Christmas and New Year in Rome: markets, nativity scenes and Mass at St Peter’s

By TicketGlide Editorial Team · Facts checked October 27, 2026 · How we research and review

Christmas in Rome runs from 8 December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, to Epiphany on 6 January, and it is built around nativity scenes, church music and the Christmas fair in Piazza Navona rather than big department-store displays. Tickets for papal Masses are free but must be requested in advance. Plan museum days carefully: the Vatican Museums close on 8, 25 and 26 December and on 1 and 6 January, the Colosseum on 25 December and 1 January, and buses and the metro stop early on Christmas Eve.

Christmas tours and concerts in Rome

Four well-reviewed ways to see Rome at Christmas, from an evening walk past the lights to an opera concert, all with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices checked on 27 October 2026; live prices in your currency are shown on each card.

Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.

Finding experiences…

Christmas walking tour for families

From €53.99

Guide price · checked October 27, 2026

About 2 hours · Families: Christmas stories, the Piazza Navona fair and the nativity scene at St Peter’s

An evening walk with a local guide in a group of up to 15, from the Spanish Steps through the decorated streets to the Christmas fair in Piazza Navona, ending at the nativity scene in St Peter’s Square. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. Check-in from 5.15pm at the bottom of the Spanish Steps.

Christmas in Rome walking tour with a hot drink

From €39.90

Guide price · checked October 27, 2026

About 2 hours · A short, low-priced walk past the lights, with a hot chocolate and Christmas sweets

A guided walk taking in the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona, with Roman Christmas traditions along the way, ending with a hot chocolate, tea or coffee and a traditional Italian Christmas sweet. Tours in English, Spanish and French, or private.

Christmas walking tour with the Pincio and St Peter’s

From €70

Guide price · checked October 27, 2026

About 3 hours · A longer walk across the centre, from the Pincio terrace to the Vatican Christmas tree

The Spanish Steps, Via del Corso, Piazza Navona and the Pincio gardens, with a stop in St Peter’s Square to see the Christmas tree, in a small group of up to 14.

Christmas opera concert with an Italian aperitivo

From €42

Guide price · checked October 27, 2026

About 1 hour 15 minutes · An evening out: opera arias and Christmas songs in a church in central Rome

Professional opera singers and a pianist perform Italian and international arias and duets, then Christmas favourites, with short introductions to each piece. Afterwards, a Christmas aperitivo with drinks and snacks with the performers. Seats are assigned by the box office.

What to see in Rome at Christmas

Piazza Navona Christmas and Befana fair

Rome’s best-known Christmas fair fills Piazza Navona with stalls. Under the city’s current contract it runs each year from 1 December to 6 January, so 1 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. In 2025 it opened on 6 December and stayed open from 9am to 1am, later before holidays. The fair is also the home of the Befana, the kindly witch who brings Italian children sweets on Epiphany: she arrives in the square on 6 January.

Nativity scenes: Rome’s Christmas tradition

Nativity scenes, presepi, are the heart of Christmas in Rome. Every year the Vatican sets up a large one in St Peter’s Square with a tall Christmas tree: in 2025 they were unveiled on 15 December and stayed until 11 January. Under Bernini’s colonnade, the free ‘100 Presepi in Vaticano’ exhibition shows nativity scenes from around the world; in 2025/26 it ran from 8 December to 8 January, daily from 10am to 7pm.

The Christmas tree and the lights on Via del Corso

Rome’s city Christmas tree has stood in Piazza del Popolo in recent years, lit on 8 December, with lights along Via del Corso, the shopping street that runs from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia. In 2025 the street was hung with about 500,000 LED lights over 1.8 km. The 2026 tree had not been announced on 27 October 2026.

Christmas Mass and the Urbi et Orbi blessing

The Pope celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at 10pm on 24 December and Christmas Day Mass at 10am on 25 December in St Peter’s Basilica, then gives the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing at noon from the central balcony over St Peter’s Square. The Te Deum on 31 December is at 6pm, and the Masses on 1 January and for Epiphany on 6 January are at 10am in the basilica. Tickets for the basilica celebrations are always free and are requested online from the Prefecture of the Papal Household; check its booking calendar again in December for any change.

New Year’s Eve and Epiphany

For the last four years Rome has held a free New Year’s Eve concert at the Circus Maximus; in 2025 it started at 9pm. The 2026 line-up had not been announced on 27 October 2026. For New Year 2025/26 the city banned firecrackers and rockets in public places, and the 2026 ordinance had not been published on 27 October 2026. On 6 January, the ‘Viva la Befana’ historical procession walks along Via della Conciliazione to St Peter’s, free and open to all, and the Piazza Navona fair closes.

