What to do in Rome at Christmas
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and here in Rome jolly doesn’t even begin to explain the level of yuletide cheer and spirit you’ll feel after completing our top ten list of Christmas must-do’s.
Discover the best ways to embrace the holiday spirit in Rome, from admiring in the city’s enchanting illuminations to immersing yourself in the festive atmosphere of Christmas markets.
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- Christmas Trees in Rome
- Indulge in Panettone or Pandoro
- Go Ice Skating
- See some Nativity Scenes
- Christmas World at Villa Borghese
- Gospel festival
- Trame di Luce at The Botanical Garden
- Concerts & Masses in Churches
- Wander Around a Christmas Market
- Holiday Passeggiata & Christmas Lights
- Catch a Christmas play or concert
- Attend the Opening of the Holy Door
- What’s closed in Rome at Christmas
Look out for Christmas Trees in Rome
Nothing says Christmas quite like a traditional decorated tree, and undoubtedly the most symbolic one is the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square. This year, the tree, a majestic mature fir, 29 meters tall, comes from Ledro in Trentino. The inauguration ceremony will take place on December 7th at 6:30 PM.
Another iconic Christmas tree in Rome is usually set up in Piazza Venezia, but this year, due to the construction work on Metro Line C, it will be moved to Piazza del Popolo.
After Dior, it will be Bulgari‘s turn to sponsor the Christmas tree in Piazza di Spagna. It’s a stunning futuristic and modern reproduction, 13 meters high, completely illuminated with thousands of lights. Additionally, Bulgari will be responsible for the installation of Christmas lights along the entire Via Condotti, as well as 20 more trees that will be placed in the squares of the city’s outskirts.
Indulge in Panettone or Pandoro
By now you have probably noticed the colorful boxes of large round cake-bread stacked in every available corner of Rome’s supermarkets, pasticcerie, and even the local “cinese.” Although it is considered perfectly acceptable by Italian standards to go hard on the panettone or pandoro of your choice before, during and after Christmas, be advised: not all panettone and pandoro were created equal. Here are some of the best places to purchase pandoro and panettone in Rome:
Le Levain, Via Luigi Santini 22/23 – Via Piave, 9
Antico Forno Roscioli, Via dei Chiavari 34
Walter Musco, Largo Bompiani 8
Gruè, viale Regina Margherita 95/99
Panificio Bonci, via Trionfale 34/36
Cresci, Via Alcide de Gasperi, 11-17
Casa Manfredi, Viale Aventino, 91/93– Via dei Conciatori, 5
Go Ice Skating
Don’t act so surprised, Rome has its fair share of festive holiday rinks for ice skating, even if the weather in December is rarely close to freezing. Rome’s Christmas ice skating rinks are usually in the following locations:
Ice Park Piazza Cavour
Ice Park Foro Italico
Ice Park Piazza Re di Roma
Christmas World, Villa Borghese
Luneur, Via delle Tre Fontane, 100
Cinecittà World
See some Nativity Scenes
Christmas wouldn’t be complete without the star of the show (Baby Jesus that is, not Santa Claus). To get your fill of nativity scenes for a lifetime, check out the 100 Presepi in Vaticano, the most traditional Christmas exhibition in Rome, or peek into the major churches to see the various forms of Christmas Nativities.
8 December 2024 – 6 January 2025
Colonnato di Piazza San Pietro
Christmas World at Villa Borghese
Are you ready to embark on a virtual journey through the most typical Christmas atmospheres around the world? After last year’s success, Christmas World is back at Villa Borghese, and it’s on a grand scale, covering an impressive area of 60,000 square meters! This event celebrates enchanting Christmas vibes, taking visitors on a tour of iconic scenes from different cities around the world, recreated by Italian set designers and artists. Until 6 January, you can explore replicas of 8 global cities, each with its own food district, folkloric performances, original musicals, an 800-square-meter ice-skating rink, a life-sized Nativity scene, gospel concerts, and much more. An open-air event not to be missed for both young and old alike.
