Lights, decorations, gifts, sweets and a hint of magic: this is the fairy-tale atmosphere of festivities in Rome, a unique city made even more irresistible by its majestic decorated fir trees and twinkling illuminations! The whole city comes alive with great events, lightshows, themed villages, innovative installations, concerts, shows and much more.
MUSIC, SHOWS, IMMERSIVE EXHIBITIONS, LIGHTSHOWS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND VILLAGES
CHRISTMAS TREES, ILLUMINATIONS, AND NATIVITY SCENES
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN ROME
HOW TO GET AROUND ROME DURING THE HOLIDAYS
SHOPPING IN ROME DURING THE FESTIVITIES
CHRISTMAS FOOD AND WINE IN ROME
MUSIC, SHOWS, IMMERSIVE EXHIBITIONS, LIGHTSHOWS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
During the Christmas holidays, Rome awaits you with a packed programme of unmissable events: from exhibitions dedicated to art in all its forms, hosted in the great state and civic museums and prestigious venues throughout the city, to classical, jazz, gospel and pop concerts, from exciting theatre performances to major artistic and cultural festivals, and thrilling sporting events. The Eternal City offers activities for all tastes and age groups, designed to make the festive season unforgettable. Discover here all the Roma Live events from 8 December to 6 January.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND VILLAGES
Colourful wooden stalls and huts, twinkling lights, handmade crafts, games and gourmet delicacies: beloved by Romans and tourists alike, Christmas markets are the perfect destination to immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of the holidays, buy new decorations for the tree, search for original gifts, nibble on a crunchy treat, and stroll with the family. Dedicated to children, but not only, are the Christmas Villages, a plunge into the fairy-tale Christmas spirit with entertainment, themed attractions, shows, parades and wonderful surprises. Discover all the Christmas markets and villages in Rome for the 2025-2026 festive season in our dedicated section.
CHRISTMAS TREES, ILLUMINATIONS, AND NATIVITY SCENES
A thousand-year history and a unique atmosphere, especially during the Christmas period when the city is decorated with garlands, illuminations and lights that add charm to all the Rioni and neighbourhoods. The streets and squares of Rome are transformed into an enchanted stage for Christmas trees of all types and shapes, small or majestic, set up outdoors but also in shops, shopping centres and hotels. If you want to get even more into the Christmas spirit, you can walk around Rome and pop into churches to see all kinds of nativity scenes, from the oldest to the most modern, made from cork, papier-mâché, wood or mother-of-pearl. Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major is home to one of the oldest representations of the Nativity. Discover all the Christmas trees, lights and nativity scenes in Rome for the 2025-2026 festive season in our dedicated section.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN ROME
During the Christmas festivities, many events are dedicated to children and their families. With exciting shows, engaging concerts, exhibitions, workshops, tours and theme parks that are transformed into fairy-tale worlds with lights and decorations, Rome is the ideal place to spend joyful, creative and unforgettable moments. Discover all the activities for children during the Christmas holidays.
HOW TO GET AROUND ROME DURING THE HOLIDAYS
From Friday 6 December 2025 to Tuesday 6 January 2026, the Christmas holiday mobility plan will be in effect to facilitate the use of public transport. The two free lines, Free1 and Free2 connect Termini and Ostiense stations to the city centre. The 100 electric line, free for the entire holiday period, runs through the Tridente and Ansa Barocca areas of the city centre and connects Porta Pinciana and the Villa Borghese car park to Piazza Cavour. The surface network to and from the city centre and shopping areas also has been enhanced. On Saturdays, during public holidays and on New Year's Eve, the Metro service will be enhanced, and on 16 December, two new Metro C stops, Colosseo and Porta Metronia, will be inaugurated. The hours of the ZTL Centro Storico (from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., every day from 6 to 24 December and from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day from 26 December to 6 January) and the ZTL A Tridente (from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day from 6 December to 6 January, except 25 December). Several promotions are also available: bonuses for Sharing Mobility and, new this year, a special holiday pass, the Christmas Mobility Pass, which allows 15 days of free travel on buses, trolleybuses, trams and the underground, as well as parking in park-and-ride car parks. Discover the public transport plan for the 2025-26 Christmas holidays.
SHOPPING IN ROME DURING THE FESTIVITIES
Make purchases
From the luxury stores in the historic center to the small artisan shops in the Monti and Trastevere districts; from the colorful local markets with typical local products to antiques and vintage markets for collectors, lovers of design, retro fashion and vintage bijoux; from large shopping centers with international brands to outlets for fashion addicts looking for bargains. Rome is the essential stop for shopping, for all tastes and budgets.
CHRISTMAS FOOD AND WINE IN ROME
Christmas Time in Roman Cuisine
Christmas is an opportunity to be with the family and enjoy the pleasures of eating. To prepare meals with care and passion, people begin several days before the festivity. What kind of food do we find on the Roman tables?
The Roman-style Stracciatella
As one of the dishes that best represent the true essence of Christmas with the family in Rome, Stracciatella is a genuine and humble comfort food, yet tasty and nutritious, that when it comes steaming to the table, envelops the senses and the palate with its spicy perfume and characteristic flavour.
The Roman Pangiallo, the icing on the cake
For those who do not know it, pangiallo is a triumph of honey and dried fruit, with a yellow glaze covering it all. Pangiallo is a "bread" as golden and round as the sun to give with, hoping that the long winter months end quickly.
New Year's Day lunch: stories, anecdotes and recipes of the Roman tradition
When in Rome, you have to do as the Romans do, especially when, on holidays, the city reveals one of its most fascinating aspects: its unique culinary tradition. New Year's Eve in the Eternal City is an extraordinary, almost sacred ritual, lived with the carefree spirit that has always distinguished the Romans. Let's celebrate with a menu dedicated to the Capitoline tradition, discovering ingredients, recipes, and typical dishes of the holiday table, which evoke stories, legends, and suggestions of the past and have a reputation for being good luck for the new year.
