Christmas in Italy: Where to Go, What to Expect & Italian Christmas Traditions!

Planning a Christmas trip to Italy, but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place!

I’m Italian, and have spent the vast majority of my 28 Christmases in Italy. As such, I can confidently say I know what I’m talking about when it comes to spending the Christmas holidays in Italy.

Christmas is the most magical time of the year, and spending it in the Bel Paese, will be an even more magical experience. With its decorations, markets and unique traditions, Italy is a wonderful place to spend Christmas.

In this article I have outlined everything you need to know about visiting Italy and Christmas. Including the best places to visit at Christmas, Italian Christmas foods to eat, traditions to follow and much more.

Whether you’re looking for a white Christmas, or an opportunity to explore Italy’s cities adorned with festive lights, Christmas in Italy can offer you all of that, and more.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in, and start planning your perfect Christmas in Italy!

Weather in Italy at Christmas 

The weather in Italy at Christmas time varies depending on the region. Temperatures are lower in general when compared to the heights of the summer, but there are some locations where you can catch a bit of winter sun.

Sicily, for example, has average highs of around 16°C (60.8°F) in the winter months, with an average of only 7 rainy days. Rome is cooler, with average highs sitting around 13°C (55.4°F) and average lows of 3°C (37.4°F). 

In Milan, things are much colder, the average high is only 7°C (44.6°F) with temperatures dropping to 2°C (35.6°F). But, if you’re looking for snow, then you should take a trip to the Alps.

Temperatures in the region only ever reach highs of 8°C (46.4°F) in the winter months with snow coating the mountains. Overall, the coldest month of the year is January and December is the second coldest month. 

Christmas Period in Italy 

Christmas day in Italy is celebrated on December 25th, but celebrations start weeks before the big day. Festivities begin with the solemn Festa della Immacolata in early December.

Throughout December local events take place in towns and cities with Italian Christmas decorations and nativity scenes festooning the streets. Christmas Markets are also held in town squares such as Piazza Navona in Rome. 

Italian Christmas Eve traditions mean that many businesses will be closed as people meet friends and family for meals. Midnight Mass takes place in churches throughout the country for “la vigilia”.

On the night of Christmas Eve Babbo Natale (the Italian version of Santa Claus or Father Christmas) arrives and brings gifts to everyone.

Generally speaking, in the south of Italy people tend to celebrate more the Christmas Eve Dinner, and open gifts at midnight.

Whilst in the north we tend to celebrate more on actual Christmas Day, and open gifts on Christmas morning.

Christmas Day in Italy is a national holiday, and a very quiet day, where most Italians will stay at home with their families.  

New Year’s Eve is one big party that kicks off with a large dinner before heading out to dance and celebrate. In Rome, crowds gather in St. Peter’s Square to receive a blessing from the Pope.

On the 6th January, it’s the day of the Epiphany, which rounds up the Christmas season with a celebration of the arrival of “la Befana”.

La Befana is a good witch that brings candies to good children and marks the end of the Christmas holiday period.

Italian Christmas Traditions 

Traditions during Christmas in Italy vary depending on where you are in the country.

The Day of Immaculate Conception on December 8th sees the Pope visit the Spanish Steps in Rome and pay homage to the Virgin Mary. 

Through the festive season, Italians will enjoy a feast of traditional food which includes eating the dome-shaped panettone and the star-shaped sweet pandoro bread.

Italians have very strong opinions about these Christmas sweets, and will either be team panettone or team pandoro (personally, I’m team pandoro).

Lenticchie and cotechino (pork sausage and lentils) is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve for good luck in the new year. 

On Christmas day, families will gather together at home and enjoy a large meal around a table. Many people will also attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve for prayer and hymns. 

La Befana on the 6th of January is when children receive candy and sweets. In Rome, a procession of people clad in traditional costumes takes place in Piazza Navona.

Best places to visit in Italy at Christmas 

Working out the best place in Italy for Christmas will depend on the type of Christmas you want. 

Do you want to explore the best Christmas markets and see Christmas decorations? Maybe you want a white Christmas doing snow sports, or you might even want a bit of winter sun?

In Italy you can have all of that, but obviously not all in the same place.

