At Christmas the Uffizi and the Accademia are closed only on December 25 and January 1, plus every Monday. The Duomo complex shuts completely on December 25 and January 1, and the Cathedral also closes on other holidays. The big Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce usually ends a few days before Christmas, so if markets matter to you, visit in the first three weeks of December.
Florence at Christmas is quieter than in spring, the evenings are lit up and the city feels lived-in rather than staged. The catch is the calendar. Monday closures, holiday closures and reduced Duomo hours can cost you a day if you don’t plan around them. Here is what is open when, what is worth seeing, and what you should book now.
Christmas 2026 in Florence at a Glance
| Date | Uffizi and Accademia | Duomo complex | What else to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Dec 8 (Immaculate Conception) | Open | Check reduced hours | Public holiday. The Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo is traditionally lit around this date. |
| Mon Dec 21 and Mon Dec 28 | Closed (weekly closure) | Open | The Monday closure is easy to forget over the holidays. Plan Duomo or a walking tour for these days. |
| Thu Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) | Open | Check reduced hours | Shops close early. Midnight Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral. |
| Fri Dec 25 (Christmas Day) | Closed | Closed (entire complex) | Most shops and many restaurants are closed. |
| Sat Dec 26 (St. Stephen’s Day) | Open | Cathedral usually closed; other monuments check | Public holiday. Expect busy museums. |
| Thu Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve) | Open | Reduced hours, early closing | Restaurants are fully booked for dinner. |
| Fri Jan 1 (New Year’s Day) | Closed | Closed (entire complex) | A slow, quiet day in the city. |
| Wed Jan 6 (Epiphany) | Open | Cathedral closed; Dome and other monuments on reduced hours | The Cavalcata dei Magi procession goes through the centre. |
On regular days the Uffizi is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 am to 6:30 pm (ticket office closes at 5:30 pm). The Accademia is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 am to 6:50 pm (last admission at 6:20 pm). The Duomo monuments publish their holiday timetable each December, so check it the week before you travel.
The Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce
Florence’s main Christmas market is the German-style Weihnachtsmarkt in Piazza Santa Croce, with more than 50 wooden stalls selling food, mulled wine, crafts and decorations. In 2025 it ran from mid-November to December 21, open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
The catch: it usually closes before Christmas itself. If you arrive on December 23 expecting the market, you will find an empty square. Plan it for the first three weeks of December, ideally in the late afternoon when the lights come on.
Lights, Tree and Free Things to See
- The Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo is traditionally lit around December 8 and stays up into January. Seen against the Cathedral’s marble façade, it’s one of the best free sights of the season.
- The light festival. Florence’s winter light festival projects art and video mapping onto landmarks such as Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio, usually from early December to early January. Read more in our guide to the Florence Lights Up festival.
- Nativity scenes in churches across the centre, free to see outside service times.
- The Cavalcata dei Magi on January 6, a costumed procession of the Three Kings to the Duomo. Our guide to the Epiphany in Florence covers the day.
Getting Around and Eating Over the Holidays
- The centre is walkable, so reduced bus services on December 24–26 matter less than in Rome. Pre-book taxis for the station or airport on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
- Restaurants: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day lunch and New Year’s Eve dinner are fixed-menu occasions for those that open. Book early, or plan a picnic-style day on the 25th.
- What to eat: December is the season for panforte, ricciarelli and other Tuscan sweets. Our guide to traditional Florentine Christmas sweets has where to try them.
What to Book Now (and What Can Wait)
Book as soon as your dates are set:
- The Uffizi and the Accademia for December 22–24, 26–27 and 29–31. With Mondays and holidays closed, demand concentrates on the remaining days. A guided Uffizi express small group tour includes the entry ticket, so you skip the ticket queue.
- A walking tour for a Monday. When the state museums are closed, a guided walk is the best use of the day. Our Florence private walking tour covers the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio and includes skip-the-line tickets for the Accademia. Check the tour date against the Accademia’s Monday closure.
- Climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome. Slots are limited and holiday hours are shorter. Read what to expect before you book the Duomo climb.
- Restaurant tables for December 24, 25 and 31.
Can wait: the market, the tree, the light installations and the churches. None of them need a booking.
Is Florence Worth Visiting at Christmas?
Yes, especially in the first half of December. You get the market, the lights and noticeably shorter museum queues than in spring. Between Christmas and New Year the city is busier and more of it is closed. The Uffizi and the Accademia lose December 25, January 1 and two Mondays, and the Cathedral itself is closed on several holidays. If you’re dividing the season between cities, our guide to Rome and the Vatican at Christmas covers the other half of the trip.
FAQ
Is the Uffizi open on Christmas Day?
No. The Uffizi is closed on December 25 and January 1, and every Monday. It is open on December 24, 26 and 31.
Is the Accademia (Michelangelo’s David) open over Christmas?
Yes, except on December 25, January 1 and Mondays. Book ahead for the days around the holidays, when demand is highest.
Is the Duomo open on Christmas Day?
No. The whole Duomo complex closes on December 25 and January 1. The Cathedral also usually closes on December 26 and January 6, and other monuments run on reduced hours.
When is the Florence Christmas market?
The market in Piazza Santa Croce usually runs from mid-November to around December 21. It typically closes before Christmas Day, so plan to visit earlier in December.
When is the Christmas tree lit in Florence?
The tree in Piazza del Duomo is traditionally lit around December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and stays up until early January.
Is Florence or Rome better at Christmas?
Florence is smaller, more walkable and calmer. Rome has the papal celebrations at the Vatican. Many visitors split the season between them by train.
