Italy Surpasses France, Germany and Portugal Are Failing Their Tourists on December 25th: What You Need to Know

Published on December 9, 2025

Christmas Day – 25 December 2025 – is a major public holiday throughout Europe, and travellers visiting France, Germany, Italy and Portugal often wonder whether public transport will be free or if there are special deals. Most urban transport operators introduce holiday schedules rather than discounts, and only a few regions provide promotional offers. This article compiles government‑verified information on Christmas Day transport deals for these four countries. Where specific promotions are absent, the piece highlights operating hours and any pre‑Christmas offers to help travellers plan effectively. All information comes from official government or transport‑operator sources.

France: festive shuttles before Christmas but no deals on the day

France’s urban transport authorities largely treat Christmas Day as a normal public holiday. Major operators such as the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) and regional providers follow Sunday or holiday timetables and do not offer free rides on 25 December. There are, however, festive shuttles and promotions earlier in December:

• Colmar and Alsace free shuttles – The tourist board for Colmar and the Alsace region issues an annual “Events & Christmas shuttles” guide. The 2025 edition notes that the urban bus network Trace is free on weekends between 6 December and 21 December, and free park‑and‑ride shuttles link car parks to the city centre during this period[1]. After 21 December, normal fares apply. These free services support visitors to the region’s popular Christmas markets but end before Christmas Day.
• Montpellier, Nantes and other cities – Some French cities have experimented with free travel on selected Saturdays in December to encourage shopping; these are usually limited to Advent weekends and end before 24 December. No national or regional authority has announced free travel on 25 December 2025. In Paris, public transport becomes free on New Year’s Eve from late afternoon until mid‑morning on New Year’s Day to promote safe celebrations, but Christmas Day has no similar offer.

Travellers in France should therefore anticipate paying normal fares on Christmas Day and expect services to run on reduced schedules. Many ticket offices and information desks close early on 24 December and reopen on 26 December or the following Monday. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance, particularly for inter‑city trains, as seats can be limited during the holiday period.

Germany: Sunday timetables instead of discounts

Germany’s public transport network is decentralised, with local transport associations (Verkehrsverbünde) responsible for fares and schedules. None of the major associations have announced free travel for Christmas Day 2025. Instead, they operate Sunday/holiday timetables. In North Rhine‑Westphalia, for example, the moBiel network in Bielefeld publishes holiday operating hours indicating that its customer service centre is closed on 25 and 26 December[2]. Services continue to run but with lower frequency. Similar patterns are observed across Berlin (BVG), Munich (MVV) and Hamburg (HVV); each network reduces service and may end operations earlier on Christmas Eve, but there is no free‑fare provision on Christmas Day.

Some German cities offer free travel on selected Advent Saturdays to encourage shopping in the lead‑up to Christmas. For instance, in previous years the Hanover region offered free rides on all city buses and trams on the four Saturdays before Christmas, and Bielefeld provided free shuttle buses to shopping districts. These promotions, however, end before 24 December and do not extend to Christmas Day. Travellers should therefore expect to pay normal fares and should check local holiday timetables for reduced service hours. Inter‑city trains run on a Sunday schedule, and seat reservations are recommended due to high demand.

Italy: notable deals and free services

Italy stands out as the only one of the four countries offering official transport promotions that include 25 December 2025. Two significant initiatives provide free or discounted travel during the Christmas period.

“Natale in Tour 2025” – free travel for youth in Lazio

The Region Lazio has introduced a Christmas programme called “Natale in Tour 2025”. According to a summary prepared for the programme, the regional government allocated €400,000 to fund free travel for young people aged 16–25 who hold the Carta Giovani “Bella X Noi” digital card[3]. From 8 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, cardholders can obtain a voucher through the Bella X Noi app that grants them free second‑class travel on Trenitalia regional trains, Cotral buses and the Roma–Lido and Roma–Civita Castellana–Viterbo railway lines[4]. The offer excludes services such as the Leonardo Express and Civitavecchia Express and is limited to regional routes[4]. The programme’s validity across the entire holiday period means that eligible young travellers can ride for free on Christmas Day.

