Merano Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Hours and Ice Rink

The Merano Christmas market (Meraner Weihnacht) runs along the Passer river promenade in front of the Kurhaus from November 26, 2026 to January 6, 2027. It has around 80 stalls, a chalet village, an ice rink and dinners inside giant Christmas baubles, and Bolzano is about 40 minutes away by regional train.

Last updated: October 20, 2026

Below you will find the 2026 dates and hours, the three market areas, how to get there by train and bus, and where to stay.

Merano Christmas market 2026 at a glance

• Dates: November 26, 2026 (opening evening at 5 p.m.) to January 6, 2027. South Tyrol’s tourist board lists November 27 as the first full day for all five original markets.
• Closed: December 25.
• Where: the Passer promenade (Kurpromenade) in front of the Kurhaus, plus Piazza della Rena and Piazza Terme.
• Size: about 80 exhibitors with crafts, traditional products and local food.
• Getting there: regional trains from Bolzano, then a short walk or city bus 1, 4 or 5 to Theaterplatz.

Opening hours of the Merano Christmas market

The Merano tourist board lists these 2026-27 hours (checked October 2026):

• Stalls and info point: Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and holidays (December 26 and January 1) 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Food and drink: Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and holidays 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• December 24 and 31: stalls 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., food until 5 p.m. On December 31 some stands stay open later, with times announced in December.
• January 6: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The three areas of the market

The main market follows the river along the promenade. As a result, it feels longer and more spread out than the square-based markets in Bressanone or Vipiteno. In addition, two more areas sit close by:

• Christmas Chalet Village in Piazza della Rena, between the Palais Esplanade and the former English Ladies building. Here Michelin-starred chef Egon Heiss runs chalet dinners. You can also join workshops and tastings of organic gin and chocolate.
• Christmas World in Piazza Terme, across a footbridge on the other bank of the Passer. It has an ice rink open every day with skate rental, a Sky Bar on the roof of the Christmas Pavilion, and giant baubles in six colors where you can book dinner through Terme Merano.

Meanwhile, the tourist office runs lantern-lit guided walks, and a Solidarity House hosts charity stalls. Like the other official South Tyrolean markets, Merano holds Green Event certification. However, we could not confirm 2026 prices for the ice rink or the mug deposit, so check them on arrival.

How to get to the Merano Christmas market

Merano is not on the Brenner main line, so from Verona or Innsbruck you change trains in Bolzano. From Bolzano, regional trains take about 40 minutes and run roughly every half hour, according to rail booking sites. From Merano station the promenade is a few minutes on foot, or you can take city bus 1, 4 or 5 to the Theaterplatz stop.

If you drive, note that the center is a limited-traffic zone. For example, disabled parking is available in Via Galilei and Corso Libertà, but you must register your permit and plate with the city in advance. Journey times come from rail booking sites, not from Trenitalia, so confirm yours on Trenitalia, because the timetable changes in mid-December.

Tours in and around Merano

A short guided walk helps you see the old town before the market lights come on, and a Christmas food tour in Bolzano pairs well with an evening in Merano.

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• Audio tour of Merano, the spa town of South Tyrol, a self-paced walk through the old town and along the Passer.
• Christmas edition of the Bolzano street food tour, a small-group tasting walk with seasonal specialties, a short train ride from Merano.

For a guided food walk in Bolzano outside the holiday season, see our Bolzano food tour page.

Where to stay in Merano

Because Merano is a spa town, it has many hotels close to the market. For example, here are two listed on Expedia:

• Aurora, Passeggiata Passirio 38, on the same riverside promenade as the market. Read our independent profile of Hotel Aurora or check Aurora on Expedia.
• Hotel Westend, Via Speckbacher 9.

For more options, compare places to stay in Merano on Expedia.

Combine Merano with other Christmas markets

Merano pairs naturally with the Bolzano Christmas market: you can stay in one town and visit the other as a day trip. Then, with an extra day, take the train up the Brenner line to the Bressanone Christmas market and the Vipiteno Christmas market. Our guide to Christmas markets in Italy lists every market with dates, and Italy in winter covers what else to plan for the season.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Merano Christmas market in 2026?

It runs from November 26, 2026, with an opening evening at 5 p.m., to January 6, 2027. It is closed on December 25.

What are the Merano Christmas market opening hours?

Stalls open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and holidays. Food stalls stay open until 9 p.m., or 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and holidays.

Is there an ice rink at the Merano Christmas market?

Yes. The ice rink is in Piazza Terme, in the Christmas World area across the Passer, and it opens every day with skate rental on site.

How long is the train from Bolzano to Merano?

About 40 minutes by regional train, with departures roughly every half hour. The market is a short walk or a city bus ride from Merano station.