The Christmas markets on Lake Garda offer a unique experience, combining the natural beauty of the area with ancient Alpine and Mediterranean traditions.
Anyone who thinks Lake Garda is only a summer destination is greatly mistaken. The Christmas season transforms Lake Garda into a true fairytale setting.
The lake’s blue waters reflect the sparkling lights decorating the villages along the shores, while the air fills with the unmistakable scent of mulled wine, cinnamon, and roasted chestnuts.
What is a renowned destination for sun and swimming in summer becomes, in winter, a stage of traditions, authentic flavours and heart-warming atmospheres. Below you will find the main markets, festivities and events organised during the Christmas period on Lake Garda.
When do the Christmas Markets on Lake Garda start?
The Christmas market season on Lake Garda begins as early as mid-November, with some towns starting the festive atmosphere earlier than others. The Arco Christmas Market, one of the most famous in the area, opens on 14 November 2025 and continues uninterrupted until 6 January 2026, making it the longest-running event in the region.
Most villages, however, inaugurate their celebrations on the last weekend of November.
It’s important to remember that many markets do not remain open every day: several towns open their stalls mainly on weekends until mid-December, then continue with daily openings from 19–20 December until 6 January. This organisation allows for a more intimate and authentic experience during the early weekends, while the actual Christmas holidays offer a livelier and more festive atmosphere.
Where are the main Christmas Markets on Lake Garda?
Arco: the largest and longest-running market
The Arco Christmas Market is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events in the entire Garda area. With more than forty wooden stalls animating the historic centre from 14 November 2025 to 6 January 2026, this market offers a complete experience for the whole family.
Strolling among Arco’s stalls means immersing yourself in a world of local and national craftsmanship: gift items, Christmas decorations, scented candles, blown-glass ornaments, handmade ceramics, wooden toys and food specialities. The Christmas lights illuminating the historic streets and the imposing castle towering above create an enchanting, fairy-tale atmosphere, especially in the evening.
Besides shopping, Arco offers many activities to make Christmas even more special. Historical craft demonstrations allow visitors to discover ancient traditions, while the educational farm with animals delights the youngest. The food area in Piazzale Segantini features an extensive selection of gastronomic specialties, from typical Trentino dishes to Christmas delicacies, accompanied by shows, concerts and entertainment.
The market is open on weekends from Friday to Sunday during 14 November – 18 December, then continues with daily opening (except on 25 December) from 19 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, from 10:00 to 19:00.
Riva del Garda: food & wine, Santa’s House and the Grinch’s House
Riva del Garda offers a rich and varied Christmas programme, perfect especially for families with young children. The beating heart of the celebrations is "Di Gusto in Gusto", the food and wine event that transforms Piazza Cesare Battisti and Piazza Garibaldi into a true temple of Trentino flavours.
The wooden stalls offer a refined selection of local specialties: steaming canederli, crispy polenta, carne salada with beans, freshly baked strudel and fragrant Christmas biscuits. Everything is paired with local wines, craft beers, Trento DOC sparkling wines, aromatic mulled wine and creamy hot chocolate. Live music, family activities and bright decorations complete an evocative atmosphere across the elegant squares.
Inside the historic Rocca di Riva del Garda, the lakeside castle, stands the House of Santa Claus. Children can enjoy a two-hour enchanted experience: take souvenir photos, listen to Christmas stories, take part in creative workshops with elves, dress up as Santa’s helpers and taste traditional sweets.
The workshops range from woodworking to baking, allowing children to experience the activities of Santa's village. The House is open every weekend from 29 November to 31 December 2025, from 9:00 to 17:30, and booking is highly recommended.
A fun and irreverent addition is the Grinch’s House, set up in Riva del Garda’s historic Bastion. Accessible by a panoramic lift offering breathtaking views of the city, visitors can meet the famous green character who hates Christmas. The attraction is open on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27 December 2025 and 3, 4 January 2026, with three daily time slots: 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00.
Tenno Christmas Market: the medieval village becomes a fairy tale
Just 10 km from Riva del Garda and about 30 minutes from our apartments in Villa delle Querce, the medieval village of Canale di Tenno turns into a magical fairytale setting during Advent. Recognised as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, this medieval gem dates back to 1211, with its stone houses, narrow alleys and vaulted passages creating an atmosphere suspended in time.
Between the picturesque alleys climbing the mountainsides, the courtyard gates and ancient cellars open to host a truly unique Christmas market. Unlike traditional markets with wooden huts, here the stalls are set inside the old cellars, courtyards and under the village’s characteristic arches. Handmade artworks, jewellery and ceramics by local artisans decorate the streets, while the scent of cloves, Christmas biscuits and mulled wine fills the air.
Culinary tradition plays an essential role. One must-try speciality is carne salada, a dish dating back to the 1500s made with excellent beef, raw or cooked, seasoned with spices and served with beans (“fasoi”). The market takes place on weekends from early December until 21 December, with special events including the Shepherds’ Parade on Christmas Eve and the live nativity scene on 26 December.
