The stages of your Christmas journey to Santa's Grotto in Ornavasso
2024 edition ended. Bookings open for 2025 edition AUGUST 2025
Since 2009, Santa's Grotto has been the most authentic and beloved Christmas experience in Italy, and also the most imitated! Choose to experience the original, come to Ornavasso (Verbania - Lake Maggiore), for an extraordinary journey into Christmas. An increasingly rich program, with new connected heated areas. An excursion into nature between paths and natural landscapes.
For any doubts read our FAQ by clicking here - or contact us at the email: info@grottadibabbonatale.it
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Here are the stages of your next Christmas event:
1. Reception and ticket office
Your journey into Christmas begins in Ornavasso (Verbania) in P.zza XXIV Maggio where it is mandatory to go to collect the passes reserved for those who have booked. Here you will also find our elves actors who will introduce you to the discovery of Christmas. It is recommended to arrive at the ticket office at least 45 minutes - 1 hour before the time booked online for the meeting in the Grotto with Santa Claus
In Piazza XXIV Maggio you will also find a refreshment point with hot drinks and toilets.
For you free parking reserved for the event 500 meters from the ticket office - set navigator Ornavasso, via Dottor Lavarini. It is forbidden to drive up to the Grotto (there are no parking spaces and passes are only given in P.zza XXIV Maggio)
2.The Reindeer Express trains
To go up to the Village you can use the Renna Express Trains, running continuously from 9:30 to the end of the event. There is no need to book and you can buy tickets directly on site, always in P.zza XXIV Maggio next to the ticket office
The stretch with the Tourist Trains is 1.3 km long and the train takes about 10 minutes. No reservation is required.
3.The great Nativity scene and climb to the Village
The little trains will take you to the beginning of the route towards the Village and the Grotto. In the splendid church of the Guardia (among the places of the heart of the FAI) - with an incredible view - new area with the large nativity scene themed "Christmas Eve" (6 x 2 m) of the Bergamo school with day-night effects, water and snow.
Even using the Renna Express trains from the Guardia Church you continue on foot for about 600 meters (there is also an asphalt path for strollers). The Guardia Church is a covered area and outside you will find toilets.
Once you reach the Village area you can stop as long as you want or even pass by more than once, for example you can do only some activities or have lunch and then go up to the Cave, then go down again to the village areas to do the other activities. The activities are close together so there is no mandatory route or predefined order: only the entrance to the Cave must take place at the booked time, not necessarily at the beginning or end of the day.
Access is permitted only to participants with a Cave Ticket, it is not possible to access the Village without a ticket.
4.Christmas Dreams
"Christmas dreams" come true at the entrance to the Village with our actor elves, and the new 2024 stations for the most beautiful photographs and selfies of your Christmas
In the Village area you will also find approximately 1000 m2 of covered, heated and connected areas, toilets and a nursery point for changing diapers.
5.The toy factory and the artisan elves
Also in the Village, a large covered and heated area is dedicated to the toy machine and our artisans: here with your children you can discover the art of wood, cheese, honey, crochet and patchwork.
This area of the Village is covered, heated and also connected to the refreshment area with self-service local products by the Alpini of Ornavasso. Toilets outside this structure
6.This is how cheese is born: the curd
In the covered and heated area of the Factory and the Artisan Elves, if you want, you can watch the cheese curdling. On all dates at 11:45 and 14:45
This area of the Village is covered, heated and also connected to the refreshment area with self-service local products by the Alpini of Ornavasso
7.The Good Child Diploma
In the covered and heated area of the Factory and the Artisans you can collect - if you deserve it - the Good Boy and Good Girl Diploma.
