Christmas Events for Kids in Naples (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

10 min read · Leggi in italiano

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Naples for 2026, and here is what he found: 13 family events across Naples and 3 nearby towns, 1 of them free. The magic runs from November 14 (Christmas Dreams 2026: I Racconti di Natale) through January 6, with Mercatini di Natale Napoli, 8th Edition (from November 28), Babbo Natale va in pensione (December 5) and Storia di uno Schiaccianoci (December 27) along the way. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Italy.

What Rally found in Naples

  • 13 Christmas events for kids in Naples and 3 nearby towns, including Nola, Castellammare di Stabia and Portici
  • 1 free event: Christmas Dreams 2026: I Racconti di Natale (Christmas Tales)
  • Meet Santa: 3 chances, including Babbo Natale va in pensione (Santa Retires), December 5 and Babbo Natale e il mistero della lista scomparsa (Santa and the Mystery of the Missing List), December 12
  • Also on the list: 11 Christmas shows, 2 Christmas light displays, 1 Christmas market and 2 craft workshops
  • Season: November 14 (Christmas Dreams 2026: I Racconti di Natale) to January 6 (Mercatini di Natale Napoli, 8th Edition)

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

Free 1Ticketed and paid 12

Free Christmas events for kids in Naples

Christmas events for kids in Nola

Christmas lightsFree

Christmas Dreams 2026: I Racconti di Natale (Christmas Tales) (Nola)

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From Nov 14 the Vulcano Buono center in Nola transforms for the fourth edition of Christmas Dreams, devoted this year to Christmas tales: timeless stories, fantastic characters, sets and cascades of lights in every corner. Among the announced characters are the mischievous Grinch and the Omini di Marzapane (marzipan men).

The ice rink returns to the Arena Vulcano, along with rides and new attractions for the whole family, and the program includes shows and entertainment that are completely free for grown-ups and kids. The opening is Sat, Nov 14 at 6 pm. The full program is published bit by bit on the center's channels, so it is worth checking before you go.

Parent tip: Shows and entertainment are free; the rink and rides may cost extra. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the food area stays open until midnight.

Host
Vulcano Buono (opens in a new tab)
Where
Vulcano Buono, Arena Vulcano, Località Boscofangone, 80035 Nola (opens in maps) (near Napoli)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Vulcano Buono (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 12 more Naples events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Naples.
  • Exclusive access to free events Be first to hear about new free events in Naples.
  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
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Coming up on this page

  • 11 Shows
  • 3 Santa
  • 3 Zoos and museums
  • 2 Lights
  • 1 Free

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Naples

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Event hosts: free events are listed first. The #1 spot puts your event at the top of this page.Inquire about the #1 spotAdd your event for free

Christmas show

Babbo Natale va in pensione (Santa Retires)

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Santa Claus (Babbo Natale) has made up his mind: after centuries of honorable service he wants to retire. To choose who will take his place, he puts his trusted elves Ghiacciolina (Little Icicle) and Fioccodineve (Snowflake) through a series of tests, with gags and funny situations. The show by Teatro Eidos, written and directed by Virginio De Matteo, brings the Christmas characters kids love most to the stage with very physical actor theater.

One thing little ones like is that the show asks for the audience's real help, so kids are not just watching. The Teatro dei Piccoli is in the Mostra d'Oltremare area in Fuorigrotta and is made for families. The holiday ticket costs €9 for everyone from age 3, and 5-entry and 10-entry cards are also available, useful if you plan to come back for other December shows.

Parent tip: Booking is recommended at 327 0795871 or 081 18903126; by car, enter from Via Terracina 197 (Quick Parking), while the pedestrian entrance is on Viale Usodimare. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro dei Piccoli (Mostra d'Oltremare), Viale Antoniotto Usodimare, 80125 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Canto di Natale di Pulcinella (Pulcinella's Christmas Carol)

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It is Christmas Eve, but instead of London we are in the alleys of Naples: the only shop still open is that of the grumpy Don Scrooge, who forces poor Pulcinella to recount the day's takings. That night the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future arrive, and thanks to Pulcinella's clever tricks, Scrooge learns the value of feelings and solidarity.

