Christmas holidays: Italians' favorite destinations, including snow, art cities, and a rise in seaside trips.

The Christmas holidays remain one of the most popular travel times for Italians. Whether for a few days or the entire holiday season, the choice of destination reflects a mix of tradition, climate, budget, and the desire to escape.

This year too, the preferences follow some well-defined lines.

Christmas Holidays: Here's Where Italians Go

• 1. Mountains and snow: the great classicThe mountains continue to be the queen of Christmas. Families and couples especially choose Trentino-Alto Adige, Valle d'Aosta, and the Venetian Dolomites. The reasons are clear: the authentic Christmas atmosphere, Christmas markets, guaranteed snow (or almost), winter sports and relaxation. Places such as Cortina, Madonna di Campiglio, Ortisei and Courmayeur are sold out every year, despite the high prices.
• 2. City of art: culture and Christmas lightsAnother popular choice is art cities, ideal for short stays: Rome, Florence, Naples, Turin, Venice. Here, Christmas is all about historic nativity scenes, concerts, and events.
• 3. European capitals: markets and atmosphereAmong foreign destinations, Italians prefer easily accessible European capitals: Vienna, Prague, Paris, and Budapest. The main draws are the Christmas markets, the romantic climate, and the opportunity to experience iconic cities in winter. Central European destinations remain among the most popular due to their excellent value for money.

The latest trend in recent years: exotic destinations for warm weather and sea.

• 4. Sea and heat: escape from winterThe desire to escape the cold is growing, especially among couples and young people. The most popular destinations are the Canary Islands, Egypt, the Red Sea, the Caribbean, and Zanzibar. Here, Christmas has become synonymous with relaxation, sun, summer temperatures, and all-inclusive resorts. In recent years, and even more so during the Christmas holidays, there has been a boom in beach holidays in Africa, particularly to destinations like Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, and Hurghada. Driving this growth are very concrete reasons: guaranteed warm weather even in December, increasingly frequent direct flights from Italy, all-inclusive packages often at lower prices than a week in the mountains, and a formula perceived as simple and hassle-free. For many Italians, especially families and couples, these destinations offer the chance to spend Christmas in a swimsuit, enjoying the sea, snorkeling, and relaxation, avoiding the cold and high costs of ski resorts. The result is a clear cultural shift: Christmas is no longer just snow and markets, but increasingly sun, sea, and resorts on the Red Sea.

The Christmas holidays remain a special time for Italians, where travel becomes an integral part of the celebration. Between snow, culture, markets, and the sea, the choice of destination speaks volumes about today's needs: less improvisation, more pursuit of experiences, while always keeping a close eye on budget.