travel to italy over christmas

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Christmas & New Year Tours & Trips in Italy

Imagine celebrating the festive season in Italy over Christmas and New Year's Eve! With 220 Christmas and New Year adventures to choose from lasting 3 days up to 15 days, you're sure to find that enchanting Italy Christmas tour you have always dreamt of.

220 Christmas & New Year tour packages in Italy with 1,776 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

The Italian Dream

Tour really amizing, the driver and tour guid, food and location was very good, but a first day and last day hotel accomodation is not good very small shower, the bed is like rocking, the last tour scheduled from vasilica to collesium there no travelling car and is not good for us to take a taxi by our own and some a taxi driver is not honest.

Classical Italy

I have a good experience and Gaby our tour guide is awesome. She is accommodating, very helpful of the needs of the travelers.

• In-depth Cultural
• Local Living

Local Living Italy—Sorrento

We enjoyed the range of activities. The tour of Naples had a local guide who provided knowledge specific to the history and people. The tour of Pompei also had a guide with detailed knowledge. Anna was our guide for the rest of the week. It was a full programme but wasn't too much. There were highlights one of which was Capri. Another was The Walk of the Gods. Breakfast was a great gathering occasion to talk amongst ourselves, discuss the days options and swap information gathered about the day. Dinner was always good food and good times enjoyed along the length of the table. Our room and bathroom was very comfortable with effective aircon and space to spread out. Luigi gave us a tour of the lemon farm and explained the methods and routines. He also demonstrated how to make limoncello. The organisation of the accommodation was faultless with, in my experience, any request willingly provided. The property had an efficient method for us to track our additional costs (wine and laundry) for which we paid for at the end. It was a friendly family run business. Everybody seemed to enjoy each other. The views from this property are tremendous especially from the terrace. It is quiet and peaceful, a short distance from Sorrento. Additional transport was available on our free day when we went in different directions and there's a bus stop at the end of the driveway. Anna provided local knowledge of Sorrento, for example good restaurants for lunch and where to swim. My husband and I enjoyed this tour very much. There was a great range of ages. English was the first language for us all. Anna's and the family"s knowledge of English was very good.

Italian Discovery

Excellent!! The last 3 days were a little disjointed

• Coach / Bus

Italy from North to South

We really enjoyed the trip, everything was well arranged including the airport transport. All hotel rooms were really good with air- conditioned rooms. Our tour guides and drivers were excellent especially the north tour - Stephano, Clara and Franco was a brilliant team. We visited a lot of places over the 10 days, but it was just right without rushing through too many things. Most of the days we reached the hotels back at around 6pm, so there was enough time to relax in the evening at our own leisure. WhatsApp contacts were very useful, so you didn’t have to call anyone, and the messages were quickly answered. Only things to suggest - it would be great if an available menu was provided to choose for those with dietary requirements ( vegetarians, gluten free etc). Saying that the restaurant at Hotel Michaelangelo at Sorrento was brilliant, my son really enjoyed their gluten free menu. Overall we had an excellent experience- seeing lot of places with good tour directors and drivers for north and south tours along with knowledgeable and friendly local guides.

Discover Italy end Milan

Day in firenze was the best and the best tour guide of all Emilio. Will be going back for sure. Over all it was fun and great experience.

Italian Holiday (7 Days)

This tour was a once in a lifetime experience....Fantastic! Would definetely recommend it to anyone!

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Sightseeing

Deluxe Italian Escape with picturesque Cinque Terre

From start to finish Wanderful Holidays were extremely helpful and tentative. Wanderful holidays answered all our questions quickly and ensured all our needs were met when planning our trip. The hotels they selected for us were perfect as they were on the upper side of hotels ratings. The tours were also well planned and the meeting points were easy to find. The overall logistics of the hotels, tours, transfers, and communication excelled expectations, as there was always someone from Wanderful checking-in and ensuring we made it to our tours and transfers. We would definitely book again, as Wanderful provides a very personalized holiday experience.

Amalfi Coast Experience

I had an amazing few days and my tour guide Meg was unlike any other! She was honestly the most bighearted, kind and helpful individual and I feel so lucky that we got someone so good to take us exploring around such a beautiful place! I would definitely recommend this to others and I have nothing bad to say about the experience.????

• Hiking & Trekking
• Coastal Walks

Walking the Amalfi Coast

Wonderful, hiking tour. Hotel is awesome. And the restaurant food is phenomenal. Transfers were perfect. I would do this trip again.

Highlights of the Amalfi Coast

First time traveling with Exodus, and would definitely do again. It was well organized, our guide had great ideas and the food was good!

Mamma Mia! - 13 Days/12 Nights

I’m not the one to leave bad reviews, but the process leading up to the tour was nothing but stressful. A week before the tour, the itinerary was changed on me three times, and that’s after booking my train and bus rides. Some I couldn’t refund and I’m left with flixbus vouchers. They were very apologetic and I can understand how difficult it is to coordinate tours and somethings don’t exactly go how you want. Once the tour started, it was amazing. The tour managers really made this experience great and they are all very knowledgeable even some are not from Italy, they still possess that passion for the Italian history, arts, food, and culture. I mean who wouldn’t, Italy is a dream! And the people you meet along the way, I don’t regret booking this tour and yes the beginning wasn’t as I had hoped but the events after made up for it ????. Anastasia, Julia, Ned, Antonio, and Federico were amazing! Grazie Mille! Til next time, Italy!

Italian Tour Gondola Ride & Cinque Terre Visit

What a great trip, we loved Italy !!! Wanderful Holidays went above and beyond to make this trip special. They took care of any hiccups we had with the delay in arrival due to the airlines. They were quick to respond to all my questions and our stay was magnificent. I would definitely book through them again and we hope to travel with them again in the future.

Lakes & Lagoon: Como, Lake Garda & Venice, 6 days private tour

Tris small Gropparello tour gas coverei tue most beautful cities in only 5 days. our tour guide did a magnificent job guiding us through the the various cities and giviving us history and background information. The miniban was clean and comfortable throughout the trip. Filippo our driver is a true professional. Highly recommended

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Unkown Italy: Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia

Wonderful tour, great tour guides, terrific weather, comfortable hotels, fine food, excellent tour service.

What people love about Christmas & New Year Tours in Italy

Carla was very kind and helpful on our tour

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Italy in december: all you need to know for a perfect christmas trip.

Christmas in Italy: all you need to know to travel to Italy in the festive season . By an Italian!

Italy can be a wonderful Christmas travel destination.

The weather in December in Italy is likely to be cold, however the beautiful Italian festive traditions, its world class museums and its delicious winter foods will make for a wonderful stay.

Christmas is high tourism season in several parts of Italy and this, plus closures on national holidays, can impact on your Italy itinerary and travel plans.

In this article, we share all you need to know to plan your winter travels in Italy at best.

What is the weather like in Italy at Christmas

Christmas is cold in Italy. Temperatures vary widely between the North and South, the coast and the mountains but overall, Christmas in Italy calls for winter coats and winter shoes (find here a full packing list for Italy in winter ).

The average temperatures in December in Italy are:

• Milan: average 4C/ 39F
• Venice: average 4C/ 39F
• Cortina D’Ampezzo (Dolomites, mountains): -2C/28F
• Florence: average 8C/46
• Rome: 10C/49F
• Palermo:14C/57F

Snow is frequent at higher elevations both on the Alps and the Appennines although the quantity of snow and the exact dates of its arrival can be erratic.

Table of Contents

Is Christmas high tourism season in Italy?

How much tourism you will find in Italy at Christmas depends on the exact dates of your travels and destination.

In general yes, Christmas is high season in Italy, especially during the weeks 25th December – 6th January.

Usually the lead up to Christmas is reasonably quiet.

Big cities and mountain resorts get the lion share of tourism in December and Rome in particular can get exceptionally busy in December: you can find here our guide to Rome at Christmas.

Special days and Christmas festivities in Italy

Christmas in Italy starts on the 8th of December and lasts until the 6th of January.

Dates of notice:

8th December (Immaculate Conception Day)

December 8th is National holiday in Italy and the day that marks the start of Christmas festivities.

This is the day when families traditionally decorate Christmas trees and it is also when lighting of the trees celebrations happen in public piazzas.

On this day, smaller businesses and shops are likely to be closed but attractions are usually open and become quite busy with both tourists and locals.

Advance booking of tours and entrance tickets is highly recommended.

24th December (Christmas eve)

Christmas eve is a big day in Italy, as families get ready for the traditional Christmas eve dinner.

Shops and attractions are open on the 24th of December but they do close early to allow for family time.

Some restaurants offer Christmas eve dinner but you need to research in advance and booking is usually mandatory.

25th December (Christmas Day/Natale)

Christmas day is National holiday in Italy and the day families gather for a traditional Christmas lunch.

This is one of the few days of the year when attractions are closed and so are most shops and restaurants.

However, this doesn’t mean Italy turns into a ghost town. While many attractions are closed, this is still an excellent day for sightseeing and especially church hopping.

26th December (St Stephen’s day/Santo Stefano)

The day after Christmas is a National holiday in Italy but has a different feel than Christmas days.

Many attractions open again on the 26th of December (the Vatican museums are an exception, see below) and tourism tends to be in full swing.

31st December (New Year’s eve)

The 31st of December is a standard working day in Italy and most attractions are open.

However, you may need to make plans for the evening as restaurants tend to have special set dinners for the night and may require advanced booking.

Many outdoor celebrations happen around midnight in big squares across different cities: make sure you plan in advance how to get home as taxis and public transport may be hard to come by at this time.

1st January (New Year’s Day)

New Years’ day is a National holiday and this affects the opening of several attractions.

6th of January (Epiphany)

January 6th, the Epiphany, is the last day of the Christmas holidays in Italy. This is when school holidays end and families traditionally take down the Christmas tree.

Most things are open on this day and it happens to be a very busy one for many main attractions so advance booking is, once again, highly recommended.

Notable closures in Italy at Christmas

• Last supper, Milan: closed 25 December and 1st January
• Uffizi Gallery, Florence: closed 25th December and 1st January
• Colosseum, Rome: closed 25th December and 1st January
• Borghese Gallery, Rome: closed 25th December and 1st January
• Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome: closed 25 December, 26th December, 1st January.

Good to know: St Peter’s Basilica ( Vatican City ) is open over Christmas and sees the celebration of midday mass.

The Doges’ Palace in Venice is usually open on Christmas day and during festivities

Best places to go in Italy at Christmas

All main Italian cities are lovely at Christmas and can be easily visited during the festivities

Small towns on the mountains, both on the Dolomites and in regions such as Abruzzo, Umbria, Marche and Tuscany get a distinctive Christmas feel over the festivities and can be lovely destinations.

Coastal areas such as the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre experience their low season now and this means many tourism services shut down.

This is not a good time to visit these areas if you are hoping for traditional sightseeing.

The best places to go skiing in Italy at Christmas are on the Alps.

Popular destinations are Valle d’Aosta, Alto Adige, Lombardia and Veneto. Do check snow forecast as this affects the opening of ski resorts.

Christmas in Italy: local traditions

Christmas in Italy is a big holiday and there are several traditions to mark the occasion.

Christmas trees

Italy does love a good Christmas tree and they do grace private homes and public squares over the Christmas period.

Italy Christmas markets

Christmas markets exist all over Italy but the most beautiful happen on the Alps and in particular in Alto Adige, where the influence from German culture is strongest.

Lovely ones to seek out are in Merano, Brunico, Vipiteno, Bolzano and Trento but many cities all over Italy now host some so you will also find them in Milan and Rome .

Find a list of the best Christmas markets in Italy here.

Nativity scenes

Maybe the most local of all Italian Christmas traditions are nativity scenes.

Figurines are a traditional Italian craft and they come in all shapes and sizes: the most incredible place to appreciate them in Naples (Via San Gregorio Armeno is world-famous for them) and nearby areas: these are one of the things to seek out if visiting the Amalfi Coast with kids in this season.

One more reason to add Naples to your Italy bucket list !

Nativity scenes can be more or less traditional, they can be indoor or outdoors and some towns even have living ones, that can be exceptionally atmospheric

Christmas eve dinner

This is a big feast for Italian families and often carries on until midnight for a Christmas toast or midnight mass.

Good to know: Christmas eve dinner in Italy is usually fish based (see below for some of the most traditional foods)

Christmas lunch

Big feast day, celebrated at lunchtime in private homes. Some restaurants stay open on Christmas day but it is not a traditional eating out day.

Santa (Father Christmas/Babbo Natale)

Father Christmas is popular in Italy. Families have different traditions: in some, the present opening happens at midnight on Christmas eve, while for many others this happens on the 25th of December

La Befana (The Christmas ‘witch’)

La Befana is maybe the most peculiar and, for many, sentimental Christmas tradition in Italy.

La Befana is an old woman that roams the sky on the night of the 6th of January to bring sweets to children, which she delivers in a long sock!

Her story ties in with that of the three wise men, also said to arrive to baby Jesus on this day. You can read all about her here , she is pretty special.

Italy Christmas food traditions

Christmas is a great time for foodies in Italy. Many specialties are traditional of this season and span from savory to sweet.

Fish is the food of choice for Christmas eve. In private homes and restaurants, for Christmas eve dinner you are likely to be served either a full fish/seafood meal or at least some fish-based starters.

Baccala’ (dried cod) and capitone (eel) are traditional.

Tortellini in brodo

Tortellini grace the Christmas lunch tables of the central regions of Italy.

Traditionally filled with meat and served in warming chicken stock, they look simple but are surprisingly delicious

Lasagne are not just for Christmas but hey are a popular choice for Christmas day especially, both at home and in restaurants.

Panettone and Pandoro

The most traditional of all Christmas foods in Italy, these are sweet brioche type cakes.

Pandoro is transitionally plain and served with a sprinkle of dusting sugar while Panettone has raisins and candied orange peel.

In the last few years, both these cakes have seen creative incarnations so you now have them also filled with anything you can think of from chocolate to lemon cream and more

These are foods you buy, not bake yourself.

You can find them reasonably cheap in supermarkets although the best ones are in gourmet food shops – the difference is significant and worth the spend!

Another quintessential Italian Christmas food is torrone.

This is a nougat confection that mixes chocolate, sugar, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios and often extra flavoring.

It can be hard or soft to the bite and you buy it in supermarkets or gourmet shops.

Cotechino con lenticchie

Cotechino (pork) is traditional for new year’s even feast and it is served with lentils.

Eat plenty as tradition says lentils equal money so the more you eat, the better your bank account will be in the new year!

Ricciarelli

These are traditional Christmas biscuits made of almonds, honey, sugar and a minimal amount of flour. Delicious!

How do you say Merry Christmas in Italian?

In Italian, Merry Christmas is ‘Buon Natale’ and happy new year is ‘Buon anno’ – you will hear it and read it extensively if you are in Italy this time of the year!

I hope you found this overview of Christmas in Italy useful and it helped you plan your Christmas travels to Italy. Buon Natale!

About the author : Marta Correale is an Italian mama of 2, born and bred in Rome. Avid traveler, Marta graduated in Classics at the University of Rome and married her love for history and travel in a career as a travel writer. She is the writer and editor behind Learning Escapes, family travel blog about cultural travel with kids, the creator of the successful travel sites Mama Loves Rome , an in-depth travel site about her native city of Rome, and Mama Loves Italy , a comprehensive resources with travel guides, tips and advice for families planning a trip to Italy with kids.

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Marta Correale

Marta Correale is the creator, writer and creative mind behind Learning Escapes. A travel loving mama of two from Italy, Marta currently lives in Ireland with her husband and two kids, they take frequent trips to European destination, the US and beyond. A professional travel blogger for over a decade, Marta is passionate about traveling with kids and helping others to travel more and better as a family.

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Italy in December: all you need to know to plan the perfect trip

Italy in December: all you need to know to plan the perfect trip. What to expect from the weather, crowds, what to book in advance and the best places to visit in December in Italy with kids (and without!) – Updated Oct. 2023.

A December trip to Italy can be a wonderful way to spend the holiday season.

Traveling to Italy at this time, you should expect cold weather, the occasional rainy day and even snow, in parts of Italy (The Alps).

However, you will also find beautiful Christmas traditions , great opportunities for sightseeing and plenty of chances to warm up in cozy interiors with delicious food and wine!

December in Italy however looks very different depending on where you go.

I am from Rome and always try and make the most of the winter festivities to explore my beautiful country with my children.

This is my guide to visiting Italy in December and my best tips for Christmas in Italy with kids (and without!).

In this article you will find:

• December in Italy weather overview
• Festivities and celebrations in Italy in December you need to know about

The best places to visit in Italy in December

• Italy in December with kids
• What to book in advance for December in Italy

Please note :  this is a seasonal travel guide about Italy in November, meant to help you decide the best time of the year for your visit. For official information and travel advisory that may affect your trip, please refer to your Government travel advisory. Check here for official info if traveling from  US ,  Canada ,  UK ,  Ireland ,  Australia ,  New Zealand .

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we might make a small commission.

December in Italy: weather overview

December is winter in Italy.

Despite differences in regions and areas, when traveling to Italy in December you should expect cold weather, short daylight hours and the occasional rainy day.

In terms of clothing, you can expect to wear warm coats, scarves, hats and boots. Unless you are going to the mountains, usually you do not need thermal layers.

In several parts of the country and at higher altitudes, snow is also possible.

To give you an idea of the average temperatures, this is a historical overview of localities in different parts of Italy:

• Milan: Max 7C Min 2C Rain: 5 days
• Bolzano (Dolomites): Max 7C Min -3C (snow possible)
• Rome: Max 13C Min 4C Rain: 8 days
• Palermo: Max 16C Min 11C Rain: 9 days

Good to know: while we have indoor heating, indoor temperatures are never as warm to allow being in t-shirt in the middle of winter. While you won’t be cold inside, do expect to be wearing your seater even when the heating is on and to want to wear warm socks and slippers when at your accommodation.

December in Italy: important celebrations and festivities

Several important festivities happen during this month in Italy and they will impact your plans both in terms of closures of museums and attractions, crowds and transport.

The main festivities in Italy in December are:

• 8 December : immaculate conception, National Holiday. On this day, people are off and this means you may find restaurants and museums busier than usual.
• 24 December : Christmas Eve. While not a National Holiday, shops close early to allow people to get ready for the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner. If eating out at dinner on this day, I recommend you book as not everywhere will be open and places may only offer set menus rather than full a-la-carte options.
• 25 December : Christmas Day, a National Holiday, many attractions and restaurants close, pre-booking a meal out is essential. Do expect some restaurants to only operate on a set-menu offering on this day, especially outside of bigger cities.
• 26 December , St Stephen’s Day, some attractions stay closed on this day. Not all attractions close: check individual websites before making plans.
• 3 1 December, New Years’ Eve : not a National Holiday but a day that impacts on dinners out. Restaurants tend to close for the night or offer special New Year’s Eve packages: booking highly recommended.

Our favorite places to visit in Italy at Christmas are:

Bolzano, Merano and their Christmas markets

If you love Christmas markets, then the best places to experience them are the towns of Merano, Bolzano and, more in general, the cities on the slopes of the Dolomites.

This part of Italy has a strong Germanic influence and is the one with the best and most authentic Christmas markets.

Wrap up well as this area is pretty cold at this time!

If you like skiing, this is a great time to experience the Dolomites, which offer wonderful slopes. As a family, we adore the area of San Candido for a longer stay.

For a special treat close to Bolzano, the family hotel Cavallino Bianco in Val Gardena is special for kids!

Find my selection of the best Christmas markets in Italy here

Rome and the Vatican in December

It is hard to beat the impression Rome in December leaves on the visitor.

When the Colosseum and the Vatican don their Christmas trees, they are even more magical and considering how beautiful they are in normal times, you can imagine how special they truly are at this time!

Rome is cold in December however, don’t expect it to be a quiet time.

The weekend close to the 8th of December and the full Christmas week are high tourism season and pre-booking of accommodation and attractions is mandatory.

As well as the traditional sightseeing places, Rome in December is an extravaganza of shops, lights and even Christmas markets: while they cannot compete with those in Germany, the backdrop of Baroque Rome makes the simple markets we have here rather unique!

Kids will love the many indoor attractions (Children Museum, Ikono Rome, Museum of Illusions etc) that help break up sightseeing and offer refuge in case of rain!

You can find my full guide to Rome in December here

And here >>> my complete guide to Rome with kids

Venice in December

Venice is cold and grey in December but it is also charming, romantic and atmospheric.

In this season, you can enjoy all of Venice’s beautiful museums, you can make the most of the cozy atmosphere of Venice’s bacari (wine bars) and you can still enjoy the lagoon, taking trips to the islands of Burano and Murano.

Kids will love the ice rinks that pop up in the city and the fairytale atmosphere of this city on water, with the lights twinkling on the canals.

Your main issue in Venice in December is humidity: make sure you plan indoor activities to regularly take a break from the weather.

You can find here >>> my guide to Venice in winter .

And here >>> our guide to Venice with kids

Milan in December

If you are looking for shopping opportunities and elegant atmospheres, then Milan at Christmas is the place for you!

The festive decorations in Piazza Duomo and Galleria and the stunning windows at Quadrilatero della Moda are a treat for the eye and a fantastic place to get a special present for someone you love (or, why not, yourself!).

Close to Milan you also find Lake Como: while December is not a great time on the lake, due to cold and limited access to water, the town of Como is wonderful at Christmas and offers a lovely day trip option to get a taste for this famous lake.

You can find our travel guide to Milan here .

Naples is one of the cities in Italy if not THE city with the strongest Christmas tradition, especially when it comes to Nativity Scenes and figurines.

The city is famous for them and there is no better time to experience what this tradition is all about than going during the holidays.

The place to go for figurines is Via Gregorio Armeno but do take the opportunity to also visit all the other marvels this city has to offer and do indulge in the local food.

In Naples in December you simply cannot miss struffoli, roccocò , cuoppo and mostaccioli as well as, of course, Naples’ all seasons staple: pizza!

Pompeii and Sorrento (side trips from Naples)

Both Pompeii and Sorrento are lovely side trips from Naples you can take in December.

Pompeii is rather cold in winter, as the archaeological site is quite exposed to wind and rain: however, it can be quiet and lovely at this time, something that can make up for the less-than-ideal weather!

Herculaneum is a little more protected and also works very well at this time.

If thinking of bringing children to Pompeii, I recommend you read hear >>> our guide to visiting Pompeii with kids .

Sorrento goes all out for Christmas with wonderful Christmas decorations and a festive atmosphere.

While I don’t recommend visiting the Amalfi coast at this time (see below), Sorrento is a bit of an exception: if you are in the Naples area, a Christmas day trip here can be lovely – I recommend you consider a food tour with the Gourmet Girls Sorrento as a way to see the town and tap into the local wonderful food tradition (a great way to warm up too!)

Bologna and the Motor Valley

A beautiful part of Italy I love visiting in December is Bologna and the nearby Modena area.

This part of Italy is famous for its glorious food, especially of the warming kind (Tortellini in bone broth! Lasagna!) and also offers wonderful indoor attractions that can help fill colder days.

Among my favorites for kids and adults, are the Ferrari Museum in Maranello , Fico Food Park, The Gelato Museum and, of course, the wonderful Bologna museums such as the Archiginnasio.

Florence and Tuscany in December

It is always a good time to visit Florence and Tuscany and December is no exception.

At this time, you won’t be able to enjoy much of the Tuscan countryside (it is not al fresco dining time) however, you can visit all the beautiful small towns of Tuscany, admire their holiday decorations and of course make the most of Florence museums and shopping opportunities.

Many Tuscany towns light up at Christmas with wonderful small markets and nativity scenes: Arezzo, Siena , Lucca and Montepulciano are among the best known.

If planning on visiting Tuscany with kids in December, I recommend you plan most of the time in Florence, that can offer entertainment in case of bad weather.