The show by Insanità Teatro and I Teatrini mixes commedia dell'arte, figure theater and actor theater, with puppets and marionettes by Chiara Di Bernardo. It is a nice way to introduce kids to a classic Christmas story with a thoroughly Neapolitan flavor. It runs about an hour and the holiday ticket is a single price, €9 for everyone from age 3.

Parent tip: Booking is recommended at 327 0795871 or 081 18903126; advance tickets are also on azzurroservice.net. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro dei Piccoli (Mostra d'Oltremare), Viale Antoniotto Usodimare, 80125 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Babbo Natale e il mistero della lista scomparsa (Santa and the Mystery of the Missing List)

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On Christmas Eve, the office of Santa Claus (Babbo Natale) is in chaos: between mail to sort and gifts to prepare, the gift list disappears and the delivery is at risk. Santa investigates, and suspicion falls on the elf Trock, on Alfredo and even on the Befana, the kindly witch who brings gifts on January 6, until an unexpected ending full of Christmas spirit.

The show by La Mansarda Teatro dell'Orco, directed by Maurizio Azzurro, uses actors, colorful cutouts and shadows to tell a night adventure in which the line between the living and the inanimate gets thin. The characters are ones kids know well, so it works with the youngest too. The family performance is on Saturday morning, with a single ticket price of €9.

Parent tip: Booking is recommended at 327 0795871 or 081 18903126; 5-entry cards (€40) and 10-entry cards (€70) are available. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro dei Piccoli (Mostra d'Oltremare), Viale Antoniotto Usodimare, 80125 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

Gran Concerto di Natale (Grand Christmas Concert)

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The Gran Concerto di Natale is a trip through Christmas traditions around the world: Italian, French, Spanish and German pieces, but also African American and Ukrainian songs, with a message of peace and friendship. The grand finale is Jingle Bell Rock, played all together by musicians and children.

It is part of the Concerts for Early Childhood that Progetto Sonora presents at the Teatro dei Piccoli and is made for the youngest with their parents. The concert alternates listening with short music workshops on the floor in front of the stage: kids and the adults with them are given small percussion instruments from the Orff set, and the little ones are free to move around the room. It is an hour that also suits kids who cannot yet sit still for long.

Parent tip: Info and booking through Progetto Sonora at 331 8313993; dress the kids in comfortable clothes because you move and play together.

Host
Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro dei Piccoli (Mostra d'Oltremare), Viale Antoniotto Usodimare, 80125 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)

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Visit with Santa

Notte al Museo Christmas Edition (Night at the Museum, Christmas Edition)

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Notte al Museo Christmas Edition is an overnight stay for kids only, without parents: you arrive at 8 pm, everyone has dinner together with pizza or a sandwich and then takes part in workshop activities among lights and experiments. During the evening Santa Claus arrives from Lapland to leave a gift for every child, then everyone goes to sleep in sleeping bags under the stars of the Planetarium. In the morning there is breakfast and goodbyes.

Parents are asked to bring a wrapped book with the child's first and last name, which Santa himself will hand over: the museum asks you not to give it away, because it is a surprise. The activity goes ahead only if a minimum number of kids sign up, and the cost is €60 per child.

Parent tip: What to bring: sleeping bag, toothbrush and toothpaste, water bottle, flashlight, pajamas or sweats, non-slip socks or slippers and a Christmas accessory (hat, sweater or headband).

Host
Città della Scienza (opens in a new tab)
Where
Città della Scienza, Science Centre e Planetario, Via Coroglio 57, 80124 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Città della Scienza (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

Gran Concerto di Natale per orchestre di grandi e piccini (Grand Christmas Concert for Orchestras Big and Small)

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A Christmas concert where the audience takes an active part: the kids and one adult take part by playing and singing, while a second adult, if any, watches. The repertoire is the Christmas tradition, with a tribute to pieces from the Neapolitan musical tradition, from "Quanno nascette Ninno" to excerpts from the Cantata dei Pastori. The idea is by Paola Del Giudice and Antonio Ascione, the production is by La Fabbrica del Divertimento and the concert lasts 50 minutes.

