Florence at Christmas: festive events for kids they’ll love this holiday season (2024/25)
Enjoy Florence at Christmas with this list of family-friendly events in Florence this Christmas to celebrate the festivities and make the most of the city in the festive season.
Christmas is an exciting time to be in Florence.
During the holiday season, Florence shines bright with many Christmas lights illuminating its elegant center and enticing visitors of all ages, with family-friendly Christmas events in many of its piazzas, historical palazzi and parks.
This is the list of the events currently scheduled for Christmas in Florence in 2024/25.
The full calendar of events has only been pre-announced so far with most dates for public events are still to be confirmed.
The information on this page is provided by the event organizers and the Municipality of Florence. All events are susceptible to changes at the organizers’ discretion.
To find my personal recommendations to enjoy Florence as a family and my tips, please check here >>> my family guide to visiting Florence with kids.
Lighting of the trees ceremonies
The best Christmas trees in Florence and in Piazza Duomo, Piazza Della Signoria and Piazzale Michelangelo.
The official lighting ceremony for all of them is planned for the 7th December at the following times
Piazza della Signoria @5.30pm Map https://maps.app.goo.gl/NxxbQszQBTnLhhz7A
Piazza del Duomo @6.00pm Map https://maps.app.goo.gl/VjBGuSR59FaxJM2z8
Piazzale Michelangelo @.7.30pm Map https://maps.app.goo.gl/8LGdwgTaiYVjrRws5
The ceremonies are officiated by the Mayor of Florence and city dignitaries and have special guests such as the Light Gospel Choir and Corteo Storico della Repubblica Fiorentina (a historical organization: their costumes are the best!)
Smaller trees also dot smaller squares and local areas of the city, for a total of about 60 of them around town!
Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce
A Florence Tradition, the Santa Croce Christmas market comes back in Piazza Santa Croce from 23 November to 23 December 2024 with food and gift stalls.
This year the market will also have live music at weekends when kids may also be able to meet Santa!
Other Christmas markets and shopping opportunities you may like are planneds in:
Piazza Santa Maria Novella, from 7th to 22nd December 2024
Centro Polivalente San Donato, Ventro commerciale San Donato, via Forlanini 1 (Novoli, outside of Florence city center)
Fiera della ceramica (Pottery fair), 30 November-1 December 2024, Piazza Ognissanti
Emergency Christmas Shop (shop run by the NGO Emergency, providing medical help to the victims of war and poverty in conflict areas), perfect for gifts big and small. 23 November to 24 December 2024, Nove Botteghe, via Gioberti 61
Christmas Bazaar, the ‘American’ Christmas market, Tepidarium del Roster, Via Bolognese 17A
Nataleperfile, 6 -8th December 2024, Palazzo Corsini, Lungarno Corsini 8
Creative Factory, 12-15th December, Piazza dei Ciompi
Florence Ice Village and Santa Encounter
Florence Ice Village is a seasonal event that brings to Florence two exciting features: the biggest ice skating ring in Tuscany and a ferry wheel!
The event this year is in a new location, in Parco delle Cascine where families also find a Christmas Village with seasonal and food stalls, opening on 1st December. The ice rink will be operational until mid-January.
Parco delle Cascine is aso where Santa likes to come when he’s in Florence and where kids age 3 to 10 can meet him!
This Santa experience at Cascine Park comes complete with a mini train ride across the park that makes you explore this large green area before delivering you to Santa himself.
The train ride and Santa encounter are a package and must be booked in advance. Link to book here >>> https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-trenino-al-parco-768210808207 <<<
Green Line light projections
GreenLine is the name of an event that lights up the most prominent Florence landmarks with colorful projections.
As darkness starts falling onto the city, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza dell Signoria light up with projects that are free to enjoy at all ages. The event will run from 7th December to 6th Jabuary 2025; the projections are planned for hours 17.30h (5.30pm) to 24.00h (Midnight)
Santa’s house and letterbox
If your kids are worried Santa may not know where to deliver presents this year, they’ll love to learn Santa has a special postbox in Florence that delivers straight to the North Pole!
The post box is in Palazzo Vecchio, right in the center of Florence, and is active from the 7th of December to the 24th.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KGqJazsqBhi8jBGL8
Carriage rides
Carriage rides will allow little ones to enjoy Florence city center on with a carriage pulled by white horses, during the holiday season.