Read here >>> how to plan a trip to Tuscany with kids in winter

Other destinations in Italy in December

Manarola (cinque terre).

December is not a great time to visit Cinque Terre as the weather makes hard the main activities the area is known for: hiking and swimming.

However, Manarola at Christmas is special as it lights up to be a living nativity scene!

The living crib lights up on the 8th of December. You can find our guide to visiting Cinque Terre with kids here.

Amalfi Coast in December: what to expect

The Amalfi Coast is beautiful no matter the time of the year and December is no exception.

However, it is important to know that it is low season at this time and visiting the Amalfi Coast in December will be more about sipping coffee watching the sea than going anywhere near it.

If you don’t mind or even like the atmosphere of the coast in winter, this can be a good time to visit.

You can expect lovely food as always and, overall, lower prices, crowds and traffic and you may be lucky with the weather and get lovely sunny days too!

I do not recommend visiting this area in December with small kids as they may find it rather limiting in terms of available entertainment. If visiting with little ones, I recommend Sorrento or Naples.

You can find our travel guide to the Amalfi Coast here: Amalfi Coast towns | Amalfi town | Guide to Maiori | Guide to Minori | How to visit the Amalfi Coast with kids | Capri with kids

Southern Italy in December

Southern Italy can be a real treat in December.

The weather tends to be milder here than in other parts of the country (with exceptions, don’t expect it to be beach weather!) and the small towns of this part of Italy dress up becoming picture perfect holiday landscapes.

Places I love at this time are:

• Locorotondo , Alberobello , Trani , Martina Franca and Puglia in general
• Matera (Basilicata)
• Sicily (The whole of it!)
• Paestum (Campania)

December in Italy with kids

December can be a special time for kids in Italy however, very little ones may find the bad weather frustrating.

In December, you will still be able to have time in the park on dry days but they will be limited in their outdoor pursuits by the frequent rain and the short hours of daylight. Setting expectations is key!

Good places to visit in Italy with kids in December are:

The Dolomites – with the lovely Christmas markets and the ski slopes, many suitable for families and newbie skiers. You can find our guide to the best places in the Dolomites with kids here.

Florence – full of lovely child-friendly museums perfect to escape the rain, should it strike. You can find our guide to visiting Florence with kids here .

Rome – and its large piazzas, stunning Christmas trees, parks and child-friendly museums. You can find our guide to Rome with kids here.

Bologna – with its gelato museum (yes, it’s ok in winter too!), FICO food theme park and hte Ferrari Museums, the area of Bologna is lovely for kids. Read here >>> our guide to Bologna with kids

What to book in advance to visit Italy in December

December is busy in Italy, especially around the 8th of December and during Christmas week.

It is paramount to book in advance:

• The Last supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan)
• The Colosseum (Rome) – tickets come out 30 days before and go fast! Read here >>> how to get tickets to the Colosseum
• The Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome) – Tickets come out in batches, some months before, some 60 to 90 days in advance. Read here >> How to get tickets to the Vatican Museums
• Christmas Eve dinner (anywhere),
• New Years’ Eve dinner (Anywhere)
• High speed train tickets. You can read here >>> all about train travel in Italy.
• Accommodation (anywhere)

My go-to website for booking are:

GetYourGuide , excellent ticket provider for attractions and tours, with very flexible cancellation options (many up to 24hour before the tour)

Booking.com for both hotels and apartments

Trenitalia.com for train travel (it is the official railway system site and has the best prices, despite a rather annoying interface)

If you are planning to visit Italy in December, make sure you also familiarize yourself first with the most common Italian Christmas traditions and Italy Christmas foods .

I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of Italy in December and gave you good ideas for your trip. Safe travel planning!

Marta Correale

Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way.

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Traveling to Italy in December: What You Need to Know

Snow in Emilia-Romagna hills || creative commons photo by Andrea

Not everyone dreams of visiting Italy in the summer. If you’re among the rare breed of tourist who actually prefers traveling in the off-season, then let me tell you about December in Italy. It’s actually not as “off” an off-season as you might think, but it’s got some festivities that are pretty cool to see.

While most of winter in Italy is the low season in terms of tourism, the Christmas holidays drive a little spike in things like prices and crowds. But even if the holidays are responsible for a slight uptick in the cost of a trip, they’re also responsible for turning December into a month full of twinkling lights, brightly-wrapped packages, and festive moods. Here’s what you need to know about traveling in Italy in December, including what to expect from the weather and what’s on the calendar.

Weather in Italy in December

December isn’t always Italy’s coldest month, but it’s close. Snow is common in many parts of the country, particularly in the mountains and at higher elevations, and even sometimes at sea level (snow falling in Venice is one of the most beautiful winter scenes you’ll see in Italy). And where it’s not snowing, it’s likely to be raining.

Italy’s southern regions are almost always warmer than their northern counterparts, but December still brings cold temperatures to the south. The crowds that flocked to the beaches in August are headed into the mountains to go skiing or snowboarding by December. Whether you’re planning a ski trip or not, you might look into visiting a ski resort town in December – many are also natural hot springs, with spas that will warm you to the core no matter what the weather is outside.

The thing is, it might be sunny at one point and snowing the next. This sunny picture was snapped in Milan in early December of 2009, and this slushy one a few weeks later. No matter where your itinerary takes you, you’d be smart to bring clothing to keep you warm, a small umbrella, and water resistant shoes.

Some average temperature ranges for different parts of Italy are:

• Northern Italy: 25-45°F (-4-5°C)
• Central Italy: 40-55°F (5-13°C)
• Southern Italy: 55-60°F (13-16°C)

And, as always, check the current extended forecast for where you’re actually going just before you leave – when you’re packing is the perfect time – so you can find out in advance if it’s unseasonably cold or warm.

Holidays & Festivals in Italy in December

The first major holiday in Italy in December is the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, but December’s main holiday is Christmas. It’s one of the more important dates on the Italian holiday calendar, although the most important holiday of the Christmas season is actually Epiphany on January 6th. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many Italians spend time with family, but you can join in on Christmas Mass said in churches throughout the country. There are also often religious processions and bonfires, as well as Christmas markets set up in piazzas. Because Italians give gifts on January 6th as well as December 25th, those markets are also typically up and doing a brisk trade through the entire month of December. Learn more about the celebrations in my article about Christmas in Italy .

The day after Chrismas is St. Stephen’s Day in Italy, which is a less important (but still national) holiday. There are also regional festivals and holidays in December that might be extremely important in one town and not the next – such as Milan’s patron saint’s feast day on December 7th. Browse my (never-going-to-be-comprehensive) list of Italian holidays to get an idea of what might be going on where you’re traveling, and when you arrive in any town ask at the tourist information office if there are any festivals going on while you’re there.

Why should you go to Italy in December?

December is an odd mix of not ideal (at least not to most travelers) weather without the usual perk of bargains and thin crowds. But then, of course, there’s Christmas. For many visitors, being in Italy – specifically Vatican City – for Christmas is a lifelong dream, and then no other month will do for a trip. Just remember that lots of people from all over the world have the same lifelong dream, so in order to get the best deal on a hotel room (or, heck, in order to get a room at all) you’d be clever to plan and book your trip many months in advance. Oh, and if you’ve got your heart set on seeing Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, then plan even further ahead – you can get tickets directly from the Vatican for free (learn more here ), but just because you request one doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get one. People who don’t plan ahead (or who head for the Vatican on the spur of the moment) can watch the entire Mass broadcast live on giant screens in St. Peter’s Square.

If you’re not headed to Italy specifically for Christmas, should you skip it? Not necessarily. There are some great treats that only come out in cold weather, many of which are sold at Christmas markets. Vendors roast chestnuts at their carts and sell them in small paper bags. Holiday markets often have people selling vin brule , hot spiced wine. And cafes bring their cioccolata calda machines out to start churning that delectable pudding-like Italian hot chocolate . These are all tasty ways to warm yourself from the inside out. Just keep in mind that beach-centric destinations like the Amalfi Coast or hiking-centric spots like the Cinque Terre may not be the best places to go in the winter, even if you like solitude. Plenty of the locals shut down operations of restaurants, shops, and hotels when the weather gets cold, too.

And, truth be told, many of the attractions you’ve likely got on your must-see list in Italy are indoors – churches, museums, art galleries – so that it doesn’t much matter whether it’s sunny or snowing outside. Snow will change your experience at the Roman Forum or Pompeii, to be sure, but your photos will most certainly not look like everyone else’s.

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Merryl's Travel & Tricks

15 Destinations to Spend Christmas in Italy

When it comes to celebrating the magic of Christmas, few places can rival the enchantment that Italy has to offer. With its rich history, deep-rooted traditions, and a palpable sense of holiday spirit, Italy transforms into a winter wonderland during the Christmas season. From the twinkling lights adorning ancient streets to the mouthwatering aroma of festive treats wafting through the air, Christmas in Italy is an experience like no other.

If you plan to spend the upcoming Christmas in Italy, this guide will take you through the best places to visit for the holiday season along with some tips to make your trip to Italy for Christmas as smooth as possible.

Where to Spend Christmas in Italy

Val di sole.

By Sara Rodriguez from Mindful Travel

Located in the heart of the Italian Alps, Val di Sole offers will surprise you with its stunning snow-capped villages and Christmas decorations.

From skiing down the slopes to relaxing at Terme di Pejo, there are plenty of activities to enjoy during your stay.

But what really makes Val di Sole stand out as one of the best places for Christmas celebrations is its picturesque villages such as San Giacomo, Pellizzano, and Ossana, where you can find traditional markets and delicious local treats like torta di Mela with Christmas spices from Agriturismo Solasna in San Giacomo or dining at Baita Tre Larici alpine hut.

Val Di Sole is an ideal destination for those looking for a magical white Christmas holiday in Italy. The region boasts some impressive ski resorts including Passo Tonale and Madonna di Campiglio which offer incredible views while you ski down their slopes!

If skiing isn't your thing then no worries - there are plenty of other activities that will keep you entertained such as snowshoeing through forests or visiting nearby hot springs like the Terme di Pejo which are known for their healing waters.

A visit to Val di Sole during Christmas is an unforgettable experience full of winter activities and charming villages that will make you feel like you’ve entered a winter wonderland!

Cortina d'Ampezzo

By Catrina from 24 Hours Layover

Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the most magical places to visit in Italy for Christmas due to its stunning winter scenery, festive atmosphere, and many events that make the Christmas holiday season truly magical!

Cortina d'Ampezzo transforms into a winter wonderland during Christmas, with the town and the surrounding mountains covered in snow, creating a picturesque backdrop for the holiday season.Cortina is renowned for its world-class winter sports. If you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, Cortina is the place to hit the slopes during Christmas! And if you don’t, fear not - there is plenty  to do in Cortina d’Ampezzo town  to keep you entertained!

Cortina is beautifully decorated during Christmas, with lights adorning the streets, creating a festive ambiance that is perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. The town hosts charming Christmas markets and traditional Italian celebrations such as torchlight processions, so it’s really an ideal place to celebrate the holiday season. 

Since Christmas is a very popular time to visit Cortina, you’ll need to book accommodation well in advance. Also, booking restaurant reservations beforehand is essential during the Christmas period, especially on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

If you're driving to Cortina, ensure your vehicle is equipped with winter tires or snow chains, as winter conditions can be challenging in the mountains.

By Nausheen from Globe Gazers

While Rome has long been a popular summer destination,  Rome is worth visiting  during Christmastime as well. The city's historical sites, already breathtaking, take on an ethereal charm under the gentle glow of Christmas lights. 

There are plenty of ways to celebrate  Christmas in Rome . At the Piazza Navona Christmas market, the aroma of roasting chestnuts wafts through the air as you browse for artisan gifts and traditional holiday sweets. The market begins the first week of December and runs through January 6.

Attend the "Midnight Mass" at the St. Peter's Basilica, where you can witness the Pope’s Christmas message. This takes place at 9:15pm on December 24. Tickets become available in November and must be booked in advance. Alternatively, you can attend a papal blessing in St. Peter's Square at noon on December 25th or 26th. No tickets are required to attend either of these papal blessings in the square. 

Take a leisurely stroll down the Via dei Corso, beautifully lit and festive, leading you to the dazzling Christmas tree in Piazza del Popolo. See the giant Christmas tree in front of the Victor Emmanual II monument as it is slowly put up, and once it is finally lit up. Enjoy traditional, seasonal foods like panetone (fruitcake).

Be sure to book accommodations, tours and restaurant reservations in advance if you will be in Rome between Dec 26th through the New Year. While Christmastime itself can be a bit slower in terms of tourism, the buzz does pick back up a fair amount for end of year festivities.

By Jenifer of theeevolista.com

Christmas in Verona, Italy, is filled with festive charm and traditional celebrations. Verona hosts multiple Christmas markets where you can find handcrafted gifts, holiday decorations, and delicious local treats like Pandoro and Nadalin, dating back to the 13th century in Verona. The Nuremberg Christmas Market in Piazza dei Signori and the Santa Lucia Market in Piazza Bra are the most popular. 

The city of Verona is beautifully decorated with Christmas lights and illuminated trees but the most dazzling decoration is the Star of Verona, a huge steel comet arcing over Piazza Bra by the Roman Amphitheater. You will also find hundreds of beautiful Nativity scenes (presepi) displayed around town including a must-see international nativity exhibition inside the Arena di Verona that is a highlight of the season.

Christmas concerts and performances are held in churches and theaters. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at the Verona Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare) is popular for locals and tourists. If you stay until New Year's Eve, Verona hosts lively celebrations with fireworks.

Make sure to visit Juliet’s house and take a romantic winter walk through the charming streets and over Verona’s bridges. Don’t forget your winter coat and book a boutique hotel in Verona’s center where you can warm up in between sightseeing and shopping.

By Inguaribile Viaggiatore 

If you're looking for a magical winter experience, look no further than the Christmas markets in Bolzano. Located in the picturesque region of South Tyrol, Bolzano is known for its charming atmosphere and traditional Christmas markets. Each year, the city transforms into a winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and the aroma of freshly baked treats.

The Christmas markets in Bolzano are famous for their unique handicrafts, such as wood carvings, leather goods, and hand-blown glass ornaments. Visitors can also sample local delicacies, including spicy sausages, hot mulled wine, and sweet apple strudel. Many vendors offer free samples, so be sure to come hungry!

One of the most popular markets is located in the Piazza Walther, where you can browse dozens of stalls selling everything from handcrafted toys to traditional Christmas decorations. Another must-visit is the Christmas markets of crafts, which features over 100 artisans showcasing their handmade goods.

If you're planning a visit to the Christmas markets in Bolzano, be sure to dress warmly, as temperatures can drop below freezing. The markets are open from late November until early January, so there's plenty of time to experience the festive atmosphere. Whether you're looking for unique gifts or simply want to soak up the holiday spirit, the Christmas markets in Bolzano are not to be missed.

By Lori of travlinmad.com

Northern Italy is a dream around the holidays and towns throughout these regions buzz with the promise of snow and the traditional European Christmas markets.

If you’re looking for a special place to celebrate the holidays, make a train stop to Bologna for a few days or a week to get in the holiday spirit. The best part about visiting  Bologna in winter  is seeing the sights under the miles (27 to be exact) of beautiful covered porticoes that stretch throughout the city, leaving you warm and protected for rain or snow.

Around the holidays, the city comes alive with Christmas decorations and locals are busy shopping, cooking, and of course socializing with friends all around town.

Bologna is Italy’s gastronomic city, so it’s no surprise that cooking and eating are top activities to enjoy. And some of their most iconic dishes like tortellini in brodo  are perfect on cold days.

You’ll spend your days strolling the porticoes, shopping for gifts, noshing on roasted chestnuts, and passing an endless stream of delectable pastries in just about every shop window.

There are also several Christmas market stalls around the city selling traditional foods and small ornaments from neighboring countries like France, Germany, and Belgium, giving a lovely international feel to the winter scene.

You may add a few pounds, but the memories you’ll make will last a lifetime!

By Linn Haglund of Brainy Backpackers

Florence is a magical place during Christmas, lit up the historical town with holiday lights giving a warm glow to the city. There are multiple Christmas markets in Florence starting a few weeks before Christmas where you can find cute Christmas presents and traditional Christmas sweets like Torrone (a large and thick chocolate bar, often with whole hazel nuts inside,) Panettone, and Pandoro. The two latter are Christmas cakes, the Panettone usually has dried fruit inside.

The biggest Christmasmarket is found in Piazza Santa Croce. Florence also homes the longest ice skating rink in Europe with its 300 meters. Whether you visit  Florence in 2 days  or in a week over Christmas, you should go for a skate at the rink. If you fancy going to the Christmas Eve Mass, visit the cathedral at midnight. You might want to come there an hour early at least to get space inside as it fills up quickly. If you want to find a nice place to eat out for Christmas, you should book a table in advance. Though it is customary to eat lunch at home on Christmas Day, the restaurants that are open usually fill up quickly.

By Paul D’ Souza of paulmarina.com

Meran is a charming medieval city located at the heart of the Italian alps. The old town turns into a stunning Christmas themed place during the time before Christmas. The 4 Sundays before the 24th December are called Advent, and traditional celebrations such as the Krampus run on the 5th December and the coming of St. Nicholas on the 6th are part of the pre-Christmas festivities. From ancient times, and integrated into Christian believes, people have also been appeasing the spirits during the Rauhnächte. For 12 days from the 21. December to the 6th January, places and homes are smoked with incense and herbs such as rosemary to keep away bad ghosts. Wonderful aromas wrap around your senses while you discover boutiques run by the people of Meran. Yet, the main attraction and reason to visit Meran during the Christmas week is the classic Christmas market.

Local Christmas cookies, mulled wine and specialties from the  South Tyrol region  can be found in the colorful and light-filled market stalls. Look out for Zelten- or Kletzenbrot which is a Tyrolean fruit bread prepared during Christmastime and for the Christstollen, which is a melt in the mouth Christmas cake. Look out for the crib with its hand carved figurines and listen to Christmas songs sung in dialect German and Italian.  The Christmas market can be visited daily, but it closes earlier on Christmas day, which is celebrated on the 24th December. Most stores and establishments close on the 24th and the 25th of December. The Meran thermal spa will be open daily, and what better way to celebrate the Christmas period than to relax in a hot pool of healing waters.

By Lisa from Travel Connect Experience

If you're seeking warmth, folklore, and authenticity during your Christmas trip to Italy, consider including Naples in your itinerary. This city in southern Italy is world-famous for being the birthplace of Neapolitan pizza.

At this time of year in Naples people eat Pizza stuffed with escarole, which is one of the most  popular Italian Christmas dishes . Naples sits on the Tyrrhenian coast and enjoys mild weather throughout the year. Prepare for sunny days even during the Christmas season. From the historic center, particularly Piazza del Plebiscito, take a short 10-minute walk to reach the Naples waterfront, where you can admire the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius.

It's said that the presence of this volcano is what makes Neapolitans welcoming and passionate (especially about art, music, philosophy, and good food).

Let's return to the historic center of Naples. Here, during Christmas, street artists perform and provide music to passersby. In Piazza del Plebiscito, there's the "blindfolded hug" initiative. Some Neapolitans, both men and women dressed as Santa Claus, blindfold themselves and wait for passersby to approach and hug them—an emotional and warm experience, just like the locals!

The most famous street in Naples is  Via di San Gregorio Armeno , which comes alive during Christmas. Here, you'll find numerous artisan shops where craftsmen carve wooden statuettes, the characters used to decorate  nativity scenes , which Neapolitans traditionally set up in their homes during Christmas.

Local artisans are highly creative and, in addition to the classic nativity scene characters, also carve contemporary figures like politicians, actors, and footballers in a caricature style.A walk down this street at Christmas is worth the trip to Naples. You'll walk slowly because it's very crowded and you may stop to listen to a performance by some local singer. On both sides of the street, you will find these little stores literally full of colorful figurines and the artisans ready to tell you all the story behind them.

By Cris from LooknWalk

On Italy’s Adriatic Coast, you’ll find the largest city in Apulia: Bari . Thanks to its location, winters are balmy in Bari – albeit it has snowed before. So, if you prefer to escape the colder climates, Bari is a lovely choice for a warmer Christmas in Italy.

Apulia is well-known for a special type of event during the Holidays: presepe vivente. The nativity scenes (presepe) are very common in cities across the country, but the living nativity scene (presepe vivente) makes everything…come to life. Entire areas of historical cities get “transformed” into Bethlehem and a baby from the town is chosen to have the special honor of representing Gesú Bambino (Baby Jesus). You may be able to witness presepe vivente in Alberobello, Locorotondo, Ostuni, or Vieste, for example, all within a short distance of Bari. Make sure to reserve your spot in advance, if required.

During the festive period, Bari is home to a Christmas Market. Hosted in the Old Town, it only comprises a few huts selling Christmas ornaments and various trinkets. 

Take advantage of the lovely weather and head up the Gargano Coast. It’s the perfect time to put on your walking shoes and hike either the deserted beaches or in the forest. And make sure to stop at a traditional farm for a very long and very tasty lunch, comprising local staples. You’ll have to call in advance as they typically open only on request. 

By Alexandra from The Alternative Travel Guide 

The town of Como  is a beautiful and romantic place to spend your Christmas vacation. Imagine yourself in a nice, cozy cabin with mountain and lake views, hot cocoa, and lights of Christmas decorations. 

In Como, locals start preparing for Christmas long before the holiday. The festive illuminations are ceremoniously turned on every year at the end of November. The traditional Christmas Festival of Magic Lights (Città dei Balocchi) takes place in Como annually. The most beautiful light installations are in the following squares: piazza Volta, piazza Duomo, piazza San Fedele.

The only island in Lake Como, Comacina, turns into a Christmas park during Christmas and is decorated with fairy tale characters. 

In addition, small towns around Como also host exciting events during the Christmas vacations - puppet shows and workshops for making Christmas decorations.

Cinque Terre

By Soline from ontheroadiary.com

Christmas in  Cinque Terre  is an unforgettable experience. Imagine spending your holiday season visiting five beautiful Italian fishing villages with rolling hills, clear seas, and picturesque views.

It's the perfect place to soak in the festive atmosphere of Italy and enjoy some fun activities during the day like exploring the hidden coves or taking a boat ride to explore the coast.

We recommend exploring the villages at night, when the streets light up with their Christmas decor. Manarola is home to the biggest light nativity scene in the world. It is located on a hill and quite impressive, as all the decor is made with recycled materials.

The lighting ceremony is quite an event, it happens every year on December 8th. Then, there are also Christmas markets, religious torchlight processions and even a firework show above the sea.

With all their charm, beauty and festive atmosphere, the five villages of Cinque Terre offer an unforgettable Christmas experience.

By Lavina D’Souza from Continent Hop 

The stunning city of Venice becomes even more magical during Christmas. You can feel the holiday spirit while exploring its charming canals and historical streets during your  Venice itinerary .

Head to St. Mark's Square to celebrate Christmas in Venice, where a beautiful Christmas tree stands tall and festive lights twinkle all around. Enjoy a romantic gondola ride with your partner through the picturesque canals decked out in Christmas decorations. 

Take the chance to sample traditional Italian Christmas treats such as panettone and pandoro in many local bakeries and markets.

For a memorable Christmas Eve, attending the Midnight Mass at St. Mark's Basilica is also a popular Venetian Christmas activity. The grandeur of the church, with its stunning mosaics, intricate architecture, and lovely choir singing, will immerse you in the season's true spirit.

Ensure you have packed warm clothing and booked accommodation and restaurant reservations in advance.

Every corner of Venice exudes a magical glow during Christmas, from the iconic Rialto Bridge to the charming alleyways, creating a sight that will leave you in awe and inspired to capture the beauty on your camera.

