Italy in December

We spent 9 nights in Rome over Christmas during a month long trip several years ago. It was terrific! Lots to do. Even on Christmas Day the 100 Presepi exhibit was open and it was a marvelous day to simply walk around the city. On the 26th, many sites and sights were open as well. Only from about noon on the 24th through the 25th were museums and historical sites closed. There are various church services in English, too, if you like.

Sorrento is also very festive. We were there for a week before the time in Rome, and our hotelier told us that they are very busy starting the 26th with Italians there through the New Year. We experienced cool to cold but mostly dry weather during that mid-Dec week in Sorrento. Pompeii was deserted.

Last year we were in Milan for Christmas Eve and went to midnight mass at the Duomo. Then we took train to Turin for three nights and loved it. Lots of Christmas lights all over. And we really enjoyed the Cinema and auto museum. They also had a Christmas Market.

Rome is bustling during Christmas. We stayed there during Christmas 2016. We experienced Christmas Eve mass at the Pantheon and Pope Francis giving the Christmas day blessing. The weather was sunny and in the mid 50's the whole time. Lots of restaurants, delis, retail stores were all open on Christmas day which surprised us. Highly recommend.

You could do both Sorrento and Rome with that amount of time.

Where are you flying out of?

Thank you all for the great info. We have actually spent 2.5 years in Italy, over the quite long trips, but never found a holiday place to enjoy and not feel alone. After many hours on the internet, we decided to revisit some places and make our own fun, after 2 weeks with friends in Florence area, we will go to Lucca-3 nites,Siena-3 nites,Chianti-3 nites then back to Florence for 2 nites then fly home on the 31st.