Rango: the Christmas market inside a historic farming village
The Christmas markets in Rango are unique because they unfold inside one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, an ancient medieval rural village where time seems to have stopped. Located in the municipality of Bleggio Superiore, in the Giudicarie Valleys, Rango is just 36 km from Trento and 24 km from Lake Garda (about 50 minutes from Villa delle Querce), and since 2006 it has been part of the prestigious club of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.
Only here the Christmas markets are set inside old farmers’ houses, exceptionally opened for the occasion: in cellars, old stables, arcades and attics, visitors find stalls displaying local products and artisanal wonders. More than 70 exhibitors offer items ranging from regional delicacies to wooden crafts, textiles, vintage objects and wellness products.
The authentic atmosphere is shaped by corridors, cellars and vaulted passageways symbolising the ancient rural life. Stone staircases, arches, narrow alleys and the picturesque square make Rango a place where every corner becomes a journey through old-fashioned flavours and scents. The local speciality is the walnut cake, made with Bleggio walnuts, a unique variety that made the village famous.
There is no shortage of taverns where visitors can enjoy traditional Trentino dishes such as canederli, tripe soup, polenta, cheeses and local cured meats. The market takes place on weekends from mid-November to late December, with a rich programme of music, concerts, children’s workshops and visits from Santa Claus and Saint Lucy.
The big Trento Christmas Market: alpine flavours and craftsmanship
The Trento Christmas Market takes place in the heart of the city, in Piazza Fiera and Piazza Mostra, with around 90 wooden stalls—70 in Piazza Fiera and 20 in the historic centre. Since 1993, the market has grown into a symbol of a city celebrating Christmas with taste, warmth and beauty, attracting more than 500,000 visitors each year.
Seventy-four exhibitors from all over Trentino-Alto Adige offer an experience blending tradition and creativity: pendants, colourful decorations, wooden and ceramic ornaments, warm clothing, natural cosmetics, chocolate, honey and delicious cheeses. Exhibitors come from both Trentino and South Tyrol, creating a cultural bridge between the two Alpine regions.
A highlight of the market is the gourmet area "Sapori del Mercatino", where visitors can savour exquisite Trentino and South Tyrolean dishes such as Tortel de patate, Mocheni Valley Cevap, canederli and pastries, paired with hot chocolate, mulled wine or the traditional Parampampoli. The market is open from 21 November 2025 to 6 January 2026, every day from 10:00 to 20:00, with the food area staying open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
During Christmas, the city of Trento becomes a stage of lights and wonder, with a rich programme of concerts, workshops, tastings and family events. It can be reached in about one hour from Villa delle Querce.
Bolzano Christmas Market: the largest in Italy
About an hour and forty minutes from Villa delle Querce, the Bolzano Christmas Market is the largest not only in South Tyrol but in all of Italy, and is a true landmark for lovers of Alpine Christmas atmospheres. Its history dates back to 1989, when the city of Nuremberg gifted Bolzano the statutes of its own Christmas market. In 1991, the first edition opened, and it has since won the hearts of millions of visitors.
Located in the historic and evocative Walther Square, dominated by the Cathedral, the market features more than 100 wooden stalls. The red-and-white striped booths recall the Nuremberg market, which inspired Bolzano’s organisers. In autumn 2025, the new WaltherPark was inaugurated: Station Avenue was closed to traffic and turned into a pedestrian area connecting Walther Square to the new shopping district and the train station, offering even more space for the market.
The offering is extensive: elegant wooden crafts, hand-painted blown-glass ornaments, leather goods and warm clothing fill the artisan stalls. In terms of food, the market is a paradise for lovers of South Tyrolean flavours: giant pretzels, stuffed Krapfen, Leberkäse, fine Speck, and of course hot drinks like Glühwein (mulled wine).
The market is open from 28 November to 6 January 2026, closed only on 25 December. Many attractions are designed for children, including pony rides, puppet theatres, a mini train, carousels and an ice rink now located right in front of WaltherPark. The inauguration on the Thursday before Advent marks the start of the magic with the lighting of the nativity scene, the decorations and the large Christmas tree dominating the square.
Special Events on Lake Garda during Christmas
New Year’s Eve in Riva del Garda
In Riva del Garda, music, dance and entertainment fill New Year’s Eve with a rich programme for the whole family. The Consorzio Riva In Centro organises special events at Spiaggia Olivi and in the town squares, with the "Di Gusto in Gusto" Christmas village open until the early hours of the morning.
At the "Di Gusto in Gusto" Christmas Market, visitors can enjoy Trentino culinary excellence until 3:00 AM, while from 21:30 the evening comes alive with the Misantropi band and DJ Stefanuti. The heart of the celebration beats in Riva’s historic centre, where live music, DJ sets and entertainment continue late into the night.
