Mercatini di Natale Merano: green event

I Meraner Christkindlmärkte erstrecken sich entlang der Promenade am Ufer des Flusses Passer, mitten im Stadtzentrum, und bieten neben Objekten auch Handwerkern bei der Arbeit: vom Schmied, der Metall am offenen Feuer schmiedet, bis zu den Künstlern, die Holz schnitzen, und der Herstellung von Filzpantoffeln.

Merano Christmas Markets 2021

In the capital of South Tyrolean wellness, Christmas is a mix of innovation and tradition just like the spirit of this city. The Merano Christmas Market has its beating heart in the houses with refined design that adorn the entire promenade along the Passirio, unique in their kind for shape and aesthetics, hosting crafts and quality local products: not only local cuisine dishes and freshly baked bread but also wooden objects, scented candles, creations made from sheep’s wool, and surprising decorations in artistic glass or ceramics.

Making the atmosphere of the festively illuminated city center streets even more special is the traditional life-sized Advent Calendar which, every day from December 1st, is ready to reveal through the windows of the Palais Mamming in Piazza Duomo, an object from the museum including pieces never before exhibited.

Christmas Markets Merano 2020

As in all of South Tyrol, this year the Christmas markets will not be held in Merano either.

Christmas in Merano 2020

The upcoming Christmas will be different from the others but certainly more heartfelt, more intimate. It returns to the original spirit of Christmas, which is based on the concepts of family, love, and respect. Advent in Merano will therefore focus entirely on the atmosphere and the true feelings of people.

The city of Merano has rescheduled the period leading up to Christmas – without the traditional Markets – and Advent will be marked by hundreds of thousands of lights. Next December will not feature the Christmas Markets along the Passirio river but will be a more intimate, heartfelt, and warm Advent. In this way, the city of Merano prepares to experience the most beautiful time of the year by focusing on light and feelings. Thousands and thousands of lights will color the city, wrapping it in a warm embrace, allowing everyone to savor and enjoy Christmas, even those who will have to experience it from home, illuminating symbolic points as well as lesser-known corners, such as the Steinach district. Moreover, it will be possible to walk along the Tappeiner Promenade in the evening as well, thanks to the new lighting system that was installed in October in the section from Powder Tower to the Serpentina above Galilei street. Not only lights but also torch-lit walks. Some routes, the Christmas Walks, have been designed to allow everyone to walk outdoors, discovering the most beautiful and hidden corners of the city of Merano. At the Tourist Office, it will be possible to collect a lantern with a candle for a romantic walk and to complete the Christmas Walks, returning the lantern at the end of the route.

Christmas Markets Merano 2018

The Christmas Markets in Merano, which herald the arrival of the festive season, from November 23 to January 6, will open their doors to all visitors. From this date onwards, in fact, the banks of the Passirio river, in the center of Merano, will host the Christmas Markets that will anticipate the warmth and magic of the Holidays.

The choirs, concerts with wind instruments, and numerous unmissable stalls will make the beginning of winter warm, offering local delicacies and handcrafted pieces, ideal souvenirs to give during the holidays. The Christmas Markets of Merano will develop along the promenade that runs along the banks of the Passirio river, right in the city center and, besides offering objects, will show artisans at work: from the blacksmith forging metal on the hot fire, to the artists carving wood, to the making of felt slippers.

Mercatini Merano 2018: was man essen sollte

Speck, Apfelstrudel, Tassen Milch mit Pfefferkuchen, Weine und Grappa werden die Holztische der gastronomischen Stände beleben.
Ein besonderer Stand erinnert an die Zeiten, als die Stadt noch die Hauptstadt Tirols war. Tatsächlich werden im Holzofen des „Schlossbeck“, des Hofbäckers, die „Dinnede“ gebacken, ein bäuerliches Brot, nach einem alten Rezept gefüllt mit Zwiebeln und Speck oder mit Kartoffelscheiben und Trüffeln.

An einem anderen Stand, mit einem antiken Geschmack, findet man typische mittelalterliche Gerichte und Getränke, wie zum Beispiel gegrillte Scheiben aus Buchweizenknödeln, „Schneemilch“ mit Zimt und Honigwein.
Für die Kleinen bietet das Animationsprogramm „Club Stellina“ unter anderem einen langen Zug, eine Kutschfahrt bis zum Postamt, wo die Kinder ihren Brief an den Weihnachtsmann abgeben können, sowie Spiele und Gastfreundschaft in der Konditorei Loacker.

