New Year's Eve with the family: where to go

Meeting Father Christmas, visiting his house and toy workshop, greeting the reindeer as they rest in the stable, meeting the efficient elves and enjoying sweets and treats: these are just some of the experiences you can have in one of the numerous Christmas villages throughout Italy during the festive season.

There are plenty of options for a New Year's Eve of absolute fun with the family, starting with the Christmas Village of Bussolengo with animations and attractions for everyone, or the Kingdom of Father Christmas in Vetralla, on the outskirts of Rome, with its Frozen Forest and the Tunnel of a Thousand Sweets.

Also competing for the title of Italy's best Father Christmas village are the Father Christmas Castle in Montepulciano, housed in the mediaeval fortress in the town centre, and Christmasland in Gubbio, dominated by the world's largest Christmas tree.

Celebrating the arrival of the New Year in an amusement park with Ferris wheels, attractions and shows is a great idea. On New Year's Eve, Gardaland transforms into Gardaland Magic Winter, while Cinecittà World, on the outskirts of Rome, organises a special evening with fireworks, themed dinners, DJ sets and illuminations.

On New Year's Eve at Leolandia, in one of the most loved amusement park by families with children under 12 years old, not far from Bergamo, in addition to Santa Claus, can meet all the cartoon characters. If you prefer to spend New Year's Eve at the Genoa Aquarium, get ready for lots of special activities such as an aperitif and dinner in the Cetacean Pavilion and the Shark Hall. And children up to the age of 3 have free admission.

You can also spend a relaxing New Year's Eve with children at the spa: no, it is not impossible! At Montecatini Thermal Baths, New Year's Eve is celebrated with a dinner and lots of entertainment for children, after spending a few hours in the warm thermal heat of the Pool of Happiness, accessible for children from 24 months of age upwards.

At the Bormio Thermal Baths, children of all ages can enjoy a dedicated area with a Mushroom Pool and a 60-metre-long water slide, reserved for those aged 10 years and older. If you have already made plans for the evening, on the other hand, you can discover the Abano/Montegrotto thermal baths during the day with the children, and arrive in a relaxed mood for dinner.

How about a day in the snow with sledging and snowshoeing for the whole family before welcoming the New Year with a lavish New Year's Eve dinner? The family hotels in the Dolomites organise events on New Year's Eve that will leave lasting memories with children and adults alike.

At the foot of the Latemar you will find toboggan runs of Obereggen and a large Baby Park, while for a unique New Year's Eve in Val Gardena, choose one of the many family hotels in Ortisei: the children's entertainment and activities to be enjoyed all together, indoors and outdoors, will impress you.

Spending a few days on an agritourism farm for New Year's Eve will delight adults and children alike. Nature, good food and fun will be the watchwords of this experience. Just choose an agritourism farm with children's games or farm animals to discover and meet.

There is no shortage of options from the north to the south of Italy. Spending New Year's Eve on an agritourism in Umbria means having the chance to visit treasures such as Gubbio and Perugia, while if you prefer an agritourism in Tuscany for New Year's Eve, we recommend planning a trip to Montepulciano or taking the opportunity to discover the wonders of Florence. In Naples, the Tenuta Astroni combines chic ambience with Neapolitan warmth. Music and inflatables will do the rest, entertaining the little ones and granting adults an evening of relaxation and fun.