Christmas Time in Italy
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Experience the magic of Italy at Christmas time and allow us to handcraft you an unforgettable Christmas break.
Italy is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and delectable cuisine, and during the holiday season, it transforms into a winter wonderland filled with enchanting traditions and festivities. Imagine strolling through the charming streets of Rome, Florence, or Venice, adorned with twinkling lights and beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The sweet scent of roasted chestnuts fills the air, and the sound of carolers and church bells creates a heartwarming atmosphere that's second to none.
Indulge in the season's culinary delights, savouring mouthwatering panettone, delicate pastries, and the finest wines. Visit iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, the Uffizi Gallery, and St.Mark's Square, which take on a new, mesmerizing allure during the holiday season. With our expertly crafted Christmas breaks create lasting memories as you immerse yourself in Italy's rich traditions, culture, and history. Whether you're gazing at the Nativity scenes or exchanging heartfelt greetings of "Buon Natale" with the locals, you'll discover the true spirit of the season in Italy. Join us for a Christmas journey that's sure to leave you enchanted and inspired. Our team of travel experts can create the perfect Christmas getaway for you, taking in any of the enchanting Christmas markets below. Enquire now and embark on a magical journey to a winter wonderland.
Custom-made / Private
Based on 2 travellers sharing
As this is a full tailor-made itinerary, pricing is available upon request and will vary depending on:
- Travel dates
- Choice of hotel
- Group size
- Board options
Based on 3 nights
Typical cost of a short Christmas break
Contact our team to create your tailor-made break
Durations can be longer or shorter
Hotels below are examples of where you can stay
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Destination Choices
Roman Christmas Market - Rome, Lazio
Rome captures the magic of the holiday season, as the historic city centre comes alive with festive celebrations, and the Roman Christmas Market at Piazza Navona embodies the very essence of this magical time.
This market infuses the piazza with a burst of vibrant colours, wooden huts adorned with traditional gifts, the sweet scent of chocolate wafting through the cobblestone streets, and the alluring fragrance of spiced fruits, all contributing to the festive atmosphere.
The festival stalls transform the Eternal City into an immersive Christmas wonderland, offering numerous markets to explore after you've savoured the main Roman Christmas Market.
Location: You can find this enchanting market at Piazza Navona.
Bolzano Christmas Market - Bolzano, South Tyrol
Bolzano is a majestic town nestled into the northern Italian mountains, where the Rosengarten Dolomites act as a spectacular backdrop to the Bolzano Christmas Market.
The festive holiday ambience swells from Piazza Walther, where little wooden huts display traditional wooden toys or garlands set beneath candles and lamps that light the medieval streets. The crisp alpine air often carries the aromas of mulled wine that continue through the arcaded lanes, adding to the fairytale atmosphere of the town.
There is nothing quite like exploring the Italian countryside during winter when the snow covers the mountains and crackling fires can keep you snug after an evening wandering the colourful Bolzano Christmas Market.
Where to find the market: Piazza Walther
Piazza Santa Croce Christmas Market - Florence, Tuscany
The Christmas ambience in Florence overtakes the heart of the historic city and the joyous holiday spirit flows from the center of the action in the Piazza Santa Croce Christmas Market.
With a traditional German touch that combines charming wooden huts offering Italian and German delicacies, the market, known in German as Weihnachtsmarkt, magically blends two European perspectives of the winter season.
Decorations and handcrafts add to the illustrious spirit of the holiday season, from intricate wooden toys to lavish garlands. The mixture of bright colours and aromas of gingerbread and spiced wine create a warm and welcoming ambience in the cold.
Where to find the market: Piazza Santa Croce
Verona Christmas Market - Verona, Veneto
Verona is famous for star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, and its Christmas market adds another layer of romance to the medieval lanes during the holiday season.
The spiced aromas of mulled wine and fruit cakes emanate from the wooden stalls filling the central Piazza Dei Signori. Fairy lights glimmer in the evening, adding to the storybook ambience, while traditional Bavarian dishes provide a taste of the region's history.
