The Best Things To Do in Milan, Italy at Christmas

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When it comes to taking a European Christmas vacation, Milan may not be the first place you think of. Many travelers consider Germany or Switzerland to be THE places for epic Christmas markets, snowy weather, and holiday ambiance. While I would agree that Milan isn’t your go-to destination for the traditional European Christmas experience you may be envisioning, I still think there are many pro’s to visiting during this time of year. Ready to have a fabulous Frank Sinatra winter? Grab your fur coat, boots, and your favorite holiday dress – we’re finding all the best things to do in Milan for Christmas!

The Best Things To Do in Milan for Christmas

1. See Milan’s Christmas Markets

In the words of one of the local Chanel employees, “people come to Milan for the food and the shopping, not the Christmas markets.” In other words, don’t expect this city to go as hard as Germany, Strasbourg, France, or some of the others for the holidays. While I definitely agree that the highlight of my Milan trip was the shopping, I would be doing you a disservice by not at least mentioning the Christmas markets!

Milan’s Main Christmas Market at the Duomo

The main Christmas market is located at the Duomo – aka the Milan Cathedral. You’ll find vendors lined up in the center of the square in Piazza del Duomo – as well as along the sides and back of the cathedral – selling ornaments, crafts, accessories, foods, and more. The city’s massive Christmas tree is also in the center of the square, which becomes a focal point for photos and evening strolls.

When I went to Milan, the internet told me the markets would be open on December 1, when they actually didn’t open until December 3…aka the day I was leaving. Sighhhhh. I didn’t even get to see the massive Christmas tree lit up (this was happening around December 6 or 7). IMO, this further proves the point that people come here for the shopping and not the markets. Rule of thumb: The countries that go the hardest for Christmas will have their markets open by the end of November. However, I DID get to see a few markets set up around the Duomo:

Other Christmas Markets in Milan

If you’re traveling with kids, be sure not to miss the Villaggio delle Meraviglie (Village of Wonders) inside Giardini Indro Montanelli park. This isn’t technically a market, but work with me here. This holiday village is Milan’s most family-friendly Christmas setup, complete with rides, food, Santa, holiday shows, and an ice rink.

Another area to check out – and one of my personal favorite areas of Milan – is around the Navigli canals. I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t know Milan was a canal city until I started researching this trip, and it made me even more excited to go. The internet told me there would be a Christmas market here, but I never saw one. SIGHHHHH. However, I still wanted to mention it in case it was opening later on in December.

Even if there’s no Christmas market, I’m still going to tell you to walk around here in the evening because it’s one Milan’s most romantic areas. Bars line the canal walkways and serve aperitivos and snacks, and some are fully decked out in lights and holiday cheer. You know I love a dark, moody aesthetic, so my favorite bar was clearly MAG.

• Pro Tip: if you love a dark, speakeasy bar vibe, check out the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain.

2. Plan Your Visit Around the “Oh Bej! Oh Bej!” Christmas Market Fair

• Note – Dates for this year are December 5 – December 8, 2025

The Oh Bej! Oh Bej! fair is Milan’s biggest and most traditional Christmas event. Of course, we already established that people come to Milan for the retail therapy, but this market is the exception to the rule. The name translates to “Oh beautiful! Oh beautiful!” – a phrase said to echo the joyful exclamations of children as they admired the appealing goods set out at the fair. I unfortunately didn’t make it to this Christmas market, so I can’t tell you how epic it is from a personal standpoint – but the locals tell me it’s a gem. The Oh Bej! Oh Bej! market is located around the grounds of Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione. Be sure to check out the vendors selling firunatt or firòn — traditional strands of smoked chestnuts fashioned into long, necklace-like strings.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the famous glass-domed shopping hall in Milan, and Italy’s oldest active shopping mall. One step inside, and you’ll find yourself saying “it smells like designer in here”…or at least, that was my first thought. Even if you don’t purchase anything, you still have to walk through here for the architecture. The walls have golden accents, with old-world religious paintings towards the top. And omg, the ceiling. THE GLASS CEILING. I can’t. I love it.

Okay – coming down off of my fangirl moment. As you’ve probably guessed, the Galleria is home to mostly designer stores, along with glamorous cafés and historic restaurants. Not to peer pressure you, but if you’re going to splurge, I would do it in Italy’s fashion capital!

• Fun Fact: The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has 4 mosaic designs on the floor. Spin around on the bull – or torino – mosaic for good luck!

4. Check Out Milan’s Other Famous Fashion Streets

Aside from the Galleria, there are numerous streets and areas that are known for iconic shopping. The best part? Many of them have Christmas decorations that make your shopping experience all the more festive (more on this in the next section!).

Be sure not to miss the Quadrilatero della Moda (Fashion Quadrilateral) – an area of 4 intersecting streets that are home to all the best designer stores. 2 of the most famous streets in the quad are Via Monte Napoleone and Via della Spiga, where you’ll find this giant Ralph Lauren Christmas tree along with Ralph’s Bar. For more affordable options, check out Corso Buenos Aires – this street is home to around 350 stores as is near the Villaggio delle Meraviglie market I mentioned earlier. Walk down Via Cesare Correnti and Via Torino for other popular European retailers like Primark, Alcott, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Calzedonia, and more.

