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Are you wondering about the best Christmas markets in Italy? While people claim Germany and France have the best Christmas markets, the Christmas markets in Italy are worth visiting too!
Where are some of the best Christmas markets in Italy?
Christmas markets originated in the German-speaking area of Europe and parts of the Holy Roman Empire in the late Middle Ages (1300 to 1500 AD) and spread to the surrounding areas. Typically the closer you get to Germany, the more traditional the markets become.
The Tyrol region, which includes the Alps in northern Italy and western Austria, has excellent markets since it was once united under the Holy Roman Empire and, later, the Austrian Empire.
What kinds of things can you get at a Christmas market in Italy?
Christmas markets are the perfect place to pick up Christmas gifts and souvenirs. They typically have myriad handicrafts, Christmas ornaments and decorations, homemade sweets, scarves, hats, toys, and more!
My favorite thing to get at a Christmas market is a mug specific to that market. This usually comes with any hot drink you purchase and displays the name of the Christmas market and the year. Most German markets will have mugs, but there are a few exceptions.
Christmas Markets in Italy to Visit
Verona
Verona is a city that you have probably heard of, thanks to Romeo and Juliet. It is worth visiting any time of year, but it also has a great Christmas market! Verona is about 1.5 hours from both Florence and Milan by train, making it easily accessible.
The traditional German market with wooden huts is located on Via Pallone (previously Piazza dei Signori). This market is inspired by the Christmas market in Nuremberg, Germany, the sister city of Verona.
Sip vin brulé from a Verona Christmas mug, peruse the holiday gifts and ornaments, and enjoy traditional Christmas market foods like sausages – it is real Christmas magic.
As well as vin brulé classico, we tried krambambuli, Italian orange wine with rum, and bombardino, hot liquor with egg and whipped cream, like strong egg nog. I love trying different festive drinks!
We also tried the meatball dish, served like a patty on bread with a side of sauerkraut and potatoes, and the würstel, which is similar to sausage, with polenta and cheese. Everything was delicious!
The Verona Christmas market is open from November 16th to December 26th on Via Pallone. Ice skating rinks are located at Piazza Sacco e Vanzetti.
Where to Stay: Lady Capulet Apartments
Trento
Trento is a cute town in northern Italy. The German influence in Trento is obvious. The architecture is reminiscent of towns in Germany. Restaurants have both Italian and German on the menu (and sometimes English too).
It is an interesting place and it has two excellent Christmas markets. They are located in Piazza de Fiera and Piazza della Mostra. Piazza della Mostra is below a large, illuminated castle, which adds to the magic of the Christmas market.
The market in Piazza Fiera was bustling when we visited in the evening. This market is larger compared to some of the others we visited in Italy. There is an area dedicated to goods and gifts, and then a large section is reserved for food and drink stalls with barrel tables available for standing.
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There are many stands selling vin brulé and other drinks. The vin brulé comes with a mug deposit (pfand in German), where you pay for the mug up front and then return it for a refund if you don’t want to keep it.
We ordered a complete plate with goulash, polenta, and cheeses from the Ristorante Locanda Del Bel Sorriso stand at the Christmas market. It was a warming and hearty meal.
The Trento Christmas Markets are in Piazza de Fiera and Piazza della Mostra. The markets are open from November 22, 2024, through January 6, 2025, 10 AM to 8 PM.
Where to Stay: Lainez Rooms & Suites
Bolzano
Bolzano is a beautiful town nestled between hilly vineyards. We adored this gorgeous city with German-style wood-timbered buildings and winding streets.
The Christmas market in Bolzano is not one to miss. It is located in Piazza Walther in the center of town. The market has a large Christmas tree and nativity scene surrounded by traditional European wood stalls.
This market is a little smaller than some of the others but you can still find Christmas gifts and ornaments, hand-made items, traditional foods, and mulled wine (which they call Glühwein here!). We also tried hot Aperol at this market, one of my new favorite Christmas beverages. I loved it!
The Christmas market in Bolzano is open from November 29, 2024, until January 6, 2025.
Where to Stay: Goldenstern Townhouse
Bressanone/Brixen
Bressanone/Brixen, which is only about an hour from the Austrian border, has two names: Bressanone is the Italian name, and Brixen is the German name.
The Christmas market was one of my favorites because it is located in the square next to Brixer Dom, a beautiful church with Austrian and Italian architectural influences. The market is a bit more spread out, with a large Christmas tree and a small merry-go-round for kids. The tables for eating and drinking have fire pits in the middle for warmth and there is some seating available.
On certain evenings they start a bonfire in the middle of the market for all to enjoy. Unfortunately, it wasn’t scheduled for the day that we visited.
We tried a lot of the food and drinks here including glühwein, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, wine, bratwurst on a bun with sauerkraut, and goulash soup with bread. The goulash in particular was divine and hearty.
We finished it off with a sacherwärfel, a chocolate cake with fruit jam.
The Bressanone/Brixen Christmas market is open from November 29, 2024, through January 6, 2025.
Where to Stay: Residence Hotel Gasser
Bruneck/Brunico
Another Christmas market in Italy is in Bruneck or Brunico. There are several places to check out the Bruneck Christmas market: along Bastioni and Oberragen/Ragen di Sopra streets and Piazza Tschurtschenthaler. Festive wooden stalls serve food and drink with cozy seating areas, warmed by heat lamps or stoves.
There are goods sold here too including ornaments, hats, socks, decorations, mugs, jewelry, and more including cold foods like meats, cheeses, breads, and chocolates.