It takes place at the Complesso Monumentale I Vergini and is divided by age group: Sat, Dec 19 at 5:30 pm for kids ages 0 to 4 and at 6:30 pm for ages 5 to 10, Sun, Dec 20 at 10:30 am for the very little ones and at 11:30 am for the older ones. The cost is €15 for the child with one adult. Booking is required, at 375 140 0070 or by writing to kids@teatrobellini.it.

Parent tip: Spots are limited and there is often a waiting list: if you can no longer come, the theater asks you to cancel early. Booking at 375 140 0070. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro Bellini (Bellini Kids) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Complesso Monumentale I Vergini, Vico Castrucci 5, 80136 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro Bellini (Bellini Kids) (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Quando arriva Natale? (When Does Christmas Come?)

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A character arrives with an enormous box to decorate the tree, grumbling that it always falls to him. But the box is almost empty: inside are only a few forgotten gifts and, at the bottom, a tangerine. Peeling it, he finds himself a child again, when December smelled of tangerines, and together with the audience he tries to answer the question in the title.

It is a show by Stilema of Turin, written and performed by Silvano Antonelli, who involves the kids with rhymes and little songs sung and played live. It runs 55 minutes and is a simple, gentle story about waiting, suited to the youngest. The ticket is a single price, €9, and you can also pay with a Carta Docente or Carta Cultura.

Parent tip: Booking at 081 18903126 (WhatsApp too); the theater is reached by Metro line 2 (Campi Flegrei or Cavalleggeri) or by the Cumana line, Edenlandia stop. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro dei Piccoli (Mostra d'Oltremare), Viale Antoniotto Usodimare, 80125 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Storia di uno Schiaccianoci (Story of a Nutcracker)

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The show is based on Hoffmann's tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," which inspired Tchaikovsky's famous ballet. Here little Marie's story is retold from the point of view of Uncle Drosselmeyer, an inventor of automatons and builder of curious contraptions, who tells how the girl lives a wonderful adventure thanks to the little wooden nutcracker she receives as a gift.

The funny nutcracker waited under the Christmas tree for its turn to be seen, and soon becomes Marie's favorite: together they fight the Mouse King and venture into the kingdom of the dolls. The production is by Il Teatro nel Baule, with direction and script by Sebastiano Coticelli and Simona Di Maio, and runs 60 minutes. There are two performances on Sun, Dec 27, at 10:30 am and 12 pm, and the show is recommended for ages 5 and up. Kids up to age 12 pay €8, adults €12.

Parent tip: There are two showtimes, so you can pick the more convenient one. For box office information, use the theater's website. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro Bellini (opens in a new tab)
Where
Piccolo Bellini, Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli 101, 80138 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro Bellini (opens in a new tab)

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Saint Nicholas visit

Festa della Befana (Befana Festival)

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On Jan 3, near the end of the holidays, Città della Scienza opens its doors to the Befana. The idea is to welcome kids and grown-ups into a magical atmosphere, with enchanted stories, ancient myths and surprising science curiosities. It is not only shows: there are real creative and discovery workshops for all ages, where imagination and science meet.

Participants can experiment, observe and have fun with interactive activities, while the Science Shows stage little bits of science magic. The day runs from 10 am to 4 pm. With the Special Price Festa ticket, admission is €8 for both adults and kids. For those who want to add the planetarium there are dedicated tickets, for example the live show at €6, and combined tickets with the Science Centre ranging from €11 to €14. Tickets are bought online or at the infopoint box office.

Parent tip: For information and booking, the contact center is at 081 7352222, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.

