A list of the best Christmas markets in Florence 2024
The holiday season has begun in Florence! The incredible Christmas lights are on, the huge Christmas trees will return soon and as the other great Christmas events are coming back in Florence, let’s talk about one of the main holiday activities: the Christmas markets. Here are the best Christmas markets in Florence to find your Christmas gifts or just take a walk with a glass of mulled wine or a steaming hot chocolate.
Piazza Santa Croce Christmas market
Until 22 December
Piazza Santa Croce
Everyday 10am-11pm
This year, the traditional Mercatino di Natale returns to Santa Croce square, from November 23rd to December 22nd. The Weihnachtsmarkt tradition originally came from Germany and has been a part of the city’s Christmas celebration for the past 500 years. Today it is still a display of color, lights, and aromas that welcomes everyone and celebrates the culture and products of northern Italy and northern Europe.
Wooden cottages serve as stands that offer a great variety of delicacies, baked goods, ornaments, and clothing from all over. You can find nice cups and plates to decorate, jewellery, and precious stones that can make the perfect gift. Good quality jackets, socks, mittens, gloves, and scarves, to keep you warm. Local artisan shops with aromatic soap and perfumes, art Christmas decors from Belarus and even a Guinness stand for all the Irish brewery fans.
If you are hungry, the hard thing will be to choose between all the delicious sweet and salty options. You’ll find Bavarian specialties like salsiccia, polpette, mais dolce, and stinco di maiale, German chocolate Sacher cake, mini crêpes and Dutch waffles for those who would love to be strolling around the Amsterdam canals, bigos, pierogi, and gulaz just like if you were in Poland, delicious Kurtoskalacs from Hungary, all sorts of cookies from Bretagne in France, cured meats and pretzels from Austria, Italian tartufo, and more. Don’t forget to get nice hot chocolate or Vin brulé for the cold too!
Tables and tents are spread all around for everyone to eat and enjoy with their lovers, friends, and family, and for the little ones, Santa’s house offers activities and meetings with Babbo Natale.
Christmas market in San Donato shopping center in Novoli
Until 7 January
Centro Commerciale San Donato, via Enrico Forlanini, 1
10am-9pm
In the Novoli area in the northwest part of Florence, the San Donato shopping mall is hosting its traditional Christmas market from November 19 to January 7, 2024. More than 40 wooden houses are expecting visitors in the open square of the shopping center. This Christmas market is the perfect place to find original gift ideas while tasting typical Christmas food.
The International Ceramic Fair: Special Edition Christmas
30 November-1 December
10am-7pm
Piazza Ognissanti
This winter the International Ceramic Fair arrives at Piazza Ognissanti for the second time in the Special Edition Christmas. Following the undeniable success of last year’s market, an exhibition dedicated to artisan ceramics featuring 40 artists showcasing their unique craftsmanship pieces can be found in Ognissanti square.
ATT Christmas Market
30 November-1 December
Palazzo degli Affari, Piazza Adua 1
9.30am-7pm
ATT Christmas Market is held by the Associazione Tumori Toscana and offers a variety of designer clothes and artisanal goods, food, and wine, all of the proceeds go directly to cancer patients in need that are looking to be treated free of charge in the comfort of their own homes.
AILO Christmas bazaar
6-8 December
2pm-6pm (6 Dec), 10am-6pm (7-8 Dec)
Tepidarium (via Bolognese 17A)
In favour of local NGOs, the American International League of Florence is organizing the AILO Christmas bazaar with all kinds of vintage clothes, books, decorations, and more for you to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
ChristmARS
7-22 December
10am-8pm
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
𝐀𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬 returns with its small village in Alto Adige style. Sixteen beautifully decorated wooden houses, each hosting a talented artisan, offering the opportunity to find an unforgettable gift.
Creative MANI-Factory at Manifattura Tabacchi
7-8, 22-23 December
Manifattura Tabacchi, Via delle Cascine, 35
10am-8pm
Emerging creativity takes center stage at Florence’s Manifattura Tabacchi, which for two weekends will host MANI-Factory, a Christmas market organized by the Heyart Association, dedicated to promoting new Italian craftsmanship. Save the dates: December 7-8 and December 21-22. In addition to shopping opportunities, there will be free workshops and hands-on activities led by the exhibitors themselves.
Indipendenza Antiquaria
14-15 December
Piazza Indipendenza
8am-8pm
Although held every third Saturday and Sunday throughout the year, at Christmas time this vintage market proves to be particularly full of all sorts of unique pieces of furniture, philately, books, prints, paintings, sculptures, modern objects, porcelain, collector’s items, and more.
La Fierucola di Natale
15 December
Piazza Ognissanti
10am-7pm
The idea behind the fair is to offer visitors the chance to buy Christmas gifts that are natural, sustainable, and long-lasting. Not only are the products made with quality materials, but they are also produced ethically, respecting the environment and traditional craftsmanship.
