Best 15 Christmas Markets In Italy You Should Visit

This post on Christmas markets in Italy was first published on November 21st 2023.

Christmas is only weeks away! Being one of my favourite holidays, I love to visit markets and savour all the Christmas bonanza. Therefore having a list of the best Christmas markets in Italy 2024 was a total need!

Italy is not only known for its food and amazing landscapes. Another reason to visit the Bel Paese during November and December is also to visit the many italian Christmas markets hosted in Italy during the holiday season. From North to South you can be sure to find festive destinations from small villages to big towns where you can soak in the holiday spirit, find handcrafted gifts as well as eat traditional food.

Christmas markets in Italy are full of unique gifts, traditional Italian treats and drinks as well as entertainment. I hope you are ready to put on a hat and gloves and come to visit some of the best Christmas markets in Italy and learn some Christmas words in Italian with us along the way!

Table of Contents

Best Christmas markets in Italy

Christmas Markets In Italy – Northern Italy

Bolzano Christmas Market (Christkindlmarkt Bozen) November 28, 2024, to January 6, 2025

Also known as the most famous, oldest and largest Christmas market in Italy (1991), the Bolzano Christmas market takes place in Piazza Walther. This event sees the piazza lit up in the traditional multicoloured wooden huts, entertainment for adults and kids alike as well as some amazing Christmas decorations.

Set against the backdrop of the Dolomites, you will find plenty of craftmade objects in wood, glass, pottery, and clothes. Famous are the handpainted Christmas bubbles, straw stars and felt work. As well as amazing food like spek, strudel, traditional South Tyrol food and mulled wine that will tempt all visitors.

Bressanone Christmas Market November 29, 2024, to January 6, 2025

Bressanone in the South Tyrol hosts another of the Christmas markets in Italy that are most beautiful and well known. With the background of the Cathedral Square and the 800 years old Cathedral and cloister, Bressanone hosts 30 booths showcasing handmade candles and ceramics, glass spheres and angels, wood carvings and figurines, mangers, terracotta items, and many Tyrolean-style gift ideas.

While strolling around with mulled wine and Christmas pastries, you can enjoy the Christmas carols and Christmas atmosphere. There are also concerts held everyday, workshops, theater performances, liturgical celebrations and carriage tours. You can also find a steam carousel, the Christmas Angel of Bressanone and activities fo both kids and adults.

Merano Christmas Market 29th November – 6th January 2025

Held in Piazza della Renna and Piazza delle Terme, this is one of the other Christmas markets in Italy you should visit. With more than 80 booths filled with gourmet stands offering mulled wine, hot apple juice, and sauerkraut as well as typical delicacies like bacon, cheese, strudel and other baked goods.

You can also find plenty of merchant booths where you can buy typical handcrafted candles, Christmas decorations, perfumes and warm clothes. After some shopping, you can relax in cosy heated Christmas tree balls with seatings or have a run in the ice skating rink.

Trento Christmas Market November 22, 2024, to January 6, 2025

Set in the historic Piazza Fiera and also in Piazza Cesare Battisti, this market offers a charming atmosphere with traditional wooden stalls, local crafts, and seasonal delights. The street are lit by festive lights and huts are spread around where you can find local specialties.

From local handmade gift ideas and Christmas decorations to local food and traditions. Great importance is also given to the market for minimising their environmental impact.

Verona Christmas Market November 23, 2024, to December 26, 2024

Among the Christmas markets in Italy, we find the one held in Piazza dei Signori and Piazza delle Erbe in Verona, offering a mix of local products, handmade crafts, and festive decorations. Filled with wooden stalls stacked with artisan products like Christmas gifts, wooden and woollen items, costume jewellery, ceramics, handmade soaps and liqueurs, luxury chocolate and confectionery.

This market also offers traditional German-style products to nod to the partner city of Verona – Nuremberg in Germany.

Lake Garda Christmas among the olive trees – November 24, 2023, to January 7, 2024
In the town of Garda, every year is held the Christmas market along Lungolago Regina Adelaide, turning this promenade into an enchanted atmosphere between olive trees and wooden chalets. The Christmas market features handcrafted goods, local foods in the “Borgo del Gusto,” .

