Pietrarsa Museum Christmas Markets

Christmas among the locomotives of Pietrarsa

Just a few steps from the sea in the town of Portici, within the Metropolitan City of Naples, the Pietrarsa National Railway Museum opens its 19th-century pavilions every winter for its signature Christmas Markets. The complex spans the border between Portici, San Giorgio a Cremano, and the Naples district of San Giovanni a Teduccio—a site of immense symbolic importance for Campania and Italy's industrial history, as it was here on October 3, 1839, that the peninsula's first railway, the Naples-Portici line, was inaugurated.

The formula is simple yet highly successful: a village of illuminated wooden stalls winds its way through tracks, steam engines, courtyards, and avenues overlooking Mount Vesuvius and the gulf. The result is a market unlike any other in Southern Italy, as the backdrop is not a temporary set, but the authentic, historic architecture of a Bourbon-era factory turned museum.

A rapidly growing event

The first edition of the markets dates back to December 2018, when organizers chose the grounds of the museum—managed by the Fondazione FS Italiane—as an unconventional setting for a holiday event. Since then, it has become one of the most anticipated appointments of the Neapolitan Christmas season, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from across Campania and beyond every year. The 2025-2026 edition, the seventh, ran from November 29 to January 6, confirming a well-established format: crafts, live performances, children's entertainment, and a vast area dedicated to food and drink.

Artisan stalls

The exhibition route features traditional decorated and illuminated wooden stalls, occupied by artisans from Campania and other Italian regions. Among the stalls, you will find:

• Christmas decorations, figurines, and collectibles;
• Creations in ceramic, wood, fabric, and recycled materials;
• Handcrafted gift ideas for adults and children;
• Typical products and Campanian food and wine specialties.

The quality of the craftsmanship is a hallmark of the event; exhibitors present creative works suitable for all ages, along a route that can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace over several hours.

Shows, music, and street performers

The markets are accompanied by continuous entertainment that lasts from the afternoon into the evening. Recent programs have featured roving artists, parades, dance performances, cabaret, theatrical plays, and live concerts, with gospel choirs singing Christmas classics among the locomotives. In the evening, when thousands of colored lights illuminate the pavilions, the atmosphere becomes truly enchanting.

The Children's Village

A significant portion of the event is designed for the little ones. Activities featured in recent editions include:

• Santa's Grotto, with souvenir photos;
• Letter writing and the wish post office;
• Creative workshops, from Christmas cookies to salt dough;
• Face painting and Polar Express-themed locomotives.

Gastronomy: The dining areas

The culinary offerings are a major highlight. Alongside temporary stands along the route serving sweets, mulled wine, and hot drinks, the museum offers its permanent spaces at the Terrazze Pietrarsa: a pizzeria with sea views and Neapolitan-inspired dishes, a bistro for quick, contemporary meals, and a café for pastries, coffee, and seasonal beverages.

The White Night of the Markets

A highlight of the 2025-2026 edition was the White Night of the Pietrarsa Markets, held on Tuesday, December 23, with an extraordinary opening until 2:00 AM—an evening of shows, music, and holiday cheer that extended the visit late into the night, with the last entry at 1:00 AM.

Markets and museum, one single visit

The admission ticket also allows access to the museum's collection, housed in the pavilions of the ancient Bourbon factory: steam locomotives, electric trains, royal carriages, and scale models tell the story of nearly two centuries of Italian railway history. Recent editions have also offered guided tours at scheduled times for a small additional fee.

Visitor tips

On weekends and holidays, the turnout is significant: it is advisable to purchase tickets online and arrive well in advance of your chosen time slot. Those who prefer a quieter atmosphere may want to visit on weekdays, when admission is cheaper and the grounds are less crowded. The days between January 2 and January 6, leading up to Epiphany, also remain a great time to visit.