Host
Città della Scienza (opens in a new tab)
Where
Città della Scienza, Via Coroglio 57/104, 80124 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Città della Scienza (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

La rivolta dei giocattoli (The Toy Revolt)

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In the shop of Mrs. Befana, the kindly witch who brings gifts on January 6, shocking news arrives: the toys, which she has always given to those who cannot afford them, are at risk of being sold. With the help of a poor little girl, the wooden toys are ready to do anything to defend the idea of giving out of love and not for money, and to let the Befana fly free over the rooftops again.

The show by Teatro Bertolt Brecht, directed by Maurizio Stammati, is a loose retelling of Gianni Rodari's La Freccia Azzurra, with grotesque and fantastic characters and many actors on stage. It falls in the days leading up to Epiphany (Epifania, Jan 6), so it is a good idea for closing out the holidays with a story about friendship and generosity.

Parent tip: Booking is recommended at 327 0795871 or 081 18903126; by car, the entrance from Via Terracina 197 is the handy one. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro dei Piccoli (Mostra d'Oltremare), Viale Antoniotto Usodimare, 80125 Naples (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Teatro dei Piccoli (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Castellammare di Stabia

Christmas show

Quando arriva Natale? (When Does Christmas Come?) (Castellammare di Stabia)

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A simple story about waiting for Christmas. A rhyme about the months of the year introduces the arrival of a character with an enormous box: he grumbles that every year it falls to him to decorate the tree and that everyone says they want to help but then nobody is ever there. He sets the box down, opens it to take out baubles and garlands and the unexpected happens: the box is empty, or rather it holds a few forgotten gifts.

It is storytelling theater with objects and music, by and with Silvano Antonelli of the Stilema company of Turin, and runs 55 minutes. The family performance is on Sat, Dec 19 at 5 pm at Teatro Karol, in Castellammare di Stabia, and is recommended from age 3. The holiday ticket costs €9. Booking is recommended, at 081 1824 7921 or 340 61 61 651. The same production also plays at the Teatro dei Piccoli in Naples, on different dates.

Parent tip: Booking is recommended, by phone at 081 1824 7921 or 340 61 61 651. Expect it to be in Italian.

Host
Casa del Contemporaneo (opens in a new tab)
Where
Teatro Karol, Via Salvador Allende 4, 80053 Castellammare di Stabia (opens in maps) (near Napoli)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Casa del Contemporaneo (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Portici

Christmas market

Mercatini di Natale Napoli, 8th Edition (Naples Christmas Markets) (Portici)

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The Mercatini di Natale Napoli return for their eighth edition at the Museo Nazionale Ferroviario di Pietrarsa, the place where the history of Italian railways began. Among the historic locomotives you stroll past wooden stalls, street performers and bands, Christmas lights and colors, with a food area devoted to the best of Campania.

The markets are an event to see, experience and taste, for grown-ups and kids, that combines culture, tradition and history with the magic of Christmas. For kids who love trains it is also a chance to see the exhibited vehicles up close in the museum's pavilions. Admission is paid and tickets are bought from the official website.

Parent tip: Buy your ticket online in advance; for groups and information the number listed on the site is 081 472003.

Host
Mercatini di Natale Napoli (opens in a new tab)
Where
Museo Nazionale Ferroviario di Pietrarsa, Via Pietrarsa, 80055 Portici (opens in maps) (near Napoli)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Mercatini di Natale Napoli (opens in a new tab)

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More Christmas events for kids in Italy

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.it (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Naples: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Naples?

For 2026, we confirmed 13 Christmas events for kids in Naples, each on its host’s own page: Quando arriva Natale? (When Does Christmas Come?) (Casa del Contemporaneo), Storia di uno Schiaccianoci (Story of a Nutcracker), Gran Concerto di Natale per orchestre di grandi e piccini (Grand Christmas Concert for Orchestras Big and Small) and 10 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Naples?

Yes. One of the 13 events here is free: Christmas Dreams 2026: I Racconti di Natale (Christmas Tales) (Nola). Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Naples?