Milan 

By Famiglia itinerante

Milan is a popular destination for tourists during the holiday season, and it's easy to see why. The city is known for its stylish fashion, delicious cuisine, and vibrant nightlife, all of which are amplified during the festive season. Natale a Milano, or Christmas in Milan, is a magical experience that you won't want to miss.

One of the highlights of Christmas in Milan is the stunning display of lights and decorations throughout the city. The streets are adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. You can also find several Christmas markets throughout the city, where you can shop for unique gifts and souvenirs.

If you're a fan of Italian cuisine, you're in luck. Milan is home to some of the best restaurants in the country, and many of them offer special holiday menus during the Christmas season. You can also sample traditional Italian treats like panettone, a sweet bread filled with dried fruits and nuts.

Another must-see attraction during Christmas in Milan is the famous La Scala opera house, which puts on special holiday performances throughout December. The city is also home to several museums and art galleries, so there's plenty to see and do during your visit.

Overall, Natale a Milano is a magical experience that's sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you're looking to shop, dine, or simply soak up the festive atmosphere, Milan is the perfect destination for a holiday getaway.

By Erin from Pina Travels

Palermo is the capital of Sicily and one of the largest cities on the island of Sicily. The best way to get to Palermo is by flight, or by taking the train from one of Italy’s more northern cities. You can fly into Catania Fontanarossa International Airport, Palermo Airport. 

The atmosphere in Palermo during the Christmas season is festive and special. You can visit the city’s markets, see nativity scenes, enjoy holiday lights, and admire poinsettias and mistletoe that decorate the city center.

During the Christmas season there are little holiday markets and nativity scenes all around the city. For a festive Christmas Market, head to Via Magliocco. There, you’ll find wooden gazebos decorated for Christmas, and selling crafts and wares. 

You’ll also want to visit Palermo’s traditional markets, Capo, Vucciria, and Ballaro. During the holidays, these year-round markets are decorated for the season. You’ll find Christmas sweets, typical Sicilian foods, and Italy’s famous panettone.

For Christmas lights, head to the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy. This beautiful building is located in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, which is the main square of Palermo. During Christmas, the front of the theater is decorated with Christmas lights. Every year a big Christmas tree is installed in the gardens located to the left of the theater’s stairs.

Tips for Visiting Italy During Christmas

As you plan your journey to experience Christmas in Italy, here are some invaluable tips to ensure your trip is filled with joy, wonder, and memorable moments.

Embrace the Festive Spirit: Italians go all out when it comes to Christmas decorations. From elaborately adorned city centers to charming nativity scenes, take the time to stroll through the beautifully decorated streets and soak in the festive atmosphere.

Savor Seasonal Delights: Don't miss out on the delectable Italian Christmas treats like panettone (a sweet bread), pandoro (a star-shaped cake), and torrone (nougat). Pair these with a glass of mulled wine or a sip of traditional Italian hot chocolate for an unforgettable taste of the season.

Attend Midnight Mass: Midnight Mass, known as "La Messa di Mezzanotte," is a deeply ingrained tradition in Italy. Consider attending one in a historic church to witness the spiritual side of Italian Christmas celebrations.

Explore Christmas Markets: Italy boasts numerous Christmas markets where you can find unique gifts, handmade crafts, and seasonal delicacies. The markets in cities like Rome, Florence, and Bolzano are renowned for their festive charm.

Plan Ahead: While Italy is less crowded than during the peak summer season, it's still a popular destination for Christmas travelers. Make reservations for accommodations and popular attractions in advance to avoid disappointment.

Weather and Dress Code: Be prepared for varying weather conditions, from chilly temperatures in the north to milder climates in the south. Layered clothing is advisable, and don't forget to pack comfortable walking shoes for exploring Christmas markets and historical sites.

Experience Local Traditions: Research and participate in local Christmas traditions unique to the region you're visiting. Each area has its own customs and festivities that add a special touch to the holiday season.

Learn Basic Italian Phrases: While many Italians speak English, learning a few basic Italian phrases can enhance your experience and make interactions with locals even more enjoyable.

Enjoy the Nativity Scenes: Italy is renowned for its intricate nativity scenes, known as "presepi." These are displayed in churches, homes, and even public squares. Take the time to admire these beautiful representations of the Christmas story.

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Christmas In Italy: Traditions To Try & The Best Destinations To Visit

The holiday season is magical nearly anywhere you go around the world, but Christmas in Italy is its own kind of special. Up and down the boot, the country glows with charming Christmas spirit, whether it’s at the grand Christmas markets in the major cities or the “borghi antici” that hang up their lights and nativity scenes to give the quaint village an extra touch of magic.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy during Christmas or culture curious about the top traditions, food and how Christmas is celebrated, then this article is for you.

Some of these links are affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure !

The Italian Christmas Season

December 8th: Immacolata Concezione, Immaculate Conception

The Immacolata Concezione, or Immaculate Conception, is the day that traditionally kicks off Italian Christmas celebrations. It is an official holiday, so families usually have the day off work and stay home together putting up the Christmas tree.

Although this is the official day to the start of the festivities, many towns now prepare for Christmas much earlier, starting in mid-November.

Good to know : The significant holidays of this period can also vary by region. For example, in Northern Italy, December 13th is Santa Lucia. On this day, children write letters to Santa Lucia about what presents they want her to bring them. This day is actually considered more important than Christmas in terms of gifting!

December 24th: La Vigilia di Natale, Christmas Eve

The next big day is the Vigilia di Natale, or Christmas Eve. In Italian culture, Christmas Eve is typically spent going to evening mass. In Rome, the most popular occasion is attending the Pope’s Christmas Eve midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

December 25th: Natale, Christmas Day

Buon Natale! That is how you would wish a Merry Christmas to someone in Italy. You could also say “Buone Feste!” as a more general “Best wishes!”

Christmas day is a day spent with family, not going to the movie or out to eat at a restaurant. Santa Clause is present in Italian culture, called Babbo Natale, but his role is a bit different! That’s right – Santa Clause is not the one who brings presents!

Presents are traditionally given at the next big day of the holiday season, which is Epiphany.

Italy is the Catholic capital of the world, so it is no surprise that Christmas is taking seriously at a cultural and also religious level.

December 26th: St. Stephen’s Day

The day after Christmas is St. Stephen’s Day, another national holiday for which Italians are off work.

December 31st & January 1st: La Vigilia di Capodanno & Capodanno, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s

New Year’s is not as big of a deal in Italy as Christmas is, but New Year’s Day is still a holiday in which Italians are off work. However, New Year’s Eve is not a holiday and Italians will go to work if it falls on a week day.

For New Year’s Eve in Italy, the tradition is to have a big dinner feast with family. There’s no TV program like “Rockin’ New Year’s Eve” but there are several places that host bigger celebrations, like Rimini, a coastal town famous for its nightlife.

Fireworks are also a classic New Year’s Eve event!

January 6th: L’Epifania, Epiphany

A day that could be more important than Christmas? If there is any one to try, it is Epiphany .

Always held on January 6th, the annual public holiday is the conclusion to the Italian holidays period. Epiphany is traditionally a religious feast. In Italian tradition, there is also a folklore component: La Befana.

La Befana’s story is that the Three Wise Men invited her to go visit Jesus with them after he was born. She initially refused but later tried to catch up with them. However, she couldn’t find them and ended up giving the presents that she was supposed to deliver to Jesus to other children.

Now on January 5th, children hang up their stockings to see the next day what La Befana has brought to them!

Good to know : Although not directly related to Christmas in Italy, the official winter sales kick off at the beginning of January. Nearly all stores throughout the country participate in this period of markdowns, so shopping becomes crazy good!

Christmas Traditions in Italy

Italian is a predominantly Catholic country, so the religious aspect of Christmas is heavily present in the traditions and decorations of cities and villages everywhere. One of the most important and popular of these is the presepio .

Presepi o (plural: presepi) is the Italian word for nativity scene, the setting of figures and objects that depict the birth of Jesus. You’ll find presepio everywhere around Italy during Christmastime, from shop windows to city squares.

While a trip to the sea isn’t ideal in December, the most famous place to see unique, handmade nativity scenes is in Naples on the Via San Gregorio Armeno . The shops along this street are specialized in the creation of the figurines.

Christmas Markets

You’ll hear me mention them a million times in this article because they are my absolute favorite thing about living in Italy during Christmas – the markets!

Like many other countries in Europe, Italy does not disappoint when it comes to making Christmas come to life in the historic squares of its tiny villages and storied cities.

Christmas markets in Italy are characterized by rows of wooden huts in which locals sell anything from artisan and handmade goods, freshly baked pastries, wines and packaged food, toys and more.

The period of Christmas markets varies by destination, but most open at the beginning of December and last until the weekend after Epiphany, which is January 6th.

Some of the most well-known Christmas markets in Italy (which I will also mention later in the ‘destinations’ section of this post) are in:

• Centro Storico in Merano
• Cathedral Square in Bressanone
• Piazza Walther in Bolzano
• Marché Vert Noël in Aosta
• Piazza del Duomo in Milan
• Piazza Santa Croce in Florence
• Piazza Navona in Rome

Italian food

Italians’ love for Christmas really shines when it comes to dessert!

You’ll find the most traditional, famous Christmas treat everywhere in Italy, almost on cue, December 1st: panettone.

Panettone is traditionally given as a gift at Christmas, like when going to parties or gifting a family friend. It’s a sweet, raised bread in the shape of a dome. The most classic flavor you’ll find everywhere are with or without “canditi”, which are basically sugared dried fruits. But the gamma of flavors has since expanded a ton!

Whether at the grocery store or at a historic bakery, you can find panettone in flavors like pistachio, chocolate and almond. There are even different variations of this Italian Christmas cake now, like the Veneziana.

Panettone’s lesser-known friend is the Pandoro , which is even more cake-like but still considered a sweet bread. Pandoro is originally from Verona and the most classic flavor is like a basic vanilla, but you can also find it in chocolate.

Where to Spend Christmas in Italy

While Christmas comes to life everywhere up and down the Mediterranean peninsula, there are some extra special cities and regions that burst with Christmas traditions, spirit and flavors.

If I had to recommend the perfect Christmas in Italy vacation, I would suggest putting together a northern Italy itinerary. The mountain atmosphere is the perfect draw for a cozy, snowy Christmas.

Trentino-Alto Adige

If you had to picture the perfect Christmas in Italy, I think you’d imagine something along the lines of Trentino-Alto Adige. This northernmost region, bordering Austria, is a Christmas-lover’s haven, full of tiny villages dotted along snowy valleys between the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

The blend of Germanic and Italian culture in the various small alpine villages makes for the perfect cozy Christmas feeling. Nearly every single village and city in this region decorates and hosts Christmas markets. The most famous are in Merano, Bressanone , San Candido and Bolzano.

But that’s not all! Trentino is also known for a tradition you may find creepy and strange: Krampus!

Krampus is a mythical figure in central Europe that accompanies San Nicolò (Saint Nick/Santa Claus) while visiting children on Christmas. Santa Claus gives nice children presents and the Krampus leaves something bad for the naughty children! If you want to read more about this tradition and others unique to this area of Italy, read about Trentino-Alto Adige Christmas traditions .

Valle d’Aosta

Valle d’Aosta is like Trentino’s lesser-known, just as beautiful twin! Itis the smallest region of Italy and almost entirely covered by the Western Alps, which includes the highest peak in Europe, Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc.)

The entire region is known for Christmas markets but the most famous is the Marché Vert Noël in Aosta. Even more so, it’s the ultimate destination for those dreaming of winter sports in the Alps, from the slopes of Courmayeur to Breuil-Cervinia, with the Matterhorn as a dramatic backdrop.

The shopping streets of Milan get decked out for the holidays, glittering in intricate lighting set ups and with more than one Christmas tree around!

The biggest attraction during Christmastime in Milan is the Christmas Market in the Piazza del Duomo. Behind the church are tons of little wooden cabins neatly lined up selling everything from artisan goods to freshly baked pastries.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the most beautiful sites in Milan at Christmas time. The domed roof drips in twinkling lights and the characteristics Swarovski Christmas tree lights up the entire gallery.

Florence is another sweet city in which you’ll be surrounded by Christmas vibes everywhere you go. Besides the lights that don the city’s narrow cobblestone streets, you’ll find the Piazza della Repubblica full of Christmas decor, like the classic carousel and Christmas tree.

The Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce is another festive stop you can’t miss.

I already mentioned it while talking about Christmas Eve, but Rome and, more specifically, Vatican City are meccas for Christmas lovers in Italy. The biggest attraction by far is the Pope’s Christmas Eve midnight mass, but you will find festive decor and events everywhere in Italy’s capital.

How to Plan Your Visit to Italy during Christmas

You would think that winter in Italy is the slow season given that summer in Italy is so popular. But it is actually the second high season!

Of course, this can depend on which part of Italy you are traveling to. In northern Italy, the months of December to March are well-known for winter sports lovers and prices shoot up for transportation and accommodation.

This is why booking all reservations early is imperative for not only saving money while traveling but also ensuring you get your first choice of everything!

Transportation Advice

The winter period could mean very limited transportation in popular areas like Lake Como or the Cinque Terre. And on Christmas, there will also be limited transportation options available.

There are also considerations to make if you are driving in Italy . You can find a detailed report about winter driving requirements from the roads authority Autostrade Per Italia .

These requirements vary from snow tires to on-board snow chains. Each requirement can also vary by date, usually in effect between November and April.

Packing Tips

Weather can vary during winter in Italy but there’s one general theme: it is cold . You may not get snow everywhere, but even on the sunny islands of Sicily or Sardegna, temperatures can get down to the high 40s.

This means to account for bulky coats and winter accessories while packing your suitcase.

Good to know : Just because it gets cold doesn’t mean you will have a White Christmas! I live in northern Italy near the Alps and during winter last year, it only snowed a handful of times, always melting away after a couple of days. If you want to see snow in Italy for Christmas, your best bet is to spend the holiday in the mountains.

Plan Travel Days Wisely

The calendar breakdown at the beginning of this post is not just to inform you which days are annual holidays. It also lets you know which days you should look out for (that you may not have already known about) to best plan your travel.

If you can avoid traveling on days that are also holidays for native Italians, then you should. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid unnecessary traffic or crowds at airports and train stations.

The SGTD Take

I’ve been an expat in Italy for almost two years and Christmas is still that time where I pinch myself that I live in such a magical place. I hope my personal holiday experience is helpful while planning your trip or deepening your knowledge about Italian culture!

Christmas in Italy is one of those things you have to add to your bucket list. It’s not a specific place or attraction but rather a feeling that you just can’t get without experiencing it firsthand.

It’s difficult to generalize things about Italy given that the country is so different depending on where you visit. That’s why I encourage you to reach out in the comments if you have any questions about your specific situation and interests!

What is on the top of your bucket list to see during Christmas in Italy? Let me know in a comment!

Italy Trip Planning Resources

• Accommodation : For Italy, I mainly use Booking.com to search and book places to stay.
• Booking flights : I like to search for flights through Skyscanner , but I also book direct depending on the airline.
• Activities & experiences : For things to do that require a ticket, and for more unique trip activities, I use Musement .
• Road trip : For renting a car, I get the best prices by comparing companies with AutoEurope . I then use ViaMichelin to estimate road trip costs and Autostrade.it to find gas stations/have live updates on traffic.
• Transportation : Traveling by public transportation is a great way to see Italy. I use Trenitalia or Trainline to book tickets for trains and Flixbus for long-haul bus trips.
• Accessories : I always travel with this portable charger to stay connected and with a universal adapter to accommodate Italy’s plug types.
• Need help planning an itinerary? Fill out my form for a custom itinerary request !

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Christmas in Italy is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I hope this post has helped you understand how to live the season at its best!

Michela is a travel writer and photographer living in northern Italy. She is passionate about helping people make the most of their travels by sharing advice gained from her personal experiences, off-the-beaten-path destinations and time-saving quick itineraries. Browse her top articles or have her help you plan your itinerary to your dream destination!

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Christmas in Italy Vacations

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Imagine yourself walking through the Piazza del Republica, you can’t help but notice the dazzling lights blanketing the buildings from rooftop to sidewalk. The carousel is spinning with happy laughter and the cold weather seems to fade away as you realize the spirit of Christmas is keeping you warm.  Where is Piazza del Republica, you ask?  Let us take you there! Our Christmas in Italy vacation packages are completely customized so that each member of your group is entertained, relaxed and enjoys every moment of their time in Italy.

Christmas in Italy

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Christmas Highlights

No matter where you travel to in Italy on your Christmas in Italy vacation; you’re sure to experience the richness of culture, history and the delicacy of Italian cuisine. You may find yourself aimlessly walking the halls of the  Vatican  in Rome and being utterly fascinated by the beauty and craft of the Sistine Chapel. Or perhaps you treat yourself to the remarkable food and scenery of Tuscany. Imagine the robust, bold flavors of wild boar over fresh pappardelle pasta followed by a sip of ruby-red Chianti, all the while overlooking the orange glowing sky setting beyond the infamous rolling hills of  Tuscany .

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to experience the holiday season in another country? Above is just a glimpse of what you can see and do in what we consider to be a perfect destination for your Christmas vacation.  Florence, Italy , also known as Firenze by the locals, is the ideal place to visit, any time of the year. But, it’s especially remarkable to see during the holiday season due to its extravagant and whimsical holiday celebrations.

Nuzzled in the center of Italy, Firenze is the holiday escape you need. Traditionally, at the start of December, Italians start decorating their homes and shops in Christmas theme; ensuring you’ll feel the Christmas spirit all month long! On December 8, which is a National Holiday in Italy commemorating the countdown to Christmas, you won’t want to miss the famous Tree Lighting in Piazza del Duomo. The area is alive with festivity and includes a beautiful nativity scene nearby.

Germany is known for its Christmas markets, but you won’t have to travel there this year to experience one. Maintaining tradition, Piazza Santa Croce is transformed into a German look-alike market with authentic wooden houses offering mulled wine (warm red wine infused with typical holiday spices like, nutmeg and cinnamon) Christmas decorations for sale and plenty of tasty treats, like fresh roasted peanuts. The Florence Christmas Market is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit and make your Christmas vacation extra special.

It might not snow in Florence, but that won’t stop the winter sport fun. Ice skating, snow tubing and downhill skiing are all offered in The Obihall where the Tuscany Winter Park is hosted. The options for festive activity are plenty and all necessary equipment can be rented on site. Afterwards, warm up in the restaurant near by, Il Rifugio del Ghiottone, and sip on a cappuccino or hot chocolate.

Experience a  walking tour of Florence  during the holiday season and feel the magic of Christmas come alive throughout the entire city. Lights, bows and ornaments decorate the town and give you the warmth of the holiday season all month long. Enjoy Italian traditions such as the National Christmas Countdown, or get the mountain vibe in the city with ice skating at the Tuscany Winter Park. Firenze might be chilly in December, but you’ll stay warm with Christmas spirit as you stroll through the markets. Florence has a diverse variety of Christmas-centered activities for everyone; you can’t go wrong indulging in the experience. Our customized Christmas in Italy vacation packages are tailored to your exact needs and budget; so planning a trip is a breeze.

Traveling to Rome for Christmas is an obvious choice and not only do you get to indulge in the Christmas activities of  Rome , but also the celebrations of Vatican City. It’s practically a two for one deal when you visit Rome in December.

The country’s capital is decked out in holiday spirit you’ll be captured by. In Rome, Piazza del Popolo has over 100 Nativities and similar to Florence, also has Christmas markets. To participate in the true meaning of Christmas,  Take a walking tour of The Vatican  and attend Midnight Mass with The Pope on Christmas Eve- make sure to book in advance though! St. Peter’s is flourishing in holiday cheer with a brilliant Christmas tree and life-sized Nativity scene in front of the basilica setting the perfect ambiance for your Christmas in Italy.

Naples may not have been your first thought to celebrate Christmas, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that it may be the perfect destination to spend your holiday this year. The city is the epicenter to the traditional Italian Nativity scene, offering tradition and holiday ambiance throughout.

“Christmas-Alley” as it’s referred to, is a street in Naples, celebrated for its figurines and detailed structures found year-round. The shops along Via San Gregorio Armeno have ornaments and collectibles for every occasion ranging from typical Italian flags, to more specific to the holidays such as holy families and shepherds, to modern day objects like, current politics and sports.

Make Naples or the nearby  Amalfi Coast  your Christmas destination and take a piece of it home (in the form of a figurine) with you to always remember your trip. Plus, having pizza for your Christmas in Italy vacation dinner doesn’t sound too bad.

Christmas Tips on Our Blog

The Best Time to Visit Italy

The Best Time to Visit Tuscany: A Monthly Breakdown

Arezzo’s Christmas City

Italy in May – The Best Things to See & Do

How To Plan a Family Tour of Italy

The Best Underrated Cities in Italy

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Christmas in Italy: Holiday Traditions, Seasonal Eats, and Festive Markets

Christmas in Florence, Italy

Christmas in Italy, or Natale in Italian, kicks off its festivities on December 8 with the feast of the Immaculate Conception when Italians traditionally put up the Christmas tree. The celebrations also typically end on January 6 of the following year with the Epiphany, which is also referred to as Three Kings’ Day. 

With a whole month dedicated to merriment, gift-giving, and holiday markets, winter is an ideal time to visit Italy. Not only are there fewer tourists and shorter wait times at the museums and monuments, but there are many unique festivities and traditions only found this time of year. 

For Italians, Christmas festivities focus on the family; locals head to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones. Meanwhile, light displays and Christmas markets pop up throughout the country. While spending the holidays in the spiritual home of Catholicism (or just a more temperate climate) sounds appealing, it can also be a bit daunting. That’s why we’ve put together this guide of our favorite places to spend Christmas in Italy, and what to do in our top 5 cities.

You can travel  with us during the holidays, or  learn more about how holidays are celebrated around the world  #withContext.  

Where to Spend Christmas in Italy: Rome

Holiday Markets in Rome 

In Rome , most major tourist sites are still open daily except for Christmas and New Year’s Day. (The Vatican is also closed in the afternoon of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.) From late November to early January there is a large Christmas market in Piazza Navona; however, it’s become quite touristy and lacks the authentic traditions of an Italian market. For a more typical, local experience, head to Piazza Mazzini .

Have a walk through Piazza Barberini as well, where an enormous menorah stands during Hanukkah, and on Christmas Day, be sure to head over to the Vatican to hear the Pope’s Christmas message while standing beside the massive Christmas tree erected there. There will also be a huge Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia and Christmas lights all around the historic center neighborhoods. 

What to Eat in Rome

In the evenings, relax with hearty Roman winter dishes like pasta e ceci (pasta and chickpeas). You can also sample some of our favorite Roman Christmas treats in our Taste of Rome holiday tour .  Did you know that Italians typically don't eat meat on Christmas Eve?

Christmas and Holiday Traditions in Rome

For those looking to attend Mass at the Vatican, it’s also important to note that “ Midnight Mass ” at the Vatican is now at 10pm, at the request of the Pope a few years ago. 

New Year’s Eve brings a large public celebration in Piazza del Popolo with music, dancing, and fireworks. There are also live music performances and fireworks on Via dei Fori Imperiali by the Colosseum; and on several bridges in Rome, there are outdoor dance parties. On Epiphany, the Santo Bambino is paraded down the church stairs, after having been in the presepe at Santa Maria Aracoeli since Christmas Eve.

Where to Spend Christmas in Italy: Florence

Holiday Markets in Florence 

The holiday season in  Florence  is packed with festivities. You can sit back and relax while watching a Christmas choir perform the Nutcracker, head over to  Piazza Santa Croce  to get some last-minute shopping done at the German Christmas Market.