Map of Christmas in Rome

Rome’s main Christmas sights are in the historic centre and at the Vatican, within walking distance of each other. Times are approximate walking times from Piazza Navona.

Getting around at Christmas

  • Christmas Eve: in 2025 buses, trams and the metro made their last departures at 9pm; night buses ran as normal.
  • Christmas Day: in 2025 public transport ran only from 8.30am to 1pm and from 4.30pm to 9pm.
  • New Year’s Eve: in 2025 the metro ran until 2.30am, while most buses and trams stopped at 9pm.
  • The 2026 timetables are published by Rome’s transport agency nearer the time; check before you travel.
  • The Christmas sights in the historic centre are best explored on foot.

Christmas sights on the map

  • 1Piazza Navona

    start

    The Christmas and Befana fair, from 1 December to 6 January.

  • 2Pantheon

    about 5 min

    On the way between Piazza Navona and Via del Corso.

  • 3Via del Corso

    about 10 min

    Rome’s main shopping street, hung with Christmas lights.

  • 4Spanish Steps

    about 15 min

    Where many Christmas walking tours begin.

  • 5Piazza del Popolo

    about 18 min

    Home of the city’s Christmas tree in recent years.

  • 6St Peter’s Square

    about 20 min

    The Vatican tree and nativity scene, with the ‘100 Presepi’ exhibition under the colonnade.

  • 7Circus Maximus

    about 25 min

    The site of Rome’s free New Year’s Eve concert in recent years.

Holiday closures in Rome

Italy’s public holidays in the season are 8 December, 25 and 26 December, 1 January and 6 January.

  • Vatican Museums: closed on 8, 25 and 26 December and on 1 and 6 January. On 24 and 31 December last entry is at 1pm and they close at 3pm. The free last Sunday falls on 27 December 2026.
  • Colosseum, Forum and Palatine: closed on 25 December and 1 January; in winter the last entry is at 3.30pm.
  • St Peter’s Basilica: access can be limited around the Christmas services.
  • Book Colosseum and Vatican tickets early for the days between Christmas and New Year, when the city is busy.

Getting tickets for Christmas Mass with the Pope

Tickets for papal celebrations in St Peter’s Basilica are always free. Request them online from the Prefecture of the Papal Household, which requires registering; anyone charging for them is not an official seller.

  • The Prefecture’s 2026–27 booking calendar lists Christmas Eve Mass at 10pm, Christmas Day Mass at 10am and the Te Deum at 6pm on 31 December, all in the basilica, then Masses at 10am on 1 and 6 January.
  • The Urbi et Orbi blessing at noon on 25 December is given to the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
  • Expect security checks at the entrance to St Peter’s Square, and arrive early.

Mistakes to avoid at Christmas in Rome

The most common mistake is planning a museum day for 25 or 26 December: the Vatican Museums are closed on both.

  • Paying for papal Mass tickets. They are free from the Vatican.
  • Missing the last bus on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day: services stop early.
  • Booking a late-afternoon Colosseum slot: in winter the last entry is at 3.30pm.

Christmas in Rome FAQ

When is the Christmas market in Piazza Navona in 2026?

The city schedules it from 1 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. In 2025 it opened on 6 December and ran from 9am to 1am, later before holidays.

How do I get tickets for Christmas Mass at the Vatican?

Request them free online from the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Tickets for papal celebrations are never sold, so avoid anyone charging for them.

What time is Christmas Mass at St Peter’s?

The Prefecture of the Papal Household’s 2026 calendar lists Christmas Eve Mass at 10pm on 24 December and Christmas Day Mass at 10am on 25 December, followed by the Urbi et Orbi blessing at noon in St Peter’s Square.

Are the Vatican Museums open at Christmas?

No. They are closed on 8, 25 and 26 December and on 1 and 6 January, and close early, at 3pm, on 24 and 31 December.

Is the Colosseum open on Christmas Day?

No. The Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine are closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Is there a New Year’s Eve concert in Rome?

In recent years Rome has held a free concert at the Circus Maximus; in 2025 it started at 9pm. The 2026 programme had not been announced on 27 October 2026.

What is the weather like in Rome in December?

Mild but damp: average highs are about 12°C and lows about 4°C, with rain on around eight or nine days.

Does public transport run on Christmas Day in Rome?

Partly. In 2025 buses, trams and the metro ran from 8.30am to 1pm and from 4.30pm to 9pm on Christmas Day. Check the 2026 timetable nearer the time.

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Sources

We checked the facts on this page against these sources on October 27, 2026. Prices and times can change, so confirm them when you book.

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