Christmas in Italy is warm, festive, and deeply traditional, from Nativity scenes in Rome to glowing alpine markets in the north. It runs from early December all the way to Epiphany on January 6. Here is how I would plan an Italian holiday trip.
Rome is magical at Christmas: the enormous Nativity scene and tree in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, the Christmas market in Piazza Navona, and elaborate presepi (Nativity scenes), an Italian art form, all over the city. The season stretches to La Befana on January 6, when the friendly witch brings gifts to children.
For classic markets, head north to South Tyrol and Trentino, Bolzano, Trento, and Merano host some of the loveliest Christmas markets in Europe, with alpine crafts, mulled wine, and mountain scenery. Milan and Florence sparkle too.
An Italian Christmas is easy to mistime. The markets run roughly late November to January 6 and get mobbed on weekends, so weekdays are the insider move, and the best alpine stays in the north book by summer. My local partners on the ground know which market towns are worth the trip and when to go, so the season works for you instead of against you.
The holidays are a beautiful, busy time in Italy, and the best stays and experiences fill up. I map the cities and markets into one smooth route, secure the reservations, and arrange it through my trusted local partners on the ground. For the rest of the year, see my full Italy travel guide. Because it is a long-haul flight, it is worth reading whether business class is worth it for the trip over.
The famous Christmas markets at Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn and Belvedere, glühwein, and holiday concerts.
Read the guide →The Champs-Élysées lights, the department-store windows, Christmas markets, and ice skating.
Read the guide →The Oxford Street lights, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Christmas markets, and ice skating.
Read the guide →