What to Eat in Florence

Be sure to try a slice of panforte , the Tuscan version of the Italian holiday treat panettone. Let's not forget spicy pork sausage, tortellini and Mostarda during the holidays! Mostarda is a seasonal dessert that consists of candied fruit in a mustard-flavored syrups, with cheeses and wines - think apple + ginger - sweet with a kick!

Christmas and Holiday Traditions in Florence

There are several other markets and fairs including the British Institute Christmas Fair, and the Emergency Christmas Shop. Or, see the Lighting of the Menorah at the synagogue Tempio Maggiore .

New Year’s in Florence is marked by public concerts in Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica , and Epiphany is celebrated with the Cavalcade of the Magi through the historical center, evoking the journey of the Magi to baby Jesus, with participants dressed in traditional costume.

Where to Spend Christmas in Italy: Milan

Milan doesn’t often cross many minds when thinking where to spend Christmas in Italy. It can get quite cold during the winter months, so much so that the Duomo roof can be closed to the public due to ice; however, there is still lots to see and do this time of year.

Holiday Markets in Milan 

Starting December 7th, the city celebrates its Patron Saint with the Festa di Sant’Ambrogio, and local food, drink, arts, and crafts can be found in the Christmas Market near the Duomo. The city’s proximity to the Alps make it an ideal ski location as well, with hills for a range of abilities. There is a large Christmas tree in Piazza Duomo , and O Bej, O Bej market near Castello Sforzesco. (The name derives from the Milanese dialect and translated to “how nice, how nice.”) There’s also the traditional lighting of a large menorah in Piazza San Carlo .

What to Eat in Milan for Christmas

Walk around the markets and shops, and nibble on panettone, or celebrate like the Milanese do with a multi-course seafood dinner. When you think of Milan, food isn't what first comes to mind. That's because  Milanese cuisine look more like Swiss and German cuisine. Milanese food revolve around butter sauces, mushrooms, meats and stews instead of the tomato and olive oil based dishes you'd find in Rome or Florence.

Christmas and Holiday Traditions in Milan

Where to spend christmas in italy: naples.

Naples , along with Rome, is one of the mildest cities during the Italian winter, with temperatures around 50 degrees F. That said, it does rain quite often, so indoor activities such as museums and royal palaces are ideal attractions for this time of year. If you're up to braving the rain, a trip to Pompeii is well worth it, as the crowds have thinned enormously from their summer peak.

Holiday Markets in Naples 

Naples is famous for its presepi (nativity scenes), with hundreds erected across the city. The Museo Nazionale di San Martino has a collection of presepi dating back to the 1800s, and Via San Gregorio Armeno hosts a market dedicated to them. (Though the street is so crowded during the holiday season that it becomes a one-way pedestrian thoroughfare). You can see the best of the Naples holiday scene on our Neapolitan Christmas Traditions tour .

What to Eat in Naples

Neapolitan holidays would not be complete without its food traditions, such as struffoli (cooked dough coated in honey and sprinkles),  roccocò (hard biscuits), m ustacciuoli  (Christmas pastry with soft, spiced, cake dipped in chocolate), and susamielli (a nutty honey based S-shaped cookie)

Christmas and Holiday Traditions in Naples

New Year’s Eve in Naples includes a huge outdoor music event and fireworks in Piazza del Plebiscito , and groups of amateur musicians and children sing from house to house in a tradition called Lo Sciascio . The residents of Naples would toss their old and unwanted things – like clothes and appliances – out their windows to truly have a fresh start to the new year. This tradition isn't followed anymore due to the obvious dangers of tossing appliances out the window. 

Where to Spend Christmas in Italy: Venice

Holiday markets in venice .

Christmas in Venice is a beautiful affair—during the holiday season, the customary fog makes the buildings look as though they are floating on clouds. There are several Christmas markets, such as Natale in Laguna at Campo Santo Stefano. Santa Claus can at times be seen running around on stilts, alongside a companion in Carnevale dress.

Another highlight is Natale di Vetro (Christmas of Glass) on Murano Island —the event features spectacular glass decorations including a 20-foot-tall glass Christmas tree. Campo San Polo houses a skating rink and small Christmas market, of course including carnival masks. The Ghetto Square hosts many Hanukkah celebrations including the lighting of the menorah, music, dancing, and food. 

What to Eat in Venice

Since the 15th century, Venetians were expected to fast all day exception of midday, when they were allowed to have a small meal of Bigoli co la Sardela (Venetian spaghetti with sardines), a mandorlato (nougat) and vin bon (good wine). Now, the midday meal is now an evening feast with fish-based dishes served throughout. On Christmas day, we'd eat like the Venetians would with  ossocollo (Venetian sausage) and other antipasto like Soppressa, Salami, and Prosciutto served with bread and pickled vegetables - like a Venetian charcuterie board! 

Christmas and Holiday Traditions in Venice

New Year’s in Venice has music, fireworks, Bellini Brindisi (a toast), and a giant group kiss at midnight - which will probably not happen in 2022. On New Year’s Day the Italian version of the “polar bear swim” takes place, with locals jumping into the water at Lido Beach . 

And the festivities don’t stop there. Later in January, Venice comes alive for Carnevale . The entire city is bustling during these days with boat parades, dancing, music, and countless costumed participants. The Flight of the Angel is the signature event, striking in both its cultural and historical significance, and in its wow-factor. The other two main highlights of the event are the Official Dinner Show and Ball, costing about 500 euros, and the costume contest in Piazza San Marco. 

A few of the traditions we think are most important no matter where you spend Christmas in Italy:

The presepe tradition .

The  presepe  is the tradition of Christmas nativity scene displays, found in most cities in Italy. The word refers specifically to the crib, first created by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223 CE. In Rome, the annual  100 Presepi exhibition  displays about 200 nativity scenes from artists across Italy and other countries. Rome also houses the Museo del Presepio “Angelo Stefanucci”, which displays over 3000 presepi, made from a wide range of materials including plaster, glass, and even eggshell, and a life-size nativity scene is displayed annually in Saint Peter’s Square. The presepe at Santa Maria Maggiore is said to be the oldest permanent nativity scene, carved in marble by Arnolfo di Cambio in the late 13th century. (See this tradition with a theology scholar on a Context  holiday nativity tour .) In Florence there is a life-size presepe outside the Duomo, made in terracotta by an artisan in Impruneta.  The monastery of San Martino in Naples houses a unique collection of presepe figurines unlike any other collection and is well worth a visit.

To prepare and purify their bodies, Italians forgo meat on  “La Vigilia”  (Christmas Eve) before heading to midnight Mass. Then, on Christmas Day, families host a large lunch—which lasts all day—featuring traditional dishes like pasta in brodo (pasta cooked in stock) and panettone (a sweet bread with raisins). 

Traditional Hanukkah foods in Italy include  pollo fritto  (fried chicken marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and nutmeg),  frittelle di patate  (mashed potato pancakes),  frittelle del Chanuka  (fried sweet dough with raisins, anise seeds, and topped with hot honey), and  torta di ricotta  (ricotta pie with either sour cherries or chocolate).

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve coincides with the  Festa di San Silvestro  in Italy, and is traditionally a time to both literally and figuratively throw out the past. At midnight, people throw kitchenware, appliances, clothes, and furniture out of their windows onto the street, a tradition most common in the southern part of the country. The day is celebrated with a big dinner called  Il Cenone , featuring lentils right after midnight; the money shaped food is thought to bring good luck. 

A slightly less expected tradition in Italy is the wearing of red underwear, referencing the medieval belief that red wards off sickness and bad luck. Italians are so passionate about this tradition that red underwear can be bought all across town, and if a friend hears you do not have any, they will likely gift you some! Of course, fireworks, music, dancing, spumante, prosecco, and festivities are equally important.

Epiphany 

Families most often exchange gifts on the day of the Epiphany (though this varies by region), and also host another large dinner. Children are then visited by  La Befana , a woman with a crooked nose and broomstick. Despite her appearance, La Befana is not a witch; she visits at night, bringing along stockings filled with sweets. In original lore, she would bring an oranges and coal for good and bad children respectively. She is not to be confused with Babbo Natale, the Italian equivalent of Santa Claus: La Befana forgoes the milk and cookies, opting instead for a hearty bottle of red wine as her treat.

Want to learn with a true expert? Get a comprehensive view with one of Context's private or small group tours in person in  Italy ! If you're planning and preparing for an eventual trip, learn with our scholars online in the world of Context Conversations ahead of packing your bags.

We offer holiday seminars and courses which are running for a limited time only, so book your next seminar with discount code  XMASITALY10  for 10% off your first Context Learning purchase.

If you're feeling festive and want to understand what Christmas looks like in the diverse regions of Italy, you can join our upcoming seminar,  A Very Italian Christmas with Laura Benitti , where she'll explain all the fun facts and peculiarities behind an Italian Christmas. 

Celebrate Christmas in Italy with Our Holiday Tours: 

• Rome Holiday Traditions Tour
• Rome Holiday Food Tour
• Christmas in Naples Tour

Prepare for your Trip to Italy with these Context Stories: 

• Top Things to do in Rome for Families
• Visiting the Vatican After Hours: An Experience of a Lifetime
• 10 Things You Need to Know About Pisa, Italy
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• Top 10 destinations where to spend Christmas in Italy
• Places and Tours

Christmas is all about magic. What better way to spend it than visiting a marvelous city? Here are our top 10 tips on where to spend Christmas in Italy .

Christmas's colours, scents, and melodies invade Italy's big cities and towns . From North to South, our country looks enchanting during the Christmas holidays . Try to choose where to spend these days by reading our article. Spoiler alert : one city won't be enough!

Where to spend Christmas in Italy: the destinations not to be missed chosen by Visit Italy

10. Where to spend Christmas in Italy: Aosta and the Alpine landscape

The capital city of the Val d'Aosta region is an almost fairytale-like place . Stretching over a vast plain surrounded by majestic mountains, the city has over 34,000 inhabitants and boasts very ancient history. Breathtaking scenery surrounds its medieval castles and Roman remains. At Christmas time, Aosta turns white and takes on a unique charm. You cannot miss the famous Marché Vert Noel , a typical Alpine Christmas market set up in the heart of the town, behind the suggestive Roman Theatre. The typical mountain chalets, ice skating rinks and carousels in the squares enrich the city with joy, immersing tourists in the perfect Christmas atmosphere . Moreover, local initiatives, musical events, and traditional dance performances cheerfully overwhelm tourists. 

Would you like to unwind and enjoy moments of relaxation in fabulous thermal pools nestled in enchanting mountain scenery? Take advantage of the exclusive ticket offered by Visit Italy.

9. Taste and tradition in Turin

Turin is one of the most enchanting destinations where to spend Christmas in Italy . It offers numerous initiatives during the Advent season. Here are some of them. Gluttons should visit the Agri Christmas market. It is a Christmas showcase of local food and wine production , presenting a selection of the best products from Turin and the surrounding area. The initiative, undertaken with the collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce, provides for the exhibition and sale of numerous excellent local products, including Piedmontese PDO cheeses , Vermouth of Turin , precious Piedmontese wines, chocolate, coffee and much more.

If you're in town, then, it's worth visiting the nearby Venaria Reale and enjoying a magnificent light show. In the Torre dell'Orologio square, over the backdrop of the majestic Royal Palace (a Unesco heritage site), you will find the traditional luminous deer , now a symbol of Christmas in Turin, accompanied by a series of animated projections that will spark your imagination.

Finally, it is worth visiting il Presepe del Re (the King's Crib) exhibited in the Sant'Umberto Chapel: the sculptures are hand-carved in wood, have eyes made of glass and are dressed in precious silk and velvet costumes, embellished with gold and silver threads. 

You can take advantage of the fantastic benefits of the Torino + Piemonte Card to explore the fascinating sights of Turin.

8. Where to spend Christmas in Italy: scents and wishes in Brunico

Christmas Markets in Bruneck

In Val Pusteria (Trentino Alto Adige), there is the pretty village of Brunico, where you can feel the Christmas atmosphere everywhere. The market set up in the town is dotted with stalls full of typical food products and precious handicrafts . Together with Brixen, Sterzing, Merano and Bozen, the Bruneck Christmas market is one of the so-called Five Original Trentino South Tyrol Markets . All of them boast the Green Event certificate (since 2014). In every alley of Brunico, you can hear the sounds, see the colours and smell the scents of Advent.

Among the most significant initiatives offered by the village, we would like to point out the Fienile dei Profumi , an olfactory sensory journey, and the Silent Point . The latter, set up in the Sternbach Palace, is intended to underline the importance of allowing ourselves a moment of recollection, especially during the festive period. There is a Christmas tree in the middle of the palace room where all visitors can hang a wish written on paper.

7. Where to spend Christmas in Italy: Cesenatico and the maritime Nativity scene

Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Paola Mandozzi (@paolamandozzi)

In Cesenatico, Christmas is on the sea. The well-known seaside resort and tourist destination on the Romagna Riviera in the province of Forlì-Cesena keeps a curious and evocative Christmas tradition : the floating nativity scene at the Maritime Museum. There is no ox or donkey, no hut or cave, and neither snowy peaks. In Cesenatico, Jesus is born on the sea, among dolphins and boats, cradled by the sea's waves. The Nativity in the seaside village is staged on the ancient ships of the Museum, in the romantic setting of the Leonardesco Canal Port. You can undoubtedly experience an unconventional Christmas here, but magical and evocative anyway.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” – (song) Andy Williams

6. Comacchio: Christmas on the water

In Comacchio, the relationship people have with the water is visceral. Even Christmas is represented in a maritime style. Markets are set up on boats , and Christmas decorations are accompanied by traditional fishing equipment from the Comacchio Valleys. Dazzling projections of lights and colours play with the reflection of the water, creating an engaging atmosphere . The Nativity is represented in the Comacchio style: under the numerous canals of the town, as many nativity scenes in maritime style are placed on traditional local boats. Each work is original and made of different materials.

Moreover, each crib is enriched with fishing tools to respect the lagoon tradition. Undoubtedly, the greatest spectacle takes place at sunset, when the lights of the cribs harmonise with the natural reflections in the water. Comacchio's Christmas is indeed surreal . Finally, the town organises concerts, travelling shows, events, and initiatives to entertain adults and children during all the festivities.

5. The Florence Eye and the light show in Florence

Photo credits: Facebook Page Dai Colli Fiorentini

The enchantment of Florence needs no introduction, but at Christmas, the city becomes even more fascinating and...enjoyable. For the festivities, the historic centre is closed to traffic . So, suppose you want to take advantage of the magic of Christmas to visit the timeless Medicean city. In that case, you will be greeted by an almost entirely pedestrianised Florence : only public transport and shuttles providing communications to the main attractions will be allowed. It will also be easier to enjoy the city's shopping .

However, one of the main initiatives adorning the city during Advent is the skating rink, the longest in Europe . Located in the Fortezza da Basso gardens, the rink is flanked by a 50-metre high Ferris wheel, already renamed Florence Eye . There are also the traditional and famous Florentine Christmas markets, such as the German market in Piazza Santa Croce. Finally, we would like to point out the traditional F-Light Festival . Projections on their facades colour Florence's significant historic buildings to give citizens and tourists a magical Christmas.

Take advantage of the Florence Pass to benefit from priority access to Florence's prestigious museums and attractions with advantageous discounts.

4. The genuineness of Naples: top destinations where to spend Christmas in italy

For a perfect Italian Christmas tour , you cannot miss vising Naples. Here, Christmas is rooted in the city's bowels, blending with the Neapolitan folklore and traditions. First and foremost, the nativity scene: San Gregorio Armeno needs no introduction. The world-famous street of nativity scenes welcomes visitors all year round. Still, the atmosphere and sensations strolling along this street dotted with ancient shops are most appreciated in this period. In addition to the classic nativity statues, master artisans sculpt famous characters every year. Who will be this year? It's worth finding out!

We would also like to point out the Christmas markets set up in the charming Pietrarsa National Railway Museum . Here, the Christmas stalls are set against the backdrop of beautiful historic train carriages. The museum also hosts workshops, theatre shows and guided tours. There are also concerts and travelling exhibitions. On the other hand, children can find Santa's throne in the Sala del 500: sitting on the legs of Saint Nicholas, they can ask for presents and take a photo.

Finally, we must warn you: the magic of Christmas in Naples fills the eyes, but above all, the belly! If you are visiting the city, you can't help but follow in the wake of the scent of sweets and other delicacies . Moreover, every occasion is suitable for a toast. If possible, the genuineness of Naples becomes even more enthralling during the Christmas festivities.

3. Gubbio: Christmas Guinness World Record

In the heart of Italy, the medieval town of Gubbio is home to the world's most giant Christmas tree . The Umbrian town's famous Christmas symbol was lit for its 42nd edition this year. In fact, its inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records dates back to 1991. More than 700 metres high , the tree is actually a gigantic silhouette outlined by 300 points of light. Located at the foot of Mount Ingino, which overlooks the city, the tree has a star installed on its tip. Its surface has an area of 1,000 square metres and 250 lights that draw its outlines. Four hundred multicoloured lights illuminate the tree inside the silhouette, giving it a majestic aura . 

2. The white Roccaraso

If Christmas is all about snow for you, Roccaraso is the perfect destination. The Abruzzo town offers a wide range of snow sports and activities, including snowboarding , cross-country skiing , snowshoeing , Nordic walking , snowmobiling , and more. However, the magic of Christmas in Abruzzo is all in the festively decorated city centre. The biting cold can be fought with a delicious hot chocolate, strolling through the illuminated shop windows and the beautiful markets in Piazza Leone . The typical wooden houses with handicraft products, the scent of mulled wine , the decorations that illuminate every whitewashed corner , the snow that falls in flakes: during the Christmas holidays, the mountain landscape of Roccaraso is tinged with magic. 

1. The Puppet Fair in Lecce

Lecce (Apulia) keeps a centuries-old tradition . Set against the splendid Baroque backdrop of the Duomo and Piazza Sant'Oronzo, the enthralling Fiera di Santa Lucia (better known as the Puppet Fair ) dates back to the 16th century. Anciently, the fair heralded the start of the days leading up to Advent.

Today, it is a craft fair in which master artisans show off their skills by modelling the so-called pupi (puppets), the characters that animate the Salento nativity scene out of wood, clay and paper-mâché. Pupi are the typical figures of the nativity scene, such as the washerwoman, the baker and the blacksmith. Still, the unique feature lies in the choice of materials, the meticulousness with which they are worked and the amazing final result. The precious creations are displayed at the fair, and you can also purchase them to have a unique Christmas souvenir .

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Christmas in Italy

To begin with, let’s get the language straight. The word for “Christmas” in Italian is “Natale” (pronounced nah|TAH|leh), and it’s a very big deal on the Italian holiday calendar . If you’re familiar with Christmas celebrations in other Western countries, you’ll likely see familiar elements to the celebrations in Italy – down to decorated trees and lights strung on buildings.

Christmas Decor: Nativity Scenes

Christmas Characters: La Befana & Babbo Natale

According to the legend, the night before the Wise Men arrived at the manger they stopped at the shack of an old woman to ask directions. They invited her to come along but she replied that she was too busy. Then a shepherd asked her to join him but again she refused. Later that night, she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd bearing gifts that had belonged to her child who had died. She got lost and never found the manger. Now La Befana flies around on her broomstick each year on the 11th night, bringing gifts to children in hopes that she might find the Baby Jesus. Children hang their stockings on the evening of January 5 awaiting the visit of La Befana .

You will see Santa Claus images around, too – he’s called “Babbo Natale” (BAH|boh nah|TAH|leh), or “Father Christmas,” in Italian – but because he’s not the traditional gift-giver in Italian culture he’s not as prevalent as he is in some other countries.

Christmas Foods

Christmas Markets

People who have visited other European countries before the holidays are likely familiar with the prevalence of Christmas markets, especially in northern Europe. In the parts of Italy that were historically tied to the Austro-Hungarian empire – in other words, the northeast, and especially the Trentino-Alto Adige region – you’ll find more of these traditional German-style Christmas markets. Other cities in Italy have holiday markets as well, usually set up in the big public squares.

Traveling in Italy During the Christmas Holidays

Transportation during the holidays can be tricky, as trains and buses often run on “holiday” schedules – which is to say, far less frequently than normal). Things are still running, you’ll just have to wait a big longer – and then train cars are more crowded because there are fewer of them running. The same is true of city buses. With train travel, you have two options to avoid getting frustrated by transportation during the holidays.

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• Buy train tickets & reservations ahead of time. By booking your tickets in advance, before you even leave home, you’ll at least be sure of when your train is running and certain to get a seat. Your train might be full, but at least you won’t be standing (or forced to wait for the next available train). Buying in advance also means you don’t have to wait in what could be a long line at the ticket counter. You can buy tickets and reservations in advance by using the search box to the right, and you’ll even get the best discounts Trenitalia offers.
• Don’t go anywhere. There’s a difference between being in Italy over Christmas and trying to get from A to B over Christmas. If at all possible, plan your trip so that you aren’t trying to transfer from one city to another from December 23-26 or so. (And even still, I’d suggest buying tickets in advance for dates on either side of the holiday.)

More Resources to Help You Plan Your Trip

• Winter in Italy
• December in Italy
• New Years in Italy
• What to Pack for Italy: Winter Travel
• Favorite Places to Celebrate Christmas in Italy
• Italy Gift Ideas
• Best Places to Do Holiday Shopping in Italy
• mercatini-natale.com – Click on the region name on the right-hand menu to get a drop-down list of the cities for which there is market information, and then click tabs above the photo like “orari” for hours, and “come arrivare” for how to get there.
• amando.it – Scroll down a bit to find the list of regions represented on the site, click on the one you want, and then scroll down to read about each one.

photos, top to bottom, by: Jakob Montrasio , Hello, I Am Bruce , ho visto nina volare , Nicola since 1972 , Italy Chronicles , jonathan.hadiprawira

Top 10 Best Places to Visit During Christmas in Italy: tips by a local

What’s in this article

When you think of Italy, what springs to mind?

Venice , Rome, Florence , and the Amalfi Coast, of course — four staples of Italy. 

Or maybe you think of pasta, pizza, and Paparazzi.

However, few people mention Christmas when thinking of Italy — this isn’t surprising when you consider that on the surface it would appear to be a non-traditional festive country. 

Underneath, however, lies a wealth of different traditions and Christmas events that help make Italy an incredibly festive place at this time of year.

Christmas in Italy is a magical time. 

The streets are decorated with lights, and there is a festive atmosphere in the air. 

Families come together to celebrate, enjoying good food and company, and children anxiously await the arrival of Babbo Natale (Santa Claus).

And of course, there are the traditional Christmas markets , where you can find handmade gifts and treats.

If you’re lucky enough to spend Christmas in Italy, you’ll be treated to a truly magical experience.

If you’ve never experienced this festive side of Italy, or have done so but are looking for some new places to visit in Italy during Christmas, here’s my list of the best places to visit in Italy during Christmas.

For this list, I’ve hand-picked locations with rich Italian traditions and markets offering up traditional Italian foods. 

Whether you’re in Rome, Florence, or Venice, these are some of the most interesting Christmas destinations to visit in Italy.

Christmas in Rome

Rome is a beautiful city to visit during the Christmas season.

The city comes alive with festive decorations, and the air is filled with the scent of roasting chestnuts and freshly baked delicacies.

Visitors from all over the world come to see the beautiful Christmas trees in St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican and to attend Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica .

There are also a number of festive markets to enjoy, where you can find traditional Christmas gifts and decorations.

If you’re looking for something truly unique, head to the Piazza Navona Christmas Market , where you can find all sorts of unique gifts and souvenirs.

There are also a number of special events and activities that take place during this time of year.

You can travel through space and time among scenic installations, markets, games, shows, and lights from around the world in Villa Borghese , where “ Christmas World ,” the capital’s Christmas village, is housed.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Rome during the holiday season, you’ll be treated to a truly magical experience.

