A festive atmosphere in the cathedral square, called Piazza Duomo, and a light show in what was once the oldest town in Tyrol
Image gallery: Bressanone Christmas Market
The Bressanone Christmas Market is a perfect place for a leisurely stroll after a day on the slopes of the Plose. The venerable cathedral, with its ceiling frescoes and 800-year-old cloister, lends a special atmosphere to the market in the old town of Bressanone. From the end of November until January 6, almost 50 stalls tempt visitors with Christmas biscuits, mulled wine, dumplings, sweet doughnuts, wool, furs, teas, and spice mixes. It is traditionally opened with the Angels' Parade.
The four main locations:
- Square in front of the Bressanone Cathedral: the centre of the Christmas Market
- Bishop's Palace: Nativity scene exhibition in the Diocesan Museum and a light show
- Arcades of Bressanone: the shops under the arcades are all filled with Christmas cheer
- Plose Skiing Area: On St. Nicholas' Day, December 6, St. Nicholas himself visits the Plose to surprise children and winter sports enthusiasts with sweets right on the slopes
Fireplace in the Cathedral Square:
A popular meeting point at the Bressanone Christmas Market is the open fireplace in the Cathedral Square. Against the backdrop of Bressanone Cathedral, authentic South Tyrolean dishes such as barley soup are cooked over the flames, and the fire is also perfect for warming up cold hands. The Christmas mug, which will also be available in 2025, is designed by an artist from Bressanone.
Nativity scene exhibition and light show:
The nativity scene exhibition in the Diocesan Museum at the Bishop's Palace is an ideal addition to a visit to the market. The inner courtyard of the Bishop's Palace also hosts the "OOPS Light & Music Show", an impressive visual and sound experience with music by Giorgio Moroder. The Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe winner composed an original soundtrack especially for "OOPS".
Sustainability at the Bressanone Christmas Market:
As in Bolzano, Merano, Brunico, and Vipiteno, Bressanone hosts a large Christmas Market that is organised as a Green Event. The main focus is on the careful use of resources, environmentally friendly mobility, waste management, and local involvement. Vegetarian dishes and meals prepared largely from regional, organic, seasonal, and Fairtrade products are available.
The light show in the Bishop's Palace also supports UNICEF with a donation from every ticket sold. The pictures for the large Advent calendar, on the other hand, are created by people with disabilities from the Wunderbar - Seeburg workshop. There is also a FairStand. The supporting programme features bands from South Tyrol and ensembles from the music school, the social sciences grammar school, and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.
During Advent, the town of Bressanone organises workshops that show how to reuse and upcycle materials: This includes making Christmas cards from recycled paper and leftover materials, sustainable cosmetics, and tips for upcycling candles and clothes.
Getting to the Christmas Market:
A competition provides an incentive to travel to the 5 main Original South Tyrolean Christmas Markets by train. The Bressanone railway station is a 10 to 15-minute walk from the old town and is also connected to the centre by bus. With the Guestpass BressanoneCard, you can use the entire public transport network in South Tyrol free of charge.
If you are coming by car, you can leave it in the Via Dante and Stufles multi-storey car parks, or in the Aquarena and Bressanone South car parks (the latter is free).
