organizers)

The Florence Christmas market takes place in Piazza Santa Croce and has a mix of stands with food and artisan products, including the highly sought-after leather products typical of this area.

Dates 2022:

Santa Croce Market: 19th of November – 18th of December.

During the Christmas period, Florence usually also hosts the F-Light festival, which lights up Florence’s main landmark with light projections and artwork. The festival has, however not yet been confirmed dor 2022.

Other cool Christmas markets in Tuscany are:

Arezzo: 18 November – 8th January Official site here >>> Arezzo Christmas Market <<<

Siena: Dates TBC, it is usually on the first weekend in December

Lucca: 2023 dates TBC

Empoli – 2023 dates TBC, official site here >>> Empoli Christmas market <<<

Milan Christmas market (2023 yet to be confirmed by the organizers)

Dates and location 2022: 1st of December to the 6th of January, Piazza Duomo

I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of the best Christmas markets in Italy and it gave you ideas on where to spend your holidays. Safe travel planning!

This post was originally written in 2020 and has not been fully updated with confirmed dates of Christmas markets in Italy in 2022 / 2023