What to do in Naples in December 2025: 10 events not to be missed

Finding out what to do in Naples in December 2025 is definitely easy. Lights, markets, colors, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere are just some of the reasons to visit the city at this time of year. As Christmas approaches, Naples dresses up for the holidays and becomes even livelier than usual, while the mild Mediterranean winter temperatures invite you to stroll through the city center and along the seafront.

Between the glowing shop windows, the pastry shops filled with struffoli, rococò, and other typical Christmas delicacies, and a full calendar of cultural events, this is when the city becomes even more magic, and offers something for everyone. So, here’s what to do in Naples in December 2025, from major events that bring people together, to the smaller ones for enthusiasts.

December in Italy is a truly special month. Few other cities celebrate Christmas with the same intensity: a mix of pop culture, ancient traditions, solemn atmospheres, and joyful chaos. That’s why this is one of the best times to visit the Neapolitan capital.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, there are a few unmissable things to do and see. The first, of course, is San Gregorio Armeno, the street of nativity scenes, where traditional craftsmanship and nativity art reach their peak.

While walking through the center, and not only there, you’ll often come across zampognari, the bagpipe players. Nothing in Naples says “Christmas!” more than these street musicians playing ancient wind instruments, dressed as shepherds, as a tribute to their own centuries-old pastoral tradition.

Another fun local custom is visiting the fish markets that stay open all night on December 23. Even if you’re not planning to cook, this is still an experience you can only have in Naples.

Museums, churches, and squares also offer an incredibly rich program for all tastes. Here are some of the most interesting events to help you decide what to do in Naples in December 2025.

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Every Sunday morning, until the end of December, the Filangieri Museum celebrates Baroque music. Located on Via Duomo, in the heart of Naples’ historic center, the museum welcomes visitors with its collection of paintings, ceramics, ancient books, and armor from around the world.

Included in the ticket price are a series of unmissable concerts for classical music lovers: the Convivio Armonico – Partenope Baroque Festival, now in its 24th edition. The program features 18th-century Neapolitan composers, performed on period instruments.

To recreate the atmosphere of King Ferdinand’s court, the music of Bellini, Donizetti, Bach, and especially of the great Alessandro Scarlatti will be performed. Originally from Sicily but Neapolitan by adoption, Scarlatti is one of the greatest figures in Naples’ musical tradition, and 2025 marks the 300th anniversary of his death, a perfect occasion to rediscover his work.

Dates and location: December 14, 21, and 28, starting at 11:30 a.m. -  Filangieri Museum, Via Duomo 288.

The underground of Naples is a world of its own, rich in art, history, and mystery. Deep beneath the city lies an immense heritage to explore, and even some of the most famous figures of Neapolitan folklore were born here. Today, visitors can experience places filled with charm and atmosphere.

Among the things to do in Naples in December, a visit to one of the main sites that make up the Neapolitan underground, the tunnel known as Galleria Borbonica, is an absolute must, especially on the nights of December 6 and 27.

On these occasions, you can take part in a guided night tour, which also includes a short raft ride across the waters of the underground aquifer, in an unfinished branch of the tunnel. Between the evocative lighting and the ancient and modern artifacts visible along the route, participants walk with helmets and torches through wide chambers and narrow passages, reaching depths of up to forty meters.

During the tour, you will learn about one of Naples’ most famous folk tales, that of the Munaciello. Among the ancient underground cisterns moved the pozzari, the well cleaners, dressed in cloaks similar to monks’ robes to protect themselves from the damp. It is from their mysterious presence that the figure of the mischievous little spirit dressed like a monk was born.

Dates and location: December 6 and 27, Galleria Borbonica, entrance at Via Morelli no. 61.

Find out more about Galleria Borbonica

There’s nothing more magical for kids, than Christmas with decorated trees, the wait for presents, and of course, Santa Claus.

More often than not, even adults love to let their imagination run wild and feel like children again for a while. For this reason, visiting Piazza del Plebiscito is among the things to do in Naples in December 2025, especially for families, while waiting for the “real” Santa Claus.

On this occasion, starting from the Day of the Immaculate Conception and for the following two weeks, the city’s main square fills with lights, stalls, workshops, and everything needed to bring all the magic of Christmas to the heart of the city.

In fact, there are many Christmas markets that brighten up Naples and its surroundings during this period, with decorated trees and a total of one hundred and fifty kilometers of sparkling lights, but it’s safe to say that the one in Piazza del Plebiscito will be a bit more special. The location is truly unique, and the scheduled entertainment with shows, music, and street food will do the rest.

Dates and location: December 8–21 - Piazza del Plebiscito.

For those who want a break from the festive galore, there's something different. The Art Days is the opportunity to explore Naples’ contemporary art scene. Now in its 5th edition, this citywide event encourages visitors to wander through galleries and cultural spaces to discover new perspectives and artistic voices.

The 2025 edition, titled “Voices from the Hive”, takes inspiration from Italo Calvino’s short story Cold in Naples, which portrayed the city as an ancient beehive.

This clever and fascinating metaphor describes Naples as a living organism made of countless cells, each with its own story. Talks, film screenings, and related events are there to help visitors know all these stories better.

All that’s left to do is set off and discover them all. The detailed program will be published and updated on the event’s official website.

Dates and location: December 1–7, 2025, multiple locations across the city.

Cultured and popular, sacred and profane, the most classic show of the month of December in Naples returns once again this year to the Teatro Trianon. Indeed, it wouldn’t be Christmas without La Cantata dei Pastori, staged by one of the city’s most enduring and beloved artists, Peppe Barra.

The history of this work stretches back almost four centuries: born from music and poetry, over time it has also incorporated elements of the popular theatre tradition, the commedia dell’arte.