Where to see Santa: Festa della Befana (Befana Festival) and Notte al Museo Christmas Edition (Night at the Museum, Christmas Edition). Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

The story of Christmas in Naples

In Naples, Christmas starts with the nativity scene. A notary document from 1021 already mentions a church called Santa Maria "ad praesepe," and every year the little street of San Gregorio Armeno fills with terracotta shepherds, workshops and families hunting for the perfect figurine. For a visiting family, the season is a mix of theater matinees, a market among old locomotives and a Befana day in early January.

How Naples celebrates Christmas, and what makes it different

Naples does not decorate first and tell stories second. The nativity scene, called the presepe, comes first, and the rest of the season is built around it. The earliest trace is that 1021 notary document, and in 1478 two brothers named Alemanno carved a nativity scene of which twelve statues survive.

The golden age came in the 1700s, when the presepe left the churches and moved into noble palaces, and wealthy families competed to build the richest scene. The sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino, famous for the Veiled Christ, modeled terracotta figures and set the standard. For a visiting family, that means Christmas here is something you shop for, hunt for and look at closely, not only something you watch from a distance.

What a child will meet: shepherds, lights and Christmas Eve food

The most famous figure is Benino, the sleeping shepherd, who stands for humanity waiting for the birth of Jesus. Kids love finding him and checking that he is still asleep. Other classic figures include Ciccibacco the innkeeper, a fisherman and the Three Kings in fancy clothes.

The street of San Gregorio Armeno takes its name from a church from the 1500s, said to stand on a Roman temple to Ceres. Each year new figurines appear there showing soccer players, politicians and actors. At the Museum of San Martino, the Cuciniello nativity scene, donated in 1879, has about 800 pieces and lighting that moves from dawn to day, sunset and night.

Food matters too. On Christmas Eve the classic dish is capitone, a type of eel. For dessert there are struffoli, little balls of fried dough covered in honey, and after dinner the family plays tombola, a bingo-style game.

The Befana, the Epiphany gift bringer, appears on stage in several shows on this page. Santa Claus and his elves do too.

Planning a Christmas visit to Naples with kids

This page lists the confirmed family events from mid-November to early January. The season opens on November 14 with the grand opening of Christmas Dreams at the Vulcano Buono in Nola, and the Christmas market at the Pietrarsa railway museum in Portici runs from November 28 to January 6, 2027.

Most of the rest are theater and music matinees. The Teatro dei Piccoli at the Mostra d'Oltremare has shows on December 5, 6, 12, 13 and 20, and on January 3, 2027, mostly at 11 a.m. and mostly 9 euros per person. There is also a Christmas sleepover at the science museum on December 18, a hands-on music workshop on December 19 and 20, and a Nutcracker story on December 27.

Only the shows and entertainment at Christmas Dreams in Nola are free. Everything else is ticketed, so book ahead. Most events are in Italian, so check with the host if language matters for your kids.

A fun story: the first train in Italy left from Naples

Naples has one more Christmas connection. On October 3, 1839, the first train in Italy ran from Naples to Portici, just over seven kilometers in only eleven minutes. Today the Pietrarsa National Railway Museum stands nearby, with more than fifty-five historic railway vehicles on 36,000 square meters by the sea. It is also where the Christmas market takes place this year: you can look at the locomotives, then go looking for ornaments.

Traditions today

  • Via San Gregorio Armeno: The street of nativity scenes, with workshops selling terracotta shepherds, usually open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Figurines start at about 10 euros, and pieces signed by master craftsmen cost much more.
  • The Cuciniello nativity scene at San Martino: About 800 pieces on a rocky landscape divided into three scenes: the Nativity in a ruined Roman temple, the tavern and the announcement to the shepherds.
  • Christmas lights across the city: In 2025 there were more than 150 km of lights, switched on in mid-November and left up until January 7.
  • Capitone night at Porta Nolana: On December 23 the fish stalls prepare capitone, the eel that is the classic Christmas Eve dish.
  • Struffoli and tombola: Little balls of fried dough in honey at the table, followed by a family game of tombola.
  • Trains at Pietrarsa: The railway museum sits where the first train in Italy ran in 1839, between Naples and Portici, and hosts a Christmas market this season.

