What to do in Milan in winter

Milan is a city you can visit year-round, but in winter it has a special charm with the Christmas vibe.

Winter in Milan is cold, with low temperatures and a chance of snow. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve visited Milan, including a New Year’s Eve we spent under snowfall in the city.

In this guide, I’ve gathered my tips on the activities that are worth doing in Milan in winter.

What to do in Milan in winter

The main reason I say Milan can be visited any time of year is that most attractions are indoors, like museums and churches. The weather doesn’t get in the way of this kind of visit.

Since walking all day in the cold or snow isn’t exactly pleasant, here’s a list to help you optimize your stay in the city. These are the best things to do in Milan during winter:

Visit Milan Cathedral (Duomo)

The Duomo di Milano, also known as Milan Cathedral, is one of the largest churches in the world and is truly worth a visit.

You can visit the cathedral interior (it’s stunning!) and also the Duomo terrace, which you can access by stairs or elevator. Note that the lines are different for each access.

I highly recommend going up to the terrace because, besides seeing the structure up close, you get a panoramic view of the city of Milan.

I recommend buying the online ticket with Fast Track to skip the lines.

Pro tip: The Duomo is usually quieter early in the morning and late afternoon, but I personally like visiting the terrace at sunset – the view gets even more impressive.

Visit the Sforzesco Castle

Sforzesco Castle is one of Milan’s top attractions and a great activity for winter.

The castle has served as a residence and a military fortress, and today it houses a complex of museums.

Even if you don’t plan to visit the museums, it’s worth going to see the structure. The courtyard is beautiful, even if the lawns aren’t so green in winter. It’s gorgeous in the snow, too!

Explore Milan’s museums

One of the best things to do in winter in Milan is to visit the city’s museums. Milan is extremely cultural, with a large number of museums.

I don’t suggest visiting them all – you’d spend an entire day in exhibitions – but pick one or two that interest you.

Some of Milan’s main museums include:

• Museum of Ancient Art, home to Michelangelo’s Pietà
• Pinacoteca di Brera (Brera Art Gallery)
• Leonardo3 Museum, dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions (one of my favorites!)
• Fondazione Prada
• Santa Maria delle Grazie / Cenacolo Vinciano, where The Last Supper is located (so worth it!)

Visit Milan’s Christmas markets

One of the great advantages of visiting Milan in winter is enjoying the Christmas atmosphere.

If you visit in December (or even early January), you’ll find decorated streets, themed window displays, and a festive feel across the city.

You’ll also find several Christmas markets around town. Christmas markets are a European tradition that I love!

In some areas, you’ll see stalls selling all kinds of food and drinks. There’s usually a Christmas fair right in Piazza del Duomo.

The Villagio delle Meraviglie is one of the city’s prettiest fairs, in my opinion. Check details here.

See a performance at Teatro alla Scala

Teatro alla Scala is an iconic Italian theater, famous not only in Milan but across the country and around the world.

I highly recommend checking the events calendar and catching a play or performance if something fits your travel dates. See the official calendar here.

If you don’t want to attend a show, you can also visit the theater during the day. Buy your ticket here.

Enjoy Italian cuisine

So far I’ve shared several things to do in Milan in winter, but the best part of traveling in the low season is having more time to truly enjoy the local food.

Italian cuisine is wonderful, and you’ll find amazing food and wine in Milan. Here are some typical Milanese dishes I recommend trying:

• Ossobuco with risotto alla milanese – The city’s signature dish – don’t miss it. See the photo above.
• Cotoletta alla milanese
• Cassoeula – A classic winter dish, but quite heavy.
• Panzerotti – More of a snack; you’ll see panzerotti sold all over the city.
• Minestrone milanese
• Panettone – Especially around Christmas.

Pro tip: If you’ll be in Milan over Christmas or New Year’s, book dinner in advance. On those dates, many restaurants run set celebratory menus only. Reservations are essential.

Book a tour in Milan

Where to ski near Milan

Since we’re talking winter and snow, why not extend your trip and spend a few days skiing?

Near Milan, one of my favorite resorts is Piani di Bobbio. It isn’t very touristy – more of a spot for Italian families (which I love).

Piani di Bobbio is close to Lake Como, so you can visit on a day trip, or stay a few days. I find it a bit tiring as a day trip because skiing is demanding.

Read my complete guide to Piani di Bobbio.

Winter day trips from Milan

If you’ll use Milan as your base, there are several winter-friendly destinations you can visit:

• Lake Como – Read my guide to what to do in Lake Como in winter
• Bergamo
• Turin – You can go by train – totally worth it.
• Piacenza – An easy trip with excellent food.
• Florence – The train takes about 90 minutes, so it’s also a great option.

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What to expect from Milan in winter

Visiting Milan in winter is a great idea if you enjoy indoor plans – museums and buildings. Since Milan isn’t focused on outdoor attractions, it makes a solid winter destination.

But it’s important to set expectations about what winter is like there.

Winter in Milan is very cold. Milan sits near the mountains in northern Italy, and temperatures drop quite a bit during winter. It often snows in Milan as well, but usually only for a few days.

There’s no real way to plan your trip exactly for snowy days. In recent years, the weather has been unpredictable, and snow can arrive at any time.

Another key thing to know: in winter, the sun sets much earlier in Italy. In mid-December, sunset is around 4:00 PM.

So wake up early to enjoy the daylight hours, and plan things for the evening. Activities like a performance at Teatro alla Scala are perfect for nighttime.

Practical tips for visiting Milan in winter

• Since no one wants to walk all day in the cold, make good use of public transport in Milan in winter. Read my guide on how to use public transport in Milan.
• Buy an international eSIM so you have internet on the go (If you don’t have EU data coverage already). It makes the trip much easier – from Google Maps to museum guides. I use Airalo, and it has always worked well in Italy – get yours here.
• We usually pay by card everywhere in Milan and rarely need cash.

Keep reading about Milan and Italy

• 2-day itinerary in Milan
• Which Milan airport is best
• Where to stay in Milan, Italy
• Complete guide to what to do in Venice
• What it’s like to drive in Italy