Things to do in Rome to book ahead .

Christmas in Venice

Venice is a beautiful city all year round, but it is especially magical during the Christmas season.

The Serenissima becomes even more romantic during the holiday season, and strolling through its calli and campielli is like walking into a fairytale.

The city is decorated with lights and festive decorations that reflect on the canals; even the gondolas are decorated, and there is a feeling of joy in the air with Venetian gastronomy and the authentic flavours of the local bacari.

There are also plenty of cultural events and concerts to enjoy .

If you’re lucky enough to be in Venice during Christmas, you should definitely take some time to explore the city and soak up the festive atmosphere. 

Here are a few t hings to do :

• Go for a stroll through the streets and admire the Christmas lights.
• Visit the Piazza San Marco and see the iconic Venetian Christmas tree.
• Ride a gondola through the canals and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
• Enjoy Christmas markets
• Sample some of the traditional Venetian Christmas delicacies, like “ pinza ,” a traditional Venetian sweet from peasant tradition.
• Go ice skating in Campo San Polo .
• Attend a Christmas concert at La Fenice Theatre , or at Santa Maria della Visitazione .
• Take a day trip to one of the nearby islands, like Murano or Burano, to admire the floating nativity scene.

If you’re looking for a festive and romantic Christmas destination, Venice is the perfect place to be.

Popular Venice attraction to book ahead

Doge’s Palace entry ticket

Doge’s Palace and St Mark Basilica with terrace access guided tour

Hidden Venice walking tour

Grand Canal gondola ride

Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands tour with glass factory visit.

Express bus transfer from Marco Polo Airport to Venice 

Venice Marco Polo Airport water taxi transfer

The Luminous Nativity of Manarola

Manarola is home to the World’s Largest Presepe (the Italian word for Nativity scene), an annual event that takes place in this tiny, picturesque village in Cinque Terre , the beautiful string of five seaside villages on the Italian Riviera coastline.

The event is a celebration of the nativity, and it features a large, beautiful display of lights and decorations. More than 300 statues, made of twisted iron, are illuminated by more than seven kilometres of electric cables and 15,000 light bulbs, creating a beautiful and ethereal sight.

The event attracts tourists from all over the world, and it is a great way to experience Italian culture.

If you are planning on visiting Italy during the holiday season and visiting Manarola for the event, there are a few things you should know.

First, the event takes place on December 8th and will last until the end of January 2023 or the beginning of February 2023. (No dates have been set; in 2022, it was 2.02.2022), so make sure to plan your trip accordingly.

Second, the best way to see the Luminous Nativity is from the top of the hill that overlooks the town or by walking along the path leading to Volastra.

Either way, it’s a spectacular sight that you won’t want to miss.

More Things to do in Manorola and Cinque Terre.

The Fair of Oh bej oh bej in Milan

Christmas is a time of tradition, and Italian Christmas traditions are no different.

The Fair of Oh Bej! Oh Bej! is an annual event that takes place in Milan , Italy.

It’s a traditional Christmas market that has been running for over 600 years.

Oh Bej! Oh Bej! is the Milanese dialect for “Oh Belli! Oh Belli!” (Wow! Beautiful!) and the origins of this tradition can be traced back to the joy of Milanese children in 1510 when they saw the gifts brought to the city by Pope Pius IV’s envoy.

The market is known for its unique atmosphere and its wide range of Christmas-related products; here you can find everything from traditional Italian Christmas decorations to hand-crafted nativity scenes.

The fair lasts an average of four days and is a must if you’re looking for the perfect gift or simply the festive atmosphere and traditions of the most important weekend before Christmas.

It will be open from the 7th to the 10th of December this year, around the Castello Sforzesco and in Parco Sempione .

The Fair of Oh Bej Oh Bej is the place to go if you’re looking for unique gifts for your loved ones, and it’s also a great way to experience the festive atmosphere of Milan during the Christmas season.

Top activities to do in Milan

The Christmas Markets of Trentino Alto Adige

The Christmas markets in Trentino and South Tyrol glow with the charm of the Alps, set in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. 

The most well-known are in Bolzano, Merano, and Trento, but they can be found throughout the region. 

They are typically held in the main town square, with small stalls selling handmade items, Christmas decorations, and traditional food.

Bolzano’s Christmas Market

Bolzano Christmas Market is one of the most famous in Italy, as well as one of the most charming. 

It takes place every year in Piazza Walther, which becomes a huge market full of stalls selling typical regional products such as apple fritters, strudel, mulled wine, and much more.

The market also hosts some special events, such as a performance by musicians and dancers who take place on stage during the day or various attractions for children, such as pony rides, puppet theater, a children’s train, merry-go-rounds, and much more.

Merano’s Christmas market

Merano Christmas Market is held in the city centre, along the Passirio river, in Piazza Terme and Piazza della Rena, which are filled for the occasion with the typical little wooden houses (about 60 exhibitors), all surrounded by a romantic and evocative atmosphere.

A visit to the Merano market is an excellent way to learn more about this spa town while also finding the most unique handicraft creations and delicious gastronomic specialties (especially zelten and strudel).

Trento Christmas Market

Trento’s Market is held in two of the city’s main squares: Piazza Fiera, next to the mediaeval city walls, and Piazza Cesare Battisti.

There are approximately 90 stalls housed in traditional wooden houses, offering traditional decorations and nativity scenes made by local artisans, as well as gastronomic delicacies and a gastronomic journey through “The Flavours of Trentino,” allowing you to discover local delicacies.

The Christmas markets in Italy are meant to be an experience enjoyed by the whole family.

From the food and drinks to the games, these festive venues combine traditions with modern attractions. 

Luci d’Artista in Turin and Salerno

Turin is an amazing city in the Piedmont region known for its automotive industry (it’s the birthplace of the Fiat industry), chocolate, and for being one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

It is especially beautiful at Christmas. Since 1997, the city of Turin has been home to Luci d’Artista, an annual event that sees the city’s streets and squares transformed into an open-air art gallery.

Luci d’Artista are installations of works of light art created by contemporary artists that adorn some of the city’s most important squares and major streets.

The event typically takes place in the months of October through January; this year, they’ll be on display from October 27th to January 8th. It attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

At this time of year, the city appears to be decked out in lights, and the effect during the winter evenings is truly enchanting.

The event has also been held in Salerno, a lovely town near the Amalfi Coast , since 2005. From the beginning of December to the end of January, there are light installations all over the city, just like in Turin.

Both cities will be filled with dazzling light displays for about two months, allowing you to enjoy the unique atmosphere while exploring Turin’s historic centre and the beautiful Amalfi Coast.

It’s a hugely popular event that draws people from all over Italy, so if you don’t mind crowds, it’s a fantastic experience!

The Living Nativity Scenes in Assisi

The living nativity scenes in Assisi, Italy, are a beautiful and unique tradition.

Every year, around Christmas time, the town of Assisi comes alive with the sound of singing and the sight of beautiful Nativity scenes.

Assisi is the city of St. Francis, inventor of the first Nativity scene, and here you’ll find amateur nativity scenes in every corner.

A nativity scene is set up in every shop window or church in the city centre and surrounding area, and a nativity scene with human-sized terracotta figures is set up on the lawn of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi .

The squares host traditional Christmas markets with stalls selling traditional Christmas goods where you can pick up last-minute gifts or be tempted by the delicacies on display.

But the most special part of Christmas in Assisi is the Living Nativity Scene; this is when people dress up as Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus and reenact the nativity scene.

The majority of them are genuine theatrical, amateur performances put on by the residents of the Assisi countryside’s former mediaeval castles.

It’s worth noting the one held inside the Castle of San Gregorio , a small municipality in the Assisi hamlet.

Since 1999, there has been a living nativity scene with no acting scenes, but there are real master craftsmen working in the ancient workshops set in the alleys of this ancient Umbrian village.

There are frequently refreshment points within the scenery where you can enjoy the excellent dishes of traditional Umbrian cuisine.

I think this is a wonderful tradition that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas.

If you are ever in Italy during the holidays, be sure to check out the Living Nativity Scenes in Assisi.

The Christmas of Gubbio

Gubbio, Italy, is a beautiful place to visit during Christmas time. 

The small, mediaeval town is located in the Umbria region of central Italy and is known for its stunning scenery and friendly people. 

Christmas in Gubbio is a special time when the town comes alive with lights, music, and festive decorations, including the lighting of the world’s largest Christmas tree.

It was built in 1981 to honour Sant’Ubaldo, the city’s patron saint. 

It’s a coloured light tree created on the slopes of Monte Ingino , behind the magnificent mediaeval town of Gubbio. 

The roots go deep into the mediaeval village walls, while the star is at the top, where the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo , Gubbio’s patron saint, is located.

It’s made up of various multicoloured lights that create an absolutely unique and special chromatic effect: over 250 green lights outline the shape of the Christmas tree, with over 300 multicoloured lights scattered throughout the central body, and the star is over 1,000 square metres wide and made up of over 200 lights.

Gubbio’s Christmas tree also entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest Christmas tree. 

It is traditionally lit on December 7th, and this year it remains lit until January 8th.

The Neapolitan Nativity Scenes in Via San Gregorio Armeno  

I’m sure you’ve realised by now that we take the art of arranging nativity scenes very seriously in Italy, don’t you?

Many families also decorate their homes with a nativity scene, but this is a custom I’ve noticed more in the country’s central and southern regions than in the north.

I grew up in Naples, where many families still set up a nativity scene in their home, more out of passion than tradition, placing great emphasis on the statues they select and the setting they wish to recreate.

Maybe this is why there is an entire street in Naples dedicated to statues and everything you need to make the perfect crib (presepe).

The street is called Via San Gregorio Armeno , also known as the “street of cribs.” 

It’s a street running through Naples’ historic center; it’s closed off from traffic and is full of designer cribs.

It’s one of the oldest streets in Naples and one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas in Italy. 

It is open all year round, but it is most enjoyable during the Christmas season.

You can see master craftsmen at work and admire the thousand faces of the Neapolitan nativity scene, which has been enriched over the centuries with popular figures, some traditional and others that change depending on the historical and social context.

This year has also seen the installation of a beautiful full-size nativity scene in the beautiful Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore , located at the beginning of Via San Gregorio Armeno, a stupendous monumental complex that is an incredible example of the stratification of architecture from different eras.

The floating nativity scene of Cesenatico (Il presepe galleggiante di Cesenatico)

Cesenatico, in the Emilia Romagna region, has another one-of-a-kind nativity scene. 

The floating crib of Cesenatico is set up on the boats of the Maritime Museum’s Floating Section and is the world’s only floating nativity scene.

It was conceived in 1986 and houses numerous man-sized statues; the first to be built, after the Holy Family and the Three Wise Men , was that of St. James, Cesenatico’s patron saint, and new ones are added every year.

It’s an evocative sight, especially in the evening, when all of the Marineria’s illuminated lights are reflected in the water: about fifty artist statues on the Porto Canale’s ancient boats.

It will be lit on December 4, as will the illuminations throughout the Borgo, kicking off the Christmas season with a show of live music and lights. 

Everything will remain illuminated until January 15, 2023.

Bonus: The traditional Italian Christmas dinner

Christmas in Italy is a time for sharing, giving, and spending quality time with family.

It’s also a time for delicious food!

The Italians are known for their love of food, and their Christmas meals are no exception.

For most people around the world, the smell of cinnamon and cloves wafting from the kitchen makes them think of Christmas.

But for Italians, Christmas is a time for seafood, pasta dishes, and meat dishes. And you can’t forget dessert!

Each part of Italy has its own Christmas traditions and recipes, and it’s almost impossible to find foods that are eaten nationwide.

However, the Christmas meal is always structured the same throughout Italy:

The appetiser is always composed of cured meats and cheeses, fried finger foods, and other tasty nibbles.

The first course is always pasta: either spaghetti with clams on Christmas Eve, tortellini, or lasagna.

The main course is usually meat—and fish on Christmas Eve—though it may also be vegetarian or vegan.

Desserts are always the highlight of Christmas dinner in Italy.

Milanese panettone, with raisins and candied fruit

The soft and fluffy pandoro from Verona

Here are some of the most iconic Italian Christmas foods:

Seafood is a common choice for Italian Christmas Eve meals, with baccalà (salted cod), spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams), spaghetti al nero di seppia (spaghetti with squid ink), orata al forno (baked sea bass), and capitone in umido (braised large eel) all making appearances.

First courses range from the traditional dish of tortellini in capon broth typical of the Romagna tradition, to Lasagne alla Bolognese rich with meat sauce, béchamel, and cheese, to risottos with fish for Christmas Eve, to cannelloni filled with many ingredients such as ricotta and spinach, salmon, radicchio, and prawns.

The main course for Christmas lunch varies according to tradition and geographical area, but meat dishes like vitello o pollo arrosto (roasted veal or chicken) and brodo di cappone (capon broth) are also common choices for Italian families at this time of year.

Desserts like the soft and fluffy pandoro from Verona and the Milanese panettone , with raisins and candied fruit, are the traditional festive sweets eaten throughout Italy during the holidays.

Other typical sweets of this period are nougat , struffoli —small balls of dough fried in oil, dipped in honey, and decorated with coloured confetti and candied fruit—and panforte , a typical Tuscan Christmas cake with almonds and spices.

These delicious meals are accompanied by festive wines such as Asti Spumante or Prosecco .

It’s time to get your Italian Christmas on!

This list of the 10 best places to visit during Christmas in Italy should give you a pretty good idea of where to go—but they’re only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. 

Almost every small village in Italy has its own Christmas events and markets these days, so it may be advisable to do some research into your intended location beforehand. Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any suggestions; I will be happy to help!

Christmas in Italy is a great way to bring together not just friends but also family members who might not see each other often. 

After all, there’s nothing quite like enjoying a meal with loved ones and taking part in this Italian tradition.

Wish you a great one, ciao and safe travel!

I'm a freelance travel writer and SEO copywriter, and I absolutely love what I do. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and traveling is the ultimate source of inspiration for me. In fact, I became particularly drawn to planning travel experiences in Italy back in 2015, and I've been hooked ever since!

I'm what you might call a "slow traveler" - someone who likes to take their time exploring new places and soaking up different cultures. And when I started writing about my travels a few years ago, I was blown away by the incredible opportunity it gave me to share my experiences with others and learn from them in turn. It's truly an amazing thing!

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Top five places to visit in Italy during Christmas

Considering spicing things up for your Christmas holidays? Whether enjoying the snow of the Alps or getting a break from the cold by hitting a warmer destination like Sicily down South, Christmas in Italy can be magnificent. We’ll take you through a few select Italy winter destinations for an unforgettable winter holiday.

Christmas in Bolzano

Bolzano is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in Northern Italy. Formerly part of Austria, France, and the Kingdom of Italy, this modern-day Italian city has an exciting history that mixes a variety of roots. As a smaller city, Bolzano also has the advantage of being more affordable and yet still chock full of Christmas cheer. For instance, it is home to the biggest Christmas market in Italy, held from November 23rd to January 6th. Enjoy checking out the crafts, artisans, music, and lights that have the entire city feeling festive. Winter temperatures are relatively mild for Europe, hovering slightly above and below zero for the month of December. A smaller city means you’ll truly be able to kick back, relax, and enjoy the time spent with family.

Christmas in Naples

Ever heard of the Italian holiday tradition, the “feast of the seven fishes”? It hails directly from Naples. This feast is a multi-course Christmas Eve dinner that revolves around all kinds of seafood, a staple of Neapolitan cuisine. Every year on December 24th in Naples the locals host a vigil. The Roman Catholic tradition abstains from eating meat on this day, instead of focusing on seafood like shrimp and salt cod. If you aren’t able to attend dinner with any locals, you have options. Many restaurants in the city will offer a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve. There you can do your best to complete your own “feast of the seven fishes” in the local style. Naples will be a bit chilly, but generally well above freezing for all of December.

Christmas in Cortina D’Ampezzo

Searching for a winter wonderland? Look no further than Cortina d’Ampezzo, or ‘the Queen of the Dolomites.’ Cortina d’Ampezzo is a popular ski town nestled in amongst the mountains. Finish a day of skiing or winter exploration by watching the sunset along the mountain; you’ll find the whole mountainside lit up in glorious pink. Active travelers can hit up hiking, skiing, and skating opportunities. If you want to relax for the holidays, there are plenty of spas where you can soak in warm tubs, or cuddle up in cozy rooms to sip chocolate and enjoy the view. This is a snowy winter destination, so be sure to pack accordingly with warm clothes.

Christmas in Venice

While not necessarily on the top of most people’s radar for a Christmas holiday, it can be an excellent time to see Venice. You’re visiting in the off-season, so you’ll be able to avoid some of the city’s infamous crowds. Venice gets decked out with a tremendous amount of lights for the holidays. Walk through the winding streets and gaze at the lights reflected off the water of the canals, or visit one of the local Christmas markets (mercatini di Natale) that pop up all over the city. 

Saint Mark’s Basilica puts on a very festive Christmas Eve mass that opens up into the square. Soak in Christmas hymns while the huge crowd stands to hold festive candles. If you’re planning on celebrating Hanukkah rather than Christmas, Venice is also an excellent choice. The Cannaregio district used to be the Jewish quarter and is lit up for the occasion, with a giant menorah in the square. You’ll also be able to snack on pumpkin fritters, an Italian Hanukkah staple.

Christmas in Sicily

Southern Italy for Christmas won’t be too cold; temperatures should hover around 10-13 degrees celsius. If you wanted to explore Sicily, but the summer heat is too intense, December can be a great time. Sicily is famous for nativity scenes in most main squares and churches during the holiday season. You’d likely want to stay in Palermo, where you can enjoy the wonderful nightlife, food , and Christmas markets. It also provides easy access to Mount Etna for a bit of skiing!

Whether you decide to go for snow or sun, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season in Italy.

Top 5 Reasons to Spend Christmas in Italy

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Florence, Italy

From festive traditions in popular cities to vibrant night markets, Christmas cuisine, and great weather, here are the top five reasons to spend Christmas in Italy.

The Christmas season is a celebration that lasts for weeks, turning one of Europe’s most enticing countries into an inspiring combination of lights and art. With piazzas from Milan to Rome and Naples to Palermo spreading the festivities, decorations fill cities and towns, while carolers and bagpipe players fill the air with song, and nativity scenes decorate historic churches.

With style, glamour, and beauty, Italy celebrates Christmas like no other and this guide shares the top five reasons to spend this time there.

1. Italy’s Cities are Festive During the Christmas Season

2. there are fascinating christmas traditions in italy to discover, 3. italian christmas cuisine and wine is delicious, 4. christmas markets in italy are vibrant, 5. the weather and rates are great during christmas in italy, plan to spend christmas in italy.

Winter in Italy is a wonderland of joy and beauty. Whether skiing in the alps or enjoying the warm Mediterranean light spreading across Puglia, you can find the perfect Christmas ambiance.

Each city, town, and village creates its own unique atmosphere that represents the local traditions, embodies the regional flavors, and immerses the streets in the intoxicating spirit of the holidays. With so many different ways to celebrate Christmas, you can find variety and charm across the country.

Italy’s Christmas holiday celebrations begin on December 8, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, and continue until January 6, the 12th day of Christmas. During this time, the cities are atmospheric and various festivities occur, from colorful markets to nativity scenes, musical performances to Christmas dinners.

Best Places to Celebrate Christmas in Italy: Milan • Naples • Venice • Rome • Florence • Sorrento

Milan is a wonderland of winter splendor, with the streets and buildings decorated with light. Shops fill their windows with Christmas displays, adding to the welcoming warmth of the season.

As one of the world’s most fashionable cities, Christmas shopping takes center stage in large department stores and small boutiques, while the delicate aromas of candied fruits and citrus fill bakeries as they stuff their shelves with panettone.

One of the best ways to enjoy the city is by viewing the artisan crafts on display in the 15th-century Castello Sforzesco.

Learn more: Milan Vacations & Tour Packages

As the birthplace of elaborate nativity scenes, Naples exudes tradition around every corner of its historic city center.

With charm and warmth, the city makes art and intricate artisan crafts palpable with displays along San Gregorio Armeno, the aromas of cinnamon and candied citrus drifting through the cobblestone streets.

The city brims with culinary delights year-round, but even more so on Christmas Eve, during the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Each dish focuses on comforting seafood flavors, from salt cod to fried calamari.

Learn more: Southern Italy Itineraries & Tours

Italy at Christmas in Venice is dazzling, the spirit of the season emerging from winding alleys and canals glinting with light.

Christmas market stalls overtake Campo Santo Stefano, guiding locals to the atmospheric midnight Mass at St Mark’s Basilica, when the ethereal sounds of traditional hymns join with the shimmer of candlelight.

Murano glass takes on a particular glow in the winter light and ice skaters take to the rink in San Polo.

Learn more: Venice Vacations & Tour Packages

Rome feels particularly religious and celebratory around Italy for Christmas, with more than 100 nativity scenes and festive Christmas markets.

The Pope leads midnight Mass in St Peter’s Basilica and may even bless the piazza. Seasonal sweets like struffoli turn the air fragrant with aromas of fried dough and honey, while the outdoor ice rink by Castel Sant’Angelo combines winter charm and the city’s captivating history.

From unique artisan gifts to the mixture of ancient architecture draped in flickering lights, Rome feels majestic during Christmas.

Learn more: Rome Vacations & Tour Packages

As Christmas approaches, Florence embodies festivity and joy.

The bakeries fill with sweet aromas as the windows display seasonal treats like sugar cookies, yule logs, and pandoro . The life-size nativity scene at the cathedral reflects the city's religious heart, while the lights drape across medieval and Renaissance architecture, bringing a cozy radiance to the streets.

Whether visiting the sacred art, watching the Ponte Vecchio glow above the Arno River, or wandering the vibrant lanes of the Christmas market in Santa Croce, Florence has its own unique way of celebrating.

Learn more: Tuscany Vacations & Tour Packages

Most travelers are unaware of the Christmas charms of Sorrento. The coastal town remains a hidden gem for such food and traditions.

The town is dressed in light shows during the season, with glimmering decorations veiling the musical tree in Piazza Tasso. Musicians and performers take to the stage to entertain eager visitors wandering the vibrant streets searching for Christmas eats.

The traditions of Sorrento come to life during the festive season as nativity scenes, gourmet dinners, and light shows reveal the spirit of Christmas to the select few who choose to visit this unique place in December.

Expert Tips for Discerning Travelers

Nativity Scene

Italian tradition celebrates history, family, and heritage that has been woven into the tapestry of daily life. Christmas brings the country's and specific regions' customs to the forefront as people immerse themselves in the festive season.

Cities and towns start to glow with light around December 8 and the traditions last until January 6, stringing together weeks of excitement, beauty, and activity, from the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception to the arrival of La Befana.

Italians celebrate Christmas with those travelers who explore during the festive season, welcoming everyone with opportunities to partake in the fascinating festive traditions.

Best Christmas Traditions in Italy to Discover: The Bagpipe-playing Shepherds, Zampognari • La Befana and the Italian Santa Claus, Babbo Natale • The Nativity Scene, Presepi • Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Vatican

The Bagpipe-playing Shepherds, Zampognari

While bagpipe playing may surprise you, many in Italy would feel the season incomplete without hearing the ethereal sounds crack through the piazzas. The tradition of shepherds, known as Zampognari, playing the instruments dates back to ancient Rome and continues today across remote villages, from Lazio to Abruzzo, Basilicata to Molise, Campania to Puglia.

Bagpipers wear garments representing the traditional dress of shepherds to celebrate the regional heritage and long lineage of sheep herding across central and southern Italy. The importance of shepherds and bagpipes relates to the legend of Mary in Bethlehem. After giving birth, bagpipers played upon first gazing at her newborn.