A fact for kids

In a Neapolitan nativity scene there is one shepherd who is always asleep. His name is Benino, and while kings, innkeepers and fishermen gather around, he takes a nap just as everyone waits for the baby Jesus.

Questions about Christmas in Naples

Is Naples worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes, if your kids like stories and hands-on things. Naples has a famous nativity scene tradition, a street of workshops full of figurines, a museum nativity scene with about 800 pieces and a calendar of family theater shows. There is also a Christmas market among historic locomotives and a Befana day at the science center in early January.

When does the Christmas market at the Pietrarsa railway museum open?

The eighth edition of the Christmas market opens on November 28 and runs every day until January 6, 2027. It takes place at the Pietrarsa National Railway Museum in Portici, with wooden stalls, street artists and Christmas lights among the historic locomotives. Entry is paid, with tickets sold online.

When is the Befana day at the Naples science center?

The Befana day at the science center, Città della Scienza, is on Sunday, January 3, 2027, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Befana welcomes families with stories, creative workshops, experiments and science shows. A special party ticket costs 8 euros per person, and planetarium and combined tickets run from 5 to 14 euros.

Where can kids meet Santa in Naples?

Santa shows up on stage rather than in a grotto in several family shows on this page. On December 5 a tired Santa tests his elves to find a successor, and on December 12 his gift list goes missing in a Christmas mystery. Both are at the Teatro dei Piccoli at 11 a.m. for 9 euros per person, and Santa also drops in on the December 18 science museum sleepover.

What is the Befana?

The Befana is the gift bringer of Epiphany, which falls on January 6. She appears in two shows on this page: a Christmas mystery with the Befana, an elf and a reindeer on December 12, and a play about toys from the Befana's shop on January 3, 2027. She also hosts the Befana day at the science center that same January 3.

Are there free Christmas events in Naples?

A few. The shows and entertainment at Christmas Dreams in Nola, at the Vulcano Buono, are free, and the season opens there on November 14 at 6 p.m. The theaters, the science museum events and the Pietrarsa market all charge admission, so budget for tickets.

Are Christmas events in Naples in English?

Most events here are in Italian, since they are local theater shows, workshops and markets. Many are visual or musical, like the storytelling with objects, the puppets and the carol workshop, so younger kids can follow along anyway. If language matters, check with the host before booking.

What is a presepe and why does Naples care so much about it?

A presepe is a nativity scene, and in Naples it is a full miniature world, not just a stable. The first trace is a notary document from 1021 mentioning a church "ad praesepe," and the golden age came in the 1700s, when nobles competed to build the richest scene. Today the tradition lives in the workshops of San Gregorio Armeno.

Why are Neapolitan nativity scenes set in the 1700s?

Because the 1700s were their golden age. The nativity scene moved out of the churches and into the homes of nobles and rich families, who competed to build ever more elaborate scenes. That is why the shepherds still wear clothes from that era, with taverns, markets and sellers from old Naples around the stable.

How did San Gregorio Armeno get its name?

The street is named after the church of San Gregorio Armeno, a complex from the 1500s that tradition says stands on an old Roman temple to Ceres. Today the street is known worldwide as the street of nativity scenes, with dozens of craft workshops side by side.

What are the opening hours of San Gregorio Armeno?

The workshops are usually open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The nicest time to go is from November to January. In 2025 the Christmas fair there ran from mid-November into January, with more than 22 wooden huts and about 45 craftspeople.

How much do nativity figurines cost on San Gregorio Armeno?

It depends on who made them. Simple figurines start at about 10 or 15 euros, while pieces signed by master nativity makers can cost between 200 and 500 euros. With kids, set a small budget and let them pick one new shepherd each year.

Who is Benino in the Neapolitan nativity scene?

