Written by Paolo Gori, Managing Director
Florence is quieter in December than in spring or autumn, and the historic centre is lit up from early December until Epiphany on January 6. The two days to plan around are December 25 and January 1, when almost every museum and monument is closed. Here is what happens in the city over the holidays, what is open and what is not, written from the one hotel on Piazza del Duomo, where the city’s main Christmas tree stands right below our windows.
Quick answers
- When are the Christmas lights on?The city’s light programme usually runs from about December 6–7 to January 6–7.
- When is the Duomo Christmas tree lit?Usually on the evening of December 6, 7 or 8 at 6:00 pm, in Piazza del Duomo.
- Are museums open on Christmas Day?Almost none. The Duomo monuments and state museums such as the Uffizi and the Accademia are closed on December 25 and January 1.
- Is there a Christmas market?Yes, the German-style market in Piazza Santa Croce, usually from mid-November to about December 20.
- Where is the New Year’s Eve party?In recent years, free events in several squares: the main concert in Piazza Santa Croce, plus music in other squares and a countdown projected on Palazzo Vecchio.
The City of Florence usually announces the exact dates for this year in late November or early December. We update this guide as soon as they are published.
The Christmas tree and the nativity in Piazza del Duomo
The official start of Christmas in Florence is the lighting of the big fir tree in Piazza del Duomo, usually at 6:00 pm on one of the first weekends of December, followed the same evening by the trees in Piazza della Repubblica and at Piazzale Michelangelo. In 2024 the trees were lit on December 8; in 2025, on December 6.
On the steps of the Cathedral, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore sets up a nativity scene with life-size terracotta statues, made by a craftsman from Impruneta. Both the tree and the nativity stay until after Epiphany.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
The midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is celebrated in the Cathedral by the Archbishop of Florence; the vigil begins at 11:00 pm. Arrive early: seating is limited. Check the timetable on the Duomo website.
On December 25 the city stops. All the monuments of the Duomo complex (Cathedral, Dome, Bell Tower, Baptistery, Santa Reparata and the Museum) are closed, and so are the state museums such as the Uffizi and the Accademia. In recent years, among the city museums only the Santa Maria Novella complex opened on Christmas afternoon. Many restaurants close or serve a set Christmas lunch: book in advance.
Museums between Christmas and Epiphany
Outside December 25 and January 1, most museums keep their normal hours, and the Uffizi often adds special openings during the holidays. Some details change every year:
- The Cathedral is also closed on Sundays, and in recent years on December 26 and January 6; on December 31 it closes earlier.
- State museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, which in January 2027 falls on January 3. Expect long queues.
- Always book the Dome, the Uffizi and the Accademia in advance: the holidays are a busy period.
Holiday timetables are usually published on the official websites at the end of November.
Lights, markets and the ice rink
From early December, projections and light installations brighten Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio and other monuments, and more than 50 Christmas trees are lit across the city’s neighbourhoods. The programme has had different names over the years (F-Light, Florence Lights Up); it is free and best seen after dark, from about 5 pm.
The main Christmas market is the German-style Weihnachtsmarkt in Piazza Santa Croce, with wooden stalls, mulled wine and food from several countries; in 2025 it ran from November 15 to December 21. In 2025 there was also an ice village with a 55-metre Ferris wheel and an ice rink at the Fortezza da Basso, near Santa Maria Novella station.
New Year’s Eve
In recent years Florence has celebrated New Year’s Eve with free events in several squares at once. To welcome 2026, the programme included a big concert in Piazza Santa Croce, gospel music in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, jazz in Piazza del Carmine and a countdown projected on the façade of Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria. The programme for the arrival of 2027 is usually announced in December.
On January 1 the Duomo monuments and state museums are closed again.
Staying with us over the holidays
- Our front desk is staffed 24 hours a day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
- December is part of our quieter season, from December 8 to the end of February, apart from the Christmas and New Year holidays.
- From January 11 to February 19, 2027, the breakfast room is closed for renovation and breakfast is served at Bar Don Nino, on the ground floor of the same building, for €8 per person.
- If your plans might change, our Zero-Risk Booking lets you cancel free of charge until 20 days before arrival. See ourrates and policiesandthe hotel at a glance.
Official sources
- Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo): holiday opening hours and Mass times –duomo.firenze.it
- Gallerie degli Uffizi (Uffizi, Pitti, Boboli): holiday openings –uffizi.it
- City of Florence: Christmas and New Year programme –comune.fi.it