One of the best Christmas things to do in Rome for both adults and kids certainly is to explore and shop at the local season markets. Surrounded by festive settings of colorful lights, beautifully spruced-up trees, and cheerful carols, the best Christmas markets in Rome are a triumph of artisan products, regional foods, intoxicating scents, fashion clothes, and toys.
This year, Rome Christmas markets offer a diverse and exciting array of goods, decorations, and activities aimed at everyone. From a 2-year-old toddler being introduced to the city’s wonders to the 80-year-old pensioner who doesn’t want to miss the festive cheer, Christmas markets in Rome are all about fun and shopping.
These dazzling fairs attract thousands of world travelers every year, excited to be joining the locals in the festive fun. All around Rome from the end of November all through December up to the first week of January, you are bound to find vintage carousels, roasted chestnuts, fashion designers, and mulled wine. Across town, you will experience a diverse atmosphere borrowed from other parts of Italy and the world so sometimes you will feel like exploring the colorful markets of Trentino-Alto Adige, sometimes even of Freiburg, Germany.
Follow us as we reveal what are the coolest Christmas markets in Rome this year and be ready to join the crowds around the city center and beyond as the magic begins.
Traveling after Christmas? Check out what to do in Rome in January.
This year’s coolest Christmas markets in Rome and surroundings
Christmas market of Piazza Navona (Centro Storico)
The famous Piazza Navona Christmas Market is back this year with its stalls spread around and in between the three gorgeous Rome fountains and surrounded by the palaces of the Pamphilj family and masterpieces by Bernini and Borromini.
Boasting one of the most scenic settings in the city, from the beginning of December all through January 6th, in Piazza Navona, you will food and toy stalls, merry-go-round entertainment for kids, and street artists.
In the past years, Rome’s Christmas market of Piazza Navona was in the middle of raging debates because of its increasingly commercial quality at the expense of the artisan standards it had been known for. A few years ago, the local police shut it down due to extensive malpractice.
This year, one of the true institutions among Rome’s Christmas markets is ready to kick off and bring back the joy to the locals that make at least a visit once a year one of the fixed season dates.
- Address: Piazza Navona
- Opening times: All day
- Admission: Free
- What to see around: Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo, Campo de’ Fiori, Largo Argentina, Via del Corso, Piazza Colonna, Montecitorio Palace, Palazzo Braschi, Museo Nazionale Romano – Palazzo Altemps, San Luigi dei Francesi Church.

Do you like the area? Check out the best hotels near Piazza Navona to be always at the heart of Yuletide fun!
Christmas market of Piazza Mazzini (Prati)
Piazza Mazzini in the elegant Prati neighborhood hosts another of the most famous Christmas markets in Rome very popular among locals. This piazza hosts a year-round local fair and for the winter festivities, it gets all spruced up and starts to offer a range of vintage crafts, regional foods, and Christmas decorations.
I used to go every year to the Christmas market set up around Piazza Mazzini because I used to live nearby and because I took it as an opportunity to find specialties from all the regions of Italy.
- Address: Piazza Mazzini.
- Opening hours:
- Admission: Free.
Christmas World in Villa Borghese
This year, the magic Yule spirit is about to invade the wonderful gardens of Villa Borghese. Covering 30.000 square meters (323.000 square feet), if you are looking for charming festive fun, look no further.
Surrounded by spectacular settings, visitors will experience the Yule spirit that animates different parts of the world from Tokyo to Berlin, from New York to Paris, and from the North Pole to the charming London markets.
Colorful lights and themed experiences will bedazzle kids and adults alike between oriental pavilions, Roman memories of past Christmas celebrations, and shopping opportunities.
- Address: Piazza delle Canestre, Zona del Galoppatoio, Villa Borghese.
- Opening hours: From December 3rd, 2022 to January 8th, 2023
- Admission: Adults 12€ (15€ on weekends), for children 4-12yo and for seniors over 65 it’s 10€ (12€ on weekends).
- Website.
It’s Xmas Time! Green Market on Christmas (Testaccio)
This is the Christmas version of Rome’s Green Market, a perfect place if you are looking for original and unique gifts set up in the traditional Testaccio neighborhood.
Here, there is everything for everyone. If you are looking into picking up some ethical and eco-friendly gifts, you will find one-of-a-kind pieces from local sustainable artisans, food products from organic farming, natural skincare products, and plenty of plants and flowers.
Children will love their devoted section that includes also Santa Klaus’ Home and live shows, while adults will be welcome to indulge in some holistic treatments. The food court will serve plant-based street food.
- Address: Città Dell’altra Economia – ex Mattatoio Testaccio, Largo Dino Frisullo
- Opening times: December 8th-9th-10th-11th and 17th-18th.
- Admission: Free.
- Website.
Giftland, a vintage Christmas market in Rome (Tuscolano)
Giftland is the Christmas market in Rome organized by the popular Vintage Market and it takes place in the former deposit of the Atac transport company of Piazza Ragusa.
In an area covering around 6000 square meters shared with the Farmers’ Market, there will be some 180 stalls showcasing the original works of the best craftspeople and artists from all over Italy. If you are wondering what to buy for Christmas or what gifts to take home from Rome, you are in the right place.
Here, you can find local handicrafts, the works of artists and illustrators, home décor objects, fashion designers displaying their creations, books and vinyl, organic and natural makeup and beauty products, and flowers and plants.
Taking place in Rome’s Vintage Market, a section will also be devoted to vintage objects and decorations, while families with children will find plenty of clothes and original toys for kids of all ages. And if you need a break from all the shopping, you can relax at the food court with some live music while your children play in their dedicated amusement area.
- Address: Ex Deposito Atac di Piazza Ragusa (Via Tuscolana 179).
- Opening times: December 2-3, 8-9-10, and 16-17, from 10 am to 8 pm.
- Admission: Free, “up-to-you” donations welcome.
- Website.

