Christmas in Rome combines Christian tradition, shopping, nativity scenes, markets, museums and Roman cuisine to create an unforgettable experience.
A visit to Rome at Christmas is something very special. In addition to shopping, decorated streets, museums and good food, you will experience one of the highest celebrations in the center of Christianity.
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Advent in Rome
The Christmas season officially begins in Rome on December 8 with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, la Immacolata Concezione, which is a holiday in Italy. Yet the Christmas decorations are turned on earlier in Rome as well. The tradition of St. Nicholas on December 6th is not celebrated in Rome.
This year, for the first time, the City of Rome’s Christmas tree will not be shining in Piazza Venezia due to the major construction site for the new metro station. The 2023 Christmas tree can therefore be admired in Piazza del Popolo, at the other end of Via del Corso. Piazza del Popolo is a pedestrian zone, the atmosphere is magical.
The Xmas season ends in Rome with the feast of the Magi on January 6th. On the night of the 5th to the 6th of January the witch, La Befana, comes and brings sweets and coal to the children.
Nativity scenes in Rome
Rome Christmas cribs. In Rome there is at least one crib in each church. And there are many churches in Rome! You can also visit some exhibitions. The largest is near to the Vatican. In the surroundings of Rome there are nativity scenes with performers and animals, so-called “living cribs”.
The nativity scene on St. Peter’s Square
The most famous nativity scene in Rome, with life-size figures, is set up every year in St. Peter’s Square.
In 2023 the scene comes from the nearby province of Rieti, where St. Francis built his first Christmas crib 800 years ago in the village of Greccio. In St. Peter’s Square, the situation 800 years ago is recreated. Next to the Holy Family and the shepherds, one sees Francis with his confreres. The figures in painted clay wear clothes like 800 years ago. The structure reproduces the rock of the sanctuary of Greccio and the river Velino. Photo gallery of the 2023 nativity scene
In the audience hall, a structure made of Venetian glass tells of the birth of Jesus. He is welcomed by St. Francis and St. Chiara.
The Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square comes from the Alps of Piedmont. The 25m high fir is donated by the village of Macra, which has only 40 inhabitants and is located in a picturesque mountain region with beautiful hiking trails.
The inauguration of the crib and the tree will take place on Saturday Dec 9 at 5 p.m.. They can be visited until January 7.
There are also nativity scenes on display in the Audience Hall and in the Baptistery of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Nativities of previous years
In St. Peter’s Square every year are exhibited interesting Christmas cribs in different styles and from different countries. In 2022, the nativity scene came from the village of Sutrio in the Friulian Dolomites.
The 2021 nativity scene came from faraway Peru, from the peasant community of Choppca, located in the Andes at an altitude of 3,680 to 4,500 meters in the district of Huancavelica. Photo gallery nativity 2021>
In 2020 the nativity scene came frome the city of Castelli in the Apennines and the 28 m / 92 ft high tree from Kočevje in Slovenia. Photo gallery nativity 2020>
In 2019 the crib and tree came from the Italian Alps. Photo gallery nativity 2019>
In 2018, the Nativity scene was carved out of a block of sand from Jesolo.
In 2016 it came from Malta. Click here for the picture gallery of the crib 2016>
In 2017, the crib came from Naples. In 2018, the nativity scene was carved out of a block of sand from Jesolo.
Nativity scenes exhibition
Many Romans make nativity scenes as a hobby and tinker with them all year round. There are beautiful landscapes and often moving figures, often depicting village life and various activities. Particularly active is the Italian association of nativity scene lovers AIAP (Associazione Italiana Amici del Presepio, website AIAP), whose members mostly pursue nativity scene making as a hobby. The AIAP exhibits nativity scenes in various churches and also participates in the nativity scene exhibition at the Vatican.
100 Nativity scenes in the Vatican
The exhibition 100 Cribs in the Vatican is on St. Peter’s Square under the left colonnade of Bernini. It is called “100 presepi in Vaticano“. The exhibition shows 100 cribs from all over the worldmade of different materials like wood, glass or metal and in different styles. Entrance is free.
St. Peter’s Square December 8 – January 7 10-20 Bus 23, 34, 40, 46, 62, 64, 98, 115, 280, 870, 881, 916, 982 (Lgt Sassia / S. Spirito), 23, 34, 40, 982 (Traspontina / Conciliazione)The crib of the street sweepers (all year)
The crib of the street sweepers (il presepe dei netturbini) was created in 1972 and has grown steadily. The model of life in Palestine 2000 years ago consists of 200 buildings, roads and rivers with 8 bridges and 5 aqueducts. There are also springs and caves as well as numerous figures. The entrance is free.