Benino is the sleeping shepherd, a symbol of humanity waiting for the birth of Jesus. He is one of the classic figures in the workshops of San Gregorio Armeno. Kids enjoy finding him among the little houses and paths and checking that he is still napping.

Which other nativity figures can kids look for?

Besides Benino, there is Ciccibacco, the innkeeper, who stands for abundance and celebration. There is also a fisherman who recalls the sea of Naples and the Three Kings in splendid clothes. Turn it into a game and find them one by one in the scene at home.

Why are there figurines of soccer players and celebrities on San Gregorio Armeno?

Every year the craftsmen add new figurines of people who were in the news, such as soccer players, politicians and actors. It is a very Neapolitan way of keeping the nativity scene alive. For kids it is a fun game to spot famous faces among the old-fashioned shepherds.

What is the Cuciniello nativity scene at the San Martino museum?

It is one of the most complete Neapolitan nativity scenes. Michele Cuciniello donated it to the Museum of San Martino in 1879. It has about 800 pieces on a rocky landscape split into three scenes: the Nativity in a ruined Roman temple, the tavern and the announcement to the shepherds.

Why do the lights change on the Cuciniello nativity scene?

The lighting imitates dawn, day, sunset and night. Shadows and colors change depending on when you look, so it is worth standing in front of it for a few minutes. For children it is like watching a whole day go by in a Neapolitan Bethlehem.

Can we see a royal nativity scene near Naples?

Yes. At the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Court nativity scene was rebuilt in 1988 using the same materials as in the 1700s. It is a day trip outside Naples that shows the nativity scene as the kings saw it.

How big were the Christmas lights in Naples in 2025?

More than 150 km of lights, from the historic center to Bagnoli, at a cost of about 4.8 million euros. They went on the weekend of November 15 and 16 and stayed up until January 7. Piazza Municipio and Piazza Garibaldi each had a glowing cone-shaped tree.

What do people eat in Naples on Christmas Eve?

The symbol of Christmas Eve is capitone, the eel. On December 23 the fish stalls at Porta Nolana prepare it for the big dinner. For dessert there are struffoli, little balls of fried dough covered in honey, and after dinner families play tombola.

Where did the first train in Italy run?

In Naples. On October 3, 1839, the first Italian train ran from Naples to Portici, just over seven kilometers in eleven minutes. Today the Pietrarsa National Railway Museum, with more than fifty-five historic railway vehicles, hosts the Christmas market.

Is there a Christmas show for toddlers in Naples?

Yes. The Christmas concert on December 13 at the Teatro dei Piccoli is an interactive show for toddlers and families, with carols from around the world and small percussion instruments for the children. There is also a music workshop for ages 0 to 4 on December 19 and 20, where a child and one adult play and sing together for 15 euros.

Can kids spend the night at a museum in Naples?

Yes, on December 18 the science museum Città della Scienza runs a Christmas sleepover from 8 p.m. until 7:45 a.m. the next morning. It includes dinner, science workshops, a surprise visit from Santa and sleeping bags under the planetarium, for 60 euros per child.

What family shows are on between Christmas and New Year in Naples?

On December 27 the Piccolo Bellini theater tells the story of the Nutcracker from the point of view of Uncle Drosselmeyer, for children aged 5 and over. Shows are at 10:30 a.m. and noon. Tickets cost 8 euros for children up to 12 and 12 euros for adults.

Sources

  1. What to do in Naples at Christmas 2025 and when the tree in the square will be lit, Immobiliare.it News
  2. San Gregorio Armeno: la via dei presepi tra tradizione e artigianato, Napolike
  3. Presepe napoletano, Wikipedia
  4. Presepe Cuciniello, Certosa di San Martino, Open Campania
  5. Torna l'albero di Natale in Galleria Umberto: è di ferro, per scoraggiare i vandali, Fanpage.it
  6. Il Museo Nazionale Ferroviario di Pietrarsa, tra locomotive e panorami, SiViaggia

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