Christmas Trains: Italy Just Launched special routes to reach the most beautiful Markets

When the country lights up with winter lights and scents, Italian Festive trains invite you to experience the magic of Christmas on the move. Italian Christmas trains transform travel into an evocative experience: no rush, just passing landscapes and the anticipation of arriving at the heart of the festivities. An initiative designed to accompany travelers to the most evocative destinations, allowing the journey to become part of the enchantment of the holidays.

Every Sunday, from November 30 to December 28, Rome awakens with an invitation to wonder: the “Christmas Express” awaits travelers at Roma Termini, ready to depart at 8:30 a.m. Its vintage carriages, adorned with festive lights and decorations, glide slowly through the Umbrian hills, while a bar service fills the air with delicious aromas and a small Christmas gift adds a touch of magic to the journey. At 12:10 p.m., the train arrives in Arezzo, where it is just a short walk to the famous Christmas Markets, the largest Tyrolean village in Italy, with the charming Santa Claus village in the medieval fortress. After a day immersed in enchantment, the 5:30 p.m. return train takes you back to Rome at 10:42 p.m., ending an experience that seems straight out of a fairy tale.

During the Christmas season, Arezzo seems to breathe a different air: a soft light caresses the medieval rooftops, transporting you back in time. The streets are filled with the scent of spices and freshly baked cakes, and every corner is transformed into a fragment of a fairy tale. The city dons its most enchanting attire, reminiscent of the landscapes of Northern Europe while maintaining its Tuscan charm. The beating heart of this metamorphosis is Piazza Grande, which is transformed into an authentic Tyrolean village. The wooden houses, the glitter of the decorations, and the variety of stalls create an enchanting atmosphere: it is a pleasure to lose oneself among the stalls displaying crafts, local specialties, and traditional delicacies. Here, every object seems to tell a story, perfect as a gift or to take home as a souvenir of a special December.

The streets of the city center, illuminated by a scenic route that guides visitors and residents along the Corso, offer unexpected views and transform the walk into a sensory journey. The Prato area becomes the Parco delle Meraviglie (Park of Wonders), a large garden of lights and surprises: a planetarium that tells the story of the winter sky, a Ferris wheel that offers a romantic view of the city, and an impressive light installation composed of hundreds of thousands of LEDs that envelop over 8,000 square meters of parkland.

Not far away, the Medici Fortress is transformed into the Fortress of Wonders: an elf village made up of themed rooms, scenic trails, and an atmosphere that captivates young and old alike. The city's artistic heritage is complemented by an extraordinary exhibition of nativity scenes from around the world, a collection that pays homage to the tradition and symbolism of Christmas. For those who love to have fun, Piazza Grande features an ice skating rink, a space where you can let yourself be carried away by the spirit of the holidays.

Arezzo at Christmas is an experience that involves all the senses: the sound of festive melodies, the scent of the markets, the warm light of the installations, and the suspended atmosphere create a memory that lasts over time. And for those arriving on the Christmas train from Rome, the magic begins even before arrival, making the adventure even more unforgettable.

But the Christmas Express, before arriving in Arezzo, also makes other stops. Every Sunday, from November 30 to January 4, this festive train travels through cities rich in Christmas atmosphere—Terni, Spoleto, Foligno, Spello, Assisi, Perugia—until it reaches Arezzo, inviting you to discover traditions, flavors, and scenery that seem straight out of a winter fairy tale. Its calm pace, retro charm, and comfortable travel make it the most evocative way to immerse yourself in the magic of the holidays without worries or traffic: just sit back and let the scenery guide your gaze.

Assisi will welcome you like an open-air nativity scene: delicate lights envelop the historic center, artistic projections illuminate the Basilica of St. Francis, every alleyway hosts a nativity scene, and the market in Piazza del Comune offers authentic crafts and festive scents. But the beauty of it is that this wonder is just one stop on the journey: you can explore the markets, events, and traditions of several cities in a single experience, getting on and off at your leisure.

With the arrival of the holidays, Italy lights up with lights, the scent of spices, and melodies that transform every city into a small enchanted world. It is the time of year when Christmas markets become the beating heart of the season, and Trenitalia – with its dedicated holiday trains – invites you to experience this magic in the most comfortable, romantic, and sustainable way possible. The Espresso Turistico trains turn every journey into a special experience: no traffic, no waiting, just the pleasure of being transported to some of the most evocative Christmas destinations.

From Verona, you can easily reach the Christkindlmarkt in Piazza dei Signori, stroll among the lights on the lakefront in Bardolino and Lazise, or discover the Flover Christmas Village in Bussolengo, perfect for families. Further north, trains to Trento, Bolzano, Bressanone, Merano, and Vipiteno take you to Italy's most iconic markets: illuminated squares, wooden huts, the scent of mulled wine, and light shows that warm up the winter.

And if you want to experience the Christmas atmosphere across the border, connections from Brenner to Innsbruck, Kufstein, and Munich take you to some of Europe's most famous markets, under the Golden Roof or in the historic Marienplatz. 

Choosing Trenitalia's holiday trains means treating yourself to a carefree journey, where the trip itself is part of the celebration. Boarding the train becomes a little ritual: you settle in, watch the winter landscape roll by, and arrive right in the heart of the magic. A simple and poetic way to experience Christmas like never before.