Our journey begins among the hills of the Langhe and Roero, home to the famous Il Magico Paese di Natale - the Magical Christmas Village. This is much more than a single market: it is a festive world spread across several nearby towns.
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Presepe Vivente
Bardonecchia
Christmas Markets
Presepe Vivente
Christmas in Piedmont 2026: A Winter Fairytale for the Whole Family
Christmas in Piedmont 2026: A Winter Fairytale for the Whole Family
Imagine soft Alpine snow, the grand silhouettes of royal castles, streets glowing with festive lights, and the irresistible scent of hot chocolate and cinnamon drifting through historic lanes. This is Piedmont, one of Italy’s most atmospheric regions, and in December it feels as if entire towns have been transformed into the setting of a Christmas story.I
f you are looking for a winter family break where legends seem to come alive and even adults begin to believe in a little magic again, Piedmont is a wonderful choice. In 2026, the region offers plenty for young travellers and their parents: elves take over castles, Santa Claus welcomes visitors in underground grottoes, and Christmas lights shimmer across lakes, rivers and medieval squares.
Pack your warm clothes — it is time to set off in search of some real Christmas magic.
Top 7 Places Where Children Can Believe in Magic
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In the tiny village of Govone, the former Savoy residence, Castello Reale di Govone, is taken over for the festive season by elves and, of course, Babbo Natale himself.
Children can enjoy an interactive musical show inside the castle. Accompanied by performers, they move through decorated rooms, visit the Elf School and help prepare presents for children around the world. The combination of a historic palace, music, costumes and laughter makes the whole experience feel surprisingly real.
In 2026, the event takes place on 14–15, 21–22 and 28–29 November, and 5–8, 12–13 and 19–20 December, from 10:00 to 18:45.
Around 20 km from Govone, the atmosphere changes completely. In Asti, Piazza Alfieri fills with more than 140 wooden chalets.
For children, it feels like a maze of sweets, handmade wooden toys and Christmas music. For parents, it is a chance to discover local specialities and regional products while enjoying the festive atmosphere of the historic centre.
The Asti Christmas Market is part of the wider Magico Paese di Natale programme and in 2026 is open on 13–15, 21–22 and 28–29 November, and 3–8, 10–13 and 17–20 December, from 10:00 to 20:00.
For families, Asti works particularly well in the second half of the day: start with Govone, then continue to Asti for the market, festive treats and the lights of the city after dark. If younger children are already tired, Asti also makes it much easier to find a warm café, restaurant or indoor place to take a break.
For slightly older children, consider adding the Presepe Vivente, the living Nativity scene of San Damiano d’Asti.
More than one hundred participants transform historic cellars and streets into scenes from another time, with craftspeople, travellers, animals and characters from the Nativity story bringing the setting to life.
In 2026, performances are scheduled for 6, 8, 13 and 20 December, from 14:00 to 19:00. A small Christmas market takes place on the same days.
It is a lovely choice for families who want to show children that Christmas in Italy is about more than Santa Claus and presents. The tradition of the presepe is one of the most distinctive and deeply rooted parts of the Italian festive season.
Want to truly surprise your children? Then head north to Ornavasso, home to one of Piedmont’s most unusual Christmas attractions: the "Grotta di Babbo Natale", Santa’s Grotto.
The adventure begins before you even reach the cave. Families arrive aboard the cheerful Renna Express - the “Reindeer Express” — and follow a route through the Forest of Elves, where fairytale characters appear along the way. But the real surprise is still ahead. Santa’s residence is hidden inside a real marble quarry, once linked to the same marble-working tradition that supplied stone for Milan’s Duomo.
After walking through a 200-metre underground tunnel illuminated with lights and torches, children reach a vast mirrored hall where Santa is waiting for them. They can hand over their Christmas letter in person and receive a small keepsake from the elves. It is a warm, mysterious and wonderfully theatrical experience — the kind of Christmas memory children are likely to keep for years.
The event has been running since 2009, and the 2026 programme is already confirmed for 21–22 and 28–29 November; 5–8, 12–13, 19–20 and 26 December. There are also Nativity displays and covered, heated food areas on site — an important detail for families travelling with young children in cold weather.
If your children enjoy treasure hunts and discovering hidden places, turn a visit to Crodo into a Christmas quest. Every year, the village hosts its distinctive Presepi sull’Acqua - Nativity Scenes on Water.
