Versilia in TascaChristmas markets in Versilia and nearby 2026: dates and places
Versilia's Christmas markets aren't Alpine ones, and that's fine: here you stroll between wooden huts and gazebos with the sea a few steps away, the snowy Apuan Alps in the background and a paper cone of roast chestnuts in your hand. Within half an hour by car or train there are markets every weekend from mid-November to Epiphany. We've collected the 2026 dates published by official sources and clearly flagged what hasn't been announced yet.
The calendar at a glance
- PietrasantaKlaus, La Versiliana: 13–15 November 2026.
- Pietrasanta centre: weekends from 20 November to 20 December; Piazza Duomo from 4 to 8 December.
- Lucca, Piazza Napoleone: from 22 November to 6 January.
- Forte dei Marmi, Piazza Dante: from 28 November 2026 to 7 January 2027.
- Viareggio, Camaiore, Pisa: 2026 programmes not yet published as of 4 November.
Wooden huts, hot chestnuts and the sea a few steps away: Versilia's markets have a charm of their own.
Pietrasanta: Versilia's longest-running market
Pietrasanta is the richest choice. It starts with PietrasantaKlaus, the market held in the villa and park of La Versiliana in Marina di Pietrasanta, from 13 to 15 November 2026 (Friday 2pm–7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9.30am–7.30pm, free entry): crafts, decorations, hot chocolate and workshops for children.
Then the old town. The council has approved markets along the "passeggiata di Ciulla" and in Piazza Statuto on the weekends of 20–22 November, 27–29 November, 11–13 December and 18–20 December, with themed white gazebos; from 4 to 8 December wooden huts arrive in Piazza Duomo. If art events in Piazza Duomo clash, a smaller market will be held on 7 and 8 December in Piazza Statuto and Piazza Crispi. Opening hours are 9am to 8pm, and the lights go on on 20 November. On 26 December there's the traditional St Stephen's fair in Vallecchia. Between stalls, look at the sculptures in the square: more in our Pietrasanta guide.
Forte dei Marmi: Piazza Dante and Santa's Kingdom
Forte has already published its full 2026/2027 programme. The Christmas market in Piazza Dante is open from 28 November 2026 to 7 January 2027. Over the same period the Fortino Leopoldo I hosts Santa's Kingdom (until 6 January) and there's an ice rink in the Tarabella pine wood (until 15 January). The opening is on Saturday 28 November from 5pm, with a parade, a torchlit procession from the sea to the pier and the lighting of the fir tree. On weekends there are street bands, shows and children's workshops. The Wednesday weekly market is another good chance for gifts: see our Forte dei Marmi guide.
Lucca: Piazza Napoleone and Christmas inside the Walls
Twenty-five minutes by train from Viareggio, Lucca is the loveliest Christmas day trip. Lucca Magico Natale starts on 22 November and the Christmas market in Piazza Napoleone runs until 6 January; over the holidays other craft, food and antiques markets take turns in the squares of the centre. This year Santa's Village moves to the Cavallerizza in Piazzale Verdi, with the ice rink nearby, and Palazzo Guinigi hosts a major exhibition on the Lucca-born painter Antonio Possenti. The day-by-day programme is on the Lucca tourism website. How to get there and what to see: Lucca from Viareggio by train.
Viareggio and Camaiore: programmes still to be announced
In Viareggio the council approved the lights and decorations project for Viareggio and Torre del Lago on 20 October 2026, but the market and events calendar isn't out yet. To give you an idea: in December 2025 there were craft markets at weekends along the Passeggiata, Via Fratti, Via Battisti and Piazza Cavour. The 2026 dates are usually announced between late November and early December on the Viareggio council website. The Piazza Cavour market, on the other hand, runs all year (see markets in Versilia).
In Camaiore Christmas is above all the Nativity Trail (Percorso dei Presepi) through churches and hamlets, with some living nativity scenes: the 2025/2026 edition ran from 20 December to 11 January. The 2026/2027 programme hasn't been published yet; check the Camaiore council website in December.
Pisa: huts in the centre
Pisa hasn't published its 2026 calendar yet. In 2025 the council organised markets from 5 December to 6 January in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and the Logge di Banchi, with Santa's House, plus stalls in Piazza Garibaldi and the Giardino Scotto on the weekends before Christmas. A similar format is likely, but check the Pisa council website. It's 20 minutes by train: Pisa from Viareggio.
Practical tips
- Go on Friday or Sunday morning: Saturday afternoon is the busiest time.
- For Lucca and Pisa take the train: parking in the centre is scarce and expensive over the holidays.
- Carry small change: not every stall takes cards.
- Pair the market with dinner: in December many trattorias serve seasonal menus.
Frequently asked questions
When do the Christmas markets open in Versilia in 2026?
The first is PietrasantaKlaus at La Versiliana (13–15 November). Then Pietrasanta centre from 20 November, Lucca from 22 November and Forte dei Marmi from 28 November.
Is there a Christmas market in Viareggio?
In recent years there have been craft markets on December weekends, but the 2026 programme hasn't been published yet. Check the Viareggio council website.
What's the most beautiful Christmas market near Versilia?
For atmosphere, Lucca with Piazza Napoleone and the centre inside the Walls. In Versilia, Pietrasanta with its huts in Piazza Duomo from 4 to 8 December.
How long do the markets stay open?
Lucca until 6 January, Forte dei Marmi until 7 January 2027, Pietrasanta until the weekend of 18–20 December.
Sources: La Nazione, 6 ottobre 2026 (Pietrasanta), Piazza in Festa – Mercatini di Natale Pietrasanta 2026, LaVersilia.it – PietrasantaKlaus 2026, VisitForte – Natale al Forte 2026/2027, Turismo Lucca – Lucca Magico Natale 2026, Comune di Pisa – Natale 2025, Comune di Camaiore – Percorso dei Presepi 2025/2026, Luccalive, 20 ottobre 2026. General information: opening times, prices and dates change, so always check the official websites.