To pay homage to the myth and to respect the tradition, when bagpipers reach a public nativity scene, they stop playing and give themselves and others a moment of quiet contemplation. They play traditional music, accompanied by an oboe player, as they wander through the cities, towns, and villages.

La Befana and the Italian Santa Claus, Babbo Natale

Much of the English-speaking world knows Santa Claus, but Father Christmas is known as Babbo Natale in Italy. While many know Santa Claus to be a gift-giver on December 25, Italian tradition celebrates Christmas with the gift-giver La Befana, an old woman who brings gifts on the Epiphany on January 6.

The traditional image features a woman with a crooked nose and broomstick, but instead of being a witch, she brings good Italian children sweets and naughty Italian children coal. Instead of milk and cookies, she drinks wine for her midnight treat. La Befana is a comforting and welcoming grandmother who not only delivers goodies, but also tidies up before she leaves on the Feast of the Epiphany.

Although Santa Claus, or Babbo Natale, is gaining popularity in Italy, La Befana is a legendary Christmas figure who remains at the center of Christmas gift-giving traditions in the country. Legend has it that every year she returns and celebrates the children of Italy, especially in her hometown of Urbania, where they dance, juggle, sing in the streets, and attract up to 50,000 people a year.

The Nativity Scene, Presepio

While Christmas trees may have made their way into the public piazzas around Italy, the authentic Italian tradition of a presepio fills the heart of a private home. It is a nativity scene including Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a donkey, and an ox.

The home displays can be intimate or grand, but are generally made from wood, clay, or plaster. The churches and cathedrals across the country often bring the intimacy of a personal presepio to a grander scale, whether by featuring life-size figures or the intricate aesthetic of an artisan craftsman.

Naples is the source of the most intriguing presepio in Italy, where artists continue to hand-make elaborate interpretations of the nativity, with entire streets devoted to the workshops.

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at the Vatican

Christmas Eve midnight Mass at the Vatican held by the Pope is a phenomenal religious experience that exemplifies Catholic tradition in Italy during the festive season.

If you are fortunate enough to plan an Italy Christmas trip, including the coveted celebration at St Peter’s Basilica, you will embrace the essence of the season as it shines through hymns, sermons, and inspiring proceedings.

The exclusive experience is set within one of the most beautiful squares in the world, a historic place that elevates the meaning and traditional heritage of Catholic Christmas during the spiritual ceremony.

Panettone, Italian Christmas bread

Tradition is not just found in the customary activities in Italy, but also in the dishes people enjoy across the country. Culinary feasts abound as restaurants, home cooks, and bakeries prepare for Christmas Eve, midnight Mass, and Christmas Day.

The season becomes a vibrant and lavish celebration in which you can indulge in typical flavors of savory and sweet. Lunch can last all day, with delicious dishes like pasta in brodo and panettone. Each reveals how tradition brings the wonders of Christmas to life in an authentic way.

Your Italy travel specialist can not only guide you to the best restaurants in a specific town or city to enjoy traditional food, but can also help organize other ways for you to indulge in seasonal flavors. A food tour with a private guide can uncover the variety of flavors of an Italian Christmas, while a cooking class in a private kitchen can reveal exceptional homemade comforts and long-held family secrets.

Best Christmas Culinary Traditions in Italy: Feast of the Seven Fishes • Natale lunch with antipasto, pasta, and meat dishes • Santo Stefano leftovers

Feast of the Seven Fishes, Christmas Eve

Feast of the Seven Fishes refers to the Christmas Eve dinner Italians celebrate. As the name suggests, it is a mix of seafood dishes and no meat is served.

Typical seafood to indulge in during a Feast of the Seven Fishes includes swordfish, tuna, salmon, octopus, calamari, clams, and the famous Italian salted cod, baccalà. The feast can also include other dishes that do not contain seafood, as long as there is no meat in any of them.

Gnocchi is popular during Christmas in northern Italy, while buckwheat spaghetti is a classic in Veneto. Biscotti, pandoro , torrone , and panettone are typical sweet treats that follow the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

Natale Lunch, Christmas Day

Christmas lunch, or Natale, is a feast that lasts several hours. The spread centers around meat and dishes that burst with hearty flavors. The courses typically include antipasto, the first course, and a massive meat spread for mains.

Antipasto during Christmas lunch usually consists of Italian cured meats, a selection of regional cheeses, olives, artichokes, and more. The charcuterie is followed with the first course of regional pasta favorites, such as baked pasta in central Italy or Lasagne Bolognese in the north.

Finally, an elaborate spread of meat dishes riddles the table for travelers to share the traditions with families or at an authentic restaurant. Roasted veal and lamb, braised beef, pork leg, sausages, and more are served during Natale lunch, then followed by classic Italian desserts.

Santo Stefano Leftovers, December 26

Italians celebrate Santo Stefano on December 26 with lunch using the remains of the Christmas Day feast. The tradition calls for home chefs to get creative and whip up interesting dishes with the leftover ingredients. Therefore, the lunch becomes a beautiful and inspiring time to appreciate authentic Italian cooking.

Insalata russa is a salad made with the leftovers of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, passatelli in brodo is a mouthwatering broth made from the poultry carcass from Christmas Day, and supplì and arancini rice balls are whipped up from leftover risotto.

The culinary tradition of Santo Stefano is all about Italian creativity and the magic ways to make leftovers delicious. It is also a great opportunity for travelers to visit Italian restaurants that welcome eager guests to enjoy the spoils of a day off from the kitchen.

Learn more: Italy Food Tours & Vacation Packages

Bolzano, Italy

The scent of cinnamon, the crisp winter air, and the faint sounds of a choir in the distance all contribute to the essential charisma of Christmas in Italy, but the markets bring the traditional ambiance alive by displaying local delicacies, artisan crafts, and specific regional customs.

From South Tyrol and the wooden advent cottages to Milan’s historic marketplace dating back to the 16th century, Florence’s wooden huts selling German and Italian delicacies to nativity-scene makers in Naples, the Christmas Market is a quintessential way to celebrate the season in Italy.

While the streets may be washed with lights and decorations, the markets truly embody the festive spirit, as people swirl through the lanes sampling chocolates, sipping drinks, or searching for the perfect holiday gift. Wherever you are in Italy, our Zicasso travel specialists can recommend the best Christmas markets for you to explore.

Learn more: 11 Best Christmas Markets in Italy and Where to Find Them

Val Gardena in the Dolomites

Whether you prefer the comforting cold of a winter wonderland or the cozy warmth of a Mediterranean dream, Italy can immerse you in the unique ambiance of Christmas. The distinctive regions have their own particular weather patterns and atmospheres that can change your perspective of what Christmas could and should be like.

Christmas Day in cities like Rome is warm and comfortable, a lovely change of pace for a festive season in the sunshine. But if you are looking for the true winter experience, you can find it in places like Milan on the alpine foothills or Bolzano in the Dolomite Mountains.

Beyond the weather, Christmas in Italy feels welcoming and open for exploration. Instead of contending with the large crowds and high, peak-season rates, winter offers fewer tourists, a festive atmosphere, and advantageous prices.

Learn more: Best Time to Visit Italy

Christmas in Milan, Italy

Our travel specialists can bring the fantasy of Christmas in Italy to life for you on custom Italy Christmas tours & vacations or our timeless Italy tours & vacations . As destination experts, they are uniquely positioned to guide your plans by focusing on how you wish to experience the holiday season.

A travel specialist with local connections, knowledge, and creativity can help you personalize your trip with an itinerary that will make Christmas in Italy your best trip yet. You can enjoy spicy mulled wine or hear bagpipes, view elaborate nativity scenes or head for the Vatican for midnight Mass.

Visiting Italy during the Christmas season will immerse you in an experience that few have the fortune to enjoy. For more ideas as you consider your holiday season, find inspiration with our Italy travel guide .

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• Christmas in Florence

What to see and Do in December and during the Christmas holidays in Florence

The Christmas season in Florence, and across Italy, starts in early December . During the first days of the month, in fact, storekeepers decorate their shop windows for the holidays and the city of Florence begins to place public decorative lights along all the city streets.

FEAST OF THE IMMACOLATA - DECEMBER 8

December 8 in Italy is a National holiday that celebrates the Immaculate Conception. This day of festivity unofficially starts the countdown to Christmas as many families traditionally use this day to set up and decorate their Christmas tree and Nativity scene in their homes, although that tradition is changing.

The last two years, the large Christmas tree set up in the magnificent setting of Piazza del Duomo is turned on on December 7th, instead of the 8th. We believe it is to draw less crowds to the piazza. The lighting up of the Christmas tree is accompanied by an official public ceremony with the participation of Florence's mayor and other events, such as concerts and entertainment.

Also in Piazza del Duomo you'll find the Nativity scene set up in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The Nativity has life-size beautiful statues made in terracotta by an artisan of Impruneta, a small town outside of Florence famous for their production of terracotta home and garden items. The baby Jesus is only placed on Christmas Day, of course.

Both the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene are up until January 6, the day of the Epiphany.

The Uffizi and Accademia Gallery are generally open on December 8.

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Green Line

The Festival of Lights this year becomes the Green Line, dedicated to the 4 natural elements of life: air, water, earth and fire. From December 7th through January 8th , the light festival takes off with the lighting of the Christmas trees placed in front of the Duomo, inside Palazzo Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, Palazzo Medici Riccardi and Piazza San Firenze. Then, for an entire month, the city's monuments and piazzas in Florence are illuminated with video-mapping, projections and other "light" games as part of a holiday event that has become quite important for its type across Europe.

Everyday from 5.30pm to midnight, the city is lit up thanks to many artistic light projects. This includes a video-mapping on Ponte Vecchio, as well as Palazzo Vecchio, the courtyard in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi and, this year, within the Sala d'Arme in Palazzo Vecchio (entrance behind the Neptune Fountain) an exhibition called "WONDERFUL!" showcasing the works of two young modern artists, Camilla Alberti and Anouk Chambaz.

There are many monuments and locations across the center of Florence that are part of the festival, from the Marino Marini Museum (also offering a temporary exhibit in the crypt area) to the Museo del Novecento, from the Chamber of Commerice to the towers and old gates of the city and to the suburbs.

There are over 200 trees covered with over 60km of LED Christmas lights across the city, from the "viali di circonvallazione" to the streets in the outer residential neighborhoods.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND SHOPPING

Many Christmas markets take place in Florence and the surroundings in the weeks before Christmas (especially during the weekends). Here you'll find gifts of various kinds, from furnishings, food, and wine.

The biggest Christmas market in Florence is located in Piazza Santa Croce , and generally goes from the second part of November to a few days before Christmas. It draws on the tradition of German Christmas markets, with the traditional small wooden houses serving as stands, and offers different items from crafts to food products, small pieces of furniture and Christmas decorations. There are both foreign and Italian exhibitors.

In 2022, the Christmas market runs from the 19th of November to 18th of December , from 10 am to 10 pm.

Those that love walking the streets and shopping will find shops open every day until Christmas , both in the historical center and in the outskirts.

Among the traditional markets of the period, you can visit the Fierucola dell'Immacolata (Small Fair of the Immaculate) organized in Piazza SS Annunziata on the 8th of December .

You will also find many smaller Christmas markets in the different neighborhoods of the historical center , mainly organized on the weekends.

If you're going to visit the surroundings of Florence, you'll find many smaller Christmas markets and fairs in the Mugello area, but also in many towns across Chianti and in Fiesole . Read our article on Christmas markets in Florence and Tuscany for a more complete list.

FUN HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

This year the heart of these activities are centerer around the Piazza da Basso where you will find the Florence Ice Village with a colorful, bright and 55 meter high Ferris wheel and the longest skating rink in Europe (300 meters). In the area all around the gardens you will find the Christmas village with food and other stands offering lots of ideas for gifts. You can find more daily information on their Facebook page .

The ice skating track is open every day from December 3rd to January 15th from 10am to midnight, while the village is open from 10am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday and 3pm to 8pm Monday to Friday . Paid entrance to the rink and Ferris wheel, skates can be rented on site.

In Piazza della Signoria and Piazza San Firenze you can enjoy Christmas music offered by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation from December 7 through January 6 .

In Piazza della Repubblica , from December 10 through the 24th, you can find the "Christmas House" operated by the Meyer Children's Hospital to raise funds for charitable activities.

On Sunday, December 11 at 11am head to Piaza della Signoria to witness nine elves and Santa Claus descend from the top of Palazzo Vecchio and unroll a 12x2 meter long banner and land on the front of Palazzo Vecchio (show offered by Confcommercio and Edilizia Acrobatica).

On December 15 , Mayor Nardella will preside over the traditional holiday ceremony from the city, from the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio at 6 pm, with the performance of the ReMuto rhythmic symphonic orchestra and the Corteo Storico of the Florentine Republic.

On Sunday, December 11 , you can head to the Hard Rock Cafe in Florence  where you can find an entertaining afternoon for the entire family ! From 4-6pm .

RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS

Those who wish to attend Mass on Christmas Eve and Day may find celebrations in most of the churches of Florence and beyond.

In the Cathedral of Florence, the traditional Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated by the Cardinal of Florence at midnight (Vigil prayers start at 11pm). On Christmas morning, Mass is celebrated at 10:30am , in conjunction with the Pope's blessing in Rome.

MUSEUMS OPEN DURING CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Museums in Florence are generally only closed on December 25th and January 1st , although this year a few city museums will be open on Christmas Day: Palazzo Vecchio , the basilica of Santa Maria Novella , the Museo degli Innocenti . Palazzo Strozzi with its current exhibition on Olafur Eliasson is open all day. This year, the Uffizi Gallery will open on Monday, December 26 with a special opening.

You can find additional information on the planned openings of Florence's major museums during the Christmas holidays here .

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2023

New Year's Eve in Florence is generally celebrated across several of the main squares of the city with concerts of various kinds, from classical music to Gospel and other events in other piazzas. 

For this year's New Year's eve, there will be NO big concert in the city as was the case for last year but many events in across Florence to celebrate 2023.

The program is to include musical concerts, circus shows and other entertainment for the entire family, including children: the events will spread across the historical center and the suburbs. After the cancellations of the last two years, the city has announced the return this year of New Year's Eve events.

The program includes concerts in 4 piazzas in the historical center. Piazza Signoria will have acrobatic circus shows, light shows on the Palazzo Vecchio facade, projections and music starting at 9pm and running until 1am, while Piazza Santissima Annunziata will host, as is tradition, a Gospel musical concert. Starting at 9.30pm and continuing through midnight.

Piazza San Lorenzo will host the concert of classical music, from 10.15pm to 1am, with the Orchestra Toscana Classica in collaboration with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Kharkiv.

Three marching bands will enliven the evening in the Oltrarno area by moving around the streets of the Oltrarno starting at 9.30pm, with a stop in Piazza del Carmine at midnight to welcome the new year.

There are other events taking place on the 31st across the city, which include the return to the city of the Medrano Circus at the Mandela Forum: no animals, just spectacular acrobatics and dance exhibitions. On the 31st, their performances start at 9.30pm, tickets cost 30-80 euro.

Instabile , along at the eastern end of the Arno on the right bank, will offer a total party for families with kids, starting with dinner at 8.30pm accompanied with acrobatic performances to continue on with music until midnight. Dinner starts at 50 euro (less for kids) but it is also possible to just show up after dinner to enjoy the music and welcome the new year celebrating with others.

The Hard Rock Cafe also hosts a mega New Year's Eve party that starts with dinner followed with both live music concert by Suzy Q and a DJ set un until midnight. Starts at 8.30pm, you can check out the special menu, program and book online here .

On January 6 , the day of the Epiphany, the Catholic Church celebrates the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem and the delivery of their gifts to baby Jesus. In Italy, it is a feast day and most shops are closed.

Florence celebrates the Epiphany with the " Cavalcade of the Magi ", a grand parade in the historical center which evokes the journey of the Magi and the delivery of the gifts to baby Jesus, arriving to the Nativity scene set up in front of the Duomo in Piazza del Duomo. The reenactment, in magnificent costume, involves many people from all over Italy and is a traditional and special event we recommend you see if you are in town. You can find more information and beautiful photos of the event in the Cavalcade of the Magi here .

Also on the 6th at 11am, you can head to piazza della Repubblica to see the Befane descend from both the arc and the Rinascente store , a show offered by Confcommercio and Edilizia Acrobatica. If you don't know who the Befana is, head there and check it out!

If you're in Florence during the Christmas holidays, you should also visit the marvelous Chapel of the Magi frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli inside Palazzo Medici Riccardi . It is a small, precious frescoed chapel in the palazzo which traces the journey of the Three Wise Men. It is, of course, open all year, but in this season it is a must-see considering the theme!

LAST UPDATE: 24 dicembre 2022

We make every effort to offer correct and up to date information, but please double check on the official websites we link to before finalizing your visit to ensure there haven't been any changes in the meantime!

Did you find an error? Let us know so we can correct it, thank you!

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Author: Lourdes Flores

I'm from California but have called Florence my home for over a decade. I love to explore Italy; it is a lot of fun to try to see everything like I'm seeing it for the first time, keeping you, our readers, always in mind. I enjoy sharing what I know and helping others as they make their travel plans for Tuscany through our Forum . If you have itinerary-related questions, please post them there!

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Italy travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Italy travel in 2024 with official Italy travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours.

Italy has a special place in our hearts, and we finally returned in Fall 2022.

As restrictions vary based on the traveler’s citizenship, we will focus primarily on rules affecting U.S. citizens.

Last update: January 28, 2024. Originally published: July 2020.

* Get our free Post-Pandemic Travel Checklist *  

Photo credit: Annalisa, Rome January 2024: “Tourism in Italy right now is flourishing, and although it is low season, there is a considerable amount of travelers both in art cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, and in small villages. In tourist spots such as museums and archaeological areas there are no restrictions of any kind, except in cases of overbooking such as for the Colosseum in Rome, so I recommend booking tickets at least two months in advance. The business of restaurants, hotels, and vacation homes is normal and busy. Access to health care takes place as usual, with regular and free access to checkups and treatment through hospital emergency rooms for Italian residents and nonresidents. As for Covid tests, although they are not required by any tourist facility, they can be done in all Italian pharmacies for a cost of €10-15.” -Annalisa of Rome Travelogues , Resident of Italy

At the end of the post, we share on-the-ground perspectives from local residents and travelers to Italy so you’ll get a true sense of what to expect.

Table of Contents

Can US citizens travel to Italy? Can I travel to Italy right now?

Italy is open to all travelers, including US citizens who are traveling for tourism.

As of June 2022 , all travelers, including US citizens are no longer required to show a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon arrival to Italy. All travelers can enter Italy without quarantine.

Most Italy travel restrictions have been lifted as of May 1 for activities inside the country. See regional restrictions here and regional zone classifications  here .

Visitors from over 60  visa-exempt countries , including the U.S., will soon be required to have a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) travel authorization to enter Italy and other European countries . The start date has been delayed from 2024 to 2025. 

See details about ETIAS here

Quarantine rules in Italy: What happens if I get Covid?

Travelers are not required to quarantine upon arrival in Italy.

For those who test positive for Covid while in Italy, self-isolation for five days or until testing negative, followed by masking up to 10 days, was the latest requirement. More recently, locals report that quarantine is no longer being enforced.

Italy Green Pass Requirements to Enter Restaurants, Attractions and Large Events 

You might be wondering: Do I need a vaccine certificate or Covid test to enter restaurants and attractions in Italy?

Italy’s green pass (basic or super green pass) is no longer required to access restaurants, businesses, public transport, or participate in certain activities.

However, the Super Green Pass is still temporarily required for anyone age 12 and older to access hospitals or care homes.

Can Americans travel to Italy in May 2024? Can US citizens travel to Italy this Summer?

Travel to Italy in May is open . Read on for details and check back for updates.

What is it like to fly to Italy FCO or CIA Rome International Airport right now? In Rome, body temperature checks through thermo scanners may be taken at the entrance of the airports. The airports sanitize their spaces daily. 

For travelers entering Italy from other countries, check with your airline about current mask requirements on board.

Do Americans have to quarantine when traveling to Italy?  Quarantine is not required upon arrival.

See details above.

Does Italy check COVID-19 symptoms of incoming travelers? Body temperature may be scanned in the airports for inbound and outbound travelers. 

Does Italy require a negative Covid 19 test for American travelers? A negative Covid test is no longer required to enter Italy.

Does Italy require a proof of Coronavirus vaccine for American travelers? Proof of Coronavirus vaccine is no longer required to enter Italy.

Do I still need to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine if I have been vaccinated? Neither proof of vaccination, negative test, nor quarantine are required to travel to Italy. 

Is a booster shot required for travel to Italy? A booster shot is no longer required to enter Italy.

However, a booster shot is needed for the US vaccination card to be considered a valid Green Pass to enter healthcare settings while in Italy. See Green Pass Requirements above.

What Covid testing options are available for travelers in Italy? PCR and antigen tests are available for U.S. citizens and visitors in Italy. Antigen tests cost approximately 20-30 euros while PCR tests can cost around 70.

Individuals in Italy can get a Covid test from the following:

• Government-approved testing labs
• Testing facilities with English-speaking doctors in Italy
• On-site testing facilities at international airports in Italy, such as Milan, Rome Fiumicino, Cagliari, Florence, Malpensa, Bari, Venice,  Pisa, and others.
• Private testing labs and pharmacies in Italy

What healthcare options are available to travelers in Italy who get the virus? Tourists and visitors may access Italian health care and emergency services by paying out of pocket or with privately purchased travelers’ insurance. Tourists can also contact the Italian Covid hotline at 1500 (free toll number).

For travel insurance that covers Covid, check out Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing >

What service businesses and restaurants are open in Italy? Bars, restaurants and all other establishments are open. Both indoor and outdoor dining are allowed.

Are face masks required in Italy? As of October 2022, wearing of masks in Italy is no longer mandatory except in healthcare settings. 

Are buses and trains running in Italy? Public transportation is available throughout Italy at normal capacity. Masks are no longer required on buses, trains, etc.

Will Italy impose new Covid restrictions? What’s next is difficult to predict. Historically, most countries impose COVID-19 restrictions when strains on the health care system might become unsustainable.

How has the Coronavirus impacted Italy?

Italy was the first country in Europe affected by COVID-19 and was hit hard by the outbreak, requiring strict lock downs. Another large spike in cases occurred at the end of October 2020. A nationwide state of emergency continued through 2022. 

Italy’s economy, which includes a large tourism sector, has faced its deepest recession in history. More than 200,000 tourism-related jobs were discontinued in Italy by the end of 2021– accounting for a massive shortage of workers in the country. 

In May 2021, Italy formally opened its borders to international travelers from select countries to revive tourism. In June, Italy eased its restrictions for international travelers, then tightened somewhat due to the Delta variant and Omicron variant.

Italy’s state of emergency ended on March 31, 2022. 

Italy obtains its vaccines via an EU procurement program. On December 27, 2020, Italy vaccinated the first residents against COVID-19. Currently, three quarters of Italians are fully vaccinated.

For the current situation in Italy – including how bad is covid in Italy today, total COVID-19 positive cases; daily number of cases in Italy; and COVID-19 recovery rates in Italy, please see the statistics here .

What should you pack for safely traveling in Italy?

😷 Face Masks – Face coverings are recommended in public spaces and required in healthcare settings. Find N95 masks at Bona Fide > or designer options at Vida >

💊 Medicine – Bring enough prescription and over-the-counter medication for your entire trip to avoid trips to the clinic.

💳 Vaccine Card Holder – Protect that paper CDC card when traveling abroad (if your country doesn’t offer a digital version). Get a simple plastic protector > or Vegan leather clippable > or Leather passport + card combo holder >

👃 Covid self-test – The most studied rapid antigen self-test with FDA emergency authorization.  NOT valid to enter countries. Use for your own peace of mind. Order from CVS > or Walmart >

💧 Sealed water bottle – Make sure your reusable water bottle has a lid that’s not exposed to the air. We use one of each of the following: Shop insulated water bottles with protective lid > Shop water bottles with purification filter and protective lid >

✈️ Travel insurance that covers Covid – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

What do Italian locals and recent travelers say about visiting Italy now?