Here’s a look at the best places in Italy for Christmas, and what’s special about each of them, to help you work out where you will be spending the festive period. 

For a white Christmas 

If you want to experience a magical white Christmas, then Trentino and the Italian Alps is the best place to spend Christmas in Italy for you.

The region also receives much of its snowfall over Christmas, which creates perfect conditions to hit the slopes. It’s a great location to spend Christmas with children who can really enjoy playing in a winter wonderland.

This beautiful part of the country has a lot to offer up in terms of activities, charming towns, stunning lakes, fun ski resorts and seasonal events.

One of the best areas is South Tyrol, an autonomous province in northern Italy which was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and still retains much German and Austrian culture.

A trip here during Christmas is always a wonderful experience. The area’s capital city Bolzano sits tucked away in the Dolomites and hosts its own Christmas Market in the Piazza Walther.

Stalls sell regional specialties like vin brûlée and apple strudel. The city of Trento also boasts its own Christmas market that overflows with traditional handicraft and local food. 

Rome 

The Italian capital might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Christmas, but it’s actually a really special time of year in the city.

Many travellers prefer to visit Rome in spring or summer, but I personally find Rome in winter to be at its most charming. For one thing, it’s not as cold as Milan, and there are usually less crowds than in summer.

This is the location of the Vatican City and there’s lots of religious events that take place across the month of December to mark the birth of Jesus. 

No matter where you go in Rome in December, you will find city streets decorated with strings of lights and elegant decorations.

Nativity scenes are also set up inside churches, with the most well-known being found in St. Peter’s Square, where a life-size Nativity is displayed. 

There’s plenty to see and do in Rome over the Christmas period. This is a time of year that sees fewer visitors, so you can see the famous sights without the huge crowds of the summer.

There’s also seasonal activities to enjoy such as ice skating and going to see an opera performance.

I suggest choosing a hotel close to the Pantheon or Colosseum, so on particularly cold days, you don’t have to walk far to reach all the main attractions of Rome.

On Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass takes place in the many churches throughout the city, while on New Year’s and Christmas Day worshippers gather in St. Peter’s Square to receive a blessing from the pope. 

Milan

The capital of Lombardy region has a fun festive vibe during Christmas. Winter in Milan is cold, but that just adds to the Christmas charm in my opinion!

The city comes alive with sparkling Christmas decorations and plenty of Christmas light displays. Christmas in Milan officially starts in early December with Sant’Ambrogio, which signals the start of the Christmas season.

In Milan you can expect to find beautiful nativity scenes with baby Jesus, a huge Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo, and some of the most beautiful Christmas markets of the country.

This Milanese tradition is the celebration of the city’s patron saint, and is marked by a public holiday on the 8th December on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. 

Over in the grounds of the Castello Sforzesco, the Fiera Degli Oh Bei, Oh Bei market takes place between the 7th and 11th of December.

This unique Milan event dates all the way back to 1288. Today it overflows with Christmas fun and hundreds of stalls selling regional handicraft stalls and seasonal eats. 

From Milan you can also easily go on a day trip to Lake Como. Nestled at the foot of the Alps, this gorgeous lake is famous for the charming towns and fancy villas dotted along its shore.

It might not have as many big Christmas events like Milan, but it’s definitely a beautiful place to visit. If your Italy itinerary allows it, you can also stay in Lake Como, and plan a longer Lake Como itinerary.

That way you’ll have time to explore more of this stunning area, and maybe even go on a Lake Como boat tour!

I’m probably biased because I’m originally from Milan, and have spent almost all of the 28 Christmases of my life in Milan, but I do genuinely believe it’s one of the best places in Italy to do so.

Florence

An Italian Christmas in Florence is beautiful. As with a lot of cities in Italy at Christmas, the celebrations start at the beginning of December.

The first week of the month is when shops, town squares, and steers put up their Christmas decorations, with shop windows showcasing magical christmas scenes. 

On December 8th is the official switching on of the enormous Christmas tree lights in Piazza del Duomo, here is also where you’ll find a charming Nativity scene out of the front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

There’s plenty of interesting cultural sights, historical piazzas, and monuments to visit too, many with decidedly fewer crowds when compared to the peak summer season. 

