Every year since 2009, Santa's Grotto has brought unique Christmas experiences to Milan and just a few minutes from the city, designed for families, children and teenagers, but also for couples, groups of friends and seniors.
Unique family-friendly Christmas events in and around Milan
Discover the most beautiful Christmas experiences in Milan's city center and just 50 minutes outside of Milan, on Lake Maggiore.
Christmas events in Milan's city center
Santa's Historic Tram – right in the center of Milan
An enchanting journey into the heart of the city, starting just steps from Piazza Duomo.
Board the festively decorated 1930s Historic Tram and experience 45 minutes of pure wonder among the illuminated streets and Christmas lights of central Milan.
On board you will find Santa Claus, his elves and our actors, ready to tell stories, take photos and give emotions to adults and children.
An exclusive and enchanting experience that transforms Christmas in Milan into a fairytale to share. Space is limited, so book now or join the waiting list.
Christmas getaways near Milan: Santa's Grotto
Santa's Grotto in Ornavasso (Verbania) – the Milanese people's favorite Christmas outing. Since 2009: non-stop, always with new features, new shows, and more services.
Just 50 minutes from Milan, overlooking Lake Maggiore and Lake Mergozzo, Santa's Grotto awaits you, a magical place where tradition meets emotion.
Ride the Reindeer Express trains, pass through the picturesque Elf Forest with panoramic views of the lakes, and reach the 200-meter-long underground gallery, a true 30-meter-high marble hall—the same marble used for Milan Cathedral.
There you will meet the real Santa Claus, surrounded by elves, lights and spectacular decorations.
In the Elf Village you'll find over 1,000 square meters of covered and heated areas with Christmas installations and live Christmas shows:
the Family Musical with the Elves of Santa's Grotto
The Concert in the new Castle of Lights with the Princesses singing the greatest hits from Disney Christmas films.
Christmas Trip to Lake Maggiore Between Lombardy and Piedmont
For those who love Christmas trips outside Milan, less than an hour's drive from the city, there's an extraordinary experience:
"Lights, Nativity Scenes, and Flavors on Fishermen's Island," featuring the new Christmas lighting. This trip can also be combined with a day trip to Santa's Grotto, or a wonderful weekend on Lake Maggiore, including the Ornavasso Grotto, Fishermen's Island, and the events and installations in Verbania and Baveno.
Depart from the Molo delle Luci in Baveno, where you'll be welcomed by a heated lounge area with braziers, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and a panoramic selfie spot.
Board a panoramic motorboat (departure at the booked time and return at your own pace) and reach Fishermen's Island, amidst lights, nativity scenes, and lake flavors.
Savor the traditional fisherman's dish—small lake fish and golden chips served hot—while strolling through the island's illuminated streets.
In Baveno you can complete your day with:
A visit to the Golden Christmas House in the Villa Fedora Park
A stroll among the nativity scenes in the village of Romanico, just a few minutes' walk away
Ideas for a Christmas day or weekend on Lake Maggiore, from late November 2025 to January 6, 2026.
A thousand nativity scenes at Boden
From Santa Claus's Grotto in Ornavasso, you can also take a convenient shuttle service to visit the exhibition of over a thousand nativity scenes from around the world at the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Boden in Ornavasso. This is the largest nativity scene exhibition in Milan, Lombardy, and Piedmont. If you'd like to visit only the nativity scenes (without entry to the Grotto), you can purchase a reduced-price ticket directly at the Ornavasso ticket office (Piazza XXIV Maggio). Ticket office hours are 9:30 am to 3:00 pm (€10, including access to the Village - without entry to the Grotto - shuttle to the nativity scenes included).
Christmas in Verbania, an hour from Milan
Don't miss Verbania's Nutcracker-themed light installations on the city's buildings and even on Lake Maggiore, with the stunning holographic fountain, during your trip from Milan to Lake Maggiore for Christmas 2025. In Verbania (just 20 minutes from Ornavasso for those also visiting the Grotto), don't miss "Magie sotto l'Albero" (Magic under the Tree), featuring Christmas installations and games for all ages in the enchanting setting of Villa Giulia (Corso Zanitello 10). Admission is free, open from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Christmas shows are also scheduled on select dates, and you can book them on our website for just €3.50 €1.50 advance booking fee.
