New Year’s Eve in Abruzzo: five alternative ideas to celebrate 2026

Abruzzo is a region off the beaten track of mass tourism, where it is possible to find virgin territory between high mountain peaks, such as Gran Sasso, Maiella, Monte Velino and the evocative panorama of the Abruzzo National Park. If you are ready to discover these magnificent scenarios that offer the scent of uncontaminated nature and the flavors of ancient culinary traditions, then we suggest you spend New Year's Eve in Abruzzo.

Abruzzo region is located in the green heart of Italy and is crossed by the mountain massif of the central Apennines which cuts the region in two, dividing it between the internal part, surrounded by mountain belts, and the coastal part, characterized by a milder climate. In this article you will discover how and where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Abruzzo.

The territorial conformation of Abruzzo region divided between the mountainous and coastal areas offers you the opportunity to choose various options for your New Year's Eve depending on whether you want more a typical winter celebration in the warmth of a log cabin fire, or you prefer a milder climate in a city on the coast, perhaps taking advantage of your time to take a tour of the wine cellars in the area.

If you love the cold, the one that reddens your cheeks and inspires a strong appetite, we suggest you to spend New Year's Eve in a high altitude refuge, in the white snow in Ovindoli or in the splendid Roccaraso. If you are a city soul, then it will be an excellent reason to visit and celebrate in a city of art like L'Aquila or Sulmona, famous for its confetti. If, however, you want to see what color the sea is in winter we recommend the lively city of Pescara, here you can take advantage of a fantastic fish-based dinner, as in the most widespread Italian tradition.

To get to Abruzzo, the destination that's going to be a revelation in the new year coming, the simplest option is by car coming from Rome, if you come from the capital take two days on the outward or return journey to visit Rome and then continue to Abruzzo.

Keep on reading and let's discover five ideas, fantastic and suitable for everyone, on how and where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Abruzzo.

Five recommended destinations for the New Year's Eve in Abruzzo:

5) New Year's Eve in Abruzzo by snow in Roccaraso

4) New Year's Eve in Abruzzo in a high-altitude refuge in Ovindoli

3) New Year's Eve in Abruzzo's capital at L'Aquila

2) New Year's Eve in the city of confetti in Sulmona

1) New Year's Eve in Abruzzo by the seaside in Pescara

Located on the southern edge of the Cinquemiglia plateau, Roccaraso is part of one of the largest ski areas in Alto Sangro, with 130 km of slopes. Here you can practice alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, with the advantage that these slopes are considerably cheaper than others in Northern Italy. But if you are brave enough and for your New Year's Eve in Abruzzo you want to dare off-piste descents, here it is also possible to snowboard or snowkite, activities that require open snow-covered spaces.

We recommend also taking a walk to the Roccaraso Christmas Market along Via Roma and in Piazza Leone is highly recommended. The Trans-Siberian of Abruzzo also stops in Roccaraso, the train that runs between the main towns in Abruzzo where the Christmas markets are set up. In this period the G. Bolino ice rink is also open for a nice ice skate, excursions and snowshoeing are also planned to discover the wonderful surrounding area.

After skiing, walking to the market, skating, or snowshoeing, book cenone (end of year dinner) in advance at the hotel or in a restaurant to taste the specialties of the area, such as homemade pasta and lamb and sheep meat and the famous arrosticini (sheep meat roasts). After dinner in the central square of the town (Piazza Leone) the fireworks will welcome the new year.

Recommended for: this is the ideal destination for sporty travelers, lovers of snow sports and mountain hikings, who are looking for a holiday combining fun and well-being.

The idea of spending New Year's Eve in a cabin or hotel at high altitude has great fascination and success.

If you are looking for silence and nature, mountain views beyond the wooden window, the warmth of the hearth and the intimacy of family or friends we suggest you rent a mountain cabin. A special and romantic choice, especially if you are in a couple.

If you look for more sociality and comfort instead, we suggest a high-altitude hotel where you can also take advantage of the wellness centers and spa, and enjoy the warmth of the hot waters while it snows outside. It's always better to organize and book in advance, especially for New Year's Eve dinner. After the sumptuous dinner, go out and walk in the winter cold, waiting for the fireworks that you will see in the valley from the summit.

Recommended for: this is the ideal destination for those seeking a slow-paced and sustainable luxury and wellness experience, especially for a romantic couple's trip.

L'Aquila is the capital of Abruzzo, a unique city that dresses up in light and warmth for the Christmas holidays and offers many interesting initiatives. If you have decided to spend New Year's Eve here, we recommend taking a nice cultural walk around the city. Towards the evening, move towards the central square to wait together with citizens and tourists for the count-down to midnight, but before that moment music and live shows will cheer up the wait in the midnight concert, which generally starts around 10pm.

In the historic center of the city, you can walk among the stalls of the Christmas markets, in Piazza Duomo you can admire the artistic stone nativity scene and on the steps of the Parco del Castello the traditional nativity scene, always in the Parco del Castello at the Auditorium a very rich calendar of musical events.

There are many villages in the surroundings of L'Aquila where you can move for the first day of the year in the name of tradition.

Recommended for: this is the ideal destination for travelers seeking culture and immersion in the beauty of cities rich in history and charm, prone to feel part of the local community by participating in local events.

Sulmona is in the Maiella Park, the historic center of the city is a true jewel, rich in art, history and culture. Sulmona is famous for its production of confetti (sugared almonds) and for being the birthplace of the famous Ovid. It is from here that the Christmas market train, the famous Trans-Siberian d'Abruzzo, leaves, making stops in the main towns of Abruzzo, where the Christmas markets are set up.

In these parts there are various specialties that you can enjoy for the traditional New Year's Eve dinner, such as the arrosticini, the traditional sheep's roasts, the lentils of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, which according to Italian culinary tradition should be eaten at midnight on New Year's Eve to bring wealth into the new year, handmade guitar spaghetti or polenta from Abruzzo.

Finally a sweet typical local specialty, the parrozzo, a cake with almonds covered with chocolate. A delicacy that honors the city's confectionery tradition and that you can enjoy at midnight, to celebrate the New Year with sweetness and a toast!

Recommended for: this is the ideal destination for those who want to spend a winter holiday visiting a city rich in arts and culture, especially for those with a sweet tooth!

Pescara is a lively and beautiful seaside town, full of events and joy, here the climate is mild given the proximity to the sea. While waiting for the night, we recommend a nice walk through the streets of the decorated and illuminated centre: reach the seafront, the sea in winter always has a romantic and poetic effect.

For dinner, treat yourself to a fish-based dinner, in these parts you can order the catch of the day and for New Year's Eve the chefs will amaze you. Afterwards you can enjoy the concert in Piazza della Rinascita. Square concerts are a typical activity in all Italian cities, they are free and open to all, finally watch the fireworks on the beach, it is a magnificent show.

A special gem, to begin the first days of the new year in style: we suggest to reach Roseto degli Abruzzi (a little north of Pescara along the coastline) for a tour of the historic cellars of Abruzzo with tasting, where you will have the opportunity to learn wine aging methods and taste different types to toast to the new year happily!

Recommended for: this is the ideal destination for those who can't give up the sea breeze even in winter and are looking for a rewarding and alternative travel experience, especially for those who love food and wine experiences as a couple or in small groups.