Merano Christmas Markets: San Nicolò

Sempre per i più piccoli, e secondo l’usanza del posto, il 5 ed il 6 dicembre i bambini avranno la possibilità di incontrare San Nicolò, patrono della città di Merano, insieme al suo fedele servitore Knecht Ruprecht e, mentre il Santo distribuirà dolci, Knecht Ruprecht darà ai bimbi più scapestrati pezzi di carbone.

In Piazza del Duomo, nelle immediate vicinanze del Mercatino, sarà aperta ogni giorno, intorno alle ore 16.45, una finestrella del grande calendario dell’Avvento.

Christmas Markets in Merano: over 200 thousand visitors

This is the number of visitors who every year stroll along the Passirio River to shop or admire the stalls of the Christmas Markets of Merano.

The Merano Market is certified Green Event by the Ecoistituto Alto Adige, for being designed and carried out with respect for the environment, thus with a sparing approach to resources, from proper waste management to the use of local and seasonal products.

Mercatini Natale Merano: Evento Green

Gli stand in legno interpretano al meglio l’equilibrio tra l’architettura moderna e urbana e il rispetto della tradizione. Moltissimi i prodotti sia dell’artigianato locale sia gastronomici che, insieme alle tante iniziative per i bambini, rendono ancora più speciale il Natale trascorso sulle rive del fiume Passirio.

Dal 2014 i cinque Mercatini di Natale dell’Alto Adige disseminati lungo il Percorso delle Stelle Natalizie sono illuminati da una luce verde: assieme all’Ecoistituto Alto Adige infatti, si lavora affinché il periodo dell’Avvento sia vissuto in maniera ecologica e rispettosa dell’ambiente e i cinque Mercatini Natalizi diventino eventi sempre più green. Per ottenere questa importante certificazione è necessario avere un approccio parsimonioso con le risorse, adottare una mobilità sostenibile, gestire correttamente i rifiuti, utilizzare prodotti locali e stagionali e porre particolare attenzione alla responsabilità sociale.

Le misure Green Event più importanti garantiscono:

• Presenza di cibi regionali, stagionali, biologici, vegetariani
• Tovaglie e stoviglie riutilizzabili
• Presenza di bevande alcoliche e analcoliche locali evitando le bibite in lattina e la plastica
• Riduzione dei rifiuti e raccolta differenziata ben organizzata
• Gestione dell’energia rivolta al risparmio
• Mobilità sostenibile: bus navetta e treni, informazioni su come organizzare il viaggio con mezzi di trasporto sostenibili
• Utilizzo di carta-FSC, stampa climaneutrale
• Formazione dei collaboratori sull’iniziativa “Green Event”.

Casette Merano

Manufacturers and quality products belonging to a wide range of categories and specialties of the South Tyrolean tradition: the journey among the exhibitors is a fun and fascinating exploration of traditions and innovations in search of the right item that can be found in the Merano Christmas Markets. Workshops, artisan-made products, creativity and originality.

Merano Christmas Markets: opening hours

Opening hours of the Merano Christmas Markets

Traditional crafts and South Tyrolean specialties
The Merano Christmas Market is open every day from November 23, 2018 to January 6, 2019 (closed on December 25, 2018).

The inauguration takes place on November 22.

Opening hours Merano Christmas Market: trade stalls

• Sunday-Thursday 10 am-7 pm
• Friday, Saturday and holidays 10 am-8 pm

Special openings Merano Christmas Market

• 12/24/2018 10 am-3:30 pm
• 12/31/2018 10 am-3:30 pm
• 01/01/2019 10 am-8 pm
• 01/06/2019 10 am-6 pm
• closed on 12/25/2018

Gastronomy stands

• Sunday-Thursday 10 am-9 pm
• Friday and Saturday and holidays 10 am-10:30 pm

Special openings Merano Christmas Market

• 12/24/2018 10 am-5 pm
• 12/31/2018 10 am-5 pm
• 01/01/2019 10 am-9 pm
• 01/06/2019 10 am-6 pm
• closed on 12/25/2018

Merano Christmas Markets: How to Get There

To Merano by Train

The Merano Christmas Markets reward those traveling with Trenitalia’s FRECCE. Discover the details and participating facilities that reimburse part of the ticket price!
Furthermore, all interregional trains on the Munich-Verona line stop at Bolzano. From the South Tyrol capital, there are connections to Merano every half hour.