You can also find a life-size and underwater nativity scenes, and festive decorations that illuminate the town’s landmarks. With activities including musical performances, workshops, and visits to Santa’s house, this celebration brings together visitors and locals for a memorable holiday experience surrounded by the natural beauty of olive trees and Lake Garda.

Venice Christmas Market Early December to December 24, 2024

Campo Santo Stefano is transformed into a Christmas village in the most famous city over water. This space is filled with thirty wooden cabins filled with food producers and craftsmen of the most famous skills the city and islands around have to offer.

You will find traditional Murano glass, traditional carnival masks, ceramics, jewellery and marbled paper. But let’s not forget that Christmas markets in Italy are also a festive background for food specialities, you will find anything from cakes and sweets, fine olive oils, and vintage balsamic vinegar to panettone, almond nougat, pastas, and porcini mushrooms to mention some.

You can also find plenty of entertainment for adults and kids alike, a place filled with music, concerts and even art just a few feet from there like the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and Galleria Dell’Accademia.

booths in the venice christmas market filled with masks and glass ornaments

Bassano Del Grappa Christmas Mid-November 2024 to early January 2025

Bassano hosts another one of the Christmas markets in Italy you should visit. Just at the foot of Monte Grappa and an hour from Venice and crossed by the Brenta River, this historical town hosts little wooden houses spread between Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Libertà.

The houses are filled with local specialities like handmade wooden, glass and ceramic ornaments, Christmas tree decorations, gift ideas and plenty of food. You can miss the typical Vin Brulè (mulled wine) to sip while walking around. Not far from the centre, you can also find the Remondini nativity scene and the enchanted path of Santa Claus at the Ezzelini castle, a fairy tale background to enchant kids and adults alike.

Piazza Duomo Milan Christmas Market early December 2024 to early January 2025

Milan, among the many Christmas markets it hosts, from Darsena to Rho Fiera, we find the Piazza Duomo Christmas Market. Spread from Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the main shopping street near the cathedral, you can find over 60 wooden chalets selling traditional decorations, baubles, nativity crib scenes and materials and a delicious range of local delicacies and Christmas treats.

In the shopping gallery, you will also find the grand Christmas tree in its centre and head over to Terrazza Aperol for an amazing view of the Christmas Market from above. Also, find plenty of ice rinks around the city as well as watch the Opera or Ballet at Teatro alla Scala.

Sant’Agata Feltria Christmas Village 1st December – 15th December 2023

This village in Emilia Romagna is well known for it’s national fair called the Christmas Village. The streets of this medieval village host traditional bagpipes musician, handcrafted nativites and a Christmas market that let you soak the CHristmas atmosphere.

Visitors can find Father Christmas’s house and elves to visit at the market as well as eat in the restaurants around that serve a menu called ‘Advent Dishes’. All dishes are prepared following local Christmas traditions and customs.

Christmas Markets In Italy – Centre

Rome Christmas Market December 1, 2024, to January 6, 2025

Piazza Navona is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Rome and in the world. This Baroque square, at the heart of the historic centre, hosts the historic Befana market. The Befana is an old lady riding a broom, whose origins date back to the ancient Rome celebration of the winter solstice. She brings sweets and toys to the kids.

The Piazza Navona Christmas market in Rome is known for its beautiful nativity scenes, decorations, and festive atmosphere. It’s a great place to soak in the holiday spirit. Delight yourself with gastronomic delicacies, and find handicrafts work and books. But it’s not only about food and presents, this market dating back 200 years, also offers a puppet theatre, street artists and music to get you in the Christmas mood.

Florence Christmas Market November 28, 2024, to December 20, 2024

Also known as the Weihnachtsmarkt market, the Florence Christmas market set in Piazza Santa Croce is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Italy, dating back 500 years. This German-style open-air market brings the German Christmas traditions and holiday spirit to Italy.

You can find food specialities from Germany like bratwurst and pretzels, chimney cakes, krauts and beer. But you can also find Dutch creps and waffles, Austrian food booths and some typical Italian holiday food like cheese, jam, chocolate and spices.

