Where to Go for Christmas in Italy: Must-See Destinations Among Cities, Villages, and Markets

Christmas 2024 in Italy? What are the best destinations to reach for the holidays?

Where to go for Christmas in Italy? The Christmas holidays are the perfect time to plan a trip to Italy.

If you are looking for a special place for the holidays, you don't need to look far: Italy offers a wide range of perfect destinations to experience the Christmas atmosphere among lights, markets, and villages that seem to come straight out of a story.

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For a budget-friendly yet atmospheric Christmas, Italy offers numerous accessible destinations.

Recommended locations include the villages of Abruzzo and Basilicata, where the charm of tradition meets low costs.

In Matera, for example, you can admire one of the most enchanting living nativity scenes among the Sassi, while small towns in Abruzzo like Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Rocca Calascio offer charming views, ideal for a Christmas getaway in the mountains.

Even in Sicily, places like Caltagirone and Erice welcome visitors with markets and festive lights, and thanks to the mild climate, it will be easier to travel without spending too much.

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But where to go for Christmas? The Christmas markets are the most appealing option for those who want to spend Christmas outside home and don't want to miss the magical Advent atmosphere.

Here you will find a guide to the Bressanone Markets and the Merano Markets which are among the most beautiful Christmas markets in Italy, along with those of Trento and Bolzano.

In Southern Tyrol, the German tradition of the Christmas market is extremely strong and ancient. Also, in the rest of Italy, unique Christmas markets are being organized in recent years that are worth visiting. Among the countless events, we highlight the Limatola Castle Markets, one of the most picturesque in Campania.

An excellent alternative is to spend Christmas in Tuscany. You can combine a visit to the most beautiful and lesser-known places in Tuscany with a tour of the Christmas markets in Montepulciano.

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The Christmas in Montepulciano is a huge celebration where the village is completely transformed. Besides the markets, there is a real Santa Claus village set up in the Medici fortress, at the top of Montepulciano, with an ice skating rink and creative workshops for children (open only in the afternoon during Christmas).

Also, Turin at Christmas is a must-see destination. The events calendar is one of the richest in Italy and a real Santa Claus village is set up in the Reggia di Venaria Reale.

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If you are looking for a mountain destination to spend Christmas in Italy, the Alps and Apennines offer enchanting scenery and suggestive atmospheres.

Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the Dolomites, is perfect for those who wish for a Christmas among snowy landscapes, cozy chalets, and ski slopes, with events and markets that make the center even more magical.

In Trentino-Alto Adige, cities like Trento and Bolzano combine the tradition of Christmas markets with the beauty of the surrounding mountains, offering mulled wine, local crafts, and gourmet specialties.

For a quieter experience, the villages of Abruzzo such as Rivisondoli and Pescocostanzo will welcome you with festivities and living nativity scenes, as well as perfect snowy landscapes for a holiday rooted in nature and tradition.

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For an unforgettable Christmas with children, Italy offers many destinations perfect for families.

Montepulciano, in Tuscany, transforms into a real Christmas village, with a castle dedicated to Santa Claus, creative workshops, and an ice skating rink.

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At the Christmas Village of Govone, little ones can meet Santa Claus, explore markets, and enjoy shows designed for them.

Also, Gubbio, in Umbria, is an ideal choice: every year the city sets up the largest illuminated Christmas tree in the world, a spectacle that enchants both young and old. Finally, Riva del Garda offers a 'Santa's House' where children can participate in games and Christmas activities in a charming and family-friendly environment.

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In Manarola, the hillside transforms into a gigantic nativity scene that at night, from the right perspective, becomes a unique spectacle in the world.

The Cinque Terre are definitely worth a visit at any time of year, so why not go between Christmas and New Year?

Here you can find the most beautiful villages in Liguria with abandoned towns, castles, and villages in the hinterland that you cannot miss.

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The villages of Umbria are perfect for the Christmas setting (here you can find the most beautiful villages in Umbria). In Gubbio, every year the largest Christmas tree in Italy is set up. The tree is created by illuminating the many trees that outline its profile.

In Perugia, the Rocca Paolina hosts one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Central Italy. The Strenne market is also worth a visit.

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In Jesolo, artists create a huge sand nativity scene on the beach.

The charm of Venice is even greater when the Christmas lights reflect off the calm waters of the lagoon; here you can find all the information on what to see in Venice.

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Mezzano is a village in Trentino with an interesting peculiarity. The piles and stacks of wood are arranged in the village to form real works of art, and some wooden installations decorate the town's streets. You will feel like you are living in a Christmas story.

The Trentino Alto-Adige is also one of the best places in Italy to indulge in shopping, delicacies, and mulled wine from the Christmas Markets.

Those in Trento and Bolzano are among the most beautiful in Italy: here you will find all the information to visit the Trento market, while here you will find the guide to the markets of Bolzano.

Lampedusa and Linosa are located more than 600 km from the coast of Sicily. The weather at Christmas may be much more similar to that of spring than to winter. With a bit of luck, you could even go to the beach on New Year's Day.

The two islands are very different: the first is desert-like and flat, while the second is green and mountainous. You can land in Lampedusa with a flight from Catania or Palermo and then visit Linosa by daily ferries departing from the port of Lampedusa.

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In general, throughout Sicily, the weather at Christmas is milder than elsewhere. This could therefore be a good time to visit the island during one of its less crowded periods. The local markets are particularly lively in Palermo, while the Christmas lights in Catania warm the heart.

Some of the most beautiful villages in Sicily look like real nativity scenes. Climbing Mount Etna will also let you touch the snow. In Erice, there are some of the most beautiful Christmas markets on the island.

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In the Abruzzo National Park, Lazio and Molise there is a village that looks like a nativity scene and that exhibits a unique papier-mâché nativity scene every Christmas.

It is a great opportunity to visit the most beautiful villages of Abruzzo or relax in the diffused hotel of Santo Stefano di Sessanio after a visit to the highest fortress of the Apennines: Rocca Calascio.

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In Salerno, the Luci d'Artista event colors the city with an incredible display of lights and illuminations. It is a spectacle that is definitely worth seeing.

Here you will find the most beautiful villages to visit in Campania, of course after a stroll through the must-see Via di San Gregorio Armeno in Naples.

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Matera was the cinematic Jerusalem in Pasolini's film The Gospel According to Matthew and in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. This is no coincidence.

Matera is truly a place frozen in time, just like the most beautiful villages in Basilicata. During the Christmas season, Matera hosts one of the most enchanting living nativity scenes.

If you are considering reaching Matera for New Year's, here we have created a helpful guide on what to do.