This area of the Village is covered, heated and also connected to the refreshment area with self-service local products by the Alpini of Ornavasso
8.Mechanical Reindeer to Ride
From the Toy Factory, still with an indoor and heated internal connection, reach the new area dedicated to mechanical reindeer with a motor, to ride. Continue from this area and you will be at the Locanda Alpina refreshment point
Optional activity not included in the entrance ticket. With purchase on site €2.00
9.La Locanda Alpina refreshment point
From the Reindeer Area, with a covered connection, or directly from outside the Village, near Santa's Flying Sleigh you can stop at the Alpine Inn with self-service, bar service and mountain menu, Packed Lunch Area, internal nursery point (heated) for changing diapers
Refreshment point and bar open all day DOES NOT require reservation. Toilets outside the structure
10.The Christmas Storyteller
Pure Christmas poetry, timeless, with our Storyteller. Throughout the day in the Elf Village, just before the entrance to the Fabbrica dei Twergi and at the entrance to the Path to the Grotto
11.The underground tunnel
Before walking the last stretch of the path to the Grotto you can explore the secret tunnel of the Twergi, the elves of Ornavasso. The tunnel comes out right at the foot of the Belvedere dei Twergi.
12.The Twergi Belvedere
In the Village, a panoramic point overlooking Lake Mergozzo and the mountains of the Valgrande National Park, with our exclusive Talking Trees - much loved by children - and wooden reindeer to ride
You can reach the Belvedere by walking through the underground tunnel or from the outside, next to Santa's Flying Sleigh.
13.Santa's Flying Sleigh
Guaranteed fun and panoramic views with Santa's Flying Sleigh, a unique attraction for all ages from babies to adults.
Optional activity not managed by Santa's Grotto. With purchase on site €3.00 (4 tickets €10), without age or height restrictions, with accompanying adult.
14.The Twergi Forest: towards the Cave
From the Village, walk along the last stretch of the path to reach the Cave: you will encounter the talking houses of the Walser elves of Ornavasso, the Twergi
Path of about 400 meters in the woods. You can leave the stroller at the beginning of the path in the designated parking area or in case of difficulty in tackling the path skip this area and use the alternative route on the asphalt road.
15.The Falconer Elves
At the end of the Bosco dei Twergi path you will find the falconry station.
The possible photo - baptism of the glove is an optional activity not managed by Grotta di Babbo Natale
16.Arrival at the Cave Entrance
Congratulations, you have reached the entrance of the Cave. Here you will find our elves actors to welcome you, the hot tea offered to visitors (included in the ticket), the elves responsible for delivering the protective helmet for entering the Cave. It is recommended to respect the time slot booked for entering the Cave, it is sufficient to arrive a few minutes early, avoid unnecessary waiting.
17.The Magical Encounter with Santa Claus
Walk through the 200 meters of the underground gallery with Christmas music and installations and enjoy the incredible spectacle of the 30-meter-high Marble Hall (also used for the Milan Cathedral): Santa Claus awaits you in the center. Post your letter. Santa Claus will give each child a small gift.
The photographer of the event will take the souvenir photo. A print of the family photo is free, any portraits, files or other products can be purchased at the exit.
18.The Click Elf
At the exit of Santa's Grotto you will find the photographer's wooden house: the print of your free family photo is already ready.
The ticket includes the printing of 1 family photo (no single subjects). Any portraits, files or other products can be purchased directly from the photographer. Service not managed by Grotta di Babbo Natale
19.A Thousand Nativity Scenes from Around the World
At the exit of Santa's Grotto you can find the shuttle to the Boden Sanctuary (1 km away) to visit the extraordinary Crypt of Nativity Scenes with one thousand two hundred nativity scenes from around the world. Visit the Boden Sanctuary (500 years old in 2028) and the ex-voto area.
The visit to the nativity scenes is free. The shuttle bus (no reservation required) is optional (return ticket 3 euros for adults - 2 euros for children and young people up to 14 years old). At Boden there is also a bar-restaurant "Antica Trattoria del Santuario"
20. Christmas Cruise to the Islands of Light
If you want to complete your day on your return from the Grotto or on the weekend in Stresa, just 20 minutes from Ornavasso, a unique experience: the Cruise between the Islands of Light of Lake Maggiore (Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori). On promotion at 39.00 euros per family only 50 places per cruise.
In the center of Stresa take your selfies with the Quadri di Luce installations. On the dates of 1-8-14-15-21-22 December (near the stations from 11 am to 1 pm and from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm you can also meet the elves!
The family offer includes 2 navigation services: from Stresa to Isola Pescatori (at any time) plus a sunset cruise on a covered motorboat with 50 seats (departures from Isola Pescatori at 4.45pm, 5.30pm and 6.15pm) - subject to availability.
