The Christmas Market in Bolzano is the largest and oldest Christmas market in Italy, first opened in 1991. If you’d like to see it for yourself, then we’ll go over all the essential information you’ll need: where is it, when does it open and where can you park?
You’ll find about 80 stalls on the Bolzano Christmas Market, the most popular fair in the South Tyrol region. There are loads of craftsmen, food stalls, a music stage and many other Christmas attractions awaiting you there.
Where is the Christmas market in Bolzano?
The Christmas Market in Bolzano takes place in the beautifully decorated Piazza Walther, right in the centre of the city. The lights, decorations, snow and the architecture of the place give the fair a lovely romantic atmosphere. In our opinion, it leaves the fairs of the larger cities like Milan far behind. If you’re all about Christmas, we’d recommend you visit Bolzano first and foremost.
When does the Christmas market start in Bolzano?
In 2023-2024, the Christmas market in Bolzano lasts from 24th of November till the 6th of January, 2024.
As per usual, the market closes on the 25th of December. If you want to see the opening ceremony, you’ll have to enter the market on the first day of its operation.
Opening times
From Monday to Thursday, the market is open from 11am to 7pm. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it opens an hour earlier, at 10am. There are some special cases:
- 23rd of November is open from 5pm to 7pm only
- On the 24th of December, the market opens at 10am but closes at 2pm
- On the 31st of December, the market opens at 10am but closes at 6pm
- On the first of January, the market is open from noon till 7pm
The best time to go to the market would be right before Christmas, especially in the evening, as the lights are spectacular. See what Italians usually eat for Christmas, as you may find some of those things on the market too!
Where to park for the Bolzano Market?
The city is quite jammed by skiing enthusiasts in winter, so there might be issues with parking if you’re travelling by car. We recommend either:
Where do we recommend parking in Bolzano?
- Piazza della Stazione, 1 or
- Via Josef Mayr Nusser, 24
Both these options are paid, though they’re not too expensive. If you want to park for free in Bolzano, you can park in Via Maso della Pieve or in Bolzano Sud – but then you have to get to the market by public transport or taxi.
A word about parking spaces on the streets themselves. These are marked by coloured lines: white, yellow or blue. What do these mean?
- White stripes: no parking for non-residents during certain hours, depending on the zone
- Blue stripes: paid parking spaces
- Yellow parking spaces: spaces for the disabled or for deliveries
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