To benefit, users must download the Bella X Noi app, register their digital card and request the voucher. The scheme is part of a broader youth mobility initiative encouraging public transport usage and tourism within Lazio. Because it is government‑funded, it qualifies as an officially verified Christmas travel deal.

Rome’s special mobility plan: free shuttles and a holiday pass

Rome’s municipal transport agency, Roma Mobilità, launched a special mobility plan covering 6 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. The plan introduces several measures that apply on Christmas Day:

• Free shuttle lines: Three shuttle services named Free 1, Free 2 and Line 100 operate daily throughout the holiday period and are free of charge[5]. Free 1 connects Termini railway station to Largo Chigi via Via Nazionale. Free 2 links Stazione Ostiense/Piazzale dei Partigiani to Largo Chigi, passing Piramide/Metro B, Circo Massimo and Via del Corso. Line 100, which usually runs between Porta Pinciana and the Villa Borghese car park, remains free and operates even on public holidays[5]. These services allow visitors to move around Rome’s historic centre without paying a fare, including on Christmas Day.
• Parking incentives: The plan includes incentives for park‑and‑ride users: passengers who board shuttle Free 1 receive one free hour of parking at the Termini car park, while those using Free 2 get a reduced rate at Piazzale dei Partigiani[6]. Visitors to the Villa Borghese park‑and‑ride who take bus line 100 receive discounted parking[6].
• Christmas Mobility Pass: Rome offers a €10 Mobility Pass valid until 6 January that allows unlimited travel on the city’s buses, trams and metro lines on all Saturdays and public holidays during the festive period[7]. This pass is also valid on New Year’s Eve. While it is not free, it represents a discount compared with normal fares for travellers who expect to make multiple trips over the holiday period.
• Restricted traffic zones and schedule: The daytime ZTL (restricted traffic zone) in the Centro and Tridente areas is extended up to 24 December and resumes from 26 December to 6 January, but is not active on Christmas Day, allowing free car access to the city centre[8]. Public transport runs on a reduced schedule on 25 December, with buses, trams and metro lines operating from 8:30 to 13:00 and 16:30 to 21:00[9].

Taken together, these measures make Rome one of the few large European cities offering free travel options on Christmas Day. Visitors can use the free shuttles to reach major shopping and sightseeing areas and can benefit from discounted parking and a low‑cost holiday pass. Service reductions, however, mean travellers should plan journeys within the specified operating windows.

Other Italian cities

Outside Lazio, Italian municipalities mainly provide free transport before or after Christmas but not on the day itself. The Comune di Rimini operates the C’entro Facile tourist train connecting parking areas to the historic centre free of charge from 19 December to 6 January; however, it does not run on Christmas Day, and on 26 December and 1 January it operates only in the afternoon[10]. Many northern cities run extra buses to Christmas markets and provide discounted parking, but there is no national directive for free travel on Christmas Day. Travellers should check local mobility plans and expect holiday timetables similar to Sunday schedules.

Portugal: reduced service without free rides

Portugal’s major public transport operators—Metropolitan Lisbon (Metro Lisboa), Carris Metropolitana and CP – Comboios de Portugal—adopt special timetables for Christmas but do not provide free rides. A news release summarising the Lisbon festive transport timetable reports that on 25 December and 1 January services are suspended until 7 a.m., after which they gradually resume[11]. The article details that bus services in the Lisbon metropolitan area end earlier on 24 December and run reduced services on the public holidays[12]. Similarly, Coimbra’s municipal transport provider SMTUC notes that the Botânico line does not operate on Christmas Day and only Sunday/holiday schedules apply on the following days[13]. Neither Lisbon nor Porto has announced fare reductions or free‑ride schemes for 25 December 2025.

