My expect guide to Rome at Christmas: discover the best things to do, tours worth taking, special seasonal events and find festive itineraries to make the most of the Christmas holidays in Rome.
Christmas is a really fun time to be in Rome!
When December arrives, Rome’s cobbled streets and grand piazzas get a dusting of lights and cheer: luminaries light up Via del Corso, stunning Christmas trees decorate the Spanish Steps and the city’s biggest piazzas, shop windows fill with decorations and seasonal treats and festive cheer fill the air.
The festive season officially starts on December 8th, when families decorate their trees, and it lasts all the way to the Epiphany on January 6th.
That’s nearly a month of celebrations, and the city makes the most of it. I am from Rome and I know this well!
The festive season is one of my favorite in the city and each year we find more and more fun ways to make the most of it, whatever the weather.
Bases on my own experience of my beautiful home town of Rome, here are some of the best ways to enjoy Rome at Christmas: a mix of traditions, sights, and a few unique experiences to make your trip unforgettable.
Need to know: the week between Christmas and the Epiphany (23 December – 6 January) is peak tourism season in Rome. The city is as busy as it gets so planning tours, activities and accommodation well ahead is paramount. I share all resources on this page, just keep reading! I am from Rome and by the end of this page, you’ll have all the tools you need to plan a wonderful stay in Rome at Christmas.
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Rome at Christmas: best tickets and tours booking resources
Colosseum Tickets and Tours:
Colosseum Official Website (tickets and group tours): https://Ticketing.colosseo.it
My favorite small group tour for the Colosseum (up to 6 people only) in winter, with option to make it private so it is just for you: Colosseum tour with gladiators’ gate and arena by LivTours. I love it for Christmas time because it is short enough that, on a cold day, won’t keep you out too long, yet very comprehensive and with competent, engaging guides.
My favorite family tour of the colosseum for kids is this one that also includes the Roman Forum. I love it because it is game based and the Forum is wonderful for kids as they experience it a little like a park and are free to move around.
Vatican Tickets and tours
Official ticket: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html
Use this alternative ticket provider if sold out from the official site / if time slots available are not suited to you:
My Favourite Vatican Tour is this one – it has a high price, but it is a once in a lifetime experience and you are literally almost alone in the Sistine Chapel and Museum halls, you get to see them in the best possible way and feel how special they are in a way that is hard to get once the general public comes in.
A fantastic semi private tour I highly recommend is also this one, which makes the most of one of the quietest moment of the day
My favorite kids’ tour of the Vatican is this one, which is game based and interactive.
Cooking and food experiences
My favorite food tour in Rome is this one in Trastevere by DevourTours
My favorite pasta making class in Rome is this one, also in Trastevere
The best things to do in Rome at Christmas
Go sightseeing
Rome’s main attractions stay open during most of December (except for Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and January 6th).
The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Museums still draw crowds, but the cooler weather makes wandering ruins and piazzas more comfortable than under the relentless sun of summer.
Due to the high crowds, advance purchase of booking and tours is paramount. You can use the links above to secure your spot.
See the lights
Over the past few years, Rome has embraced Christmas lights with style. They may not be as over-the-top as New York’s, but strolling under the sparkling displays on Via del Corso, around Piazza di Spagna, through Trastevere, or in Piazza Navona is pure joy.
Many of Rome’s main piazzas boast towering Christmas trees, and they’re always worth a stop. The most famous are in Piazza di Spagna (the tree here was by Bulgari, last Christmas!) and St. Peter’s Square, the latter being the true showstopper.
If you’re traveling with kids, the most entertaining moment isn’t even when the lights are switched on (around December 8th), but when the tree arrives. Picture giant cranes delicately maneuvering it into place — like a Lego set for grown-ups. Kids love it.
Marvel at the nativity scenes
Nativity scenes (presepi) are an art form in Italy. The biggest and most impressive one is, of course, on St Peter’s square, and it is very much worth seeing. The scene is in the middle of the piazza, it is free to visit and impressive both day and night. The lights usually come on at sundown.
Usually in Piazza San Pietro you also have Rome’s “100 Nativity Scenes” exhibition: it gathers cribs from around the world and it is fascinating to see as it showcases how different cultures express the story of the nativity. The exhibition is usually free.
You’ll also spot beautiful presepi across the city: in Piazza Navona, for instance, and inside churches like Santa Maria Maggiore and Sant’Eustachio. Each one has its own charm, and discovering them as you wander is part of the fun.
Check out the Christmas market in Piazza Navona
Though not a centuries-old Roman tradition, Christmas markets have become popular in recent years especially.
The most famous is in Piazza Navona, with stalls selling sweets, toys, and seasonal treats right up to January 6th. It’s especially atmospheric in the evening with the lights twinkling overhead.
Attend Christmas Mass at the Vatican
For many, spending Christmas in Rome means celebrating at the Vatican.
Attending mass is free but must be planned in advance: you can find the official info from Prefettura della Casa Pontificia (official site) which also presides over the planning of the Papal Audience, also bookable via them and free
The service is also broadcast on big screens in the square, and on Christmas Day at noon the Pope gives a blessing to the crowds gathered below so if you cannot get tickets, you can still participate rather closely!