Handicrafts, decorations, and celebrated cuisine display the fascinating traditions of Verona and the beauty of holiday heritage that flows from historic Veneto villages and their markets. Because of its proximity to Venice, you could always schedule in day trip, made easy by the excellent train network in the region.
Where to find the market: Piazza Dei Signori
Arco Christmas Market - Lake Garda, Trentino-Alto Adige
The Arco Christmas Market in Arco, a stone’s throw from Lake Garda, is blessed with one of the most dramatic winter views of the Dolomites during Christmas.
The market is open for the entire month and invites travellers to explore the unique Christmas traditions and cuisine of the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy. The Arboreto di Arco park is a Christmas wonderland for families wishing to explore gardens riddled with decorations and dwarfs, before browsing many city centre markets overflowing with toys and regional cuisine.
Fire shows, street performers, and a Christmas train add to the seasonal charm, where you can also explore the breathtaking surrounding mountains veiled in snow.
Where to find the market: Il Palazzo di Piazza o Municipio d'Arco and Arboreto di Arco
Our team of travel elves can put together your enchanting Christmas break, they can range from 3 nights or 1 week.
You can enjoy any of the featured regions or even mix a few up and experience Christmas in a couple of areas, Verona, Lake Garda and South Tyrol could be a perfect combination.
Prefer to chat it through? Call us today to speak with a Slovenia travel expert.
Christmas Time in Italy
Other Itineraries Around Italy
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During a unique journey between Malta and the C'te d'Azur, fall under the spell of the Mediterranean coastlines, where the light envelops the islands and caresses the shores. On the Sicilian coast, Syracuse whispers ancient legends, Taormina lights up under the calm gaze of Etna, and Palermo rolls out its colourful markets and baroque palaces. In the Aeolian Islands archipelago, Lipari seems to float between the sky and the sea, and majestic Stromboli watches over the horizon like a lighthouse. Portoferraio, between lush hills and coves of turquoise water, reveals all of Elba's beauty, with the sea meeting the land in a unique landscape. Calvi, in the north of the Isle of Beauty, stands with its citadel facing the infinite, bathed by the deep blue of the Mediterranean.
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Set off to explore the shores of Italy, where each region reveals a character shaped by history and the sea. Stretching from Emilia-Romagna, rich in Roman and Byzantine splendour, to the Adriatic coast, is a unique heritage bearing witness to centuries of history. Puglia captivates with its medieval villages and light-drenched shores, while in Sicily, Mount Etna watches over ancient cities and dramatic landscapes where Greek and Roman influences intertwine. Tuscany blends Renaissance elegance and the Mediterranean lifestyle, with fortified towns and coastal cities. Further north, Liguria charms with its colourful ports nestling in coves, while the Amalfi Coast reveals panoramas seemingly suspended between sky and sea.
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Set off to discover the legendary shores of Italy, along the Adriatic, Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, via Sicily and with a break at the Croatian island pearl of Hvar. At sea, spectacular landscapes unfold between the deep blue sea, lush hills, secret coves and cliffside villages. Each port of call reveals a facet of this mythical land, at the crossroads of multiple influences: ancient sites bearing witness to a glorious past, treasures of Baroque and Renaissance architecture, sunny squares inviting you to partake in la dolce vita, local flavours.
A unique journey featuring a harmonious blend of thousand-year history, living traditions and Mediterranean panoramas of rare beauty.
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Embark on a cruise through the jewels of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic. From the sun-drenched shores of Sicily to the rugged coast of Puglia, fall under the spell of landscapes where white stone meets the deep blue of the sea. Here, the hillside villages overlook secluded coves, and the markets fill the air with the scent of citrus fruit and olive oil. Heading further north, the Bay of Kotor and the Dalmatian Islands offer a stunning backdrop of mountains tumbling into crystal-clear waters, with history etched into every rampart and bell tower. From the protected forests of Mljet and the vineyards of Hvar to the peninsulas lined with golden beaches, this odyssey celebrates the art of cruising the Mediterranean.