The rides are for kids between 3 and 8 years of age and must be booked in advance.
The meeting point is in Piazza della Repubblica, in front of Caffe’ Giubbe Rosse. Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rCa3wUz3SMTTgFJZA
Please note: for the safety of the horses, the ride may be canceled in case of unfavorable weather.
Info and tickets >>> here <<<
Christmas concerts in Florence museum and thaters
Several Florence museums and churches offer musical events for their visitors on selected dates. These include:
- Chistmas Concert at Teatro Verde, 24 December 2024
- Santa Maria Novella Booking required at: info@museifirenze.it
- Palazzo Vecchio, piano concert on 7, 8, 23, 26, 30 December and 6 January
- Palazzo Bardini, Orchestra, 10 and 17 December @11:30 Free admission for museum ticket holders.
Epiphany (6h January) The arrival of La Befana
La Befana is a magical visitor who comes to children’s homes on the night between the 5th and the 6th January (the Epiphany), bringing sweets in a stocking to nice children (if you’ve been naughty, she gets you coal instead! Read here >>> all about Epiphany and La Befana in Italy <<<<
In 2025, the children of Florence expect her also to make a daytime appearance at 11.30 in Piazza della Repubblica. Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TTj2Hg2sM56Mpe4P6
NYE events in Florence piazzas
Several music events take place in Florence’s main piazzas on New Year’s Eve. The main ones are planned as follows (no additional info available yet):
- Piazza Signoria – Canto e Magia (Songs and Magic)
- Piazza Duomo – Gospel concert
- Piazza del Carmine – Pop e Cantautorato (pop and singer-songwriters)
- Piazza Santissima Annunziata – Jazz
- Piazza Santa Croce – orchestra con scuole di danza (Orchestra and dance schools)
- Oltrarno – Marching band.
Upscale festive brunches and Christmas lunches in Florence hotels
Christmas lunch is a big family event in Italy, and this affects the ability to eat out on the day.
If you are planning to have Christmas lunch in Florence, it is best to make plans ahead.
You can find here >>> our list of recommended family-friendly restaurants in Florence <<< with contact details for current opening hours and availability.
Some of the most festive for the atmosphere are in the city hotels and more upscale restaurants. Contact them directly with good notice to make special arrangements for children.
Some you may want to consider this year:
Four Seasons Hotel
- 24 December – Christmas Eve dinner,
- 25 December – Christmas Brunch; Christmas dinner
- 26 December – Santo Stefano Brunch
- 31 December – NYE Dinner Gala
- 1 January – NYE Brunch
Hotel Brunelleschi
- Christmas Lunch, 25 December 2024 from 12.30 pm (Kids menu available) Website: Hotel Brunelleschi Christmas Lunch
Hotel Lungarno Collection
- 25 December – Christmas Lunch at their 1 Star Michelin Restaurant Borgo San Jacopo, view over the Ponte Vecchio. Website: Lungarno collection dining experiences
Hotel Savoy
- 24 December – Christmas Eve dinner
- 25 December – Christmas Lunch
- 31 December – NYE dinner with live music
- 1 January – New Years’ Day Brunch
- Website: Hotel Savoy Florence
Ristorante elisabella (2 Michelin stars)
Christmas Luch and Ristorante Elisabetta
The Museums of Florence at Christmas: opening hours / festive closures
The Christmas festivities impact the opening of museums and attractions. If you find yourself in Florence at Christmas, you may need to know the following:
The Uffizi Gallery is closed on 25 December and 1st January, as well as every Monday during the year.
The Accademia Gallery is closed on 25 December, 1 January as well as every Monday. It also has shorter opening times on the 24 and 31 December (last access 5.30pm, closure at 6pm)
Bargello Museum: closed on Christmas Day.
Florence at Christmas – pin this!
Marta Correale
Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate from the University of Rome, Marta channeled her passion for culture and travel into the creation of family travel websites that inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way. Marta also manages the thriving online community of parents 'Italy with kids' who turn to her for expert advice and competent Italy travel planning support. She is the author of the travel guides 'Best of Rome with kids' and 'Best of Florence with kids' available on Amazon and of an array of kids printables (scavenger hunts, info booklets etc) available on her Etsy shop 'Mama Loves To Print'