Take a cooking class
Cooking classes are as great way to spend a fun day in Rome at Christmas as they are social, the provide you with a great skill, a meal and they keep you indoors, which can be perfect especially on a rainy day or a cold evening!
Fabulous classes I love are this one to make pasta and gelato in Trastevere and his one to make pizza: both hands on a super fun!
Try a mosaic-making workshop
Rome is full of stunning mosaics, but you can do more than just look at them. In Rome, exceptional local artisans open their workshops to visitors so you can learn this ancient art yourself.
I have done this with my daughter and it an unforgettable experience: sitting at a workbench, carefully arranging colorful tiles, while listening to the stories of where the different coloured stones come from, is meditative and gives you a deep appreciation of the city’s artistic heritage. The class we took and loved is this one.
Join a food tour
Rome in December is heaven for food lovers.
A guided food tour is a fun way to experience Rome and its works well at Christmas as it means you will mix time on the road with warming stops for food and drinks! Fabulous food tours I recommend are this one in Testaccio (famous food district, daytime tour) and this one in the evening in Trastevere (another famous foodie district of Rome)
Explore by golf cart
Walking Rome at Christmas is wonderful, but a golf cart tour is a playful, practical way to cover more ground.
I originally discovered golf cart tours as a great way to negotiate the city with kids who may not be able for long walks but they are actually so much fun, I know recommend them to everyone. They are touristy, in the sense that these are not local means of transport, but if you want a guided your of the city, they are wonderful! This one is my favorite (the golf cart in the photo is from this tour: as you can see, we took it on a winter day)
Go shopping
Of course, Christmas is also a time to get gifts so a great thing you may want to do during the holiday seasons is shopping! Via del Corso, Via Cola di Rienzo, Via Condotti area are fantastic addresses for a huge variety of options, from designer clothing to high street finds.
Go to a lesser known museum
Rome has many wonderful museums woth seeing. A great way to escape the crowds in Rome at Christmas is to pick some of the lesser known ones, so you can enjoy the art in peace: Centrale Montemartini and Galleria Colonna for instance are exceptional.
Feast on Christmas Eve
December 24th is one of the most important festive days of the year and, in Rome, takes the place of a large family dinner. Traditionally a fish-based menu, Christmas Eve dinner is now a glorious spread of salmon, shrimp, pasta with shellfish, and roasted fish.
If you’re staying in an apartment, join in! Just remember: shops close early that day, so buy everything in the morning.
Pick a side: Panettone or Pandoro?
Italians have strong feelings about Christmas desserts. You’re either a Panettone or Pandoro person. Both are sweet, brioche-like cakes sold in every supermarket and bakery, but loyalties run deep. Taste both and see where you land — just be prepared for locals to ask which side you’ve chosen and be highly opionionated about it. Read here my tongue in cheek post about pandoro vs panettone 🙂
Discover La Befana and her coal
Italy’s holiday season ends with the Befana, a witch-like figure who delivers sweets to good children and sugary black “coal” to naughty ones on January 6th. Markets around Rome sell this playful treat, which kids love. If you’re here for the Epiphany, it’s a must.
The best places to stay in Rome at Christmas
The best place to stay in Rome ar Chrosytas is the city center / Monti area which is festive and well located to visit all attractions. Hotels I highly recommend here are:
Hilton DoubleTree Monti, perfectly located in the Monti district, also with interconnecting rooms (Family friendly)
Nerva Boutique Hotel adorable small hotel close to the Colosseum and the center
Martis Palace hotel, fabulous and in a stellar location beside Piazza Navona (Family friendly)
Practical Tips for Rome at Christmas
- Weather: December averages around 10°C (50°F). Bring a warm coat, scarf, umbrella, and waterproof shoes but also be ready to take them off in the middle of the day: when the sun comes out, Christmas weather can be glorious here!
- Where to stay: Aim for the center — Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, or Monti, so you can walk to most sights. Public transport is patchier over the holidays.
- Closures: The Colosseum, Forum, Borghese Gallery, and Vatican Museums usually close on December 25, January 1, and January 6. The Vatican usually also on the 26th December.
- Dining: Many restaurants close on December 24 and 25, or offer fixed holiday menus with higher prices. Book in advance or do as locals do: enjoy a meal at home, then head out for celebrations.
- Shopping: Stores close early on December 24 and often reopen on December 27. For last-minute essentials, Termini station is your best bet.
Christmas in Rome Itinerary idea
Day 1
- Morning at the Vatican for the Museums, the tree and nativity scene.
- Afternoon exploring Piazza Navona’s Christmas market and the city center
- Evening golf cart tour of the city’s illuminated piazzas
Day 2:
- Morning at Colosseum and Roman Forum
- Lunch near Monti, one of Rome’s coziest neighborhoods.
- Afternoon shopping in the city center
- Pasta or pizza making class
Day 3:
- Free morning (city center wandering, museum, festive brunch etc)
- Mosaic making class in Trastevere
- Trastevere sunset food tour
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to enjoying my beautiful city of Rome at Christmas. Safe travels and Buon Natale (That’s Merry Christmas in Italian)!
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