To Merano by Bus

Tourist buses have special signage to easily reach the city center. The dedicated parking lot is located on Palade Street, near the Meranarena ice stadium. For tourist arrivals and departures, it is possible to park for 15 minutes on Piave Street near the thermal baths, which can be reached via Roma Street and Thermal Avenue or via Piave.

To Merano by Car

To reach Merano, take exit A22 (Brenner Motorway) BOLZANO SOUTH and continue towards Merano on the Merano-Bolzano expressway (MEBO), exiting at MERANO MAIA BASSA or MERANO CENTRO. To reach parking lots in the city center, it is recommended to rely on the dedicated panel system along the roads indicating the availability of parking spaces.

Parking options include Piazzale Prader, free of charge (in front of the train station), Blue Park, i.e., parking lots marked with blue lines (ticket at the parking meter), and numerous paid underground parkings (indicated on the city map):

• Terme Merano Garage
• Plaza – Goethe Street
• Lagundo Cooperative Cellar – Galilei Street
• Karl Wolf – Verdi Street
• Bristol Shopping Center – Ottone Huber Street
• Obermais Parking Garage – Scena Street
• Meranarena – 15 min walk to the city center

It is also possible to park for free at Piazzale Prader in front of the central train and bus station. On market days, Tuesday and Friday, the area is available only after 5:00 p.m. On Tuesday, the market occupies about half the area, on Friday the entire square. The city center is reachable in 10 minutes on foot.

To Merano by Camper

The Merano Camping, few minutes on foot from the center, has a capacity for 300 people and 120 campers, trailers, and caravans. The recently renovated complex provides hot water, showers/WC, and electrical hookups.

Prices 22.11.2018-07.01.2019: Trailer + 1 car/camper incl. 2 people €28.00, for each additional adult €10.00/child (4-13 years) €5.00. Reception: 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Pitch cannot be reserved. Info: Camping Merano, via Piave 44, tel. 0473 231249, info@merano.eu.

Alternative parking areas (about 10 minutes on foot from the city center) for campers are:

• Piazzale Prader, near the central train station. Parking is free and the area is not equipped. On market days, Tuesday and Friday, the area is available only after 5:00 p.m. On Tuesday, the market occupies about half the area, on Friday the entire square
• along IV Novembre Street, near Piazzale Prader
• Bersaglio Street, in the Combi sports field parking lot (over 100 spots) from 6.12.17 until the morning of 11.12.2017 and from 29.12.2017 until the morning of 2.01.2018 and every Saturday and Sunday.

To Merano with BlaBlaCar

BlaBlaCar is a network connecting drivers with free seats on board with people looking for a ride. The BlaBlaCar community includes more than 20 million members and counts tens of thousands of destinations across Europe. To ensure quality matching between drivers and passengers, the site allows selecting the ride according to preferences (non-smokers, pets on board, etc.). Users also specify their degree of “talkativeness” choosing between “Bla”, “BlaBla”, and “BlaBlaBla”: hence the name BlaBlaCar. For more info visit the BlaBlaCar website.

Merano Markets: Panoramic Shuttle

A charming little train will be in service connecting various key points of Merano’s center to the Markets: a quick way to get around and reach the event, but also to observe the city from an original perspective.
Route: Hotel Terme – Garibaldi Street – Petrarca Street – Piave Street – Theater Square – Libertà Avenue – A. Hofer Street – Goethe Street – Corse Street – Piave Street – Petrarca Street – Roma Street – Ortwein Street – Garibaldi Street – Hotel Terme.
Info: tel. 339 5694694. Prices: adults €5.00, children €3.00.

Merano Christmas Markets: What to See in the Surroundings

Looking at it from above, Merano and its surroundings have the shape of a star, with the city of Merano at its center and its rays represented by the Venosta Valley, the Passiria Valley, and the Adige Valley.

Along these valleys, wonderful villages and towns have developed, which over the years have made tourism their natural resource, taking advantage of the area’s peculiarities: here, in fact, city life meets rural village life, Mediterranean flora combines with alpine flora, and architectural styles blend together, a cocktail of contrasts that enriches the tourist offer twelve months a year.

Over 6000 beds available throughout the area complete the panorama of this region, capable of satisfying every interest, guaranteeing various and different services and facilities, but whose common denominator is high quality and attention to detail in every proposal.