Christmas festivities - December 2025/January 2026

Italy, the Bel Paese or Beautiful Country, is now a destination for all seasons, and the Christmas celebrations are a wonderful time of year to enjoy festive destinations in the cities as well as in the mountains or on the coast.

Christmas holiday in Italy are an attraction for everyone. From Italian holidaymakers in search of relaxation, tasty dishes and unforgettable views, to foreign tourists on the lookout for the best religious and heritage traditions, festive gourmet restaurants, or the most exciting artisanal fairs and markets in small towns and villages.

With more than 2.7 million international and domestic airport passenger bookings into Italy in December 2025, with an annual variation of +3%, the positive trend that has defined the past year has been confirmed (if we consider only tourists who stay in Italy there are 2.4 million airport arrivals, up +6.1% on the previous year). This growth trend looks like continuing in 2026, with around 2.3 million airport bookings, up 3.9% on the previous year (1.9 million staying visitors, +4.4% on 2025) expected in the month of January 2026.

The charm of Italy during the Christmas holidays knows no bounds. In December and January Italy prepares to welcome millions of travellers, with figures that once again tell a story of success. If domestic flows are a guarantee and prove stable at 36% of the total, international movements are still driving growth.

Leading the way is the Spanish market, which will total some 611,000 airport arrivals, closely followed by the United Kingdom with over 583,000 arrivals. There is no shortage of Italian travellers, who exceed 383,000, while France and Germany confirm their love for Italy with 328,000 and 308,000 arrivals respectively.

But the flow map is even more varied: 280,000 Polish, 212,000 Albanian and 208,000 Romanian tourists arrive from Eastern Europe, while 166,000 arrivals come from the United States. And to complete the picture there are also travellers from the Benelux countries, with the Netherlands at 118,000 and Belgium at 121,000.

Large Italian cities are preparing to set the stage for this festive invasion. Milan stands out with 1.6 million airport arrivals, followed by Rome with 1.2 million, clearly outstripping the other cities. Also on the podium of the most popular destinations are Venice (491,000), Naples (296,000) and Bologna (258,000), while Bari, Catania, Turin (where January exceeds December), Florence and Pisa complete the list of Italy’s most visited cities.

Business tourism? This season it takes a step back, yet it doesn’t vanish, accounting for 3% of arrivals. On the international front, Italy confirms its leading role: second only to Spain, but ahead of competitors such as France and Turkey.

Christmas, in short, is the time when Italy shines more than ever, with markets, lights and a festive atmosphere that continue to enchant the world. This underscores how holidays in Italy are even more a symbol of sharing, inclusion and welcome, on tables in homes as well as in hospitality for travellers who have already booked ahead, but also for those who will decide at the last minute to celebrate the festivities this year, Italian-style.




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An intimate and charming location, ideal for weddings in Piemonte, Uve Rooms & Wine Bar in La Morra, is in the province of Cuneo.

The former convent is now an elegant Relais

The old building, which preserves the spiritual charm of the convent it once housed has appealing contemporary allure. The artistic design of the architecture and the furnishings, adding to its captivating and authentic appeal.

The staff organizes every detail

The romanticism inherent in the hilly landscape of the village of La Morra, considered one of the most beautiful in Italy, is the backdrop to an experience that begins under the best auspices. The staff of Uve Rooms & Wine Bar organize every detail of the reception, from the set-up to the catering, for moments of sharing inspired by elegance and refinement. The spacious cloister overlooked by the restaurant and the rooms of the Relais welcomes the happy couple and the guests to the chic and relaxed atmosphere. 

Guestrooms for the newlyweds and their guests

The location is perfect for those who appreciate the whispered luxury of tradition that becomes substance, and the beauty of places that have a story to tell. To make that special day even more special, newlyweds and guests can choose to stay in one of the eight rooms and suites of the Relais, enjoying the silence and peace of the hamlet and savouring the slow pace of the surrounding landscape.

Visit Emilia is once again proposing visits to twelve historical theatres in the provinces of Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia from 5 to 8 December. 