But this open-air Christmas market is not only about food. The wooden booths are also filled with everything from jewellery, contemporary artwork, winter wear, beautifully crafted ornaments and candle votives and ceramic home goods. Walk around with a hot mulled wine or hot chocolate and soak in the magic of Christmas with the background of the Santa Croce cathedral and join the entertainment and music.

santa croce cathedral christmas market filled with booths with clothes and ornaments

Christmas Markets In Italy – Southern italy

Naples Christmas market December 2, 2024, to January 7, 2025

Naples Christmas market, better known as ‘Mercatini di Natale e Presepi di Napoli’ is held in various locations across Naples, including Piazza degli Artisti, via Enrico Alvino, via Kauffmann, Piazza San Gaetano and Via San Gregorio Armeno.

What sets this Christmas market apart from the rest that is held in Italy, is the Nativity Scenes Markets in Via San Gregorio Armeno, also known as the Christmas Alley. Here you can find all year long the elaborately crafted Nativity Scenes renowned for the artistry of its figurines and miniature landscapes.

In these markets spread around the city you can find stalls filled with Christmas decorations, ornaments, lights, and local crafts. As well as walking around with regional products in hand like pizza and zeppole (a fried pastry), savouring the flavour of this city, the live performances, the colourful decorations, street music and carolers.

Taormina Christmas Market December 2024 – January 2025

Taormina, a historical city perched over the sea, hosts some of the most famous Christmas processions in Sicily and Italy. While there’s a small market where you can find Christmas ornaments and delicacies, Taormina at Christmas is better known for its entertainment. Walk around the medieval streets to find nativity scenes come to life, better known here as the Presepe Vivente.

Watch the parade of the traditional Carretti Siciliani – colourful carriages that show the rich craft history of the region. Or spend your time enjoying the bonfire in front of the Duomo di Taormina. Walk around the city with seaside views and Mount Etna all while being accompanied by the sound of the choir and orchestras performing and enjoying the lights and decorations.

Catania Christmas Market November 29 to December 28, 2024

During Christmas, Catania hosts plenty of activities for kids and adults alike. You will find the Christmas market held in Via Etnea, Catania’s main street, which becomes a Christmas shopping paradise with shops and festive stalls. Here, you can find typical Sicilian Christmas products like sweets, local crafts, handmade nativity scenes, and decorations – perfect for unique souvenirs.

Then you can visit Santa’s Village, the first theme park in southern Italy, for a magical holiday experience. The Le Ciminiere Exhibition Centre transforms into Christmas Town with attractions like an ice rink, playgrounds by famous brands, a Christmas cinema, Disco Christmas, talking reindeer, Santa’s house, a planetarium, and more surprises.

Lastly, immerse yourself in Catania’s traditional Christmas events, such as the Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of St Agatha, to experience the local Christmas culture.

close up of ornaments and a christmas tree, people in the background

Cagliari Christmas Market November 30, 2024, to January 6, 2025

The Sardinian capital hosts over 40 wooden stalls in Piazza Yenne and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. You can find anything from handcrafted Christmas decorations to Sardinian specialities like nougat, wines and craft beers.

Adding to the enchantment, the medieval fortress of San Michele’s Castle, which usually oversees the city, transforms into “Father Christmas’ Castle” during the “Cagliari coi fiocchi” festival, creating a magical world of lights and colours. Visitors can encounter Father Christmas, Mother Christmas, the Elves, and the Snow Princess. For the little ones, there’s the Storyteller Elf room, Santa’s post office, and the Toy factory.

After some more Christmas and travelling to Italy posts?

Whether you’ve wandered the historic Piazza Navona in Rome, sipping on mulled wine and marveling at nativity scenes, or explored the charming wooden stalls of Bolzano under a blanket of snow, the essence of Italy’s Christmas markets is a celebration of community, culture, and the joy of giving.

As the melodies of Christmas carols and the aroma of roasted chestnuts drift away, the warmth of these markets remains etched in the hearts of both locals and travelers alike. Each market, with its unique charm and offerings, contributes to the rich tapestry of Italy’s holiday season.