Its creation dates to 1698, the year in which the Jesuit priest and composer Antonio Petrucci wrote a sacred play with the intention of countering the more popular rituals that distracted people from the sacredness of Christmas.

The current title, La Cantata dei Pastori, dates from the nineteenth century, and although the performance has lost part of its solemnity to gain in lightness, it still remains a fascinating journey into tradition, as well as a fixture, literally for centuries.

A total of nine performances are scheduled, taking place on weekends, from December 19 to January 4, 2026.

Dates and location: December 19, 2025 – January 4, 2026 - Teatro Trianon Viviani, Piazza Calenda, 9

A visit to the Pompeii excavations is always a unique emotion. Few sites in the world can compete with the wonder aroused by this city frozen in time, still not completely explored. With its mosaics, frescoes, elegant villas, and theaters, it is a place that absolutely must be seen at least once in a lifetime.

Visiting Pompeii in December also offers the opportunity to take part in a special exhibition held in the Palestra Grande, inside the archaeological site. Through the eight sections of the exhibition, visitors can get to know more closely the lives of the women of Pompeii. 

From noble ladies to slaves, the most important stages of their lives, such as birth, motherhood, and death, are told through everyday objects, inscriptions, graffiti, and so on.

The exhibition is also interesting because it is a complete multimedia experience that continues outdoors, in the marked areas within the excavations, and includes films, podcasts, and readings dedicated to the women featured in the show.

Dates and location: from April 16, 2025 to January 31, 2026 - Pompeii Excavations, Via Roma 44, Pompeii.

How to visit the ruins of Pompeii

Naples, a city proud of carrying on its own traditions, never fails to open its doors to new influences and other cultures, and thus the Christmas Gospel Concert has by now become one of the most beloved and eagerly awaited events.

If you don't know what to do in Naples in December 2025, visit the wonderful Gothic Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, one of the most beautiful churches in Naples. It's located right in the city center, close to some of Naples’ most important sites. Napoli Sotterranea (Naples Underground) is only a few meters away, as is San Gregorio Armeno, the historic street of nativity scenes. The basilica itself, moreover, stands above a major archaeological excavation and it's also a unique event location that will host a very special Christmas Concert.

The stars of this incredible show are part of the Gospel Sound Collective, founded and directed by Tyree Miller. The artist, originally from Philadelphia, is among the most important figures of the American gospel scene, and together with his choir presents a show that is incredibly engaging, refined, and full of inspiration.

As in previous years, the italian singers Rita Ciccarelli and the Flowin Gospel will join the show.

Dates and location: December 19 and 20, 2025 - Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, Piazza San Gaetano.

Find out more about Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

In Naples there is a place where you can see the stars and discover the varied world of insects, explore the human body, and dream of traveling into space. This is Città della Scienza, a fantastic multimedia museum dedicated to science, much loved by children.

Here, learning is always fun thanks to the many events, installations, workshops, and to the largest and most modern planetarium in Italy.

A visit to Città della Scienza should definitely be included among the things to do in Naples in December, because the month’s calendar is packed with activities.

Among the unmissable appointments is, for example, the weekend of December 13 and 14, dedicated entirely to National Space Day, celebrated on December 16, with various activities and meetings.

The planetarium shows of the month include an incredible journey following the robotic explorers sent into space, and the exploration of December’s starry sky. On December 4, there will be also a special evening, a “stellar” aperitif that also includes a special show at the planetarium and direct observation of the stars with telescopes.

It is also worth remembering that in December, and continuing until February 2026, there will be Futuro Remoto, the major science festival now approaching its 40th anniversary, featuring conferences, performances, meetings, and workshops open to everyone.

Dates and location: December 2025 - Città della Scienza, Via Coroglio 57/104.

Anyone visiting Naples, at any time of the year, should not miss the Teatro San Carlo, the oldest opera house in the world still in operation. Crossing its threshold means entering a true temple of Italian Opera, UNESCO immaterial heritage. This is the place where the greatest artists of opera and ballet from all over the world have performed.

At Christmas, this theater becomes even more magical thanks to a show that is increasingly becoming a fixed part of Naples’ holiday tradition: The Nutcracker.

The wonderful ballet composed by Tchaikovsky, based on a story by Dumas, needs no introduction. Between children’s dreams, princes, and toys coming to life to challenge the fearsome King of the Mice, this performance never fails to captivate audiences of all ages.

The famous San Carlo Ballet Company, in addition to the acclaimed classic version, also stages a shorter version lasting one hour, perfect for younger audiences, on December 23 and 30.

Dates and location: December 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 30, 2025 - Teatro San Carlo, Via San Carlo 98.

Find out more about San Carlo Theatre in Naples

New Year's Even in Naples has been a well-established tradition for years and one of the most eagerly awaited events in December in Naples, both for locals and tourists. It’s the way everyone celebrates together the arrival of the new year in one of Italy’s most iconic squares.

Piazza del Plebiscito, with the colonnade and dome of the Church of San Francesco di Paola, serves as the backdrop for the big New Year’s Eve concert, which brings together thousands upon thousands of people in celebration.

Pop music will set the most festive mood, and as every year, big names in Italian show biz will perform, from artists who have made history to new-generation stars who will get everyone dancing.

At the stroke of midnight, the party becomes even livelier as people toast together and admire the fireworks, connected with other squares across Italy.

A New Year’s Eve night, of course, goes on until sunrise. Thus, the seafront of Via Partenope, just a few steps from the square, transforms into a huge and spectacular open-air disco where everyone can keep celebrating, waiting by the sea for a dawn that never fails to make hearts beat faster.

Dates and location: December 31, 2025 - Piazza del Plebiscito.