“That part of us that needs beauty…to not forget who we are”

“I like to think that opening a theatre is not just a gesture towards tourists, but a political gesture. In the noblest sense of the word: it means taking care of the polis, of the community, of that part of us that needs beauty in order not to forget who we are,” says Simone Fornasari, president of Visit Emilia.  

ph credits: Teatro Farnese

Two stunning provincial theatres

The Teatro Regio in Parma, built by Duchess Maria Luigia in 1829, is a small neoclassical masterpiece, and guided tours, for a fee, take about 30 minutes. The Teatro Farnese in Parma is a wooden miracle. Built in 1618 the Teatro Farnese should have collapsed a thousand times, but instead it has remained there, a wonder in wood.

Verdi Theatre in Busseto - ph credits Lorenzo Moreni 

A place of pilgrimage for Verdi fans  

The Verdi Theatre in Busseto was inaugurated in 1868 by the people of Busseto in honour of the great composer Giuseppe Verdi who, however, never set foot in it. Inside the Rocca Pallavicino, the horseshoe-shaped hall, the painted medallions with the theatre muses and the bust of Verdi at the entrance are a secular pilgrimage for many visitors from all over the world, whether or not they are opera fans.

Pallavicino Theatre in Zibello - credist Visit Emilia - photo by Francesca Bocchia

Piacenza has two historical theatres

The small, elegant Pallavicino Theatre in Zibello was inaugurated in 1804 in the palace of the marquises from which it takes its name. In the little theatre of Vigoleno Castle, visits are not only guided, but animated. Which means that, among the medieval walls and ancient bricks, you are likely to meet a ghost who wants to tell you his story. Piacenza can boast two historical theatres:  the Municipal Theatre, built in 1804 to a design by Lotario Tomba, and the Sala dei Teatini, a deconsecrated church that then became a theatre. In the former you can still breathe the air of 19th-century melodramas, in the latter that of modern experimentation.

Reggio’s theatre is among the top 60 in Italy 

On the guided tours of the Romolo Valli Municipal Theatre in Reggio Emilia, you discover the majesty of the horseshoe-shaped hall, the four tiers of golden boxes, the historic curtain and the dressing rooms where the echoes of the artists still vibrate. A visit to the Giovanni Rinaldi Theatre in Reggiolo, named after Giovanni Rinaldi, an illustrious 19th century musician, is a preview of the official opening in 2026. The theatre is counted among the top 60 historical theatres in Italy.

Reliving days of yore with art and music

In the cozy silence of Guastalla, the Ruggero Ruggeri Theatre is a small treasure trove. Built in 1671 by the Gonzaga dukes, it still preserves the Baroque grace of its horseshoe-shaped boxes and the intimacy of its 17th-century decorations. Named after the great actor Ruggeri, today it hosts prose, music and dance performances. The Herberia theatre in Rubiera is not visited in silence: it is listened to. Because its visits are accompanied by music, as if the theatre itself needed reminding that it is alive. The Herberia Theatre opened in 1926, in a late Art Nouveau building designed by the engineer Antonio Panizzi and the architect Italo Costa.

The challenge for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games begins with the road network.

A bus for Cortina every 30 minutes

According to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, in the period leading up to the Olympics and during the Paralympics, from 23 January to 3 February 2026 and from 23 February to 17 March, the number 30 Dolomiti Bus will be running 33 daily services. There will be a bus every thirty minutes, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., the last trip leaving Cortina at midnight. The number of trips will increase to 52 on the days of the Games, with a frequency of every twenty minutes from 4 to 22 February from 5 a.m. to 1:35 p.m., the last trip leaving Cortina at midnight.

Also Trenitalia and private buses

“We have to reduce the number of private vehicles in circulation as much as possible,- explains  provincial transport councillor Massimo Bortoluzzi, -because, although the number of arriving spectators may be lower than initially planned, there will be a significant increase in traffic along the Alemagna.” Among vehicles in transit during the days of the Games there will be shuttles departing from the park-and-ride car parks, which, from the 120 planned, will be reduced to about 80. Then there will be the vehicles heading to Cortina from Cadore for members of the Olympic family staying in the area, plus the vehicles of Dolomiti Bus and those of residents in the area from Longarone to San Vito di Cadore and from Pieve to Auronzo and Comelico. Furthermore there will be 130 buses provided by Trenitalia departing from the main cities in the Veneto region and those of private companies that will offer tours in the Olympic city.

