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Let’s get into the Christmas spirit by visiting some fantastic Christmas markets in Italy! From north to south, here’s a list of some of the best places to enjoy an authentic Italian Christmas experience, from famous cities to little-known villages.
There are only a few weeks left before Christmas, so what better way to get into the festive spirit than attending a magical Christmas market? I’ve selected for you some of the coolest festive fairs scattered around Italy to fully embrace the yuletide season!
Naples
Naples is one of Italy’s top destinations for Christmas, with Via San Gregorio Armeno being synonymous with presepi (nativity scenes). This street is home to some incredibly talented craftspeople who create presepi of all shapes and sizes. This street is often referred to as the Christmas alley and figurines and decorations are on display all year round, but in the run-up to Christmas it truly comes to life.
You’ll also find Christmas stalls and little markets around every corner, displaying festive gifts and offering warming drinks and local delicacies – try struffoli, a classic Christmas sweet of Naples.
Useful information
- Shops and stalls in San Gregorio Armeno are usually open from about 9:30 am to about 8:00 pm
- Via San Gregorio Armeno is in the heart of Naples historic center, just a short walk from Duomo
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Salerno
If Naples is the capital of nativity scenes, then Salerno could easily win the title of queen of lights! One of the biggest local events here is Luci d’Artista (literally, Artistic Lights), a Christmas festival that lights up every corner of the city with stunning light installations based on an annual theme (this year it’s marine life).
Lights are turned on every evening at sunset until late at night and are accompanied by a traditional Christmas market sneaking through Lungomare Trieste waterfront and a panoramic ferris wheel in Piazza della Concordia.
Useful information
- Luci d’Artista will take place from 9 November to 20 January
- Further details are available on the event website
Milan
Italy’s fashion and business capital is home to an ancient Christmas fair that dates back to 1510, Oh Bej, Oh Bej (which literally means ‘how nice, how nice’). Against the backdrop of the majestic Castello Sforzesco, tens of stalls sell everything from Christmas decorations to toys, sweets and much more.
Don’t forget to stock up on panettone, the local traditional Christmas cake, and take a detour to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele to admire the beautiful Christmas tree!
Useful info
- Oh Bej Oh Bej takes place on 6-9 December, from 10:00 am to 10:30 pm.
- The nearest metro stop is “Cairoli” on the red line
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Candelara
Candelara is a delightful medieval village located in the central region of Le Marche. During the festive season, it hosts Candles in Candelara, an incredible event where electricity is switched off twice a day (at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm) and the village remains completely illuminated by the flames of thousands of candles of any shape and size for 15 minutes… such an enchanting atmosphere!
During the festival, you can take part in candle-making laboratories, browse through the stalls selling locally handcrafted products and enjoy the sounds of bagpipes filling the air. There are also a street exclusively dedicated to Nativity scenes and a big heated tent where volunteers cook traditional local dishes, including polenta, grilled meat, and apple pancakes.
Useful information
- Candles in Candelara takes place every weekend from 24th November until 16th December. There’s an entrance fee of 2 euros (free for children under 12).
- From the train station of Pesaro you can easily reach the location using the free bus service that departs every 30 minutes.
- Further details are available on the Candelara website.
Merano
Classy Merano is home to one of the most popular Christmas markets of Trentino Alto Adige, in northern Italy. Here we are in a region that totally embodies the festive season with a fairytale atmosphere that makes this time of the year truly unforgettable.
Hundreds of people flock to Piazza della Rena to browse the colorful wooden huts selling beautiful Christmas decorations and traditional local delicacies. There is also a fantastic ice skating ring in Piazza Terme. And after a day out exploring, you can pamper yourself from head to toe in one of Merano’s fantastic spas.
Useful information
- The Christmas market is open from 23 November to 6 January, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Sunday-Thursday and 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Friday-Saturday.
- Further details are available on the Merano Christmas market website.
Glorenza
With only about 900 inhabitants, Glorenza is the smallest village in the Alps, as well as a great alpine jewel with perfectly preserved medieval walls and towers.
