The Eternal City sheds its majestic ancient gravitas each December, for a glittering cloak of festive wonder. Rome at Christmas is a mesmerizing blend of centuries-old tradition and sparkling contemporary style. The Eternal City during the holidays in 2025 is more enchanting than ever, with historic squares and designer streets competing to host the most dazzling festive displays.
Rome’s biggest and most iconic Christmas trees are usually found in its grandest public spaces. These monumental trees serve as beacons of holiday cheer.
If you’re planning your winter escape, here is your essential guide to the Best Christmas Decorations in Rome this season. Get your cameras ready and let’s find out together the most beautiful Christmas trees and Christmas decorations in Rome!
St. Peter’s Square Christmas tree: the most famous in Rome
The Vatican Christmas Tree is arguably one of the most famous in the world, a profound symbol of the season for Christians globally. Each year, a towering spruce—often nearly 30 metres tall—is donated from a different European region and installed next to a majestic, life-sized nativity scene (presepe). It offers a truly solemn and spectacular atmosphere. The combination of the enormous tree, the colossal nativity, and the illuminated dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is breathtaking.
Piazza del Popolo Christmas tree
Due to ongoing work in Piazza Venezia, the city’s “official” Christmas tree is expected to once again shine brightly in the elegant Piazza del Popolo.
This tree is a local favorite, often standing over 20 meters high and adorned with thousands of energy-efficient LED lights. It’s the perfect starting point for your light tour, strategically located at the head of Rome’s most famous shopping streets.
Spanish Steps Christmas tree
No Roman Christmas tour is complete without a visit to the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna. The area becomes a symphony of elegance and the majestic staircase of the Spanish Steps gets a dose of high-fashion holiday glamour.
An elegant, eco-friendly fir tree is placed at the top of the stairs. The tree is beautifully complemented by the luxurious lights of the surrounding high-end shopping district, making for a truly sophisticated photo opportunity. Climb the steps for a breathtaking panoramic view of the illuminated streets radiating out from the piazza.
Fendi Christmas tree in Largo Goldoni
Just a short, glittering walk from the Spanish Steps, it stands an unmissable high-fashion moment at Largo Goldoni: it’s the Fendi Christmas tree. Historically, this is where it’ll find the designer touch. The Fendi Christmas tree is consistently one of Rome’s most photographed, often featuring a bold, highly conceptual design utilizing large, mirrored or metallic ornaments in blue, silver, purple and coloured hues. It’s an art installation as much as a Christmas tree—pure Roman chic.
Via del Corso: the grand corridor of light
Stretching nearly two kilometers from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso is transformed into a spectacular, must-walk corridor of festive light. As the city’s main street, it receives one of the most comprehensive lighting treatments, typically featuring a captivating ceiling of light that changes theme annually. Thousands of energy-efficient LED micro-spheres blanket the street, creating an immersive, starry-sky effect perfect for a holiday shopping stroll.
Galleria Alberto Sordi: Art Nouveau stop
Step off Via del Corso and into the historic Galleria Alberto Sordi for an interior view that is just as dazzling. The Art Nouveau architecture frames a truly magnificent display with a styled Christmas tree that illuminate the entire historic shopping arcade. The grand decorations, combined with festive events and activities made by the shops inside the gallery, make this an unmissable stop.
Via Margutta: the artistic glow
For a quieter, more atmospheric experience, seek out the charming, art-focused street of Via Margutta, famous for its studios and role in Roman Holiday. Here, the decorations are often more unique and artistic, paying tribute to famous artists who have lived there, such as Fellini, Magnani, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Puccini, D’Annunzio, Moravia and Guttuso.
The refined layers of light create an intimate, elegant glow that feels distinctly Roman and incredibly romantic. It’s an unmissable place to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year in the Eternal City.