Christmas Village at Cinecittà World
Some of the most fascinating events happening during Christmas 2022 in Rome include the Christmas Village at Cinecittà World from November, 12th 2022 to January, 8th 2023.
There is everything for everyone. Cinema fans can enjoy Gocce di Cinema (“Cinema Drops”), scenes from Christmas movies on a maxi screen, and kids will enjoy virtual experiences of a roller coaster and flying on Santa Klaus’ sleigh.
Attractions such as Santa Klaus’ house and factory and a large snow park with ice rinks and adrenaline-filled playgrounds and roller coaster will make an exciting break from all the shopping of the local Christmas market.
Stroll around the village’s wooden huts to sample traditional Italian foods, hot chocolate, fried “ciambelle” pastries, roasted chestnuts, and sip a warm mulled wine. Everything while shopping for seasonal gifts to place under the Christmas tree.
- Address: Via Irina Alberti.
- Opening hours: From November 12th to December 4th, open only on weekends from 11 am to 7 pm. Open also December 8th-11th, 17th and 18th, 25th-29th, and January 2nd-8th, always from 11 am to 7 pm. Open also New Year’s Eve from 6 pm to late at night.
- How to book: Follow this link and select the day you want to go. A new page will open and you can purchase your tickets.
- Website.

Ficus al Massimo Christmas Edition (Circo Massimo)
This is a wonderful Christmas market in Rome set inside the fascinating Garum – Museo della Cucina, a museum devoted to Italian culinary traditions from the 15th century to now and named after the famous fish sauce so dear to ancient Romans.
Over 50 artists, artisans, and craftsmen from all over Italy will sell their colorful and fancy creations against the stunning backdrop of the Circus Maximus. If you are looking for some special gifts from Italy, you are likely to find it here!
- Address: Via dei Cerchi 87.
- Opening times: December 16th and 17th, 10.30 am-9 pm.
- Admission: Free.
- Website.
Christmas shop of Luneur amusement park for kids (EUR)
Luneur is a fantastic amusement for kids in EUR Rome’s modern neighborhood. Open all year, at every occasion and festival they organize themed events, shows, and entertainment for kids.
Being the winter festivities the most exciting for children, this year Luneur is opening its gates to a magical world of enchanted creatures, elves, Gingerbread man the polar bear, reindeer-towed sleighs, and more.
Inside this enchanted village, you will find also a Christmas shop with infinite gift ideas and toys, and a delicious food court.
- Address: Via delle Tre Fontane 100.
- Opening hours: December 3rd-4th, 8th-9th-10th-11th, 17th-18th, and every day from December 26th to January 8th, 2023.
- Admission: €4.50 to enter, 23€ unlimited access, or you can buy the “lunalire” to enter each entertainment. Entrance to Santa Klaus’ house + photo costs €6 extra.
- Website.
Check out our article on what to do in Rome with a toddler.

Il Regno di Babbo Natale (Vetralla)
This is probably the largest shop for Christmas decorations you have ever seen. About an hour’s drive from Rome, you will enter a colorful path with all types of decorations, Christmas trees, stars, Santa Klaus and elves in all sizes and shapes, and shimmering wreaths.
If you want to make it special for your children, you can stand in line at the House of Santa Klaus and the Elves’ Village to see these attractions before entering the shop. Once you are done with your Christmas shopping, you can relax with the specialties of the food court and the young ones at merry go round, the elves’ train, or the ice rink (for 7yo+).
- Address: km 62.200, Strada Statale Cassia, 01019 Vetralla (VT)
- Opening hours: Every day 9.30 am-7.30 pm.
- Admission: Free.
- Website.
Frascati Christmas Village (Castelli Romani)
In the charming setting of the historic center of Frascati, a beautiful town of the Castelli Romani south of Rome, you can travel across paths of luminaries and live shows while shopping at the thirty wooden huts lined up along Viale Vittorio Veneto.
On display are handicraft works, regional foods, pastries and cakes such as panettone, and plenty of gift ideas. To animate the spirits there will be a vintage carousel, traveling events, and an illuminated train.
- Address: Viale Vittorio Veneto, Frascati.
- Opening hours: Every day 10 am-8 pm, on weekends 11 am-0 am.
- Admission: Free.
- Website.
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