Taking place on two Sundays in December, Bellinzona Christmas Market has been hailed as one of the biggest and most famous in Canton Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. It takes place in the beautifully preserved Old Town, against the backdrop of historic sites and castles on the hill, not far from the lakes of Maggiore and Lugano.
Festive markets in Bellinzona
Each year during Advent, the city glistens with dazzlingly elaborate Christmas decorations. The switching on of the lights on the Christmas tree marks the start of the market.
Spending a cosy winter’s day in the mountains and browsing more than 50 Christmas stalls is sure to help you work up an appetite and that’s why the food stalls are such a welcome part of the market. Treat yourself to something delicious at the food huts, which offer street food to suit all tastes.
There are many goodies that are typical in Swiss Christmas markets, such as Swiss fondue, mulled wine, pretzels and bratwurst, and additionally, with Bellinzona being in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, there are many seasonal Italian products like panettone. Meanwhile, there will be musical entertainment and activities for kids in the Christmas Village.
Bellinzona Christmas Market opening times and dates
Rather than taking place daily for four weeks like Christmas markets in the German-speaking cities of Switzerland, the Bellinzona Christmas Market will take place on certain days in December.
Here are the specific opening times and dates:
- Sunday, December 15:10am-6pm
- Sunday, December 22: 10am-6pm
Attending Bellinzona Christmas Market
Bellinzona is very easy to navigate for anybody travelling by public transport, especially train, whether you are doing a tour of Swiss cities or travelling across the Swiss-Italian border to Milan. Check out the Ticino visitor information website for more information.