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South Tirol Itinerary advice - December

Hello,
I am hoping to explore the Christmas Markets of South Tirol this December... I would love some advice on my itinerary (using public transportation). In addition to Christmas markets, I am hoping to do some casual winter/hiking and exploring. I also love good food, cooking classes, and I would love to find a calm and family-friendly Krampus experience. I, unfortunately, do not speak German or Italian - only English.

I arrive in Innsbruck on December 2.
I plan to take the train to Bolzano on Friday, December 3, and continue up the funicular to Soprabolzano for 3 nights. While here I hope to take a Winter hike - Rittner Horn - Corno del Renon
and visit the Rittner Christbahnl - Christmas Train Market. I also plan to visit the Bolzano market and perhaps take a day trip to another nearby market (Chiusa or Sarntal).

After Bolzano, I plan to transfer via train/bus to Merano for 3 nights (6 Dec to 9 Dec). In Merano, I hope to The visit the Merano Chistmas Market, the Christmas Forest at FORST Brewery, and Castel Rametz (weekend Christmas Market) and TIROLER SCHLOSSADVENT (December 4&5, December 7&8 )

I am also interested in the Bressanone Christmas Market, Vipiteno/Sterzing market and/or the
weekend-only Medieval Christmas Market in Chiusa. and also Christmas Magic at Lake Carezza/Magie Natalizie al Lago di Carezza (weekends only).

I realize I cannot fit everything in... I prefer to limit my time to 2 places and take day trips rather than transition to a new place every 2 nights.

I need to depart via train to Munich on Saturday, 11 December. In total, I have 8 nights to explore. How should I best schedule my time in South Tirol?

Thanks for your suggestions, ideas and additional recommendations on unique must-see/do experiences.

Posted by
1226 posts

Hi. I will be watching this thread with interest as this is the number 1 location on my list when we are approved to travel, and December is my preference, too. I, too, will use public transportation.

To your locations, I will try to add Innichen/San Candido and Colfasco. I visited the Bolzano Christmas market about 15 years ago and took the funicular to Oberbozen, but the Christmas train was not known as such at that time, so I would look forward to revisiting. Yes, try to catch a Krampuslauf event.

Looking forward to this.