Planning your Christmas trip

A Christmas trip to Italy comes down to three variables: the dates (23-24 and 26-27 December, 2-4 January are the busiest days), the destination (Alpine north, big cities or south) and the bookings, which for museums and trains have precise rules and deadlines. Almost everything else can be sorted out at the last minute. For the dates of holidays, long weekends and closures see the Christmas calendar.

When to book

There is no single date that works for everything: each service has its own horizon. This table collects those we have verified for 2026-27.

For hotels and apartments the advice is less rigid but practical: in destinations with Christmas markets, such as Bolzano or Trento, and in the cities of art, the first week of January fills up first. If you want a long weekend around the Immaculate Conception (5-8 December), you need to move now. Always check the cancellation policy.

How much trains cost

Trenitalia. From 1 January 2026 Frecce prices follow demand: they rise on dates and at times that are in high demand and fall where seats are free. The fixed quota of discounted tickets that existed until 2025 is gone. In practice, for Christmas it pays to buy early and choose off-peak times.

Freccia 2x1 on 25 December. Two adults travel on 25 December 2026 on Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains with 50% off each. It can be bought until 22 December, seats are limited, the ticket cannot be changed or refunded (the tiRimborso option costs 3 euros and gives a partial refund).

Italo. Among the offers published on the website are Extra Magic (up to 70% off), the 2x1 for two people and the Carnet 10 with 20% off. For information on the holiday service, the Pronto Italo number is 060708, with no sales charges.

Espresso Natale Rome-Arezzo. Tourist train leaving Roma Termini between 8:00 and 8:30 and returning between 20:45 and 21:30: 79 euros for adults, 49 euros for children from 6 to under 14, free under 6. In Arezzo the Christmas Village runs from 14 November to 6 January 2027.

We do not publish figures for flights: they vary by route and by day and change from week to week. Be aware that Christmas is the busiest period of the year at airports, with queues at security and baggage, and that air strikes are banned during the holiday period.

The tourist tax

It is paid per night and per person, usually at the accommodation at check-in or check-out. The amounts change by category and each municipality updates them every year: those below are the latest published by the municipalities, and the exact figure for your dates is always the one given by your accommodation or on the municipality's website.

In Venice the access fee for day visitors in 2026 is scheduled only for April to July: in December nothing is paid. The 2027 calendar can be consulted on the municipality's website.

December weather in five cities

The averages are those of the 30 years 1991-2020. They are averages: a freezing day in Rome or a sunny day in Bolzano is normal.

Bolzano6.8 °C

Milan7.7 °C

Rome12.8 °C

Naples14.4 °C

Palermo16.7 °C

What to pack

South Tyrol, Trentino and Aosta Valley. At night it drops below zero and the markets are outdoors for hours. You need a thermal layer, a padded coat, gloves, a hat and shoes with non-slip soles. If you drive, go up with winter tyres or chains on board, where signs indicate.

Po Valley (Milan, Turin, Bologna). Little rain, but temperatures near zero in the morning and evening. A coat and a scarf are enough; for the damp, the wind matters more than the degrees.

Rome and Tuscany. Mild days and cool evenings: a medium jacket, an umbrella and closed shoes. In Rome you walk a lot on wet cobblestones (sanpietrini).

Naples and Campania. It is the rainiest city on the list: 120 mm in 11 days. A raincoat and an umbrella are more useful than a down jacket.

Palermo and Sicily. 11-17 degrees: a light jacket and a jumper are enough in the city. If you go up Etna or the Madonie, bring mountain clothing.

Getting around

By train. Before leaving, check the timetable: regional trains run on reduced schedules, especially on 25 December. Frecce and Italo trains connect the main cities even at Christmas.

In the city. On 25 December public transport runs on reduced hours (in 2025 in Rome from 8:30 to 13:00 and from 16:30 to 21:00; in Milan the metro from 7:00 to 19:30). On New Year's Eve, instead, it stays in service until late.

By car. In historic centres the ZTL (limited traffic zones) remain active in many cities: check the hours of the destination's municipality, especially for hotels and car parks. Motorways and roads to the Alpine valleys peak on 23-24 December and 2-3 January.

1. Bolzano: Coldest climate on the list: -2.7 to 6.8 °C
2. Milan, Duomo: Cenacolo with compulsory booking
3. Florence, Uffizi: 25 euros on the day, 29 if booked
4. Arezzo, Piazza Grande: Christmas Village until 6 January 2027
5. Rome, Colosseum: Tickets 30 days ahead, closed on 25 December
6. Naples, Piazza del Plebiscito: 120 mm of rain in December
7. Palermo, Teatro Massimo: The mildest: 11.0 to 16.7 °C

Mistakes to avoid

• Planning museums for 25 December. The Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Uffizi are closed: think of a walk, a church or a booked lunch.
• Counting on regional trains. On Christmas Day the timetables are reduced and in some towns buses stop.
• Buying La Scala tickets from resellers. The theatre warns that unofficial channels may publish tickets before sales open: use only teatroallascala.org.
• Using the Freccia 2x1 without certainty. It cannot be changed or refunded.
• Being surprised by the tourist tax. Ask your accommodation how much it costs and whether it wants it in cash.
• Dressing for only one Italy. Between Bolzano and Palermo the December minimums differ by almost 14 degrees and the maximums by 10.