Whether you’re trying to decide if you should hit up Bolzano’s Christmas Market on your upcoming trip, or you’re already in the Dolomites and just need some help figuring out logistics of the market… I’ve got you covered!
I’m a mamma of three living in Tuscany and I’ve been visiting the Dolomites every year since 2004. While I’m partial to summer Dolomites visits, I also love a chilly winter trip to the Dolomites… which usually includes a visit to Bolzano!
Bolzano’s Christmas Market is a must-visit if you’re anywhere in the area over the Christmas holiday. It’s cozy, picture-perfect, family-friendly, and filled to the brim with entertainment, high-quality goods, and delizioso food and drink.
I’ve just come back from visiting Bolzano’s mercatino di Natale with my 7-year-old son, and we adored it so much we went twice during our visit to the area.
Let’s take a look at:
- Bolzano Christmas Market Basics
- Who will love the Bolzano Christmas Market (and who should skip it)
- What you’ll find on site
- How to get to Bolzano’s mercatino
- What to do before or after you visit Bolzano’s Christmas Market
- Tips for families visiting the Christmas Market
I hope this helps you plan your visit!
You may want to read
Bolzano in Winter
A Winter Visit to Bolzano with Kids
Visiting the Dolomites in Winter Without a Car
Dolomites in Winter – For Non-Skiers
Bolzano Christmas Market Basics
Location: Bolzano, in the main piazza (Piazza Walther)
Dates/Times: November 28th, 2024 to January 6th, 2025. See the official website, Mercatino di Natale Bolzano for up-to-date info, but know that the last day is usually the Epiphany (Epifania in Italian).
# of Market Stalls: around 100
Fun Fact: Bolzano’s Christmas market was Italy’s first!
Who Will Love the Bolzano Christmas Market
Bolzano’s mercatino di Natale is a must if you enjoy:
- German/Austrian style Christmas markets
- A spectacular setting in a piazza with views of the Dolomites
- A large market with a variety of stalls/goods
- German/Austrian style food and drink options
- Access to a charming city (Bolzano) and mountains
- Getting off the train and walking to the market in a couple of minutes
- A calm, yet family-friendly atmosphere
- Visiting a Christmas market without getting all dressed up (it’s super casual, and you’ll fit in with ski gear and comfy shoes)
You may want to skip the Bolzano Christmas Market if:
- You’re driving and don’t want to deal with parking in Bolzano
- You want to be somewhere that feels very Italian for the holidays (Bolzano has an Austrian feel to it, and so does its market)
- You’re feeling a litte bah-humbug
What You’ll Find at Bolzano’s Christmas Market
Piazza Walther is filled with around 100 wooden stalls selling a variety of goods, including:
- Local foods (sausages, cheeses, jams)
- Local essential oils – try the pino mugo!
- Christmas decorations and ornaments
- Homemade children’s toys
- Winter clothing like hats, mittens, and slippers
- Candles
- Local spices and herbs
- Handmade trinkets and decorations
There are also food and drink stalls set up for consuming on-site. My son and I happily indulged in cioccolata calda (hot chocolate), and there are local beers and wines available (and of course, mulled wine). You can drink your beverage in real glassware and wander around the market. Just return your glass/cup/mug when you’re finished.
Another highlight is the enormous, decorated Christmas tree (in the center of the piazza), along with other decorations (this year there was a mini forest of lit Christmas trees in the piazza).
Families will appreciate the puppet shows (I even got a kick out of it, but note that it’s not in English), the mini train, the small carousel, and the junk-free market stalls.
In a sentence, Bolzano’s Christmas market is a high-quality market with plenty of local goodies, in a spectacular mountain setting.
How to Get to Bolzano’s Mercatino di Natale
There are a few ways to get to Bolzano’s Christmas market, with the easiest being by train or on foot.
Arriving by Train: You can reach Bolzano on Italy’s fast trains (Italo Treno and Trenitalia) or slower regional trains. The Christmas market is in Piazza Walther, a less-than-5-minute walk from Bolzano’s train station.
Read more about
Train Travel in Italy
Taking the Train in Italy with Kids
Florence to Bolzano by Train
Arriving on Foot: Bolzano is definitely worth a night or two (or more!) and it’s easy to get to the market with your own two feet if you’re staying in the center or even in the residential areas. There are pedestrian areas in the center, walking paths, and good sidewalks around the city.
Arriving by Bus: We often stay in Fié allo Sciliar (Völs am Schlern in German), which is about 25 minutes up into the mountains by bus. On our most recent visit, we took the bus to and from the Christmas market – easy!
The new-ish bus station is a 3-minute straightforward walk from the train station (and add another 5 minutes to get to Piazza Walther and the Christmas market. Even if you’re not a huge fan of riding the bus, this is an excellent option in the Dolomites.
Helpful Tip: If you plan on taking public transportation in the Dolomites (buses, trains, gondolas, etc), download the SüdTirolMobil app to help plan your journey. It’s more reliable than Google Maps and you can also purchase tickets via the app. Or, use the SüdTirolMobil website.