Will there be enough parking spaces? 

One thorny issue is the number of parking spaces for the private cars of ticket holders. The parking spaces in the car parks, all of which are paid, are currently foreseen at a total of 3,700, for a public that will be between twelve and twenty thousand spectators daily, the maximum influx being expected on the days of the women's Alpine skiing competitions. ‘”There are very few parking spaces,- admits Bortoluzzi, "and in some cases they are still on paper, but we are counting on the infrastructure being completed as guaranteed, and on schedule.” 

The AN Hotels new entry is the 4-star AN Park Hotel Milano Settala.

Extensive MICE facilities and 140 rooms

In the Milanese hinterland, the property, which has chosen to leave the Accor group Ibis brand, it is an ideal destination for both business and leisure customers. The hotel has 140 rooms and suites, ample space dedicated to the MICE events with meeting rooms for up to 300 people with state-of-the-art technology, a large park with century-old trees, swimming pool, children's area, minigolf, and various fitness areas.

Perfectly located for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

It is in a strategic location for Milan Cortina 2026: situated a short distance from the Santa Giulia area with its PalaItalia, which will be home to some of the Winter Olympics' most important competitions. So the hotel is an ideal base for hosting delegations, technical staff, media and fans during the event.

A swimming pool, free parking and close to Linate Airport

Among the advantages are the vast park with a swimming pool, the Privé Restaurant, the many modular rooms for events and meetings, conventions, corporate conventions and private events. There is also ample free guarded private parking and direct links to the main routes. Located in Settala, a few kilometres from Milan, a short distance from Linate airport and the Novegro Congress Centre, it is at the crossroads between the A1, A4 and the eastern ring roads.

For corporate and leisure customers

“This acquisition is a significant milestone in our growth path and confirms the validity of our vision.  explains a note from An Hotels, “We are building and expanding a strong Italian hotel chain, capable of competing with the big international brands while offering a personalized and excellent service. The Settala hotel allows us to serve corporate and leisure customers even better. Further additions are planned in the coming months that will strengthen AN Hotels' presence in strategic tourist areas around Italy."

AN Hotels has four hotels with another 4 in the pipeline

AN Hotels was established in 2013 with properties offering design, comfort and attention to detail for both business and leisure guests and families. To date it has four properties: AN Park Hotel Milano Settala, AN Hotel Milano Melegnano, AN Hotel Dépendance Milano Melegnano and the new AN Hotel Milano San Donato. The group is also developing four new hotels in Portofino, Rapallo, Serravalle Scrivia and Piacenza.

The Umbrian village of Monte Castello di Vibio, in the province of Perugia, will once again be a Christmas Village.  

A journey through magic, tradition and community

During the Advent period and for all the Christmas holidays, until 6 January 2026, the Umbrian village of Monte Castello di Vibio, near Perugia will become the Land of Christmas, welcoming visitors on a journey through magic, tradition and community.  From 30 November 2025 to 6 January 2026 the charming Umbrian village will be immersed in a magical Christmas atmosphere, enlivened by themed decorations and decorations, where every street will tell a story, and every encounter will warm the heart.

Father Christmas and the Grinch

In Father Christmas' House, set up in the halls of Palazzo Persiani, adults and children alike will be able to enjoy the toy factory, and meet Father Christmas in person in the Throne Room. The Befana House will welcome visitors as a magical refuge among hanging stockings, crackling wood and the scent of sweets. At the top of the village hill, in the House of the Grinch with characteristic green walls, crooked decorations and a mountain of messy presents, children can rediscover the spirit of Christmas.

Stilt-walkers, magic shows and a Disney Parade

Christmas in Monte Castello di Vibio also includes a rich programme of events that, for the entire period, will animate the village, from gospel choral music to performances by itinerant bands, animated theatrical readings, stilt-walking and street magic shows. It will start on Sunday 30 November with the passage through the streets of the village of the traditional pipers announcing the start of Advent, while on Monday 8 December there will be a travelling performance by the Christmas Street Band. Sunday 14 December will see stilt-walkers and a magic show, and on the following Sunday, 21 December, there will be the Valdichiana Disney Parade.

