The Best Christmas Markets in South Tyrol You Must Visit This Year

During the month of December, the prosperous Northern Italian region of South Tyrol glows with festive holiday spirit, offering a selection of beautiful Christmas markets that feel secret and undiscovered compared to the better-known markets of nearby Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

These South Tyrolean Christmas markets hold high appeal because of their intimacy, exceptional cuisine, and alluring lodging options, all of which I got to enjoy on a trip last year.

At South Tyrol’s Christmas markets, you will find hospitable locals who take great pride in their culture and carefully produce high-quality handicrafts and seasonal delicacies.

Plus, thanks to the region’s alpine location and higher elevations, there’s greater potential for snowy settings that will make you feel like you have landed right in the center of a snow globe.

So, are you hoping to plan a joyous, off-the-beaten-track winter holiday in a spellbinding region surrounded by the Italian alps? The following guide to South Tyrol’s Christmas markets is here to help.

Read on for an overview of the best Christmas markets to visit in South Tyrol, along with practical information such as how to get to them, where to stay, and what special events to mark on your calendar.

A Little History Around the Christmas Markets of South Tyrol

First, let’s cover why South Tyrol has such amazing Christmas markets.

The answer has to do with the region’s history. You see, prior to 1919, South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is why a large number of inhabitants today are native German speakers and maintain the Advent traditions commonly found in Austria and Germany.

These rituals include Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte in German), mulled wine (Glühwein), ornate nativity scenes, holiday concerts, visits from Saint Nicholas, and the terrifying Krampus (more on them later).

After WWI, the Italian government annexed the Dolomites from Austria, the region south of the Brenner Pass, and each town adopted an Italian name.

To this day, nearly every town maintains both an Italian and a German name, which can create confusion as you research and plan your trip… but don’t worry, in this post we’ll cover both names to minimize confusion.

How to Get to South Tyrol for Christmas Markets

Bolzano (also known as Bozen in German) is a great launching point to explore the many Christmas markets in South Tyrol because it is very central to the region and is well connected by train.

If you fly into Munich, you can then take a direct four-hour train ride that travels through the scenic Brenner Pass. It is also possible to travel from Venice where a direct train to Bolzano takes just over three hours.

With either option, you can upgrade to a first-class carriage to enhance your trip, which I’d highly recommend for a more relaxing experience.

Once in Bolzano, you can take advantage of South Tyrol’s public transportation system, which happens to be one of Europe’s best and most affordable.

Using the Mobilcard, you can purchase an unlimited 7-day pass for only 28 Euros, which gives you access to local public transportation including buses, the regional railway, and select cable cars. 

This pass is an excellent value and with it you can easily access most of South Tyrol’s Christmas markets without a car. (see this Mobilcard trip planning link for exact timetables and routes).

Where to Stay for South Tyrol’s Christmas Markets

With your Mobilcard, you have free and unlimited access to the Ritten cable car, a swift 12-minute ride that will lift you from Bolzano, up to Soprabolzano (Oberbozen in German), a majestic high plateau at 4,000 ft elevation.

Rising above Bolzano, the views from Soprabolzano are expansive and breathtaking. At this higher elevation, you are also more likely to find mountain snow.

Within a short walk of the cable car, you can reach several wonderful hotels and agriturismos (farm stay apartments), which offer a variety of price points to fit your comfort level. The cable car runs every 4 minutes, so getting to and from the Bolzano train and the bus station is fast and convenient.

Hoferbauer is a family-run farmhouse situated in the heart of Soprabolzano/Oberbozen, just a short walk from the cable car.

This working farm offers five beautifully renovated modern apartments of various sizes. Guests can purchase farm-produced milk, yogurt, eggs, bread, and other unique homemade items, and there is also a full-service grocery store within a short walking distance.

From this location, it is easy to take short day trips to nearby towns that feature Christmas markets, or you can easily reach winter hiking destinations that offer snowshoeing, skiing, and sledding.

On weekends during the Advent season, a unique Christmas Market, Rittner Christbahnl, takes place just minutes away by foot.

The Rittner Christbahnl involves a holiday train that connects two small market towns, Soprabolzano and Collalbo. Each festively decorated town offers a small Christmas market featuring handmade treasures and local culinary specialties.

Christmas Markets in South Tyrol To Visit

Alright, now that we’ve covered the history of South Tyrol’s Christmas Markets, as well as how to reach them and where to stay, it’s time to showcase some of the must-visit Christmas markets in the region.

Luckily, many of South Tyrol’s Christmas markets are close to one another, so you can visit multiple markets during your trip.

Here are a few you should make sure you don’t miss!

We’ll start our list with one of the biggest and most famous Christmas markets in South Tyrol: the Bolzano Christmas Market.

Situated in the town’s main square, Piazza Walther, here you’ll find a giant Christmas tree, and festive lights adorning over 80 traditional wooden houses that offer genuine handicrafts and regional specialties.

