Christmas and New Year in Tuscany: Where, what and when!

I often receive questions about Christmas and New Year holidays in Florence and Lucca. Especially the question: "Is everything closed down?" or "What is open in Tuscany during the Christmas holidays between Christmas and New Year?"

The simple answer is: Tuscany is never closed to the curious traveler looking for good experiences!
If you have questions or cannot find an answer to your question, you are always welcome to contact me.

Where to stay for Christmas and New Year in Tuscany?

Christmas is a fantastic time to be in Tuscany. The larger cities like Florence, Siena, and Lucca host large Christmas markets every year and the cities are decorated according to all the rules of art. Celebrate Christmas in Italy and experience the Catholic atmosphere and cozy traditions.

Do you want to stay in the city or in your own villa?

The most important thing to consider here is whether you want to have a car available. The apartments in Lucca do not require you to have a car available. The villas are picturesquely located in the Italian nature, but if you want a villa, you should plan to have a car available. Whatever you choose, it is my experience that it is a good idea to plan in advance what you would like to see. With a minimum of planning, you will experience a side of Tuscany that many never experience. Including local festivities, cultural events, and delicious scents and the Italian taste of Christmas.

What to experience for Christmas and New Year in Tuscany?

Christmas markets in Tuscany

The "original" Christmas markets are indeed found in northern Italy, bordering Austria and into Germany. But many Tuscan towns have long traditions of cozy, charming, and traditional markets, with gift ideas, Vin Brulé, and roasted chestnuts.

Local Christmas Traditions

A real Italian Christmas is not truly real until you have seen one or more of the Nativity scenes set up. In Tuscany, you will be able to find these Nativity scenes in every church. Often you will find that the manger is empty until December 24th, but the exhibitions often exceed one's own imagination with lavish decorations.

Christmas Events

In addition to Christmas markets and Nativity scenes in the big cities, many smaller towns arrange concerts and food markets.

These towns in Tuscany you must experience at Christmas

Lucca, Siena, Pistoia, and Florence: experience the cities decorated with hundreds and thousands of fairy lights and a very spectacular celebration of Santa Claus' arrival on December 24th.

We ring in the New Year in Tuscany

Many cities throughout the region plan concerts and street festivals with food, music, dancing, and parties. What could be more romantic than celebrating the stroke of midnight in the heart of an Italian city? Each city has its own way of celebrating "nuovo anno" and many restaurants offer long, cozy dinners. When you are done with dinner, whether you are at a restaurant or enjoying yourself in your own house, everyone goes out into the street, and in many towns there will be entertainment, music, candlelight, and the evening ends with fireworks.

PS: Good to know before you come. Merry Christmas in Italian is "Buon Natale".

Do restaurants close in Tuscany for Christmas and New Year?

Don't miss the Christmas season's ingredients and many flavors

Many have asked me if restaurants close over Christmas and New Year in Tuscany.

They don't! On the contrary. The Tuscan cuisine must be experienced in the days between Christmas and New Year. This is when truffles and freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil come to the table, and on every street corner, you can buy roasted chestnuts. And of course, no Christmas without a glass of mulled wine.

Or how about one of the Italian street specialties – hot cocoa or tea with an afternoon panino to warm up with?

Hope you have been inspired to spend Christmas and New Year in Tuscany.

If you book your Christmas and New Year trip to Tuscany here at Landfolk, you will stay in a handpicked house, from which you have a perfect base to explore this beautiful region of Italy.