What is it like to visit Italy right now? It’s our goal to provide regular updates here from real people on the ground, to help potential visitors know what to expect.

The following are subjective opinions only. Official travel guidance can be found above.

October 2023 – Louisa Loring of EatingAroundItaly , resident of Italy:  “Expect to come to Italy and travel as freely as before the COVID pandemic. Currently, there are no laws or recommendations for masking, social distancing or public gatherings. Today, all historic monuments are open as usual without restrictions.

There is no requirement for those who show symptoms. The Italian public healthcare system has removed its state of emergency and it’s easy to access the emergency room.. Private healthcare facilities are free to test patients if they choose too.

Since COVID, there has been an enormous increase in pre-bookings for museums in Italy. Although not all museums require that you pre-book, most people do and it can save you a lot of time waiting in line. Most museums have an easy and hassle free online booking system with paperless tickets.”

September 2023 – Linda of insieme-piemonte.com , resident of Italy:  “Italy has, especially in summer, many crowded places. However, beautiful Piedmont, in the northwest of the country, remains a hidden gem: cheap, hospitable and visited by Italians at most in high season.

At the moment, Covid is no longer an issue. There are no restrictions or protective measures. During the pandemic, however, very strict rules prevailed throughout the country, including house arrest for several weeks.”

June 2023 – Natalie Deduck of Best of Turin , visitor: “My husband and I come to Turin to stay a month and later travel to other destinations in Italy.  

The main tourist destinations such as Rome, Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Milan are receiving a tremendous influx of tourists this Spring and Summer. We are glad that we choose Turin for our longer stay. It is an incredible destination but not as famous as the other places, so here we can enjoy all the best of Italy without hassling with crowds.

Since I landed in Italy, I didn’t see any advice or signals about Covid measures or how to behave in public spaces. No one wears masks, and businesses are open as usual, including bars, restaurants, clubs, museums, and open-air markets.

Everything is pretty much back to normal. My husband and I lived in Turin in 2019 and 2020 during the pandemic. We experienced Italy in its worst moment, and it’s so good and heartwarming to see life back to what it was before the pandemic.”

January 2023 – Zoe of Together In Switzerland, EU visitor: “For our visit to Como, Italy for 2023, the location was pretty busy and lively. All shops and restaurants are open and seemed like a good mix of locals and tourists.

It’s not mandatory, but many do choose to wear a mask such as on the local bus or when in the main shopping area. There were absolutely no checks during our whole visit in Como, however you do see that local stores do still have a those plastic protection areas at the cashier tills and hand sanitizers is available at entrances. We personally didn’t see many people using these and no minimum space was needed. The only crowded area we encountered was for a busy local restaurant that everyone wanted to eat at.”

October 18 2022 -Michelle, Intentional Travelers: “Italy’s tourism feels back in full force and daily life has resumed as normal. Some people wear masks in grocery stores, trains, or other public areas but not many. On the train back to Rome airport, we saw staff sanitizing handrails in all the train cars. Lines at FCO airport seemed typical, and we passed through check-in, security and customs relatively quickly (25 minutes) on a weekday morning. We didn’t have to show any Covid documents, only passports.”

September 2022 – Michelle, Intentional Travelers:  “We flew into Florence, Italy and took trains through Tuscany in September. To enter Italy, we only needed our passports. Air Dolomiti airlines required masks on the flight.

The Florence airport tram into town had signs that masks were required but maybe 50% of people were masked. Around Florence, it is as busy as ever and highly recommended to make reservations for big attractions in advance. Masks were still required on the regional trains in Italy, enforced by staff and audio announcements. Otherwise, tourism does seem back to normal.”

June 3, 2022 – S.M, American digital nomad – “I flew today to Rome from Croatia. They didn’t ask for anything covid related. No test or vax cards. But we had to wear N95 mask on the plane, that’s it.”

May 2022 – Lyndsay at thepurposelylost.com : “I’ve been living in Italy and exploring the country for six months now, and the past few days were the busiest I’ve seen the cities! As the weather gets warmer, we’re expecting an uptick in tourism, which is definitely what I’ve encountered so far. Tourists are eager to experience la dolce vita again!

Although you don’t need to wear a mask walking around outside, masks are still required on public transportation like busses, metros, and trains, and highly encouraged for all inside spaces like restaurants and shops. You’ll even find a mix of people wearing masks at public outdoor events.”

March 24, 2022 – Heather American/Italian dual citizen:  “I flew into Rome and then proceeded to take several trains and a bus to get to a tiny village in Abruzzo where I will be living for the next five months. Masks are required inside all buildings, and most buildings have signs indicating you need to show a Super Green Pass for entrance. Trains and buses did check for my Super Green Pass and my CDC card showing my booster was accepted readily.

Italians are still taking things pretty serious, regarding masks, etc.”

March 2, 2022 – Sarah Wilson of Life Part 2 and Beyond , British visitor:  “I’m in Florence for 10 days learning Italian. I was surprised how many tourists were here over the weekend. Queues were long to many of the major sites. They do check your Green Pass every time you enter a tourist attraction, and restaurant. Some shops also insist on seeing your Green Pass but not all. Masks are being worn inside but not needed outdoors. 

There are plenty of pharmacies, many offer COVID testing or the rapid antigen tests. All the pharmacists in a city like Florence speak great English. To reduce waiting in line, I recommend booking attraction tickets online in advance.”

Candice of Mom in Italy , Permanent Resident: “It’s a nice time to visit because you can visit places like the center of Florence and its museums without any crowds.

We’ve also been visiting smaller villages like Pienza, Montepulciano, and San Gimignano, but they’re a little too empty. Almost all shops and restaurants are closed, due to the lack of local visitors. For anyone thinking of coming to Italy right now, I’d stick to the bigger cities, where you’re guaranteed to find things open and still full of Italian ‘vita.’

Throughout the entire pandemic, I’ve been impressed by the cooperation of Italians. People here wear masks when/where required and for the most part, respect the rules. Visitors need to follow the rules too – for example, if you don’t have the Green Pass here, you can’t sit down in an indoor restaurant. Owners don’t distinguish between locals and tourists – everyone has to have their Green Pass scanned or checked.

It’s easy to get tested in Italy – there are private clinics and you can also get tested in pharmacies. You can also get English translations easily. It’s not a great time to come to Italy if you aren’t vaccinated (or have proof of recovery from COVID within the last 6 months). Pretty much anything you’d want to do as a tourist right now requires the Green Pass.

We haven’t found any long lines or crowds, although I expect there will be an influx of visitors in the spring because Italy’s precautions help make it a less risky destination and people are ready to come back to Italia!”

January 2022 – Claudia of Strictly Rome , Italian resident:  “All attractions and places of interest for tourists are currently open in Italy. Visits to restaurants typically start with the staff coming to the table to check your “green pass” (the Italian vaccination card). Much like locals, tourists are required to show proof of vaccination or of having recovered from Covid to access attractions, restaurants, hotels and transport – including trains and local / city buses. Everyone in Italy follows the rules, wearing masks wherever required and showing their vaccination card to access public places, restaurants, attractions, transportation and the like. Antigen tests are available at any pharmacy, best if upon booking and depending on the city and region in Italy there may be a line to get tested. Access to health care remains free for everyone on Italian territory, including visitors. You will be significantly better off making restaurant reservations as with Covid restrictions and social distancing availability for tables in popular tourist destinations may be limited.”

December 2021 – Or of My Path in the World , Israeli traveler:   “I flew to Turin for a one week leisure trip in December 2021. I felt very safe in Turin as everything was well organized and it seemed like the locals were determined to live “normally” again. Everyone follows the current restrictions, and some people even wear masks outdoors though it’s not mandatory. You can’t enter a museum or a restaurant without your Green Pass being scanned (unless you’re sitting outside), and some attractions require a reservation in advance because you need to pick a specific timeslot for your visit. There are quite a few places for covid tests, and a PCR test for your flight back home will cost you about 70 Euros.”

November 30, 2021 – Morgan Fielder, Crave the Planet , E.U. expat: “It’s so great and easy to get reservations at awesome restaurants with fewer tourists. The airports in Italy have gotten more efficient and travel has been extremely easy since August if you are vaccinated and keeping your mask on appropriately. Yes, people follow the rules. Access is good to hospitals and if there’s any hint of problems, then businesses and events have gone to only letting in vaccinated or recovered people. Contract tracing is done via app when you go inside a venue or restaurant.”

September 20, 2021 – Sarah Wilson , British expat in Malta:  “I was in northern Italy at the beginning of September for two weeks and now I’m in Sicily until the end of the month. The locals are very welcoming. It’s been a tough time for many businesses in Italy, so they are very happy to receive tourists. I literally had Rome to myself, so if you enjoy travelling without the crowds, now is the time to visit. To enter any restaurant, museum or tourist site, you do have to show your vaccine certificate. Some places like the restaurants in Lake Como also asked for your name and phone number. Masks are worn on all public transport and indoors and majority comply. Sicily has recently turned yellow which means masks are supposed to be worn indoors and outdoors – very few wear them outdoors – it’s too hot.”

August 2021 – Abigail, American traveler : “I went to Italy for a weekend. I felt safe and all of the stores were open. There was a green pass that people used to dine indoors, however since I’m a US Citizen I did not have one. Instead I showed my vaccination card, and it was asked for at every establishment. They did not ask for the Covid pass for public transport for Venice or Milan during my stay. For sit down restaurants, they wouldn’t let you in the door if you could not show vaccination. I did see a lot of seats for outdoor dining everywhere I went though.”

August 2021 – Caroline A., South African/Italian visitor: “My husband, 7 year old son, 4 year old daughter and I are in Rome for three months for an adventure as we have dual citizenship. Tourists are very much welcome in Rome at the moment although museums are requiring the green pass to enter. Since we are not vaccinated, we have been getting tested for entering museums, which lasts 48 hours. Testing is widely accessible. Most attractions are open for visits with covid protocols in place. There is a festive mood in the air as many people take their vacation over this time. It is wonderful not to have to wear a mask outside.”

July 2021 – Kathryn, American Traveler: “I flew from Spain to Naples, Italy and stayed 2 days in Positano, 2 days in Sorrento, and 4 days in Rome. The locals were happy to have patrons in their cafes and restaurants. We had several people tell us how happy they are to see return of tourism. All public transportation was running as it would pre-pandemic (masks always required). We took planes, trains, taxis, boats and buses with no restrictions. Some restaurants required you to write down name, phone number, country of origin for contact tracing. Otherwise, no restrictions for outdoor dining and tables were quite close to each other as you would typically experience in Europe. Indoor dining often had more space between tables to allow for social distancing. In Rome, there were quite a few walk-up COVID testing tents throughout the city to use if needed. Rome sights were much less crowded than what I’ve experienced past summers. All major tourist sites were open. They offered both advance tickets and walk-up (usually wouldn’t be possible due to large numbers of tourists in the summer, but with less tourists this year it was possible to purchase day-of tickets). They had temperature checks at most major sites and required masks if indoors.”

June 2021 – Alexander and Cynthia, Travel your Memories , Dutch visitors: “We flew to Rome and visited for 4 days. After Rome we travelled to Florence for 2 days. Because you can do many activities outside, Italy is prefect to travel to at the moment. The population pays very close attention to the guidelines of COVID. All sights have been adjusted accordingly. Only a maximum number of people are allowed in the shops (depending on the size). If you get cold symptoms, you can go to a test street. For major sights it is important to book your ticket in advance because you have to fix a time slot.”

May 2021 – Sarah, Benvenuti Arts, American: “I have a visa as I’m here to teach at a University, and traveling into Italy felt joyful! The crew on the flight were so happy to see us all, and there were only about 30 passengers on the plane. The customs officials were very nice and the people doing COVID-testing in the airport were very friendly.  While the rules, as read, seemed more strict than the US, I’m noticing people’s interpretation of those rules is just as scattered as in my country. I happened to arrive right when they reopened after the Easter lockdown, and people seem to be thrilled to be outside. We wear masks in all public areas, and there is no indoor dining, so in general it feels safe. But I am finding myself a bit overwhelmed by crowded areas, like places where students hang out. That’ll take some time to get used to again! I would say, if someone is traveling soon, be respectful and be overprepared. Rules were changing weekly in the lead up to my visit, so I have so much documentation printed that I haven’t needed. Everything takes a bit more preparation than you might be used to in Italy, too. Some restaurants require reservations. Museums are open, but with timed, pre-reserved tickets. There is no indoor dining. There’s a curfew. I am usually loose with my planning when I travel, but am doing more of it just because it’s required. But the food is amazing, the people are lovely, and the city is beautiful, so even with some adaptations, it’s amazing to be here!”

April 2021 – Chicca, Cooking in Tuscany , Italian resident: “We have been living a lockdown life since October – I have to say we’ve got so use to it. But just these days our prime minister has announced to relax some of the strict coronavirus measures starting April 26. The vaccination plans are rolling out quite consistently to have the majority of the population vaccinated by this summer. I read here and there that maybe borders will be opening first to Europeans and then to Americans. We don’t know when but, yes, I start dreaming of having visitors again.”

January 2021 – Clotilde, A Princess Travelling with Twins , Italian living abroad:  “I flew to Rome, with my husband and our twins over the Christmas period for 10 days to visit family.  People working in the tourist sector are really welcoming and try their best to respect, and make customer respect, the rules and regulations. They have been suffering a lot from the lack of tourists and all the imposed restrictions, so they are happy to see tourists coming back but other people are more cautious. News of the new variants of the virus have particularly made people more alert. The biggest issue when travelling to Italy right now is the rules change really quickly, the country can ban specific countries without warning as happened over Christmas with people coming from the UK. On top of that, each Italian region is defined by a colour depending on the level of the infection rate. This reflects also in services opening times that change unexpectedly and often forget to update their websites or search engines. For example you could be stranded at the airport wondering what to do as the rental car office where you booked your vehicle has closed and the curfew time is approaching, as happened to us! “

September 2020. Rebecca Ann Hughes, journalist – permanent resident of Venice:  “Tourist numbers in Italy have been low all summer. For those who come to visit, they are seeing popular tourist destinations as never before, but many businesses are struggling. Locals whose work is fed by tourism are eager to welcome back visitors but many of them, along with those who do not work in the tourism sector, are pushing for a change in tourism. Particularly in Venice, they want visitors who travel “slow”, who are respectful, and who interact with the community. This includes following COVID regulations imposed by local councils and the government. Recently, a tourist on a vaporetto (waterbus) in Venice refused to wear a mask, angering locals and causing a fight to break out. Visitors should be well prepared to follow the regulations in Italy, even if they differ from their home country.

Most tourist attractions, public transport, restaurants, bars and other amenities are open and functioning as normal, albeit with social distancing rules and the obligation to wear a mask. It is possible that some tourist attractions will require advanced booking and may have longer queues if the venue is taking temperatures upon entry. Visitors may often have their temperature taken when entering a restaurant. When entering a building or getting on public transport, use hand sanitiser if it is provided. Testing booths have been set up in many airports and visitors can download a contact tracing app for Italy.”

Planning a trip to Italy?

Check out our other Italy travel resources: – Self Guided Walking Tour of Florence – Lucca Day Trip Guide & Walking Tour – A Guide to Tuscany’s Etruscan Coast – Cooking in Tuscany Classes – Hiking Cinque Terre Itinerary – Packing List for Europe in Fall/Winter – 7 Hidden Gem Towns on Tuscany’s Coast – Best Beaches in Tuscany Italy – Tuscany Castles to Rent or Visit – Why Visit Italy in September

If you have questions or updates about travel to Italy during the Coronavirus crisis or post-pandemic, please let us know in the comments below.

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Disclaimer: Please note, travel restrictions change frequently. Readers must take responsibility for verifying information through official sources like the State Department and CDC, in respect to their specific situations. No responsibility can be accepted by Intentional Travelers for action or inaction as a result of information provided through IntentionalTravelers.com. Any information provided here is issued as general information only.

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32 Comments

Very useful information, thank you, I will be staying in Sicily for 10 days this July!

Hi! Great info! Is it safe traveling to Italy now from the US because of Ukrania- Russia conflict? Thanks!

Thanks, Wilda. We have a good friend in Tuscany who tells us there is no concern about safety in Italy currently, however, prices and availability of some products/delivery is being significantly affected. We recently sent out a Europe update to newsletter subscribers with the following: “If you have plans to travel to Europe, you may be wondering if it’s still safe. Right now airspace over Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova are on the EASA risk list [CNN]. But most of Western Europe is hundreds of miles from the conflict, and experts are saying there’s no need to cancel trips [AFAR].” We are planning to travel to Italy ourselves in September-October. Of course, as with Covid, each of us have to make our own assessment based on the level of risk we’re willing to accept when we travel.

Is there a current ban on US citizens (vaccinated or not) traveling to Italy?

Why are US citizens not allowed to travel to Italy at this time as you stated below. I copied and pasted from your article…. Can Americans travel to Italy in January 2022? Can US citizens travel to Italy this Winter? Travel to Italy in January is now allowed for US citizens visiting for any reason, including tourism. Read on for details and check back for updates.

Hi Jamie. I think perhaps you have misread “is NOW” as “is not”? I’ll reword it to prevent future confusion. As you’ll find throughout the rest of our post, Italy IS open to Americans under certain protocols. Thanks for visiting.

Hi Michelle, thank you for making this information easy to digest. I’m unclear on the “green pass” and “super green pass”.

– Green pass: proof of vaccination – so our white vaccination cards work – correct? And no proof of booster is required?

– Super Green Pass: unclear here.

Also, is the “health declaration form” and the “dPLF” form the same? If not, are both needed?

I plan to visit Italy starting late Feb – Mar ‘22 and am now wondering if I should push this to June. With it all changing so fast, maybe I’m being overly-cautious?

Kate, I’m glad you’ve found our post helpful. Whether pushing the trip back to June will make much difference is hard to say. I’ve shared a bit about my philosophy on canceling/rescheduling trips here .

Some of the green pass rules are quite new and it is admittedly confusing. Also it may change again by March! Firstly, yes, your white CDC vaccination card will work as your pass, as long as the latest vaccination date qualifies.

There is now a time limit on vaccination for the Green Passes (though not for entry into the country). At the moment, this means that if your last Covid shot was more than 9 months ago, you would need a Covid test within 48 hours before checking into accommodations or taking public transit. Starting February 1st, a booster shot will be needed for persons who have been fully vaccinated for more than 6 months. As I read it, if your last Covid shot is more than 9 months old, then you would not be allowed to do the activities under the Super Green Pass like indoor dining, museums, or spas without a booster. Again, there is not a lot of detail available about how this works practically yet.

Sorry for the confusion about the forms – the self-certification health form I think might be an old term so I’ll update that in our post. The dPLF digital Passenger Locator Form is what is now required before travel.

Hi there and thank you for your lovely blog. I am traveling to Italy in February, and my second vaccine dose would be older than 6 months, and not able to get a third dose before arrival. Does than mean that I won’t have a green pass and need to undergo a pcr to enter some places?

Auba, thank you for your question. We were surprised by this restriction. It’s all quite new so how this works out practically may change, but I read it as you do. To confirm, I also found this: “All arrivals to Italy with vaccinations considered as expired by Italian standards (see line above) are required to do Rapid COVID-19 tests (available in local pharmacies and test centres) to obtain a Green Pass, which will be valid for 48 hours. The test provider will print your test results and will email you a unique code. You will then need to access the Government website (in Italian) and enter your details. Select the option ‘Utente senza tessera sanitaria’ (‘User without a health card’). You will be prompted to enter the type and number of the ID you showed when you got your test, as well as the code on your test certificate. Click ‘Ricupera certificazione’ (‘Get certificate’) to download your digital test result. You will need to continue with this process for the duration of your stay to enable travel within Italy and to access hospitality and leisure venues including bars, restaurants, museums, exhibitions, sporting events, fairs, civil or religious ceremonies and large events.”

Nice post! I recently applied for an Italy Visa but was sceptical about the travel restrictions imposed by Italian authorities. So, I started searching for some answers and that is how I came across your informative article. It talks about all the important details that a first-time Italian traveller like me should know. Do share such informative blogs about other countries and any possible restrictions that they are imposing. It might come in handy for a lot of tourists who want to get out of their homes after a long season of the pandemic.

Thanks for a great info. Did they ask the covid pass in the public transport? I read that in intercity trains require at least but would like to know the reality. And if Unvaccinated customers can enter an establishment to buy food, but they are not allowed to eat indoors, are there many restaurants with outdoor areas that can be used without the passport? Thanks a lot

Thanks for your questions. The green pass is required in Italy for domestic planes, ferries, inter-regional trains and long-distance buses. For public transit within a city like buses and metros, there are capacity controls and masks required but not the green pass. Taxi drivers do not check for the green pass. Yes, many restaurants in Italy have outdoor seating. We’ll do our best to gather more testimonials about what this looks like on the ground to update our post in the future.

Trying very hard to find out exactly what happens and what options are available to you should you happen to test COVID positive before your flight back to USA. Especially now that fully vaccinated folks are testing positive. Please advise as soon as possible. Thank you!!

Hi and thanks for visiting our blog. According to the CDC website , “People should self-isolate and delay their travel if symptoms develop or a pre-departure test result is positive until they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery.” So options are pretty limited at the moment if you test positive before returning to the U.S., and I haven’t heard whether that will be reevaluated any time soon.

Hi Michelle! I am a US citizen and I planned for an Italian trip Sept 3-15. Today is the first day i see about the quarantine requirement lift being ended on August 30. Does this mean August 30 they may decide to implement the quarantine period again? Do you think I will be able to do my trip or will it depend on how the Italian government reacts to this upcoming month? Thank you!

Kim, thanks for visiting our blog. The requirements may not necessarily be lifted but rather *reevaluated* at the end of August. It’s not possible to predict what the decision will be at this time. I’m sure Italy wants to keep tourism open and has new protocols like the Green Pass in place to do so more safely, but each country has to weigh that against health and hospitalization risks. For vaccinated travelers, being able to travel is more likely this Fall but nothing’s guaranteed as things continue to change quickly with this delta variant. I know the uncertainty is difficult, which I wrote about in our recent post here: https://intentionaltravelers.com/should-i-reschedule-my-trip/

Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for the reply, we knew there would be a risk to canceling the trip and we are very understanding and flexible. I just hope that we know in advance enough to not give our hopes up. We are vaccinated so hopefully if they restrict anything it’s unvaccinated folks. I’ll keep an eye out for updates!

We are having a lay over at Heathrow Airport. My interpretation of the Covid rules say we will have to quarantine in Venice for 5 days. Is there a “safe zone” in Heathrow that will allow us to enter Venice when we arrive. We are both vaccinated and have digital copies of our CDC vaccine card.

Thanks for visiting our blog, David. It is my understanding that a layover in the UK would mean you’d need to quarantine for five days in Italy, even if you’re only transiting through the airport unfortunately. I have seen reports of recent travelers rerouting flights to avoid the UK for this reason. It appears the requirement is to be in place through August 30, so if you travel after that, it’s possible the rule could change but there are no guarantees.

Hi. I am traveling to Italy in 3 weeks. Where can i get a negative covid test for my re entry to the US. Pharmacy?? Thanks.

Ciao Gianna. Please see the section in our post labeled “What Covid testing options are available for travelers returning to the U.S.?” for these details.