The highlight arrives at midnight, when a spectacular fireworks display lights up the sky to welcome the new year. The fireworks reflect on the lake’s waters, creating a magical and unforgettable scene, with snow-capped mountains forming a natural backdrop.
In addition to the evening festivities, Riva del Garda also hosts the traditional New Year’s Dive in the lake in front of Torre Apponale and the Town Hall. It is a free and spontaneous initiative open to everyone: the meeting point is at 11:00 AM in Piazza III Novembre, and at the first chime of the "Renga" (the civic bell), participants dive together into the cold waters of the harbour. In 2024, as many as 157 brave swimmers joined, and each year the goal is to break the previous record.
New Year’s Eve in Riva del Garda offers the perfect mix of tradition, fun and festive atmosphere, all framed by the unique winter beauty of Lake Garda.
New Year’s Celebration in Malcesine
In Malcesine too, the grand finale is the New Year’s Eve celebration on 31 December, when a breathtaking fireworks show lights up the sky above the lake, bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one in a blaze of colours reflected on the water. The garden of the Villa delle Querce apartments overlooks the lake with a privileged view of Malcesine, so the fireworks can be enjoyed directly from our garden, while sipping a glass of Prosecco to toast the new year.
In Campo di Brenzone
For lovers of sacred art and nativity scenes, Campo di Brenzone hosts its characteristic "Nativity Village". This ancient medieval hamlet, nestled between Monte Baldo and the lake, becomes an open-air museum with dozens of Nativity scenes created by locals and artists using natural materials such as wood, moss and terracotta. The Nativities are placed in the village’s hidden corners—along old mule tracks and between stone houses—creating a suggestive itinerary best explored in the evening, when the soft lights make the atmosphere even more magical.
In Gargnano
Every weekend, visitors can take part in “Winter Greenhouses and Quality Market”, an event combining history, flavours and tradition. Guided tours of the area’s fascinating lemon houses are accompanied by tastings of local products, food exhibitions and craft shows. It’s an ideal way to discover the architecture and ancient citrus cultivation techniques that made Limone famous, all in a cosy Christmas atmosphere. The scheduled dates are: 29–30 November, 6–7–8 December, 13–14 December, 20–21 December 2025 and 4–5–6 January 2026. Booking is required for this experience.
Concerts, gospel choirs, theatre performances and travelling shows enliven all the lakeside towns throughout December and the first days of January. Many towns also organise spiritual events such as solemn masses, sacred music concerts and processions that highlight the region’s ancient traditions.
Other Christmas Markets on Lake Garda
Besides the towns already described, the Veneto and Brescia shores of the lake also offer unmissable Christmas markets. Lazise, Bardolino and Garda form a perfect trio that can easily be visited in one day.
On the Brescia side, Desenzano del Garda is worth a visit, especially for its floating Nativity scene in the Old Port.
Salò livens up the entire Christmas season with decorations, light shows, an ice-skating rink, a carousel for children and a rich calendar of events culminating in a fireworks show on New Year’s Eve. Sirmione, with its illuminated Scaligero Castle and decorated streets, offers an ice rink in Colombare (open from 6 December to 11 January 2026), as well as concerts and performances throughout the old town.
Peschiera del Garda also contributes to the festive magic with its underwater Nativity scene in the Canale di Mezzo, a unique installation that attracts thousands of visitors each year, curious to admire the submerged Nativity.
How to get around the Christmas Markets
Since it is not peak season, everyday life on Lake Garda is much slower; driving along the Gardesana roads becomes a much more pleasant experience thanks to the lighter traffic, and it is also much easier to find parking, which in some cases is even free. Therefore, you can easily reach the Christmas markets by car.
Christmas on Lake Garda is an experience that goes beyond simple markets: it is a dive into traditions, authentic flavors, and the unique atmosphere of the real life of the local people. A way to discover this beautiful lake from another perspective, with different colors and landscapes, yet just as stunning. Whether you are looking for quality handicrafts, food and wine specialties, family-friendly events, or simply that magic that only the Christmas season can offer, Tremosine and Villa delle Querce are waiting for you to celebrate the most beautiful holidays of the year in a breathtaking natural setting.
And you? Which Christmas market on Lake Garda do you prefer to visit? Let yourself be enchanted by the magic of this special season and come discover why Christmas on Lake Garda is an unforgettable experience.
Apartment Tremosine
A cozy apartment with panoramic views and a comfortable living room, perfect for a couple or a small family looking for an oasis of relaxation.
Apartament Limone
Spacious apartment is spread over three levels, ideal for families or groups. Lake view and private balcony will make your stay unforgettable.
Apartment Malcesine
The apartment features a spacious living room and two double bedrooms, one with a lake view and one created from an ancient cellar, offering a unique and fascinating experience.
Apartment Ustecchio
Three floors of comfort and space, with a spacious living room, two double bedrooms, and a shared terrace. Ideal for couples, families, or groups of friends looking for relaxation and fun.