My family with two kids (7 and 10) are thinking of visiting Italy in late December. I intend to skip museum/art-heavy cities (too much for my kids at this age) and the alpine areas.

Total: 15 days (includes arrivall and departure days)
Direct flight into Rome: 4 nights (day trip to Vatican City)
Train to Naples: 3 nights (day trip to Pompeii, although will skip if it is raining.)
Train to Bologna: 4 nights (day trip to Verona and Venice — latter is weather/acqua alta-dependent)
Train to Milan: 2 nights (because of direct flight home)

Naples:
I've read that Ostia Antica and Herculaneum are also an alternative and a shorter commute, but I’m leaning towards Pompeii because it’s like a history textbook coming alive for the kids. What are your thoughts?

About Christmas closures:
- Are restaurants generally open on 24 and 25 Dec, or should we plan to eat in our Airbnb during those two days?
- I’ve read that businesses close at about 2pm on 24 Dec but almost everything is back to usual hours on 26 Dec. Is this correct?

Festive vibes:
- Which city is better (for lack of a better word) to be in for Christmas, in terms of festive feels and Christmas closures? I understand that Rome, because it is a bigger city, has strong Xmas vibes, but Naples is famous for its Nativity tradition, which could be interesting and a different experience for us. Logistically, Rome works better as we have a direct flight into Rome.

I know weather is unpredictable but how rainy does Italy get in December? Is it light rain, like Vancouver, or does it tend to get heavy/thunderstorms for many days in a row?

Thank you!

Ostia Antica is near Rome not Naples
Herculaneum is smaller and might be more comfortable for kids who bore quickly
If you plan to eat on the 25th you need to book and probably the 24th and 26th
Check bus/train activity over Christmas

Weather in Italy when the climate is changing but at the end of 26. Maybe plan nearer the time

Italy

Ostia is actually part of Rome.

Day trips to Venice rarely go well. You'll be one more daytripper flooding in . Feeling like an over packed sardine. This will be made worse with the kids not likely wanting to take a really early train.

Venice is best early morning and in the evenings. Not for a few hours with the rest of the horde

Kids might like acqua alta. Check the tide tables if you want to see it

Remember that's high season in virtually the whole country
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You're looking at basically the whole country. Venice the canals might freeze. Naples might be low 20s. December usually isn't horrible for rain but this winter has been pretty bad. It can be light. It can be continuous.

Rome has plenty of open air things that means closures are less of an issue but the 26th is a public holiday. If you have something you want to see best to check openings.

Off the top of my head I can't think of much that would close at 2pm. Most shops etc would close at 6 on Christmas eve

Rome has plenty to do at Christmas. There are a lot of presepi (nativity scenes) in churches many of which are only displayed at Christmas. They are interesting in that they show the whole community. I don't know whether they still have it, but Santa Maria del Popolo had a huge display of about 200 presepi from all different countries. (I found it interesting that the one from the US was of Eskimos!)

There is a big market in the Piazza Navona. It was quite a while ago that I was there, but it was a lot like a carnival, including games you could play to win stuffed animals. They had nativity figures from Naples and several booths with beautiful but expensive amber jewelry.

Of course, you can't really predict the weather. I got lucky. No rain the entire ten days I was there, and during the day I could take my jacket off when out in the sun. Cooled off a lot in the evening. Maybe climate change has made rain more likely, I don't know.

Definitely needed reservations for dinner the 24th, 25th & 26th. I would note that on my last few trips, reservations are needed all the time much more than in the past.

Hope your kids will enjoy a long train ride.
I agree that a day trip to Venice is not a great idea.

I love Naples, but if your reason for going there is to see Pompeii, I think it would be worth considering (a) visiting Ostia Antica instead and (b) adding time to one of your other destinations or – as Traveler_Nick suggests, adding a few nights in Venice.

For excellent climate data, consult weatherspark.com

Thank you for all your advice! I have removed Naples and, added Ostia Antica and 2 nights in Venice. Might hop over to Orvieto for a day trip too — will play by ear.

Much better, IMO!

I agree, this is better. Just curious... You have taken out three nights in Naples and added two in Venice. Where are you putting the third night? You can always use more time in Rome, especially if you want the day trip to Orvieto, but another in Venice would be nice, too.

hello, I’ve rejigged the entire trip:
Rome: 6 nights
Bologna: 3 nights
Venice: 3 nights
Milan: 2 nights

I think this pace will work for us.

Just one day (two nights) for a city with a huge array of sites of interest? Your trip, but I certainly wouldn't find that satisfying. YMMV.