The Rome Christmas market fills Piazza Navona every December, with stalls of sweets, toys and nativity figures set around Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. It runs past Christmas and right up to Epiphany on 6 January, when La Befana, the Italian Christmas witch, takes over the square. Here are the expected 2026 dates, the other Christmas villages around the city and practical tips for your visit.
Rome Christmas Market 2026: key facts
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Expected early December 2026 to 6 January 2027 (2025 edition: 1 December to 6 January) |
| Location | Piazza Navona, historic center |
| Hours | Daytime into late evening; 2026 hours not published yet |
| Entry | Free |
| Befana days | In 2025–26, a special Epiphany program ran from 3 to 6 January |
For the latest events in the city, check Turismo Roma, the official tourism site.
The Rome Christmas market in Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona follows the oval shape of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, so the stalls curve around the square in a long loop. Wooden stands sell Christmas decorations, local crafts, nativity figures and traditional sweets, and there’s usually a carousel for kids. The Fountain of the Four Rivers sits in the middle, with Borromini’s church of Sant’Agnese in Agone behind it.
La Befana is everywhere here. In Italian tradition she flies around on a broomstick on the night of 5 January, bringing sweets to good children and “coal” (black sugar candy) to naughty ones. Many stalls sell Befana dolls and carbone dolce, and the square is at its busiest in the first days of January.
Other Christmas markets and villages in Rome
Rome has more festive spots beyond Navona. These are the 2025 editions, and most come back each year.
- Christmas World at Villa Borghese (Viale del Galoppatoio): a ticketed Christmas park with light installations. Adult tickets were about €15 in 2025.
- Villaggio di Natale at Laghetto dell’EUR: free entry, with an ice rink overlooking the lake and paid rides.
- Natale all’Auditorium at the Auditorium Parco della Musica: a free Christmas program with a market, open until 6 January.
- 100 Presepi in Vaticano: a free exhibition of nativity scenes under Bernini’s colonnade at St. Peter’s, open until 7 January in 2025–26.
- Piazza Mazzini in Prati: a smaller neighborhood market with free entry.
What to eat and drink
Stalls sell torrone, panettone, pandoro and chocolate, plus roasted chestnuts and vin brulé on cold evenings. For a sit-down meal, walk a few streets away from the square. Prices drop and the food gets better around Campo de’ Fiori and the lanes toward the river.
Remember that many restaurants in Rome close on Christmas Eve evening and Christmas Day, so book ahead if you’ll be in town on those dates.
How to get to Piazza Navona
No metro line stops at Piazza Navona. From Termini station, buses 40 and 64 run along Via Nazionale to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, a short walk from the square. Walking from Termini takes about 35 minutes and passes Piazza Venezia. From the Pantheon, Piazza Navona is only a five-minute walk.
Luggage storage near the Rome Christmas market
Rome’s cobblestones and crowded December streets are hard work with a rolling suitcase. If you have a late flight or an early arrival, drop your bags first. Radical Storage has a large network of local shops and hotels across the city, including near Termini station and around the historic center. You can see storage close to Piazza Navona and book in a couple of minutes.
Bags are protected up to €10,000 each, cancellation is free and travelers rate the service 4.8/5. There are 16.5K+ locations in 2.3K+ cities, so you can use the same app on the rest of your trip.
Rome Christmas market FAQ
The 2026 dates aren’t confirmed yet. The Piazza Navona market usually opens in early December and stays until 6 January. In 2025 it ran from 1 December to 6 January 2026.
Yes, entry is free. You only pay for food, rides and anything you buy.
Yes. It stays open until Epiphany on 6 January, and the first days of January are dedicated to La Befana.
In 2025 the Villaggio di Natale at Laghetto dell’EUR had an ice rink overlooking the lake.
Take bus 40 or 64 to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and walk a few minutes, or walk the whole way in about 35 minutes.
Radical Storage has storage points across Rome, including near Termini station and around Piazza Navona. Book online, and your bags are protected up to €10,000 each.