There is no mug deposit here, so if you want to take the Christmas market mug home you have to request it. We tried the glühwein and hot chocolate, rich and decadent melted chocolate with whipped cream.
The Christmas market in Brunico is open from November 29, 2024, through January 6, 2025.
Where to Stay: Hotel Goldene Rose
Florence
Finally, Florence has a traditional German Christmas market, referred to by the German name “Weihnachtsmarkt”, in front of Santa Croce that has been running for 500 years. While this isn’t the best Christmas market in Italy, it is one of the most convenient since Florence is a popular place to visit. If you are in town during the holidays, you should visit this Christmas market.
The setting beneath Santa Croce makes up for the use of white plastic tents instead of the wooden huts used at other traditional markets.
You can purchase vin brulé at many stands, but it doesn’t come in a specialty mug. Many vendors offered their version of vin brulé, so we tried some from a few different places. Our favorite vin brulé was from Polonia Grill, which was also serving delicious sausages with sauerkraut and fried potatoes.
There is plenty of delicious food to taste at this market, including pork sandwiches, pretzels, and desserts. Warm weather gear, ornaments, and other gifts can also be purchased.
The Christmas market in Florence is open from November 23 until December 22, 2024, daily from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Where to Stay: Hotel Renaissance
Bologna
Bologna is an adorable Italian city about 40 minutes away from Florence by train. As well as being able to try delectable foods like tortelloni and explore the historic center, Bologna has a traditional French mercatino di Natale!
This is not the biggest market, but the European wooden chalets, Christmas lights, vin brulé (the Italian term for mulled wine), and French cuisine will put you in the Christmas spirit.
Red or white vin brulé is available for €3.50, so we obviously had to try some! You could purchase a Christmas mug for €6, but it wasn’t specific to the market, which was a little disappointing.
Since this is a French market, they also have a spectacular selection of wines at the wine bar. People sip wine and slurp down oysters at standing tables.
Several stands have decadent French pastries, cheeses, and warm dishes. Goods are also sold, perfect for your Christmas shopping!
It is located in Piazza Minghetti. Unfortunately, due to construction, the market is closed this year. Hopefully, it will be back next year! For more information, check Bologna’s official website.
Other Christmas Markets in Italy
There are other Christmas markets in Italy that we weren’t able to check out. Here are a few that I would like to visit in the future!
Merano, South Tyrol
Merano is a spa town nestled in the Dolomites in the South Tyrol region. The Christmas market is located along the riverfront from November 29, 2024, to January 6, 2025. As well as visiting the Christmas market, you can hit the ski slopes or soak at the Terme Merano!
Venice, Veneto
Venice has a Christmas village in Campo Santo Stefano until December 24th. The market features ornaments and decorations made with Murano glass, a specialty of Venice, as well as other Venetian handcrafted items and specialty Italian foods.
Arrezo, Tuscany
Arrezo is about an hour and a half south of Florence. Here you can experience a traditional German Christmas market in Piazza Grande from November 16 to December 29. This market features Tyrolean, German, Austrian, and Tuscan goods so you can try a bit of everything!
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Tips for Visiting Christmas Markets in Italy
Bring Cash
I highly recommend bringing cash to the Christmas markets in Italy, especially in the smaller towns. Most of the vendors only take cash or prefer cash over cards.
Sometimes you will need coins to use the bathroom.
Mug Deposit
When visiting Christmas markets in Europe, it is important to understand the mug deposit since that isn’t very common in the US. At most Christmas markets, a warm drink will come in a specialty ceramic mug, usually saying the name of the town or market and the year.
You pay for the mug and the drink with your first order. They will refill the mug if you want to order another warm beverage. If you want to keep the mug as a souvenir, you may because you already paid for it. If you don’t want to keep the mug, simply return it and they will refund the price.
Mugs change every year, so many people collect them or bring back mugs from previous years for use.
Not all the Christmas markets in Italy we visited had a mug deposit. Some markets didn’t have a specialty mug or a mug at all, like the Florence Christmas market, and some requested you purchase the mug if you wanted it.
Some markets we visited, like the one in Bressanone/Brixen, required a deposit on plates and bowls as well.
Be Aware of Closing Times
Christmas markets in Europe typically close in the early evening, especially in the smaller towns. Make sure you plan your visits to Christmas markets during their open hours.
Phrases that Mean Mulled Wine
There are several ways to say mulled wine, depending on which language(s) are common in the city or what kind of market you are visiting. In northern Italy, they speak Italian and German. Mulled wine in Italian is “vin brulé” and in German is “glühwein”. These are the same thing. Although the recipe may vary a little, both are essentially hot wine with spices or mulled wine as we would say in English. At Christmas markets in Northern Italy, we saw both of these phrases.
Dress Warm
Italy can be cold and wet in the winter, so make sure you come prepared. While we were visiting Christmas markets in Italy, it rained a lot! Snow was less common, but it is a possibility.
I recommend wearing a base layer under jeans or fleece-lined tights with a dress or skirt. Warm merino wool socks and waterproof boots are a must! Finally, bring a rain jacket or umbrella in case it rains.
Reflections on Visiting Christmas Markets in Italy
We enjoyed exploring the Christmas markets in Italy so much. I had no idea there was so much German influence in northern Italy! This was an interesting trip and I can’t wait to explore more Christmas markets in Europe.
Have you visited any of these Christmas markets in Italy? Are there any that I need to add to this list?
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