The crib is located in a building of the garbage disposal company between San Pietro station and the Vatican.
Via dei Cavalleggeri 5all year Mon-Sat 9-19; Sun 8-11:30 15.12.-30.1. 8-20 Bus 34, 46, 98, 190F, 881, 916, 982 (Cavallegeri / San Pietro)
Nativity exhibition in the Basilica of St. Anthony
Another nativity scene exhibition is in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Anthony of the Franciscan Order. Entrance is free. The basilica is located on the Via Merulana corner of Viale Manzoni. Via Merulana leads from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to the Basilica of St. John.
Via Merulana 124 Dec. 12 -Jan 10 16:30-19:00, on holidays also 9:30-12:45 Bus 16, 51, 85, 87, 714 Tram 3 (Manzoni / Merulana)Living nativities
In the living nativities, participants recreate life at the time of Jesus’ birth in Palestine. There are stalls, artisans, shepherds with their animals, Roman officials and soldiers, and of course the holy family with the baby Jesus. Ox and donkey are also around somewhere.
The living crib of Tarquinia
100 kilometers north of Rome, in the borgo Santa Maria di Castello at Tarquinia , there is a living nativity scene beginning at 5 pm on December 26 and 30 and on January 6. It is a big spectacle with fire-eaters and fakirs and local culinary specialties.
How to get to Tarquinia: Regional train 2342 at 2:12pm from Termini with arrival at 3:27 in Tarquinia or train 2344 at 4:12pm. From the station you can go by local bus to the city center or 3 km on foot. Return trains are at 8:29 and 10:29pm. For the journey you need a day ticket BIRG for 4 zones for the price of 9,30 Euro or train tickets for the price of 13,80 Euro for round trip. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 pay a reduced price of 7 euros round trip with the train ticket.
The Living Crib of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
Saturday Dec. 16 from 13 to 18
The crib will be created by participants from all over Italy
13:00 Access to the crib area
14:00 Performance of folklore groups
15:00 Performance of the living crib
Christmas markets
In Rome you will find a huge variety of culture, churches, archeology, gastronomy and shopping. But Xmas markets, as they are known from northern countries, do not exist in Rome. Reasons for this are the warmer climate and the missing gastronomic offer at the Christmas markets in Rome.
The witches’ market, the Mercatino della Befana, takes place in Piazza Navona. In Italy, it is the witch who brings presents to the kids, on the night of January 6th. The beautiful traditional carousel turns late into the night alongside noisy shooting galleries. A colorful mixture of handicrafts, sugar stuff and cheap junk from the Far East is on offer, until January 6.
Very nice is the market in Piazza Mazzini in Prati. This year-round market offers Christmas decorations and has a nice ambience.
There are other markets scattered around the city, mostly in tents offering everything from used books to costume jewelery.
Throughout the year, on Sundays, the Porta Portese flea market takes place with housewares, second-hand goods, clothing, furniture and antiques. Tram lines 3 and 8.
Santa Claus Wonderland – Santa’s house – post office – ice rink and skate rental
Dec 11-15, 18-22 16-20 Dec 8-10, 16-17, Dec 23-Jan 7 10-20Ponte Milvio – Lungotevere Maresciallo Diaz
Christmas World in Villa Borghese
The biggest event at Christmas in Rome is Christmas World at Villa Borghese from December 1 to January 7. There is also an ice skating rink with skate rental. Thematically, 60,000 square meters feature the landmarks of 8 world cities with themed gastronomic offerings.
Entrance tickets should be reserved online.
Tickets at
It has a beautiful carousel with horses from 1896. A few stalls sell handcrafted nativity scenes, regional specialties and there is a puppet theater. Most of the fairgrounds, however, sells worthless stuff. There are also numerous shooting galleries that draw attention to themselves. A serving of food and drinks does not exist. Piazza Navona Photo Gallery>
Museums at Christmas
Xmas is high season. Many tourists and pilgrims are in Rome. For the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum, you need to reserve in good time, as only a limited number of visitors are allowed.
Many National Museums and the Museums of the Municipality of Rome are closed on December 25th and January 1st. The Colosseum and Castel Sant’Angelo are open. You can find out which other museums are open on December 25 in our current information on December in Rome.
The museums of the Municipality of Rome will close on December 24th. and 31.12. at 14 o ‘clock. On January 1st, some museums in the municipality of Rome have a special opening time.
The Vatican Museums are closed on December 25th and 26th as well as on the 1st and 6th of January
Shows and concerts
Shopping for Christmas in Rome
The Romans plan not long in advance, and only in the last few days before the feast it is hectic in Rome. Many visitors come from the surrounding countryside to Rome for the Christmas shopping and it is tight on the streets and in the shops. everything is festive. In Via dei Condotti you will find the big fashion brands, on the Via del Corso and in the surroundings you will find an extensive offer in every price class.
