The Merano Christmas market (Meraner Weihnacht) runs from Thursday 26 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day. About 80 exhibitors set up along the Passer river by the Kurhaus, and Piazza Terme adds a big Christmas tree and an ice rink next to the thermal baths. Merano is a spa town, so the pace is slower than in Bolzano and the stalls stay open into the evening, which makes it an easy half day or a relaxed weekend.
Coming by train? Drop your bags near Merano station and walk into town without a suitcase.
Merano Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | Thursday 26 November 2026 – Wednesday 6 January 2027 |
| Closed | 25 December |
| Stall hours | Mon–Thu 10:00–19:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun 10:00–19:00 |
| Food and drink stands | Mon–Thu 10:00–21:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–22:30, Sun 10:00–21:00 |
| Location | Along the Passer river by the Kurhaus, plus Piazza Terme (Thermenplatz) |
| Exhibitors | About 80 |
| Extras | Big Christmas tree and ice skating on Piazza Terme |
| Entry | Free |
| Nearest station | Merano/Meran, about 15 minutes’ walk |
Opening Hours and Special Days
| Day | Stalls | Food and drink |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 10:00–19:00 | 10:00–21:00 |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:00–20:00 | 10:00–22:30 |
| Sunday | 10:00–19:00 | 10:00–21:00 |
| 24 December | 10:00–15:30 | 10:00–17:00 |
| 25 December | Closed | Closed |
| 26 December | 10:00–20:00 | 10:00–22:30 |
| 31 December | 10:00–15:30 | 10:00–17:00, possibly later |
| 1 January | 10:00–20:00 | 10:00–22:30 |
These are the 2026 hours from the Merano tourist office. New Year’s Eve times for the food stands are announced in December. Friday and Saturday evenings are the liveliest, while weekday mornings are quiet enough to browse the crafts properly.
Where to Find the Stalls
The wooden stalls line the promenade along the Passer river in front of the Kurhaus, the Art Nouveau spa hall in the town centre. The stalls are built from sustainable materials and lit up after dark, and the walk along the river takes you from one end of the market to the other in a few minutes.
A short walk away, Piazza Terme has the big Christmas tree and the ice rink, right outside the Terme Merano thermal baths. If your feet are cold after an afternoon at the stalls, a few hours in the warm pools is the local way to finish the day.
What to Eat, Drink and Buy at the Merano Christmas Market
The stalls focus on South Tyrolean crafts and food, and most exhibitors come from the region.
- To drink: hot mulled wine and hot punch, the classic way to warm up by the river.
- To eat: gingerbread, cinnamon biscuits and other Christmas cookies, plus local savoury dishes at the food stands.
- To take home: glass and ceramics, woven textiles, wooden toys and carvings, wool hats and warm slippers.
The food stands stay open two hours or more after the craft stalls close, so an evening visit to the Merano Christmas market works well if you only want to eat and drink.
Getting to the Merano Christmas Market
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Merano station | Walk along Corso della Libertà towards the Kurhaus | About 15 min |
| Bolzano | Regional train | About 40 min |
| Bressanone/Brixen | Train, changing in Bolzano | About 1h15 |
| Trento | Train, changing in Bolzano | About 1h30 |
| By car | Town car parks get busy on weekends; the train from Bolzano is simpler | Varies |
Most visitors come from Bolzano, where the regional trains to Merano leave regularly through the day. Many hotels in South Tyrol include a guest card with free regional public transport, so ask at check-in before buying tickets.
Other Christmas Markets Nearby
- Bolzano’s market in Piazza Walther is the biggest in South Tyrol, 40 minutes away, on the same dates.
- Bressanone’s market on Cathedral Square is smaller and quieter, also from 26 November.
- Trento’s market in Piazza Fiera opens first, on 20 November, further south in Trentino.
Planning a longer trip? Our guide to Italy’s best Christmas markets covers the rest of the country.
Luggage Storage in Merano
A lot of people visit the Merano Christmas market as a day trip from Bolzano, or on the day they check out of a spa hotel. Hotels usually hold bags for guests, but if you’ve already left or you’re passing through by train, carrying a suitcase along a crowded riverside promenade isn’t much fun.
Radical Storage has partner businesses near Merano station, the town centre and Terme Merano. Book online in a minute, leave your bags at a verified local business and collect them before your train. Every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free and travellers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near Merano station for day trips by train.
- Luggage storage near the Kurhaus, next to the market stalls.
- Luggage storage near Terme Merano for the ice rink and the thermal baths.
Merano Christmas Market FAQ
The Merano Christmas market runs from Thursday 26 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027. It is open every day except 25 December.
Craft stalls open 10:00–19:00 Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 10:00–20:00 on Friday and Saturday. Food and drink stands stay open until 21:00, or 22:30 on Friday and Saturday. On 24 and 31 December the stalls close at 15:30.
The stalls are along the Passer river promenade in front of the Kurhaus in the town centre. Piazza Terme, by the thermal baths, has the big Christmas tree and an ice rink.
Take the regional train from Bolzano to Merano, about 40 minutes. From Merano station it is about a 15-minute walk to the stalls by the Kurhaus.
Yes, entry to the market is free. You pay only for food, drinks and anything you buy.
Radical Storage has partner locations near Merano station, the town centre and Terme Merano. Book online, drop your bags at a verified local business and collect them later, with protection up to €10,000 per bag.