There’s also many Christmas markets that take place in various locations around Florence. The biggest of them all takes place in Piazza Santa Croce, and runs from November to just before Christmas.

There’s plenty of seasonal treats to sample and local handicrafts on offer at the market stalls all over the city and further afield in the Mugello area and also in smaller towns around Chianti and Fiesole. 

If you fancy, you can also head out of Florence, planning a wider Tuscany itinerary, and visiting other famous cities like Pisa, Siena and the lovely village of San Gimignano.

For a bit of winter sun + delicious food & traditions 

If you’re thinking about a trip to Italy for Christmas and you’re in search of a bit of winter sun, then southern Italy is the region for you.

This part of the country is also the best region to explore if you want to spend time enjoying lots of delicious local cuisines and experience a more traditional way of life. 

It might not be beach season, but the south of Italy still sees plenty of sunshine across December, with warmer temperatures when compared to the rest of the country.

In Sicily, town centres are transformed with Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and twinkling lights. The island is awash with traditional events that make it a really special place to spend the holiday season. 

More authentic Christmas celebrations can be found in Matera. Perched on a rocky cliff in the region of Basilicata, the city was named the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

This richly traditional town plays host to a living nativity which takes place at the city’s ancient cave dwellings. 

Nearby, Puglia also offers much seasonal cheer.

The towns that are scattered around the heels of Italy’s boot come alive with traditional celebrations, while Christmas markets sell an array of delicious pasta dishes and artisanal goods. 

What to pack for Italy at Christmas

What to pack for Italy at Christmas will ultimately depend on where in Italy you plan on heading. If you plan on going skiing, you will obviously need warm clothing and ski gear.

If you plan on just casually strolling around the streets of an Italian city, for example Venice, or maybe even cruising down its canals in a gondola, you would only need your usual winter outfits.

If you plan on hiking the Sentiero Azzurro, you will need waterproof outfits and hiking gear. While we’re at it, I don’t suggest visiting Cinque Terre in winter, head there in spring or summer for an awesome Cinque Terre trip!

If you want to see the beauties of Sardinia out of season, you would still need winter outfits, as the weather won’t be good enough for those epic Maddalena boat tours that you can experience in summer.

Beyond the actual outfits, which as I just outlined, will vary depending on where in Italy you’re going, here are a few travel essentials I recommend you pack for your Italy Christmas trip.

Comfortable and waterproof shoes – Regardless of whether you plan on hiking, you will want to wear comfortable shoes, preferably waterproof ones, so that your feet will be comfy and dry while you explore the Christmas markets in Italy!

International adaptor – It’s a bit more expensive than the country specific adaptors, but I like using an international adapter so that I only need one that I can take everywhere.

Power bank – Whether it’s for Google Maps or taking photos of the beautiful Christmas lights in Rome, you don’t want your phone dying on you!

Steel water bottle – If you want to cut down on your plastic consumption and save some cash in the process, don’t forget a water bottle that you can refill.

Considering the rain you’re very likely to encounter in Italy in winter, bringing along a raincoat and an umbrella is a must.

Do you need travel insurance to spend Christmas in Italy?

After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.

You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your Italy travel insurance with  Heymondo.

Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).

Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.

It doesn’t matter how long your Italy itinerary is, travel insurance is an expense I highly suggest adding to your Italy trip budget, as it will mean you can enjoy a much smoother trip.

Especially if you’re visiting Italy at Christmas, you don’t want any potential mishaps to ruin this magical time of the year for you!

As a Greta’s Travels reader, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance!

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Final thoughts on spending Christmas in Italy

There you have it, the ultimate guide to visiting Italy at Christmas! Have you been to Italy before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

Christmas in Italy is a magical time of the year. Seeing the Christmas lights, wandering around the Christmas markets and enjoying the festive cheer are all experiences you will never forget.

Regardless of whether you go to Rome, Cinque Terre, Venice, Milan or Trentino, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in Italian Christmas traditions.

Enjoying tasty Italian cuisine, as well as Christmas delicacies like pandoro and panettone. Whether you want a white Christmas, or a city adventure, Italy can offer you that.

I hope you found my Christmas in Italy guide useful in planning your own Italy Christmas trip! If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below! 

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