5. See the Christmas Lights All Over Milan

Just because Milan doesn’t go quite as hard as some other European countries with the Christmas markets doesn’t mean they slack with the holiday decor. On the contrary, there are so many streets with Christmas lights and festive garland strung about that you could make an entire evening out of walking around and looking at everything. In fact, all 4 streets that I mentioned in the above section (Via Cesare Correnti and Via Torino, along with Via Monte Napoleone and Via della Spiga) have Christmas lights. When you explore these areas, make sure to wander down some of the festive side streets and alleyways – you may just get lost in the best way.

6. Ice Skate at One of the City’s Holiday Rinks

Ice skating is one of the most atmospheric winter activities in Milan, and the city sets up several rinks that feel straight out of a holiday movie. I already mentioned the rink at Villaggio delle Meraviglie if you’re bringing your kids, but perhaps an even cooler location is the rink at Piazza Gae Aulenti, a pedestrian square in Milan’s Isola neighborhood. You can skate among the modern skyline of glass towers as they reflect the lights of the rink below – the perfect contrast between festive charm and Milan’s futuristic architecture.

• Pro Tip: It usually costs between €5-10 euros to rent skates at the rinks

Each December, the opera season opens with a major premiere on December 7th – the Feast of Saint Ambrose – making it one of the city’s biggest cultural events. If you can’t make it for opening night, the theatre hosts a full lineup of operas, ballets, and orchestral concerts throughout the holiday season – giving you plenty of opportunities to experience world-class performances in one of the most prestigious opera houses on earth. Even if you don’t see a performance, you can book a guided tour of the theater and its museum where you can explore costumes, instruments, and the venue’s long history tied to composers like Verdi and Puccini.

9. Check Out the Christmas Scenery in Brera

Brera is one of Milan’s most romantic neighborhoods, similar to Montmartre in Paris. You’ll find illuminated alleyways and restaurants, and of course, more shopping. This is a really cute area to walk around and look at all the Christmas lights. In terms of shops, things here are less designer and more bohemian/artsy, but it only adds to the romantic vibe.

• Pro Tip: My favorite meal I had in Milan was at Gloria – a restaurant located in the Brera neighborhood. Make a reservation, especially if you have more than one person.

10. Take a Day Trip to Como

Look, I had every intention of doing this until I got swept up in the shopping. If you’re not as hardcore of a shopper as I am (or, if you ran out of room in your suitcase), taking a day trip to check out the Christmas markets in Como is a fabulous option. And yes, I’m talking about Como as in Lake Como. Of course, you won’t get to do all the water activities, but this area is MUCH less crowded during wintertime, making it great for exploring. If you do decide to go, their main Christmas market is located in Piazza Cavour. Be sure to also check out Villa d’Este – this hotel transforms into a winter wonderland for the holidays.

11. Try the Panettone

Panettone is a dome-shaped sweet bread cake that’s soft, airy, and slightly buttery. It’s typically filled with candied orange peel and raisins, although modern versions have chocolate, pistachio cream, or other fillings. It’s one of the most iconic holiday foods in Italy and a huge part of Milan’s Christmas traditions. Some of the best places to try panettone include:

• Pasticceria Cucchi
• Pasticceria Marchesi
• Pasticceria Pavé

What To Wear in Milan During the Winter Holidays

We’re in Italy’s fashion capital, and as you probably guessed, people bring their A-game here for the holidays. I saw a lot of fur jackets, short skirts or sweater dresses with tights and knee-high boots, long wool trench coats, and sparkles. LOTS of sparkles. I was also impressed by the number of women walking around in high heeled boots, especially on the cobblestone streets.

Of course, Milan is also an incredible place if you want to know the rising fashion trends or what is currently in style for the season. When I was here, brown was THE color for the winter, so everyone was wearing brown boots, coats, tights, and hats. Part of me wished I would have only brought a couple outfits so I could buy a whole new wardrobe there to take home. Maybe next year….

What’s the Weather Like in Milan at Christmastime?

Milan is in northern Italy, with December temperatures ranging from 34-45°F (1-7°C). It can be cold, cloudy, and damp, and snow is possible. Thankfully, Milan is NOT in the mountains, so the snowfall is usually less intense…meaning you’re less likely to get stuck due to covered roads or train tracks. When I was in Milan, it didn’t snow at all, but I would have welcomed some flurries! I visited during the first week of December, and temperatures were in the 40’s(°F). It did rain a couple days, but at least it wasn’t painfully cold.

Milan: A Few Random Takeaways

Every time I go to a new city, I like to try and pay attention to things that are important or that I think stand out. Below, some FYI things I noticed in Milan:

• For as popular as Milan is with tourists, I felt like I encountered a good many people who didn’t speak English well. This really surprised me.
• A lot of the restaurants don’t have bar seating, aka I couldn’t just roll up and squeeze into a seat at the bar like I usually do. Be mindful of this if you come during high tourist season (summer).
• Italy is a “late” culture as far as dinner goes; many restaurants didn’t open until 7:00 or 7:30pm.
• Like I previously mentioned, the December weather was definitely bearable. I walked around in cute sweater dresses, tights, and boots and didn’t have to worry about freezing.

Need Help Planning Your Christmas Market Trip?