In our photo galleries we show you our walks through the atmospheric streets of the city, with decorated stores and with mulled wine.
Amusement parks
Ice skating
During the Christmas season, various ice rinks are set up in Rome. At all the rinks you can find skate rental.
Ice Christmas Village, Ponte Milvio, until Jan. 8.
Christmas World, Villa Borghese, until Jan. 8.
Piazza Re di Roma, until Jan. 8.
Shopping Center Euroma2, until Feb. 4.
Christmas in the Luneur
In the district EUR is the amusement park Luneur. Luneur celebrates Christmas in December with Christmas decorations and mythical creatures. The children can hand over their wish list to Santa Claus. The opening times you find in their calendar.
Via delle Tre Fontane, 100 Bus 30/130F, 170, 714, 791, N2, N3 Colombo/AgricolturaChristmas at Cinecittà World
Next to the outlet center Castel Romano. Christmas in the Cinecittà World Amusement park with roller coaster, virtual flight with Santa Claus and many other attractions. Cinecittà World
Regional bus COTRAL from Metro Laurentina to Castel Romano 2,60€ <->, buying the ticket on bord 14€ The shuttle bus departs from the ATAC stop in Viale America above the EUR/Palasport metro station on line B from 10:30 – return 18:00. 14€Cinecittà World is open on December 25
10:30 Holy Mass
Christmas menu
Public transport
On Xmas Eve 24th December, bus, tram and metro will stop operation with a final departure at 9pm. The last departure on the line to Ostia is at 9:30 p.m., from Ostia at 8:45 p.m.
The night buses go according to the timetable. The lines of the night buses are marked with an N.
On the 25th December public transport will run from 8:30 to 13:00 and from 16:30 to 21:00. This also applies to the line to Ostia and to the city area of the line Rome-Flaminio Montebello. The night buses go according to the timetable.
On December 26, the normal holiday timetable applies.
Celebrating Christmas in Rome
On Christmas Day, the traditional Christmas message and the blessing “Urbi et Orbi” will take place at noon in St. Peter’s Square.
The 24th December is the day of the expectation of the birth of Christ and therefore not a holiday and there is no banquet. The tradition is fish or simple dishes.
On the 25th December the dishes will be served in the right way. The tradition includes a wide choice of appetizers, pasta, lamb (abbacchio) or rabbit (coniglio) or other specialties of the Roman cuisine. Finally, the traditional Christmas biscuits, Pannettone or Pandoro and, of course, caffè and a grappa or a liqueur such as limoncello as “Ammazzacaffè” (coffee butcher), which counteracts the taste and caffeine of the caffè.
On December 26, friends are visited and the leftovers are eaten.
Christmas masses
You need a reservation to attend Masses in St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
25.12. 12:00 Loggia delle Benedizioni, Urbi et Orbi. For Christmas, the Pope donates the blessing for the city and the world. You can follow the blessing live in St. Peter’s Square or on our page about the live broadcasts from the Vatican.
All dates can be found on the page December in Rome>
Churches in Rome with services in English language
Roman catholic:
Pontifical Irish College (Roman Catholic), Via dei SS. Quattro 1, tel. 06772631 https://www.irishcollege.org/
St Isidore’s College (Roman Catholic), Via degli Artisti 41, tel. 064885359 https://stisidoresrome.org/
St Francis Xavier del Caravita (Roman Catholic), Via della Caravita 7 http://caravita.org/
S. Silvestro in Capite (Roman Catholic), Piazza S. Silvestro 1, tel. 066797775 https://sansilvestroincapite.org/
St Patrick’s American Community (Roman Catholic), Via Boncompagni 31, tel. 0642014554 https://stpatricksamericanrome.org/
Venerable English College (Roman Catholic), Via di Monserrato 45, tel. 066868546 https://www.vecrome.org/
Other churches
All Saints’ Anglican Church, Via del Babuino 153/b, tel. 0636001881 https://www.allsaintsrome.org/
Ponte S. Angelo Methodist Church, Piazza Ponte S. Angelo 68, tel. 0668768314 http://www.methodistchurchrome.com/
Rome Baptist Church, S. Lorenzo in Lucina 35, tel. 066876652 http://www.romebaptist.org/
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Via XX Settembre 7, tel. 064827627 https://www.facebook.com/presbyterianchurchrome/
St Paul’s Within the Walls (Episcopal), Via Nazionale, corner Via Napoli 58, tel. 064883339 https://www.stpaulsrome.it/