Planning a trip to Rome in December 2026? 🎄🇮🇹 The Eternal City becomes even more magical during the festive season, with sparkling Christmas lights, traditional holiday markets, beautiful decorations, and a wonderful atmosphere. Whether you’re visiting Rome for a romantic winter getaway, a family holiday, or a weekend city break, December is a fantastic time to explore the Italian capital.
Wondering what to do in Rome in December? From exploring iconic attractions like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Vatican City to discovering charming Christmas markets, seasonal exhibitions, concerts, and festive events, there are plenty of unforgettable experiences waiting for you.
December is also the perfect time to experience Rome like a local. Wander through beautifully decorated streets, enjoy traditional Italian Christmas treats, discover hidden cafés, and explore the city’s lively piazzas without the intense summer heat.
In our guide to the best things to do in Rome in December 2026, we’ve rounded up the top events, Christmas activities, festivals, cultural highlights, and local tips to help you make the most of your visit.
✨ Discover what’s on in Rome this December and get inspired for your perfect winter trip!
1. Rome Independent Cinema Festival
2. Piazza Navona Christmas Market
3. Rome Gospel Festival
4. We Run Rome
5. Christmas World at Villa Borghese
6. New Consonance Music Festival
7. More Books, More Freedom
8. Ro.Me – Museum Fair
9. Santa’s Castle
10. Christmas at Cinecittà World
The Roma Independent Film Festival is one of the most famous film festivals of the year, offering space to Italian and international independent cinema. During these days, films, new directors and productions outside the more commercial circuits are presented. The screenings and related events let you discover original stories and different points of view. This event is perfect for those who want to attend something more “niche”.
The Christmas atmosphere arrives in the Capital and, as every year, brings with it the famous Christmas market in Piazza Navona. There will be food stalls, handmade products, handcrafted toys… in short, everything you would expect from a year-end market!
Close your eyes and listen to the voices of choirs from all over the world, guaranteed to give you goosebumps. The Gospel Festival will fill the halls of Rome’s Auditorium with both traditional and modern gospel, including plenty of Christmas songs. You might fall in love with this show even if you’re not particularly fond of this unusual genre.
If you want to end the year on a sporty note, We Run gives you the chance to take part in a race through the city alongside hundreds of other athletes. There’s both a competitive race for the more athletic and a more relaxed route for those who simply want to see out the year in a healthy way. 🏃♀️
Villa Borghese becomes a journey through Christmas traditions from around the world, with themed scenery, light installations, parades and live shows spread throughout Rome’s most famous park. There are workshops and attractions for the little ones, but the variety of stalls means there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Nuova Consonanza explores the world of contemporary and experimental music with concerts, original compositions and artistic collaborations. The festival offers the chance to discover new sounds and creative ways of making music. It is aimed at those who love musical research and want to hear something different from traditional repertoires.
If you take a closer look, what do you see? Independent publishers from around the world come together to seek an answer to this question through numerous conferences, author presentations, debates, and various booths dedicated to the world of books and publishing.
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With conferences, meetings and new technologies for preserving and bringing art to life, the Ro.Me fair is mainly aimed at industry professionals, but it’s also interesting if you’re passionate about culture. If you love art, the venue alone is a good reason to visit – the magnificent Santo Spirito in Sassia complex!
Come and discover the secret rooms of Lunghezza Castle, meet the elves or Santa Claus himself, visit the toy factory or send a letter through the Christmas post office! On selected days, magic shows, dance performances and acrobatics will entertain children and their families!
The cinema-themed amusement park gets into the Christmas spirit with Christmas Street – a street that looks like it came straight out of a movie set in old New York! You can go ice skating, watch musicals or get lost in the Grinch’s maze. You can also spend New Year’s Eve here enjoying music and shows that will delight the little ones. 🎄
Find all the tips for the best THINGS TO DO IN ROME.
