Things to do in Florence during The Christmas Holidays - Destination Florence

December in Florence: Be.Kind with the lily city

Christmas, events, gifts and kindness: the best of December in Florence with Destination Florence!

December, not just Christmas, is a magical time with many things to do in Florence! Lights and decorations are reflected in the Arno, making the view from Piazzale Michelangelo truly something special. Christmas markets abundant in local products make the squares glow and the Ferris wheel lets us admire the entire city. And we can’t forget Ricciarelli, Cantucci and Panforte!

Be.Kind - Treating Florence with kindness is our chosen theme, given that kindness towards others, local culture, and the city we visit and its spaces is a very powerful tool and the perfect gift to place under the Christmas tree in Piazza Duomo! Are you looking to gift quality products that help local stores? Browse our digital guide to historic Florentine businesses; you'll be spoiled for choice!

Florence Lights Up & Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – December 8

As tradition dictates, on December 8 Florence shines in all its splendor. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the city comes alive with the lighting ceremony of the great Christmas trees in Piazza della Repubblica, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza Duomo, and Piazzale Michelangelo, under the enchanted gaze of residents and visitors alike — a truly magical spectacle!

In addition, this year’s “Florence Lights Up” will once again illuminate Florence’s most iconic monuments with a captivating festival of lights that wraps the city in a festive glow.

“Oceans – David Doubilet” at Villa Bardini – until April 12, 2026

The exhibition “Oceans” brings National Geographic to Florence for the first time, offering an extraordinary visual journey through the boundless beauty of life in the ocean depths and the fragility of underwater ecosystems. Featuring more than 80 photographs by world-renowned underwater photographer David Doubilet, the exhibition captures both the wonder and the vulnerability of marine environments, now under increasing pressure from climate change and human impact.

Florence Eye & Ice Skating Rink – from December

Returning to its original location, the 55-meter-high “Florence Eye” Ferris wheel once again dominates the skyline, surrounded by a vast 1,330 m² ice-skating rink and a charming Christmas Village.

Starting in the holiday season, you can find it in the gardens of the Fortezza da Basso, offering fun, festive cheer, and breathtaking views of Florence.

La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini – December 20 to January 4

Back on stage at the Teatro del Maggio, one of the most beloved masterpieces of the Italian opera repertoire: La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, with a libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, inspired by Henri Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de bohème. This acclaimed production, first staged in September 2017 and revived in December 2019, January 2020, and Autumn 2023, returns following widespread critical and public acclaim.