Every December the village hosts an intimate Advent Market that makes you feel a world away from the crowds of the larger and most famous markets of Bolzano and Merano. Arcades and the central piazza. Think Christmas carols, hand-made products, and sweet scents of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine!
Useful information
- Glorenza Advent Market takes place over the long weekend of 7-9 December, from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
- Further details are available on the Venosta Valley website.
Campo di Giove and Roccaraso
The villages of Abruzzo host some truly charming Christmas markets where you can immerse yourself in an authentic southern Italian experience. The cool thing about these Christmas markets is that it is possible to visit them aboard a vintage train that has been dubbed the Italian Transiberian because it passes through a suggestive landscape resembling that of Siberia.
The train departs from Sulmona and follows the scenic route through the Majella National Park before reaching Campo di Giove and Roccaraso.
Useful information
- The Christmas markets run from 30th November to 23rd December.
- Train tickets are €40 for adults and €25 for children between 4-12 years old
- You can easily reach Sulmona by train from Rome in 2.5 hours, alternatively, you can fly into Pescara and then catch a train (1 hour)
- Further details are available on the Railbook website
Como
Como is an elegant lakeside town with lots of things to see and do all-year-around but looks its best during the festive season when it becomes the City of Toys. Yes, at Christmas Como turns a truly magical location surrounded by a suggestive atmosphere. The facades of the cathedral and the buildings around the central square are illuminated with amazing light displays and you’ll feel like an excited kid again!
There’s a colorful market selling local products, a magic castle with theatrical performances and workshops for children, and Nativity scenes set up throughout the town. there are also Christmas concerts, exhibitions of Nativity scenes and an ice rink.
Useful information
- City of Toys runs from 24th November until 6th January
- Como makes for a great day trip from Milan, it takes about an hour
- Further details are available on the Visit Como website.
Gubbio
Every year since 1981 the slopes of Mount Ingino overlooking the pretty medieval town of Gubbio, in Umbria, is home to the biggest Christmas tree in the world. 250 green lights outline the shape of the tree while over 400 multicolored lights decorate it. We are talking about an area of about 1,000 square meters! m2. This stunning installation was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1991.
There are also a delightful Christmas market in Piazza Grande and a life-size nativity scene through the streets of San Martino district.
Useful information
- The Christmas markets are on from 7 December until 7 January
- Further details are available on this website
Polignano a Mare
The charming village of Polignano a Mare in Puglia is usually associated with sun and sea, but this year it has put on some amazing festive clothes! The pretty historic center is home to the first edition of Meraviglioso Natale (literally, Amazing Christmas), a fantastic Christmas festival with shimmering lights, carols and the highest Christmas tree in the region (18 meters).
There are stalls selling excellent local goods and gastronomic delights and an ice skating ring called Magic Ice in the central piazza Aldo Moro. The program includes also an exhibition of nativity scenes and a series of concerts.
Useful information
- The festival will run from 16 November until 6 January, starting every day at sunset
- Polignano can be reached by train from Bari central station in about 30 minutes
- To access the village you need a GCard that can be purchased from one of the Info Points at the cost of 5 euros and entitles you to a series of free gifts
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Until next time,
I’ve never been to Europe during the Christmas time. Looks like I need to plan a future trip to Italy to see these various Christmas markets. Would love to take the train from Campo di Giove and Roccaraso as the ride sounds dreamy! Plus, train rides are usually fun. Will save this post the helpful tips and info to Italy’s Christmas markets.
Thanks Jackie! That train ride is my favorite too 😀
These are beautiful markets! I hadn’t considered Italy’s Christmas markets but I’m going to have to make the trip next year. They look very different from the German markets I’ve seen.
I’m sure you would love them Annick!
Wow, this is an amazing list of Christmas Markets in Italy! Most of these look like they came out of a fairy tale. You’re almost making me change my plans and head to Italy on Christmas! Thank you for sharing this lovely list.
Yay, come to Italy!!
I love the gorgeous lightings in these markets. The experience that I would really love to have is riding on the vintage train through suggestive siberian landscape. This is a beautiful and informative post for anyone who wants to get experience christmas vibes in Italy
Thanks a lot for your kind words!