Arriving by Car: If you’re planning on driving to the Christmas market, be ready for traffic around the city center. Also, don’t try to drive into the historic center because it is a ZTL, a zona traffico limitato, or a limited traffic zone – you’ll get fined if you drive into it without permission.
I think the easiest place to park for access to the Christmas market is the Parcheggio Centro, which is about a 10-minute walk to Piazza Walther. You can see all of Bolzano’s lots on the Bolzano Parking Website, including how many spots are left in each one and how to reach them (using Google Maps).
Read more about
Driving in the Dolomites
Driving in Italy
Parking in Italy
Italy Travel Apps I Use
What do Do Near the Bolzano Christmas Market
Explore Bolzano! Bozen (in German) is a delightful city with a colorful historic center that’s lit up and decorated for the holidays. It’s worth strolling and checking out the shops under the porticoes, trying ice skating on the rink in Piazza del Municipio, or say hi to Ötzi, the Ice Man.
Read more about
Things to Do in Bolzano
Bolzano with Kids
Bolzano Restaurants for Your First Visit
Take the Funivia Up to Soprabolzano. Enjoy the village’s little Christmas market, take the scenic train to Collalbo, or do what we do and go for a wooded stroll (we chose the Freudpromenade path on our recent visit).
Go Ice Skating on Laghetto di Fiè. In about 30 minutes (by car), you can reach Fié’s little lake. Try ice skating in this picturesque location at the base of the Sciliar.
Make your way to the village of Fiè allo Sciliar. Fiè has a small Christmas market, and you can also take a walk up to the small church on the hill overlooking the village, get something to eat at Hotel Türm, and soak up views of the Sciliar range directly in front of you.
Read more about
Visiting Fiè allo Sciliar
Fiè allo Sciliar with Kids
Soak in Merano’s thermal baths. Just a short train ride away is Merano. Along with ski areas, a lovely Christmas market, and a town center worth a stroll, it’s also home to a large thermal bath complex (Terme Merano) that’s calling your name in the winter months.
Play in the snow on Alpe di Siusi. Alpe di Siusi (aka Seiser Alm) is one of our favorite places to spend time in the Dolomites in the summer, and it’s worth a visit in the winter as well. Ski, snowboard, sled (on tracks over 1 kilometer long!), go on a horse carriage ride, snowshoe, sip hot cocoa at a mountain hut…
Check out Alpe di Siusi with Kids – Winter Edition
Tips for Families Visiting Bolzano’s Christmas Market
Bring your stroller. There’s plenty of space between the stalls (but yes, it can be crowded), and you’ll want to be able to move around Bolzano before or after you visit the market. It’s also nice to have it to get to/from the market, whether you arrived by car, train, or on foot. Little ones will love being cozy in the stroller and taking in all of the Christmas lights and decorations.
Change diapers in the public toilet or in a restaurant bathroom. The public toilet is underground in the piazza (cash), but you can also use a bathroom if you eat at a restaurant or buy something from a bar. If you want to have a sit-down meal in front of the market, our family really likes Walther’s right on the piazza (it’s one of our favorite Bolzano restaurants).
Don’t miss the rest of Bolzano! Even if your reason for coming to town is the market, make sure you leave time before or after your visit to explore Bolzano with your kids. From Ötzi the Ice Man to Talvera Park to toy shops in the center, there’s something fun in Bolzano for all ages.
Read my guide to Visiting Bolzano with Kids
Sit down for a bit. Most of the drink stands have standing only areas, but we saw a few places to sit down. If you can’t find a spot (or it just feels too crowded with kids), head to a nearby restaurant for a snack.
If you need baby supplies or food, there’s a Coop grocery store on the Piazza (you can see the sign from the piazza), and there’s also a Despar to the east of the piazza. In the same complex as the Despar, you’ll find OVS (clothing section for kids, kind of like Target) and Tigotà (toiletries, diapers, etc).
Find the mountain range. If you haven’t already eaten Loacker wafer cookies with your kids, you can pick some up at the Loacker Café on the southeastern corner of the piazza. Look at the mountains on the package and then look up and see if you can see them from Bolzano! Hint: It’s the Sciliar range to the east of Bolzano.
You may also want to check out
Dolomites with Kids
Our Favorite Things to Do in the Dolomites
Best Places to Visit in Italy with Kids
Italy with a Baby or Toddler
I hope you enjoy your visit to Bolzano’s mercatino di Natale! Soak up the city’s Christmas magic!
Spending the holidays in Italy? Or just curious about how we celebrate here? Learn more about Italian Christmas:
Where to Spend Christmas in Italy
Christmas in Italy for Kids – Traditions & How to Celebrate
How to Say Merry Christmas in Italian
Traditional Italian Christmas Foods
Traditional Italian Christmas Lunch
Authentic Italian Christmas Eve Dinner
Pandoro vs Panettone
Presepe – The Italian Nativity Scene
Babbo Natale – Italy’s Santa Claus
La Befana – Italy’s Christmas Witch
12 Italian Christmas Traditions We Still Celebrate
Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in Italy
10 Best Places to See Christmas Trees in Italy
Best Christmas Markets in Italy
Christmas in Tuscany