30 November 2024 – 6 January 2025
Villa Borghese
entry fee from €17,60
Gospel festival
One of the best ways to spread some holiday cheer is through music. However, for those of us who were not given the gift of song, caroling is out of the question, nor would we suggest caroling around Rome for that matter. Thankfully, the Gospel Festival hosts a series of holiday concerts guaranteed to lift your spirits.
21 December 2024 – 1 January 2025
Auditorium Parco della Musica
Trame di Luce at The Botanical Garden
From November 30 to January 12, the Botanical Garden of Rome and the Accademia dei Lincei will be illuminated in celebration. You’ll be able to stroll through an immersive pathway where light and music blend with nature. A journey through time spanning over a kilometer, featuring installations and luminous works by both national and international artists. At the end of the path, you’ll find “Luci di Gusto,” a refreshment area for a delightful break.
30 November 2024 – 12 January 2025
Botanical Garden of Rome
Concerts & Masses in Churches
See above. Music = Merriment and Holiday cheer. Attend a free concert in one of the beautiful churches throughout Rome.
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Wander Around a Christmas Market
Christmas markets in Rome have always been part of the holiday fun, and they always bring in a certain joy during this time of year. You have the possibility to choose between a wide range of options: from Italian craft to vintage clothing, from Christmas food classics to Japanese decor, discover all the Christmas markets in the city!
Be dazzled by Christmas lights in Rome
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially in the winding vicolos and side streets decked with twinkling lights and glowing orbs hung above. Take a stroll down these decorated stradas and admire the Christmas lights, taking in the festive holiday vibes. While you’re at it, try the chestnuts roasting on an open fire…
Via dei Condotti
Palazzo Fendi
Via del Governo Vecchio
Via Giulia
Via del Corso
Via del Boschetto & Via Urbana
Colosseum
Via Vittorio Veneto
Piazza di Spagna
Via del Babuino
Piazza Mignanelli
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Catch a Christmas play or concert
This year the Natale all’Auditorium Festival offers a rich calendar of shows and concerts. The program includes different music concerts, together with the traditional Roma Gospel Festival, one of the most important gospel events in Europe, featuring some of the best voices from the United States. A musical journey that will last more than one month, crossing various places and genres, from classical to jazz, to indie and more.
On December 19, 20, and 21, the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia presents Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. It’s a unique opportunity to hear the complete score of this immortal masterpiece under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.
The Nutcracker will also be performed as a ballet by the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma from December 15 to 24.
The Auditorium della Conciliazione presents A Christmas Carol Musical on December 21 and 22. Charles Dickens’ most famous Christmas novel has been adapted for musical theatre. On December 27 and 28, the traditional event with the Harry Potter saga returns in the extraordinary “cine-concert” format: a full symphony orchestra performs the soundtrack live in perfect sync with the entire film.
Attend the Opening of the Holy Door
For the Jubilee 2025, each of the four major basilicas in Rome – the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and, of course, Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican – will open their Holy Doors to inaugurate the Holy Year.
The Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica will open on December 24, 2024, officially marking the beginning of the Jubilee. The Holy Door of Saint John Lateran will open on December 29, Saint Mary Major’s Holy Door on January 1, 2025, and the Holy Door of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on January 5, 2025.
What’s closed in Rome at Christmas
Rome during Christmas time follows normal opening hours (actually many shops have extended hours till January 6th) except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Santo Stefano (the 26th of December) and New Year’s Day.
The Vatican Museums will be closed on December 25th and 26th. The Colosseum Archeological Park and the Borghese Gallery will be closed on December 25th and January 1st.
As far as restaurants are concerned, many will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (but not all, you’ll find many restaurants offering delicious Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus, especially in the centro storico). While on New Year’s Eve restaurants are always open – but you should book in advance.