The city also features an ice skating rink, a holographic fountain on the lake dedicated to the Nutcracker, and Santa Claus's Post Office with a creative workshop in the Palazzo Pretorio (Piazza Ranzoni, free admission – open 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm).
Christmas in Baveno: Your trip to Lake Maggiore until January 6th
Less than an hour from Milan, in Baveno you can admire the most beautiful views of Lake Maggiore, with the artistic illumination of Isola Pescatori.
From Baveno (15 minutes from Santa's Grotto), you can take a Christmas motorboat trip to Isola Pescatori, illuminated as part of the Isola di Luce project, and see the island's nativity scenes. You can also visit the Casa d'Oro di Natale (free admission) and the installations at Villa Fedora, with a full calendar of events. A 10-minute walk from the center takes you to the Romanesque nativity scenes.
Christmas at the theater in Milan with a 25% discount
All Santa's Grotto users will receive a 25% discount in the armchair and poltronissima sections for all performances scheduled at the Teatro San Babila in Milan (11-12-13-14 December 2025).
- discounted seat price €17 instead of €22.50 (average between 1 adult ticket and 1 under-12 ticket)
- discounted price for the Poltronissima seat: €21 instead of €27 (average between 1 adult ticket and 1 ticket for under-12s)
Customers can purchase tickets directly on ticketone.it by choosing the LA GROTTA DI BABBO NATALE promotion with the discount code ORNHIVE25.
The promotion is valid until all seats available at the time of purchase are sold out and until November 23, 2025.
What are the best Christmas events in Milan?
PlanThere are numerous Christmas events in the city. However, many have disappeared after a year or two, so it's important to check what's planned for 2025. One certainty is the events organized continuously since 2009 at Santa's Grotto in Milan, such as the Santa Claus Historic Tram, and out-of-town events such as Santa's Grotto in Ornavasso, the Thousand Nativity Scenes at the Boden Sanctuary, and the Christmas Motorboats to Isola Pescatori on Lake Maggiore departing from Baveno.
What are the Christmas events for families in Milan's city center?
Find out moreSanta's historic tram departs just a few meters from Piazza Duomo. Seats are limited and often sold out. Book early.
What's the best Christmas day trip from Milan?
The most popular and popular Christmas outing for families in Milan and Lombardy is Santa's Grotto in Ornavasso, just 50 minutes from Milan.
A connection that dates back to the Middle Ages because Santa Claus's Grotto is housed in the ancient underground quarry from which the marble for Milan Cathedral was extracted.
This year you can combine the day trip to Santa's Grotto with the Christmas Motorboats departing from Baveno and the Christmas events in Baveno and Verbania, about 1 hour from Milan and 15-20 minutes from Ornavasso, for a day trip departing from Milan, or a weekend stay on Lake Maggiore.
Is it necessary to book Christmas events?
Events like the Tram Express, Santa Claus's Historic Tram from Piazza Duomo, or Santa Claus's Grotto in Ornavasso are often sold out, so reservations are required. With flexible dates, you can change the date or even the event if you can't make it. We also recommend booking the Christmas Motorboats departing from Baveno (reservations are usually open until a few hours in advance - trips continue until January 6th). You can also attend the Christmas events in Verbania and Baveno without a reservation.
What happens if I book and then can't come? Do I lose my money?
With Santa's Grotto events, you never lose anything you paid: with the flexible date option, you can change your booking date up to 8 days in advance, or change the event if you're unable to attend. Your ticket is valid for 12 months for all events organized by Santa's Grotto. Since 2009, it has been hosting great family events, with over 60,000 families registered, a guarantee of reliability, quality, and safety.
How can I contact you?
Santa's Grotto has a secretariat dedicated to the public that is open all year round.
Tel. 39 0323 497349 (Monday to Friday 8:30-12:30 (from November 18th to December 26th from Tuesday to Friday 9:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00) Mobile and WhatsApp
39 3480120346
Outside of office hours, please contact us at info@grottadibabbonatale.it
lemcomunicazione@gmail.com