A magnificent church (Assumption of Our Lady Cathedral) stands as the showpiece of Bolzano’s medieval center, offering a perfectly picturesque backdrop for Christmas market festivities. If you’re looking for the easiest Christmas market in South Tyrol to reach, be sure to add this one to your list.

Curious to see more from this iconic South Tyrol Christmas Market? Check out this video.

This small, magical South Tyrol Christmas market is located on a cleared pedestrian path that circles Lake Carezza, surrounded by the majestic Dolomiti mountains.

At twilight, unique huts along the path begin to glow as traditional alpine music plays, and the smell of roasting chestnuts fills the air. At just under 5,000 feet of elevation, there is an excellent chance of enjoying a winter wonderland of snow-covered trees and paths, making this one of the most magical Christmas markets that South Tyrol has to offer.

Looking for more photos from this beautiful South Tyrol Christmas market? Check out this YouTube video!

This remote and down-to-earth alpine village offers unique locally produced products and crafts, such as boiled wool slippers or spa and wellness items made with mountain pine essential oil.

Curious to see more from the Sarntal Valley Christmas Market? Check out this video.

For another beautiful Christmas market in South Tyrol, be sure to visit the charming village of Chiusa (or Klausen, in German).

This unique medieval village specializes in nature-based holiday decor, such as paths illuminated with candles, authentic fir garlands, and carved wooden decorations.

For another unique Christmas event in South Tyrol, be sure to visit the Renon Trenatale.

What makes this South Tyrolean Christmas Market special is that it’s actually comprised of two small markets (in Collalbo and Soprabolzano), which are connected by a modern cable car.

At these markets, old train cars are used as holiday stands offering local specialties and traditional crafts.

For clips from this enchanting South Tyrolean Christmas Market, check out this video.

As far as Christmas market backdrops go, it’s tough to beat Brixen, where the Old Town and Cathedral Square are beautifully decorated with a carousel, traditional wooden huts, and festive lights.

After dusk, a unique light show is projected onto the facades of the Hofburg museum building, making it a truly dazzling Christmas market experience everyone should have when visiting South Tyrol!

Want to see more from this famous Christmas Market in South Tyrol? Check out this video.

Sterzing is famous for its magnificent clock tower, called “Zwölferturm”. This 151-foot granite tower was built between 1468 and 1472, and makes for an absolutely gorgeous backdrop to the town’s enchanting Christmas market.

While here, you don’t want to miss the ringing of the bells – a carillon with 25 bells that plays a special advent show daily. With approximately 30 charming huts, the market is a nice size as well, with plenty of great opportunities for shopping and eating.

For more scenes from this picture perfect Christmas market in South Tyrol, check out this video.

Looking for another one of South Tyrol’s bigger Christmas markets? The Merano Christmas Market is a larger market with over 80 beautifully decorated stalls offering a variety of crafts and regional specialties, such as speck, a locally produced ham prosciutto.

You will also find a large ice skating rink and a carousel.

Curious about what Merano Christmas Market looks like? Check out this video.

Lana is one of three towns in South Tyrol whose name remained unchanged, with the same name (Lana) in both Italian and German.

This market is intimate, with only 20 decorated stands offering genuine South Tyrolean crafts and delicacies, but it’s well worth a visit if you’re looking to explore a charming, smaller Christmas market.

If you’re curious about the wonders of Lana’s Christmas Market, check out this video link for more clips!

On weekends, a charming Christmas train runs from the center of Meran to the very heart of the Christmas market of Algund. This train runs hourly and is free of charge.

This small South Tyrolean Christmas market takes place in the Church Square, with plenty of vendors selling regional handicrafts and tasty food and drink.

BONUS: How to Maximize Your Krampus Experience

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning an integral and thrilling part of the Advent tradition in South Tyrol that you won’t want to miss: the Krampus!

For those who are new to their existence, Krampuses are frightening, beast-like creatures of lore, who are responsible for scaring naughty children on or around December 5th, known as Krampushnacht (Krampus night).

Traditionally, On the eve of December 6, Saint Nicholas will arrive accompanied by the Krampus, who threatens to capture children who have misbehaved. Many Krampus costumes are handmade and quite elaborate, using goat skins and horns.

The masks are carefully detailed and frequently carved out of wood. Throughout South Tyrol, various towns create their own customs and traditions related to the Krampus so it is best to check with each local tourism office to confirm when Krampus events occur.

A note of caution, some events are more family-friendly and others can be quite rowdy and frightening, so research your preference carefully.

Important dates to take note of:

• December 5 – Krampuslauf
• December 6 – Saint Nicholas Day 
• December 8 – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – an Italian national holiday

I Hope You Enjoyed This Guide to South Tyrol’s Christmas Markets!

South Tyrol is by far one of the most underrated regions for Christmas markets in Europe, and I hope you get to experience that for yourself. If you have any more questions, feel free to leave a comment. Otherwise, have an amazing trip 🙂