Christmas events in Rome for kids for the Christmas season 2023/24. A curated list of family friendly in Rome for this holiday season.
The Christmas holidays are an exciting to be in Rome.
Christmas festivities in Rome last from the 8th of December to the 6th of January, and while the usually mild weather doesn’t make for a white Christmas here, the city has several aces up its sleeve, to make sure children have a magical time.
I am always on the lookout for fun events in Rome for my children during this time.
This list is the result of my own research and Christmas events in Rome for kids that can be fun for visitors to the Eternal City, as well as locals.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission.
All the information about these events come from the orgaziers and are subject to change at their discretion. Always check suitability for your family, opening hours for your dates of interest before purchasing.
Christmas World at Villa Borghese (2 Dec – 7 Jan)
Christmas World is a largest Christmas event in Rome city center and a festive extravaganza, taking place in the grounds of Villa Borghese, one of the best parks in Rome.
For the occasion, the park has acquired a custom built Christmas village spanning over 50,000 sq meters with an impressive festive offering that includes:
- 8 Pavilions with reproductions of cities form around the world
- Music shows and performances
- Ice skating rink
- Chocolate Factory
- Light installations
- Santa’s house
- Kids Playground and carousel
- Life size nativity scene
- Christmas food (including vegetarian and gluten free options)
The event is family friendly and stroller friendly: however, there is on stroller deposit to make sure you only bring the stroller if happy to have it with you at all time.
- When: 2 December 2023 – 7 January 2024
- Where: Borghese Gardens
Opening time (vary depending on the day):
Until 21st December:
Mon to Thu: 10:00 -20:00
Fri – Sat: 10:00 – 22:00
Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00
From 22nd December to 6th January: 10 – 22:00
Different opening hours apply on the following dates
7 December: 10:00 -22:00
24 and 31 December: 10:00 – 18:00
25 December: 14:00 – 20:00
7 January: 10:00 – 20:00
Last admission one hour before closure. Ticket office open from 9.30am until one hour before closure. Online booking strongly recommended. Find info and get your ticket here
Natale al Luneur (2 Dec – 7 Jan)
Natale al Luneur is the Christmas event of Luneur theme park, one of the longest running and best established theme parks in Rome.
For the Christmas season, the park dresses up in Christmas attire and becomes a fairytale land inhabited by elves and magical creature with Gingerbread houses, Santa’s Grotto, ‘Christmas shops, ‘snow’men, light installations, Christmas village and small ice skating rink, all under the Ferris wheel the park is famous for.
The park is especially suited to small kids up to tween years. The park rides are suitable for kids of different ages, ranging from carousels and rides for little ones to those open to kids over 130cm like Grande Frisbee
Find Christmas event tickets and info on the rides and height requirements on the park website here
- When: 2 December 2023 – 7 January 2024
- Where: LunEur Park, Via delle Tre Fontane, 100, 00144 Roma RM, Italy
Cinecitta’ World Christmas (11 Nov – 7 Jan)
Cinecitta’ World is one of the best and most beloved theme parks in the Rome and embraces the festive spirit with their Christmas event running from the 11 November to the 7th January.
The event brings to the park a decorated Main Street, Christmas market, lights festival, Santa’s house (and the opportunity to meet him, of course), an ice park with ice rink, slides and winter playground, shows and seasonal performances.
The winter playground in particular is exciting as it is an indoor space where you can play on the snow, whatever the weather!
The park is great for kids of all ages as it has themes areas to suit all ages: Christmas Village, Cinecitta’ (this is unique to this park as it inspired by the Cinecitta’ studios and movie sets), space land, far west, adventure land etc.
- Where: Cinecitta’ World, Via Irina Alberti, 00128, Rome
- When: 11 November 2023 – 7 January 2024
You can find tickets to the event on the official park website
Magic Christmas at MagicLand (18 Nov – 7 Jan 2024)
MagicLand is the biggest amusement park in the Rome area (it is in Valmontone, outside of the city) and a place loved by kids of all ages, including older teems who like more ‘adrenalin’ rides.
For the holidays, the park dresses up in Christmas magic and turns itself into a Christmassy world with decorations and Christmas lights on the Main Street, an eco friendly ice skating rink, Christmas food stalls, Christmas market, and seasonal shows.
It also hosts Santa’s Castle and of course the change to meet the Man himself!
Rainbow MagilcLand is in Valmontone and it is best reached by car.
Trame di Luce light festival (16 Nov – 7 Jan)
Trame di Luce is a light festival that takes place in the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Rome, which for the occasion acquire light installations and light works by artists from Italy and beyond.
The event is an immersive journey though light and music and while not specifically Christmassy, it has a magical atmosphere that makes it feel seasonal!
The event is suitable for kids of all ages, the earlier time slots being already sufficiently dark to be atmospheric. The garden is stroller friendly.
- Where: Orto Botanico di Roma, Largo Cristina di Svezia, 23 A – 24, 00165 Rome
- When: 16 November 2023 – 7 January 2024
Opening hours:
4.30 pm – 11.00pm, timed ticket available to skip the line. Last admission at 9:30 pm.
Average duration to enjoy the experience: 1 hour
Tickets and additional info here
Top tip! The Botanical Gardens are in Trastevere, a beautiful area famous for atmospheric cobbled streets and food. You can use this event as an opportunity to come to this area and explore. You can find here >>> our Trastevere scavenger hunt for kids to help little ones enjoy the stroll!
100 Presepi Exhibition (8 December – 7 January)
The 100 Presepi exhibition is a child friendly Christmas event in Piazza San Pietro, at the Vatican.
The event is very differnt form the Christmas atmospheres that star Santa and the Elves and focuses on the spiritual side of Christmas, showcasing nativity scenes made by artisans around the world.
The exhibition is free and enjoyable for kids regardless of religious background and is a chance to get a taste for the tradition of presepe (nativity scene / Christmas crib), which is big in Italy.
The exhibition is free and you access it from Dot petr’ square which is also where you find the Vatican’s Christmas tree and monumental nativity scene.
- When: 8 December 2023 – 7 January 2024
- Where: Under the Colonnade, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City
Lights in Nature (14 Dec – 18 Feb)
Lights in Nature is an immersive light exhibition with installation of lights in the beautiful surroundings of the Gardens on Brancaccio theater, which for the occasion turn themselves into a magical forest with sparking creatures and fairytale atmpshere.
The immersive experience is designed as walking trail (accessible) brightened up by light installations, light shows with colorful dancing lights, light tunnel and magical light creatures.
Kids under 5 go free and the trail is accessible. Need to know: The show uses stroboscopic lights.
When: 14 December 2014 – 18 February
Where: Griardini Brancaccio, Via delle Terme di Traiano, 4, 00184 Roma RM, Italy
Opening Hours (last admission is at 22.00/10pm)
- 14 to 31 December: 16:45 – 23.00
- 01 -14 Jan: 17:00 – 23.00
- 15 – 21 Jan: 17:15 – 23.00
- 22 Jan – 4 Feb 17:30 – 23.00
- 05 -18 Feb: 17:45 – 23.00
The Nutcracker – Opera Theater
I know ballet is hardly a Christmas event but in the case of the Nutcracker, the connection with Christmas is so strong, I believe it belongs on this list!
This Christmas and New Year, the ballet is on in the beautiful Opera Theater in Rome, int he city center. Maybe an idea for a family NYE?
Info and tickets on the Opera House website