A gospel concert, local markets and painting workshops

The most eagerly awaited event will be held on Saturday 27 December with the gospel choral music concert staged by the Joyful Singing Choir, made up of forty elements divided into sections of sopranos, tenors, altos and basses, always accompanied by a band of master musicians.The rich programme of Christmas in Monte Castello di Vibio will end with the Parata Luminosa - Circus Workshop, scheduled for Thursday 1 January 2026, and the suggestive  Descent of the Befana on Sunday 4 January 2026. Throughout the entire period of the event, refreshment points and street food areas will be set up in Piazza Santa Illuminata, warm and welcoming places and there will also be markets displaying local handicrafts and, for children, workshops on Christmas painting, garlands, Christmas balls and biscuits, and decorations made with felt. 

At MagicLand, the largest amusement park in Central-Southern Italy, Christmas shines with pure magic from 8 November 2025 to 6 January 2026.

An immersive journey into the Christmas spirit

Magic Christmas, the most loved event of the year, is back! The park will be transformed into an enchanted place, where young and old will be able to experience the true essence of the festivities thanks to an extraordinary experience from the Kingdom of Father Christmas of Vetralla. The journey begins at the entrance, where a majestic Christmas tree welcomes visitors, inviting them to immerse themselves in a wonderful world. From here, evocative themed routes unfold, culminating in Father Christmas's Castle for a meeting with Father Christmas himself. 

Rides, and a Christmas musical

There are also new features to be discovered, starting with La Fabbrica delle Bollallegre, a theatrical and interactive ride full of lights and unexpected scenery. In the Magisphere amidst coal mines, magic recipes and lots of merriment, the extraordinary Bollallegre are special huge bubbles that bring happiness wherever they fly, immersing spectators in a fairyland. And the fun continues with Magic Winter, the new inflatable area for the little ones, and with the Kingdom Advent Tour is an exciting route that takes visitors through twenty-four stops, just like an Advent calendar.  “Lucy and the Mystery of the Lost Magic,” MagicLand's best-loved Christmas musical, returns by popular demand in a completely revamped version, with visitors able to attend the show free of charge. The surprises continue inside the Cosmo Academy Planetarium, Europe's largest planetarium, with the “Aurora: Lights of Wonder’ show and full dome video of the Northern Lights. 

Daily parades, a festive train and Christmas markets 

Each day will be enlivened by parades, travelling shows and musical moments that will transform MagicLand into a huge open-air stage. The streets of the park will come to life with the Christmas Parade, a festive parade that will feature the new and irresistible travelling Marzipan House, together with the mascot Rainbow Cat and the colourful characters of the Kingdom of Father Christmas.   Rounding out the experience will be the Magic Christmas Express, the Christmas train that will take young and old alike on an evocative journey through lights, decorations and fairytale atmospheres free of charge. Then there will be the Christmas Markets, where you can discover many gift ideas by Elfidea. Magic Christmas is much more than an event: it is a journey of emotions, wonder and the Christmas spirit; a unique opportunity to rediscover together the joy of believing in magic. For information: www.magicland.it 

Rome is the glamorous set of the new “Emily in Paris” fiction, with iconic locations and dreamlike atmospheres. 

The fiction has left Paris’s boulevards for the Italian capital

The Eternal City with its charm and beauty is an open-air film set, especially after the arrival of Emily Cooper, the protagonist of the famous TV series ‘Emily in Paris’ who last season left the Parisian boulevards for the Italian capital. The fourth season captivated fans with twists and turns and this unexpected change of location which catapulted many people onto the streets of Rome, passing through some of the city's most iconic and characteristic sights.

Many of Rome’s iconic sites become sets for the fiction

The places touched upon by the fiction, with the protagonists walking hand in hand or riding a Vespa, are many: from the iconic Mouth of Truth to the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine and the Altar of the Fatherland. There are also some exceptional locations that are illuminated at Christmas, like the lighting of the Christmas trees and illuminations or ad hoc events designed for the festivities. A perfect example is the selfie taken by the actress who plays Emily on the steps of The Spanish Steps with the beautiful Christmas tree, sponsored by Bvlgari.

The FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino offers special festive packages

Then there is the tour of Villa Borghese, which transforms into Europe's best-loved Christmas park with attractions, performers and a Big Show. Other special places in the series include the Rione Sant'Angelo district, with its turtle fountain, and the Teatro di Marcello, which will host a series of musical events in December, including the “Tempietto Concerts”, which are a traditional fixture of the Christmas season. Other highlights are the archaeological site of Ostia Antica  and  the Coppedè district known for its mix of architectural Art Nouveau, Baroque, Gothic and Mannerist styles. The FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino has devised several special packages, including a New Year's Eve package that includes a stay of one or more nights, daily buffet breakfast, the 31 December Dinner at the hotel restaurant and rhe 1 January brunch at the hotel restaurant as well as a welcome gift in the room on arrival.

Italy just enjoyed a bumper autumn laced with long weekends, digital nomads and corporate retreats.

More visitors want sustainable stays

After a record summer, autumn confirmed the desire to discover authentic experiences, with travellers looking for slower experiences, contact with nature, food and wine, and moments of wellbeing. The most recent analyses by ISTAT and the Ministry of Tourism show a clear picture: in the second quarter of 2025, tourist stays grew by +4.7 % over the previous year, with +12 % in mountain municipalities and inland areas. Data that signal a growing interest in a more sustainable form of tourism that seems destined to continue in future autumns.

Who are these new visitors?

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, overall tourism expenditure will reach €185 billion in 2025, confirming the solidity of the sector. With an OTA saturation rate of 46.7 % in June, Italy proves to be an attractive destination in every season, ready to welcome a demand that is increasingly moving towards long weekends, local experiences and off-season regeneration trips But today, more than ever, it is not enough to know how many people are coming: it is essential for stakeholders to understand who these visitors are, what they are looking for, and how one can create an offer capable of responding to this new complexity.

Long weekends are very popular

One of the growing trends is that of autumn long weekends: short trips, often concentrated around bank holiday weekends, chosen by those who want to switch off without straying too far away. Autumn thus becomes an ideal season for discovering the great art cities, nature trails and food and wine itineraries, offering destinations a concrete opportunity for de-seasonalization. Destinations are called upon to propose tailor-made and last-minute experiences, capable of responding to an increasingly dynamic demand. Moreover, this formula represents an opportunity to enhance inland territories and villages, counteracting the overtourism of the summer months. "The real question is not how many tourists will arrive, but who they will be. Understanding the new travellers is not only useful for those who manage an accommodation facility, but for anyone working in the tourism chain,” Luca Rodella, CEO of Smartness, an Italian company that helps hoteliers and hosts analyze data and market trends to optimize their pricing strategies.

Digital nomads: working with a view of foliage

Today over 40 million people worldwide identify with the digital nomad lifestyle: an expanding community of mostly freelancers, marketing professionals, developers, digital consultants, creatives and online entrepreneurs. A fluid army on the move, especially in autumn: one of the favourite seasons for travelling while working, thanks to cheaper rates and less crowded destinations. This phenomenon is also consolidating in Italy, with small towns and villages, cities of art and mountain destinations providing coworking spaces, fast connections and flexible hospitality. The metamorphosis concerns not only the way of working, but also the concept of travel itself, which is becoming slower, experiential and integrated into daily life, transforming the tourist into a temporary citizen.

Corporate retreats: the new season of connection

Alongside short breaks and digital nomad life, a new form of professional tourism is emerging: autumn corporate retreats. No longer simple conventions or bleisure trips, but immersive travel that focus on relationships, creativity and team vision. In an increasingly hybrid and distributed working world, companies are rediscovering the value of getting together, not to work harder, but to strengthen the sense of belonging and nurture corporate culture. October and November break the pattern of traditional seasonality and become key months for companies choosing locations immersed in nature or wellness resorts to strengthen team cohesion. In an increasingly hybrid world of work, the low season is thus transformed into a high opportunity.

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