Lake Garda is usually thought of as a summer escape, not a place to spend Christmas in Italy. This year, Grand Hotel Fasano is making the case for winter on the lake by staying open past its usual early-November close for the first time in its history, the hotel said.
The hotel’s Christmas market runs every day on the lakefront, with mulled wine, panettone, local cheeses and work from local artisans. You can also join tastings with Garda wine and olive oil producers.
A First Winter on Lake Garda
Instead of closing in early November, Grand Hotel Fasano plans to welcome guests through Jan. 6 this season. The property has 86 rooms and suites and sits halfway between Venice and Milan, at the edge of the Dolomites. Guests can choose from five restaurants and bars.
The hotel’s past guests include Gustav Klimt, Gabriele D’Annunzio, actress Shirley Temple and goalkeeper Dino Zoff. It served as a hospital during both world wars and resumed hosting guests after each one. Its Il Fagiano restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2024.
Italian Holidays on the Calendar
The season’s four biggest dates run from mid-November into the new year.
- Nov. 13: The hotel switches on its Christmas lights in a ceremony that kicks off its first holiday season, with decorations and twinkling lights across the property.
- Nov. 26: Chef Maurizio Bufi, who holds a Michelin star, cooks a special Thanksgiving dinner that gives the classics an Italian spin.
- Christmas Eve: Santa crosses Lake Garda by boat and steps off onto the hotel terrace. Brunch is on for Christmas Day.
- New Year’s Eve: The hotel hosts its first New Year’s Eve celebration, an evening of food that moves through the property. It ends with fireworks over Lake Garda and a spaghetti feast late at night.
Between the Big Nights
On days without a big event, the weekly schedule includes yoga, Pilates, cooking classes and cocktail master classes. Jazz nights and piano nights fill out the week, and afternoon tea is on the list too.
Outside the hotel, the area around Lake Garda offers museums and cultural attractions to explore in winter, plus Christmas markets in nearby villages.
Plan a Christmas Trip to Italy
Every big event on the calendar falls on a fixed date, so choose the one you care about most and plan your trip around it. Americans who want Thanksgiving in Italy should aim for Nov. 26. If the holidays don’t work for you, the hotel reopens March 19, 2027, after a short winter break.