I think where I need to go for Christmastime is Salerno! I’m all about finding the most amazing and eccentric lit places during the holidays. I really enjoy the fact that they have different non-relate themes like this year’s of Marine Life. How cool! The panoramic ferris wheel also sounds right up my alley, and since it takes place for 2 and a half months, I don’t see how I couldn’t see it at some point! 😀
Salerno is truly magical around Christmas Amanda!
This is the kind of post I was looking for recently as I love to visit Christmas Markets. From this list I think I would choose Gubio and Poligano di Mare but in the end all the Christmas Markets have similar spirit, right? What I like the most is to get some mulled wine from their stands, that reminds me of Christmas for sure 😀
Mulled wine is so Christmassy, isn’t it? 🙂
All of these markets sound amazing! I would love to see all of the beautiful lights in Solerno and eat my weight in panettone cake in Milan. The kids would love seeing the lights and experiencing the workshops in Como.
Aaaah panettone, how can you resist! So good!!
Oh my goodness this post is so dreamy! How magical all of these markets are! I have Christmas markets in Austria and Germany on my bucket list but now I’ll have to add Italy too. My daughter would love the fantasy like Salerno festival and my sons would die for the Italian Transiberian train ride. I would simply love them all. Thanks for sharing!
Oh yes, I’m sure the kids would love these beautiful markets!
What a beautiful post! I have never been to Europe at Christmas, but visiting Christmas markets are on my bucket list! The lights in Salerno sound amazing. I will definitely reference this list in the future.
Fantastic Leah, thank you!
These images make me want to go to Italy for Christmas! I’d only actually heard of German and Austrian Christmas markets previously. It hadn’t occurred to me to check out other areas of Europe (especially that town up in the Alps). Although I think I’d check out Candelara just to see the scene when electricity is turned off and the town is lit by candlelight…
I know right? The village lit up by candles only must be truly stunning!
Those Christmas markets look absolutely charming! I loved visiting Italy and have always wanted to go during the holiday season. Christmas markets just make me so happy. I love the photos you shared too.
Thanks so much! 🙂
I have been longing to visit Christmas markets in Schengen countries. It’s such a beautiful thing that I haven’t experienced yet. Loved the pictures of your post. Each and every place you back picked up in Italy for Christmas markets looks glorious. I am heading to Reykjavik next month. Hope to see one there.
Hope you’ll be able to visit Italy too 🙂
Oh my goodness! I love the photos of these gorgeous markets. It is wild to see Xmas lights projected onto Puglia with the waters swirling below it like that. I think that I’d have to visit “The City of Lights” – Salerno – first! Those lights make me feel so happy!
I know, right? So beautiful!
I love visiting Christmas markets from all over the world! I get to try the local delicacies and I could really feel the festivity of Christmas! I would love to visit Salerno and Como and see their beautiful light installations. Merano looks wonderful too. It reminds me of a magical Christmas village. Campo di Giove & Roccaraso sounds interesting too with its train ride!
Thank you Jen, I love Christmas markets too and here there are lots of great ones!
I explored the Christmas markets of Austria last year and plan to go to Hungary this year. But I am still looking for a place to visit in 2019! I absolutely love a white Christmas and it seems that Italy has several options where it’s possible to see that, along with some really beautiful looking markets. I love the one at Merano and the slopes of Gubbio are so gorgeously decorated! But the winner for me would be the charming villages of Abruzzo!
Thanks Medha, hopefully next year Italy for you then 😀
I am so happy I came across your blog. I live Italy! I never knew how lovely it looks around Christmas. I’ll definitely have to go on a tour in one of the coming winters!
Aaw, thanks so much! Winter is great to visit Italy, I know the weather is not great but hey, you don’t have to worry about the big crowds 😉
I am very fond of Christmas decorations and this virtual trip to Italian markets was super fun. From Naples to charming village of Polignano to Milan to gorgeous Lake Como celebrations, I wish to see them all. And struffoli sounds like a treat, I would love to dig in!
Come here, you would love it!!