Christmas Town in Catania, from ice skating to the circus

Dates, address and tickets

Christmas Town runs at Le Ciminiere, Viale Africa 12, Catania, from 5 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. It is closed on 31 December. Tickets range from €11 to €22 depending on the date and ticket type. Children aged three and under enter free. Four- to twelve-year-olds have a reduced daytime price. The ice rink, rides and shows are included. There is a separate charge for the Ferris wheel, payable on site. Catania Centrale railway station is close. Allow at least half a day if you want to fit in several attractions and a break.

How to read the calendar

The village usually opens from 10 am to 11 pm. It opens at 2 pm on 9, 10 and 11 December. On 24 December it closes at 7 pm. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, it opens from 4 to 11 pm with the daytime ticket, which starts at 4 pm on those dates. On other days when an evening ticket is available, you may enter from 7 pm. With a daytime ticket you can arrive any time from the time shown and stay until closing. Tickets are valid for one entry and there is no re-entry after you leave.

The ticket you choose can set the pace for the day. With young children, an early arrival gives you time to stop between rides. For an evening visit, pick two things the whole group would like to do. On Christmas Eve, put the main activities before the 7 pm closing. If you go on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, use the first part of the afternoon to get your bearings and leave room for a break before one of the evening performances.

Three ways to start

If you are here for a ride, you can start with the new two-storey carousel. If you like themed spaces, choose the Gingerbread Village, Santa’s House or the Grinch’s House. If the children want to start with skating, make the rink your first stop. Minors need an adult to complete the waiver. Allow time for this even if some of your party would rather wait near the rink. If you are visiting with children of different ages, choose two places to start so different tastes can fit into the same outing.

One adult can go with the skaters while another visits the carousel with the rest of the group. You can meet again for a show. Pick a clear landmark before splitting up. If everyone wants the same thing, start there and decide what else to do afterwards. With many attractions included, it is easy to change the order once you see where everything is. Losing a little time to a queue is easier to manage when there is only one performance you want to catch.

Circus, musical and parades

There is a Christmas Circus, a musical and a Masha and the Bear show, as well as parades and other activities. The shows have repeat performances. When you arrive, pick a performance time and build the rest of your visit around it. If there is a long gap after entry, look around the Gingerbread Village or take a walk past the decorations. If the show is about to begin, leave the rides for later and go to the theatre first. You can then have your snack without keeping one eye on the time.

A family can choose one show and keep the rest of the time open. With half a day, you can fit in a performance, skating or a carousel ride and a break. The parade can be the last activity if it suits the journey home. For the Ferris wheel, wait until you know how much time you have. You can buy the extra ticket there and decide once you have seen what is already included. That works particularly well for a short evening visit.

Rain, admission and practicalities

Christmas Town stays open in rain. Many attractions are indoors or covered, while some may close for safety reasons. Start with a performance or a sheltered attraction and choose an outdoor stop later. It is easier to change plans if you already have another thing in mind. Carry a layer that is easy to take off indoors and put back on for the outdoor sections. For a day with young children, keep a break in the schedule even if you change the order of the activities.

Free or reduced admission is available for some visitors with disability documentation, which must be shown at the designated ticket office. An accompanying person enters free if the eligible visitor’s documentation provides for one. Check the admission criteria and documents required before setting out. If you are travelling as a group, have the booking available on a phone and decide who will handle the tickets while the others wait.

Two hours or half a day

With two hours, choose a show and an attraction. With half a day, start with skating or the carousel, go to a performance and take a break before the final stop. On days that open in the morning, a daytime ticket gives you more time to go at a child’s pace. On a short evening, keep the route simple and consider the Ferris wheel if you still have time near the end.

If you are travelling by train, save the route to Catania Centrale and check your return time before choosing the final show. Search for Le Ciminiere and the street number on Viale Africa. With an evening ticket you can plan arrival and dinner around 7 pm. If you would like to arrive while it is still light, choose one of the dates with a longer daytime programme. The final day is 6 January. Leave a few minutes before setting off to see what everyone wants to remember from the visit.

Special-price dates

Daytime and evening tickets at special prices are available for 9, 10 and 11 December and from 14 to 18 December while the allocation lasts. Compare the total for your group. The child reduction for ages four to twelve applies to daytime tickets, while the evening ticket is the same price for adults and children in that age range. If your plans change, the ticket platform charges a €2 fee for putting a ticket back up for sale.