Great blog We’re travelling to Northern Italy in September and supposed to go to a outdoor concert in Marostica. Do you know if there is any plans to cancel outdoor gatherings? Thanks

Hello and thanks for visiting our blog. It’s still too early to know what restrictions might be in place in which regions come September, but we will be sure to update this post as the situation changes. If the concert takes place as scheduled, you’ll likely need a “green certificate” to attend.

How as an American travelers do I obtain a Green Pass?

Thanks for your question. We were actually just in process of updating this post with new information! More details may be forthcoming but it appears that Americans will be able to show a hard copy of their vaccination card, official proof of recovery, or a negative test result taken within 48 hours in place of the digital pass. We’ll be sure to update our information here as more details become available.

Is colosseum ticket free on the first Sunday of every month after pandemic?

That is a good question. We have covered the free first Sunday opportunity previously on our blog, however, the colosseum now follows a different schedule. Entrance is free on select dates throughout the year, however, I have not been able to find a list of those dates for 2021. I would expect that might be published in a bit further in the future.

News all say US travelers can present CDC vaccination card to skip testing. Not true? June 30 2021

Hi Jiang. Thank you for visiting our blog. That information is correct. A CDC vaccination card can be used by US travelers to obtain a “Green Pass”. US travelers with a “Green Pass” are no longer required to undergo testing or quarantine in Italy.

Excellent info!

Thank you for visiting the blog. Safe travels.

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More From Forbes

Travel to italy like an insider with the best local experts.

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A trip to Italy is too special to get wrong. Here's how to do it right. (San Gimignano, Tuscany)

I absolutely love Italy, for many different reasons. But I hate the way in which many Americans go about planning trips there. Survey after survey shows it is the number one dream destination for U.S. leisure travelers, but the way those travelers get their information and advice gives me nightmares.

Throughout the years I’ve heard people say over and over that “I was told to do this in Italy,” or “I was told not to do this in Italy.” By who? “A friend.” I have close friends who recently planned their entire 12-day trip on the basis of another couple they knew who gave them advice—after their first visit. I’ve heard of many people who skipped Rome because “we heard it was too busy, just another big city.” Or passed on Venice, one of the world’s most magical destinations, because, “I heard it was touristy.”

There are American tourists who say you should skip Venice. They are wrong.

It goes on and on, but suffice to say, I have been to Italy in the neighborhood of two dozen times, summer and winter, for food, wine, skiing, golf, hiking, cycling and more food, from north to south and east to west and islands too, and I know a lot about Italian cuisine, but I still ask real experts for advice every time I go. I specifically ask for advice on where to eat, what to see, and who to choose as guides. And by experts, I mean people how live in Italy, specialize in particular areas of travel, and know their subject matter.

“We get multiple guests a year who want to wing it,” says Cherrye Moore, owner of My Bella Vita travel. Moore moved to Calabria two decades ago after falling in love with the region on a visit, and opened a bed and breakfast, learning about what her visitors were looking for. Her company now specializes in planning trips—especially foodie and ancestry trips—to the area in Southern Italy where many Italian Americans trace their heritage. “They say, ‘My neighbor just showed up in their family’s hometown and it went great for them,’ or, ‘Our friends went to Italy last year and said we don't need a driver.’ It’s true that you can rent a car and drive to your family’s hometown, but that experience is vastly different from having a dedicated driver and a heritage specialist who has done research on your family’s history, who has already identified the home your grandfather was born in, and who has arranged meetings with locals upon your arrival.”

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Anyone can tour the Vatican, but only the right guides can get you a private visit.

I just got back from an exploration of Turin followed by a weeklong hiking trip in surrounding Piemonte, Italy’s most prestigious wine region, which included multiple winery visits. For restaurants and guides and sightseeing in Turin I used an Italian-based travel specialist that is the choice of many of the best luxury travel agents/advisors in this country (the best travel agents are savvy enough to know what they do not know and regularly rely on local experts). For the hiking trip, I used an Italy-based active travel specialist that does nothing else, and does it with a food-centric spin. It was another fantastic Italy trip, one amazing day after another, featuring many meals, wineries and experiences I never would have found by myself, especially by asking random friends or watching You Tube influencer videos by people with far less Italy experience than myself.

“We don’t focus on stars or diamonds, we focus on really special one-of-a-kind experiences and lodging that lets you discover our Italy,” said Heather Dowd, who lives in Turin and along with her Italian husband Beppe Salerno. They run Tourissimo , the active travel company we used. We had several friends hiking with us who were on either their very first or second trip to Italy, and when we reviewed our experiences at the end for the trip, one place we stayed, an 18 th century castle turned boutique hotel, was the overwhelming favorite. It did not have whirlpool tubs or Frette linens, it did not have a concierge or room service, but it had excellent food and beautiful gardens in which we had an epic dinner. It had cooking classes, a great location, a fun aperitivo evening cocktail session, and most of all, incredible charm..

Everyone wants the perfect meal in Italy, but not everyone knows where the locals go to find it.

It was exactly what my first timers dreamed Italy would be like, and it was a place we never would have found online. It was perfect, and even in Italy not every place is, but the reality is that Heather and Beppe and their guides spend a lot of time behind the scenes visiting small hotels and vetting them, way more time than the people who rate their stays on booking websites. One of my friends was so impressed he is already planning an extended family hiking trip to Sicily with Tourissimo next year.

If you want to have an insider experience in Italy, and see the places locals go, you need a local insider to help you out.

“Our goal is for guests to experience Calabria like we do, so we’ve built experiences that aren’t available online,” said My Bella Vita’s Moore. “Nowhere else can you find a multi-course lunch hosted at Zia Pina’s or a picnic prepared and delivered by Signora Francesca. Lunch in the home of our friend, Chef Massimo, isn’t available on Google. When creating or reviewing experiences I always think of my sister in Texas. If she were visiting, would I take her here? If that answer is yes, I know we have a winner.” That is exactly the standard by which I’d like my Italy travels to be judged.

A trip to Italy is a beautiful, special, and almost sacred experience, so don’t screw it up by taking bad advice. I do not know every local specialist—and I hope to keep finding more—but I know several experts I would recommend for different kinds of travel. Or use a good travel advisor, something I recommend for all travel (Read my article Why You Need A Travel Agent More Than Ever here at Forbes ), and communicate with them to ensure they are on the same page in terms of sourcing these kinds of local experts. If they are good, they will already be familiar with several of these companies.

Active Travel

All of Tourissimo's cycling and hiking trips in Italy emphasize food and wine, which is how it ... [+] should be.

Italy has long been the dream destination of cyclists, with Tuscany atop the Bucket List for global road riding destinations. But for the past few years the fastest growing sector of cycling has been “gravel grinding,” and with hundreds of miles of its stunning unpaved “white roads,” Tuscany has also emerged as the world’s top travel spot for gravel lovers. There are also plenty of other amazing places to ride in Italy, including Piemonte, Sardinia, Puglia, the Lakes region, and many other areas. World class hiking abounds, especially the stunning Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage Site of beauty unmatched by most other mountain regions on earth. Beyond this there are the Alps in the east, the Cinque Terre, Sardinia, and many other great options.

Italy is so well known for cycling and hiking that every major active travel company in the world runs trips there. But for my last two active trips, one hiking and one biking, I chose a tour operator that is actually based there, founded by an Italian with a passion for cycling and food. Tourissimo may be Italian, but they cater to the American market, and founder Beppe Salerno worked for am American cycling company as a guide before realizing he could do the real Italy better himself—to me, the perfect startup rationale. Over the years since, Tourissimo has grown its library of offerings, with both with an array of scheduled group trips and private custom options. While they do mostly road riding, they are notably one of the only tour operators scheduling gravel trips, and can also arrange custom mountain biking itineraries, with years of expertise in cycling and hiking.

Superstar Chef Mary Sue Milliken has led about galf a dozen Chef's Cycling Tours in Italy for ... [+] Tourissimo.

In addition, Tourissimo has also been a pioneer in “Active Culinary Travel,” a hot new category I have written about here at Forbes (and for other magazines and newspapers). They offer an annual series of six group rides (and a hike) each hosted by an acclaimed chef like Mary Sue Milliken, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author (five!) and co-host of the popular PBS cooking show Two Hot Tamales . She is also an avid cyclist and has led the Tourissimo Chef Bike Tours for several years, along with other big names. These trips are a unique option for serious foodies who also ride, while the other trips cater to just about anyone. Otherwise they offer several styles of trips, from Bici Basics for new riders to Ambitious Tours for the more hard core.

Tourissimo puts a focus on local, choosing small and often historic hotels that they have curated and vetted (like the castle I just stayed at in Piemonte), places that you would never be able to distinguish from hundreds of other non-chain options online. Same for restaurants, wineries, and all the other ways they take you behind the scenes and into their real Italy. Their Mission Statement? “We don't want to be the biggest adventure travel company. We want to design and run the best tours in Italy. We strive to be the most authentic and the most beneficial to local communities.” Fantastico!

Bellagio on Lake Como is one of the most famous destinations in Italy — and the perfect place for a ... [+] food-centric bike tour!

Bike It! Bellagio offers another insider biking experience on a much different scale, providing a great one-day experience for visitors to Italy’s most famous lake town. This bike shop on Lake Como is run by a former pro racer and his wife. They rent bikes (road, mountain and e-bikes) out, but also offer one-day guided tours with multiple food and drink stops. Given that the owner grew up here and knows everyone, it’s not surprising that the food and drink spots are insider picks. The shop sits near the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo climb, the most famous in the Giro di Lombardia, a race more than a century old, and several days a week the shop offers guided group rides with a climb of the pass, on road or e-bikes—Bianchi bikes of course!

There are scheduled tours Monday through Saturday, as well as wide range of customizable private tours. These are often taken by families with mixed ages, but for more aggressive riders they offer longer road tours, mountain biking and gravel riding, along with a wide range of less demanding e-bike tours, including some even more focused on food and wine. They also offer a handful of multi-day tours and can put these together as custom on demand, usually for groups, including an iconic coast to coast traverse of Italy. If you are a guest of one of the many stunning (and pricey) ultra-luxury hotels around Bellagio, and ask the concierge to arrange a bike tour, they are likely going to call this shop anyway (and mark it up) so just do it yourself.

Luxury Travel in Italy

From planning your entire itinerary with flights, hotels, and transfers to just booking the best tours, guides and VIP access (often to non-public highlights), it pays to use a top local specialist.

Last year I attended the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, which has been called “the Oscars of the travel industry.” Virtuoso is the leading global luxury travel consortium, and many of the best travel advisors on earth belong, So does just about every top hotel, resort, safari lodge, cruise line, and luxury tour operator. Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch was explaining the many advantages of using a travel advisor (I wholeheartedly agree) and something he said really stuck with me. He explained that with all of the new online tour booking companies, it was easier than ever to book a tour or guide in just about any destination on earth, but harder than ever to judge the quality. The caveat was that, “you can book a guide, but you can’t book my guide.”

One of Italy's greatest hidden gems, Turin was the nation's first capital and a Winter Olympic host. ... [+] It's worth getting a good guide if you visit.

The Vatican is the Vatican and the Colosseum is the Colosseum, so when you opt for a guided tour, what really matters and makes it a good, bad or great experience is the guide—and their special access, like a tour of the Vatican when no one else is there.

For my recent trip to Turin, I called Imago Artis Travel , an Italy-based luxury travel specialist. They are what is known in the travel industry as a destination management company or DMC, the same companies luxury travel agents call to arrange local details for their clients. There are great DMCs all over the world, and local knowledge is valuable everywhere, but many of them do not deal directly with travelers, while in Italy the best ones do.

I wanted a private day tour of Turin and its surrounding attractions for my wife and I, most importantly the Reggia di Venaria Reale, aka the “Italian Versailles” (one of two places in Italy with this lofty but accurate nickname). The guide they got for me was a licensed guide, and lifelong resident of Turin, and spoke excellent English, which was all good, but she was also an architect, which was great in a city where so much is driven by architecture. That’s not so easy to find on global tour aggregator website. Imago Artis also gave me a list of their favorite restaurant recommendations, which were spot on, then made my reservations for me. At a minimum this eliminates the language barrier of calling or the technology barrier of booking through often tricky (or non-functional) Italian restaurant reservation websites, but in many cases it also gets you a better table and instant VIP treatment—which definitely does not happen when I book myself.

Italy is rich in world-class crafts, and companies like Imago Artis can take you behind the scenes ... [+] to meet the makers.

Imago Artis Travel is a Virtuoso member, which means when you book through them, if you book your luxury hotel, you get extras like room upgrades, late checkout, spa credits etc., one of the big advantages of working with Virtuoso travel advisors. If you have a bigger budget than I do, they can handle all sorts of luxury transport, private jets, helicopters, boat charters, and also offer VIP Meet and Greet services at just about every airport in Italy. They can even arrange private security details. On a more accessible luxury level, they specialize in exclusive experiences, unlocking historic buildings and art collections not open to the public, and taking you behind the scenes with many artisans of Italy, from custom shoemakers to sculptors to jewelry designers. They know food, they know the guides, and I especially like their mission statement, “Our mission is simple: Getting You to the Heart of Italy.” That’s what it is all about.

Another top luxury DMC that is also a member of Virtuoso that I have used in the past with great success is IC Bellagio . They offer a similar array of luxury services and are very well connected, but they also specialize in Villa rentals as well as 5-Star hotels. Differentiating villas in Italy may be the single biggest challenge, more so than restaurants, with so many options and so few valid reviews. IC Bellagio has also boldly acknowledged the overtourism problems some of the most popular parts of Italy face, and are pushing “Slow Season Travel,” which varies in each of the country’s 20 regions but is something they are expert in. Last winter I went to Venice in the off-season, and it was spectacular, and I just traveled in a slow season to Piemonte. It was much, much better than fighting the crowds.

Skiing in Italy is awesome, and it's the best place in the world to stay in mountain rifugios — but ... [+] you need help for the perfect trip.

Skiing in Italy remains a bit under the radar for Europe, especially compared to France and Switzerland. Well, let the crowds go to other countries, because Italy has two different major ski regions, both of which have hosted the Winter Olympics, and the Games are returning to Milan and Cortina in 2026. The interconnected Dolomiti SuperSki lift and trail network in the Dolomites is arguably the largest “ski resort” in the world, and inarguably one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes on the planet. The towns are charming, the food is great, there are spectacular hotels from non-chain independent hidden gems to world-class luxury (Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Relais & Chateaux, etc.) and it’s cheaper than much of the rest of Europe. Did I mention the food?

I first went to the Dolomites to go hiking, and was so wowed I thought, “I have to come back and ski here.” I came back the next winter and skied, and the following year I got a group of friends together and went back. I have skied all over the U.S., and all over the world and never had the same compulsion to return to the same place immediately. That’s how good skiing in Italy is ( read much more in my Italy skiing piece here at Forbes ).

I’ve only used one company for ski travel in Italy and see no reason to switch gears, especially since the local logistics (a great guide/instructor, transfers, the best on-mountain meals and staying a couple of nights in the region’s unique on-mountain rifugios) is very hard to organize on your own. The company is Dolomite Mountains , a specialist in both resort ski vacations and backcountry touring trips (using skins and alpine touring or AT gear). They too are a U.S. facing company with mainly American clientele.

Like many active travel companies, they offer both group trip scheduled departure options and private custom trips to fit whatever you want. The group option is called the Dolomites Ski Safari and is a 7-day trip mixing stays in amazing rifugios with in-town hotels (4 and 5-stars on the Italian system) and includes all breakfasts and dinners, a full-time guide, ski pass, luggage transfers and more. Custom options include the same kind of trip for your own group, or anything you want, and while its name suggests local expertise—quite true—Dolomite Mountains also handles ski trips in the rest of Italy, like Courmayeur, and connected border regions of France, Switzerland and Austria, as many lift systems here know no national boundaries (ski with your passport!). They are also a Virtuoso member.

Calabria & Southern Italy

Many Italian Americans trace their ancestry to Southern Italy's Calabria, and if you want to visit, ... [+] make sure you do it right.

My Bella Vita travel focuses on this area, including both small group trips and custom privates. Their specialties include “Heritage Tours” for those interested in their ancestry, and a food focus for the rest of us. For instance, Taste of the South is a 12-day gastronomic journey through Calabria, Basilicata and Naples—the birthplace of pizza! Food & Wine of Calabria is an 11-daty trip and just what it sounds like.

These are some of the scheduled small group tours offered, but the rest of their business is private trip planning and custom options.

“Italy is deceivingly large, and travelers think two weeks is enough time to see everything. It isn’t,” insists Moore. “You can’t even experience all of Calabria in two weeks. Our team collectively spends about six months a year scouting new hotels, restaurants, and experiences in Calabria and we are constantly re-evaluating and tweaking our recommendations.”

There are some other Italy specialists I have not personally experienced, but that come highly recommended by some of my other experts:

My Bella Vita’s Cherrye Moore says, “ In Sicily, I recommend Lucia Davies of Sicily Tour , one of a trio of British expats who have lived in Siracusa, Sicily for decades.” A family-owned tour-guiding company based in Siracusa, they have nearly 40 years of experience on the island and create trips fostering cultural exchange between Italy and English-speaking visitors, specializing in small group and custom tours.

Food & Wine

Life is too short to go to Italy and not eat well.

Beppe and Heather Dowd of Tourissimo recommend Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures , a company that has also earned kudos from other travel industry folks I know. Owner Francesca Montillo grew up in Southern Italy where her father was greengrocer. An Italian-American cookbook author, she launched the company a decade ago, and she personally leads the tours. She does numerous scheduled tours to different regions each year, and also offers custom private itineraries.

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Politics live: Sunak accused of 'hiding from voters' - as SNP names new leader without contest

The SNP has named John Swinney as its new leader to replace Humza Yousaf. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has insisted the general election is "not a foregone conclusion" despite the Tories taking a hammering in last week's local polls. While you scroll, listen to a new Politics At Jack And Sam's.

Monday 6 May 2024 20:00, UK

• New SNP leader reiterates independence aim
• Ex-candidate 'has big role to play' | What happens next?
• Connor Gillies: The big questions facing John Swinney
• PM insists general election 'not a foregone conclusion'
• Sunak accused of 'hiding from voters' by not setting poll date
• Exclusive:   UK 'considered using Iraq in Rwanda-type asylum deal'
• Politics At Jack And Sam's: Listen above and tap here to follow. 
• Vote 2024:   Council results in full  |  Mayoral results in full

Despite it being a bank holiday, the Politics Hub has kept on trucking today with more fallout from last week's local elections and the SNP naming its new leader.

Here's what you need to know to catch up:

• John Swinney was named the new leader of the SNP and vowed to unify both the party and Scotland, while still making the case for independence ;
• Rishi Sunak insisted the general election is "not a foregone conclusion" despite a bruising set of local results for the Tories ;
• But Labour accused the prime minister of "hiding from voters" by not setting the date for a national vote ;
• Documents seen by Sky News revealed the government considered using Iraq for a Rwanda-style deportation scheme ;
• Keir Starmer warned Israel against a seemingly imminent military offensive in the Gazan city of Rafah .

Good night - we'll be back tomorrow.

Rishi Sunak's internal critics have abandoned their attempt to unseat him because they have run out of time and do not believe Penny Mordaunt would do what is necessary to save the party.

The Politics At Jack And Sam's podcast discusses how the PM is unlikely to face a challenge but will be confronted by an exhausted, sceptical and in parts broken Tory party when parliament returns tomorrow.

He faces legislative challenges in the coming weeks, with revolts on the criminal justice bill and sentencing bill, that could be aggravated by the party's poor performance.

But efforts by plotters to oust Mr Sunak have been abandoned.

Read more - and listen to the podcast - below:

Train drivers begin a fresh wave of strikes tomorrow.

They are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from tomorrow to Thursday.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime until Saturday.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when…

The Foreign Office has denied the UK's ambassador to Russia was "summoned" by officials in Moscow over military support for Ukraine.

It comes after Russia warned Ukrainian strikes on its territory with UK-supplied weapons could bring retaliatory attacks against British military facilities and equipment on Ukrainian soil or elsewhere.

Russia's foreign ministry said the UK's ambassador to Moscow, Nigel Casey, had been "summoned" to make him "reflect on the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps by London".

But the Foreign Office said he had just taken part in a diplomatic meeting with ministry officials.

"The ambassador reiterated the UK's support for Ukraine in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression, and restated the UK's position on providing support to Ukraine," said a statement.

Read more below:

John Swinney is preparing to take over the SNP, and the role of Scotland's first minister, after days of Holyrood drama.

There is no doubt this is a proud moment for Mr Swinney, his wife and son. He was Nicola Sturgeon's deputy for the best part of a decade - and can now stand out from her shadow and set his own agenda.

His previous days as SNP leader in the early 2000s were described as a disaster - but everything is different now.

There are questions about how much of a fresh perspective he will be able to inject into the party he has been part of for 40 years.

He has the hangover of being education secretary during the COVID crisis when children's learning was harmed, overseeing Scotland's finances for a long time, and wiping his COVID WhatsApps.

And now, there are two major issues sitting in his in-tray that will shape the future of this party.

Read Connor's full analysis below:

Labour shadow minister Lisa Nandy has said the party "absolutely" supports people's right to peaceful protest after Oxford and Cambridge university students set up pro-Palestinian encampments on campus.

The scenes have echoed those seen at major US universities recently, though some of those have led to tense and sometimes violent stand-offs with police and security personnel.

Ms Nandy backed the policing of the UK protests so far, saying they have "broadly speaking, got the balance right".

"We absolutely support the right of people to peaceful protest and support the police in being able to make operational decisions about when peaceful protest spills into intimidation," she said.

You can read more on this from our reporter Niamh Lynch :

Here in the Politics Hub, we've been reporting on Israel's seemingly imminent military incursion into the Gazan city of Rafah today, as both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have advised against it.

They have expressed concern about the number of citizens - many of whom have already evacuated their homes in other parts of Gaza - sheltering there.

Our Middle East blog team are now reporting a potentially major development, with Hamas saying it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar.

However, Israel has indicated it doesn't agree with the terms.

Follow live updates in our Middle East blog:

Aside from the local elections, the prime minister has today been questioned about Israel's seemingly imminent ground offensive in Rafah.

The country's military is telling Palestinians sheltering in Gaza's southernmost city to evacuate, even though many have already had to flee their homes.

Labour's Keir Starmer and David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, have today urged Israel not to carry out the incursion (see 17.00 post).

Rishi Sunak said he is "deeply concerned" about the prospect of the offensive because of the number of civilians sheltering in Rafah.

He said he had raised his concerns "repeatedly" with Israel's prime minister but also said Hamas had a role to play in ending the conflict.

Mr Sunak said: "The priority right now should be on all parties, but particularly Hamas, to agree to a deal, to release hostages and allow more aid to go in as part of a temporary pause which will allow us to build a sustainable ceasefire."

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

With the local elections complete, Labour is still sitting comfortably ahead, with the Tories trailing behind.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

The results of the local elections made for grim reading for the Conservative Party.

Last Thursday, polls opened in 107 English councils, with thousands of seats up for grabs. Ultimately, the Tories lost 474 seats and 12 councils, while Labour gained 186 and eight respectively.

You can see the results in full below:

There were also a number of mayoral elections.

In total, 11 mayors were elected. Here are the results in full:

• Tees Valley, Conservative Ben Houchen re-elected
• York and North Yorkshire, Labour's David Skaith 
• North East, Labour's Kim McGuinness 
• East Midlands, Labour's Claire Ward
• Liverpool City Region, Labour's Steve Rotheram re-elected
• South Yorkshire, Labour's Oliver Coppard re-elected 
• Greater Manchester, Labour's Andy Burnham re-elected 
• West Yorkshire, Labour's Tracey Brabin re-elected 
• London, Labour's Sadiq Khan re-elected 
• Salford, Labour's Paul Dennett re-elected 
• West Midlands, Labour's Richard Parker defeats Conservative incumbent Andy Street

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