A list of the best Christmas markets in Florence 2023
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 17 December
Piazza Santa Croce
Everyday 10am-10pm
This year, the traditional Mercatino di Natale returns to Santa Croce square, from November 18th to December 17th. 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 until January 7th, 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
2-3 December
10am-8pm
Piazza Ognissanti
Saturday, December 2nd, and Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, from 10 am to 7 pm, the International Ceramic Fair arrives at Piazza Ognissanti for the first time in the Special Edition Christmas. An exhibition-market dedicated to artisan ceramics featuring over 35 artists showcasing their unique craftsmanship pieces in the square.
AILO Christmas bazaar
8-9 December
10am-6pm
Tepidarium of the Giardino dell’Orticoltura
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.
Indipendenza Antiquaria
16-17 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.
Christmas markets with cause
15-17 December
Palazzo Corsini at Lungarno Corsini, 10
10am-7pm
Nataleperfile is a vintage market with a cause. From Friday 15th to Sunday 17th of December, the Fondazione Italiana di Leniterapia (FILE) is organizing a sale of selected and great quality donated products, from clothing, accessories, household linen, jewellery, fragrances, cosmetics, food, wine, and more. Part of the profits goes directly to raise funds for the foundation’s cause to help seriously ill patients in the area and their families.
ATT Christmas Market
16-17 December
Palazzo degli Affari, Piazza Adua 1
11am-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.