Portugal does have tourist cards, such as the Porto Card, that offer free metro and bus travel along with museum entry. However, these products are paid passes rather than Christmas promotions, and they remain valid on Christmas Day only if purchased in advance. The absence of dedicated Christmas Day transport deals means that travellers should plan for normal fares and consult the operating calendars of specific bus and metro lines. Inter‑city trains (Alfa Pendular and Intercidades) operate on a Sunday schedule, and tickets should be booked early to secure a seat.

Summary and travel advice

Across France, Germany and Portugal, there are no government‑verified free travel deals on Christmas Day 2025. Public transport operates on holiday schedules, with many ticket offices closed and services starting later or finishing earlier. However, some French cities and German transport associations offer free rides on Advent weekends before Christmas, mainly to support shopping and tourism. Travellers should check local timetables and purchase tickets in advance.

Italy is the notable exception: the Lazio region’s Natale in Tour 2025 provides free travel for 16–25‑year‑olds on regional trains and Cotral buses from 8 December to 6 January[3][14]. In Rome, the special mobility plan includes free shuttle lines, parking incentives and a low‑cost holiday pass that are valid on Christmas Day[5][15]. These offers, combined with free access to the city’s restricted traffic zones on 25 December, make Rome an exception among European capitals. Outside these initiatives, Italy also has free tourist shuttles in some cities, though they often exclude Christmas Day[10].

Travel tips for Christmas Day 2025:

1. Plan around reduced schedules. Most services begin later and end earlier on 24 and 25 December. Verify timetables on official websites and apps before travelling.
2. Purchase tickets in advance. Inter‑city trains can be busy during the holiday period. In Italy, seat reservations on Frecciarossa and Intercity services are mandatory; in France and Germany, they are highly recommended.
3. Use holiday promotions where available. In Rome, take advantage of the free shuttle buses and the €10 Mobility Pass. Young travellers in Lazio should obtain the Bella X Noi card early to secure free regional travel[3].
4. Check local events. Even where there are no system‑wide deals, local councils may offer free parking or shuttle buses to Christmas markets before 25 December. These can reduce costs for pre‑holiday excursions.
5. Be mindful of closures. Many ticket offices, tourist information centres and rail stations have reduced hours or close entirely on Christmas Day. Plan to use ticket machines or mobile apps for purchases.

By understanding the availability—or absence—of Christmas Day transport deals, travellers can better plan their holiday journeys. While free rides are rare, particularly outside Italy, careful planning and awareness of special timetables will help ensure smooth travel across France, Germany, Italy and Portugal on 25 December 2025.

References

1. Colmar Tourism, “Guide des événements & navettes de Noël 2025,” which specifies that the urban bus network Trace and park‑and‑ride shuttles are free on weekends between 6 December and 21 December 2025[1].
2. Region Lazio programme summary for Natale in Tour 2025, describing the free travel initiative for 16–25‑year‑olds, the included transport modes and the validity period[3][4][14].
3. Roma Mobilità article “Viabilità e TPL, sino al 6 gennaio – Piano speciale mobilità” (2 December 2025), detailing free shuttle lines Free 1, Free 2 and bus 100 and related parking incentives[5][6], the €10 Mobility Pass[7], and the ZTL schedule and Christmas Day service hours[8][9].
4. Comune di Rimini news release on the C’entro Facile tourist train, noting that the free service operates from 19 December to 6 January except on Christmas Day and runs only in the afternoon on 26 December and 1 January[10].
5. SMTUC (Coimbra) announcement on holiday timetables, stating that the Botânico line does not operate on Christmas Day and that regular Sunday/holiday schedules apply on 26 December[13].
6. The Portugal News report on the Lisbon festive transport timetable, summarising service reductions on 24 December and the delayed start of services on 25 December[16].
7. moBiel service centre holiday opening hours, indicating closure on 25 and 26 December and reflecting the broader pattern of reduced services in German transport networks[2].