Instead of being displayed only inside churches, more than 60 large Nativity scenes are created directly around water: on old stone fountains, beside mountain streams, near wells and historic washhouses. Each installation is handmade, often using wood, moss, fabric and natural materials.
Walking through Crodo and the surrounding mountain hamlets becomes part of the fun. Families can follow a map while children search for the next illuminated fountain along narrow stone lanes. The atmosphere is especially beautiful after dark, when the lights come on and the sound of running water blends with the glow of candles and Christmas decorations.
In 2026, the event takes place from 5 to 10 December.
A completely different atmosphere awaits at Ricetto di Candelo, near Biella. Its medieval stone lanes already look like a fairytale setting, and during the Borgo di Babbo Natale they are filled with Christmas decorations, craft stalls, music, children’s workshops and Santa Claus.
In 2026, the event takes place on 21–22 and 28–29 November, and 5–8 and 12–13 December.
Candelo is particularly enjoyable with school-age children because Christmas here can easily be combined with a small journey back in time. There is no need to choose between something fun for children and something interesting for adults — the medieval architecture becomes part of the experience itself.
For something closer to a classic Alpine Christmas, head to Santa Maria Maggiore in the Valle Vigezzo. Its famous Christmas Market takes place for just three days in 2026 - 6, 7 and 8 December, from 9:30 to 18:30.
The main attraction here is not a programme of rides or shows, but the atmosphere itself: mountains all around, small village squares, wooden market stalls, handmade crafts and the feeling of being in a genuine winter village.
That is why Santa Maria Maggiore is best enjoyed slowly. Do not turn the visit into a race between attractions. Leave a few hours simply to wander, stop for something warm to drink, and let the children search for the most unusual Christmas decoration they can find.
Christmas in Turin: A Route for Little Explorers
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If the Piedmont countryside offers a cosy Alpine fairytale, the regional capital, Turin, welcomes visitors with royal elegance. In December, the city turns into a vast glowing open-air museum — perfect for exploring as a family.
Start your walk through the historic centre as dusk begins to fall, and turn the search for Luci d’Artista into a game: who will be the first to spot the next unusual light installation?
From 22 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, Turin’s streets and squares once again become an open-air gallery of contemporary art. These installations are very different from ordinary Christmas lights: some form words and figures, while others completely transform the familiar appearance of squares and historic buildings.
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For families, one of the liveliest festive areas is traditionally Piazza Solferino. A small Christmas village appears here with wooden chalets selling caramelised apples, toys and seasonal gifts. The main attraction, however, is the large open-air ice rink. Skating in the heart of historic Turin with Christmas music playing around you is pure winter joy.
Afterwards, continue to nearby Piazza Castello. This is where the city’s main Christmas tree is usually installed, together with a giant Advent calendar whose windows are ceremoniously opened day by day as Christmas approaches.
A Delicious Christmas: Treats for Young and Grown-Up Food Lovers
Christmas in Piedmont is also a wonderful culinary adventure. The region’s cuisine is famous throughout Italy, and during the festive season it feels especially warm, comforting and family-oriented. There are a few local specialities that both adults and younger travellers should try.
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Adults should not miss the legendary Bicerin, Turin’s iconic drink served in a clear glass. Traditionally, it combines three distinct layers: rich hot chocolate, strong espresso and a cool layer of cream. The trick is not to stir them together. And for children? Piedmont takes hot chocolate — cioccolata calda — very seriously. It is so thick, smooth and velvety that it is often eaten with a spoon almost like a dessert.
At Christmas markets, look out for roasted chestnuts, biscuits, local honey, Nocciola Piemonte IGP hazelnuts and small handmade sweets. These also make excellent edible souvenirs and are easy to take home.
In restaurants, families can continue their introduction to Piedmontese cuisine with agnolotti, polenta or tender brasato. The famous bagna càuda, however, may be more of an adventure for the adults: its strong combination of garlic and anchovies is not always a favourite with younger diners.
Conclusion
A few years from now, your child may not remember the name of every square you visited. But they may remember searching for an elf inside a castle, walking underground to meet Santa Claus, holding a cup of hot chocolate in both hands, and watching Christmas lights come alive above an old Italian city.
And perhaps that is the best souvenir you can bring home from winter in Piedmont.