Milan in January 2026 – is it worth going? Weather and reviews, air temperature, how to dress, prices in hotels and excursions. What to see in Milan, what to do for the New Year, in the middle and end of January, where to go shopping and travel in Italy – says Eurotraveler.
If many cities in Europe are loved and visited by many travelers in January for the sole reason – the chance of encountering tourist crowds is minimal – then Milan motivates others. Not a bright New Year’s Eve, as you might think – it just won’t be – but famous sales!
After all, at the very beginning of the year, saldi officially starts in the capital of Lombardy. And prices for branded, fashionable things melt like snow in the sun – at the end of the day, discounts reach 50-70%.
In 2026, sales in Milan will begin on January 3 (tentatively), the first Friday of the month, and will last for approximately 60 days. Naturally, everything that is inexpensive and “sweet” will be sold out in the first weeks, if not days.
And therefore, if you are primarily interested in buying some branded item at an “inexpensive” price, do not delay your visit even until mid-January.
However, the farther you go, the higher the discounts will be – but the range will be greatly reduced
So, citizens who are not obsessed with shopping may well come to Milan at the end of January. Because the weather will allow you to plan a busy visit, including a lot of activities.
And prices (not only for things, but also in hotels) will fall to the “bottom” (everything is relative, of course), where they will remain, at least until the end of winter.
What else can you do, and how fun is it to celebrate the New Year in Milan? We’ll tell you about this too – briefly, since major events on this occasion simply not provided.
Well, we’ll start traditionally, with what it really is:
Weather in Milan in January
It is different, so to speak, relatively softgentle character. And the air temperature seems to deny the existence of down jackets down to the toes and thick sheepskin coats.
Therefore, if you visit the capital of Lombardy in the middle of winter, you may well limit yourself to fairly light clothing. Just in case, waterproof and windproof (suddenly you decide that you really want to see the foggy shore of Lake Como in winter?), but still not too insulated!
For example, in early January in Milan, the daytime air temperature fluctuates between range +6-12 degrees Celsius. And at night it does not strive to visit “negative” territories – after sunset the atmosphere cools down to +2-4 °C.
By the middle of the month it usually gets colder, so that even by midday the air temperature cannot overcome the level of +6-8 °C.
True, but even at night It rarely gets frosty!
At the end of January, the weather in Milan can be downright surprising. Therefore (in recent years, this is exactly the case) it is becoming not colder, but warmer – as if things have already turned towards spring.
In view of this, the atmosphere during the day is capable of warm up to +10 and even +12 °C. In the evening and at night the air temperature drops to +2-6 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, it is often even sunny! Which is surprising at first.
And only after a detailed acquaintance with the statistics will it be possible to find out that January in Milan turns out to be – driest month of the year.
The winds during this period are not strong and sharp. Therefore, there is no reason to fear that +5 °C on the thermometer will actually feel like -5 °C!
Precipitation and length of day
The amount of precipitation (it can be either rain or, rarely, snow) is small – no more than 40-50 mm per month. The number of stormy days usually does not exceed 4-5, but the humidity often reaches 90%.
So if you are planning wander for a long timeIf you are planning to see the main attractions of Milan in 1 day, do not be fooled by the sunny weather – dress in layers!
The sun in Milan on January 1st rises just after 8 am and sets shortly before 5 pm. On the threshold of February, it does the same thing 17 minutes earlier and 37 minutes later, respectively – the length of daylight hours reaches 10 hours.
How to dress
Based on the usual weather realities for the Lombardy capital in January, we recommend a thick, warm jacket of winter “caliber” and a knitted double hat leave at home. Like a down jacket down to your toes, it is unlikely to bring you anything other than inconvenience.
For walks around the city, it is better to wear light quilted jackets paired with a variety of sweaters and sweatshirts. For you will not only have to walk a lot on the streets, but also go to stores often. This means there’s not much chance of freezing!
At certain moments, gloves, scarves, hats and caps will definitely come in handy. It is better to take shoes with thick soles and obviously not suede.
Because chances are inadvertently get your feet wet after rain or snowfall in January Milan are by no means illusory!
Prices 2026
At the very beginning of the year, it is hardly appropriate to count on room rates in Milan hotels. So for an amount of about 110-130 € per day for two, you can only rent a room (or even an apartment) located at a certain distance from the heart of the city.
However, if you stay in a place like Appartamento Kosta, a spacious and well-equipped apartment, you are unlikely to complain about fate. Moreover, she is located close to Pasteur and Loreto metro stations.
A successful, but slightly more expensive solution to the issue of accommodation is Residence De La Gare – an apartment complex located next to the central station. Where is it convenient to settle in immediately after a train journey? And vice versa – from here you can go further around Italy, for example, to Rome or Venice.
Those who want to stay closer to the center of Milan should stock up initially a significantly larger amount of money. Since in the period from the 20th of December to January 7-8, prices in local hotels and apartments increase significantly.
As for excursions around the main Lombard city, they may well turn out to be inexpensive. Surprised? And this is really true – a “cool” 2-hour walk will cost only 35-45 €.
And the group will almost certainly be small. Because in January, if tourists visit Italy at all, they are very few!
Things to do
For those who really want to celebrate the New Year in Milan and are expecting a lot, it’s worth temper expectations. Because in Italy they love traditions, and one of the firmly rooted ones says: don’t waste your time on such a nonsense holiday.
So, maybe there will be fireworks, but the time for events sparkling with fun is over – pan-sapunov.livejournal.com/332418.html. With one exception, perhaps!
The witch Befana will definitely fly to Milan on the night of January 5-6. Will give gifts for good people and just coals – for the bad ones – for the children…
What to see
It is unlikely that you need to develop any special route for moving around the city in comparison with other months of the year. Although it may not be so stupid after all.
After all, January in Milan – sunny and moderately cool. In contrast to the hot and excessively humid summer, which seems to provoke travelers to wander the streets from dawn to dusk.
Naturally, we cannot resist listing the main places that magnetize the attention of tourists!
Milan Cathedralthe famous Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II, the Sforza Castle and the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie considers it his duty to visit every first traveler coming to Milan.
Often he only learns on the spot that he can see Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco “The Last Supper” only by overpaying resellers. Since official tickets to visit the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the masterpiece is kept, must be purchased at vivaticket.com/it/ticket/cenacolo-vinciano/26482.
And do it in advance!
If for any reason you don’t have enough attractions in the Lombard capital itself and its immediate surroundings (our opinion on what you can see in a day in Bergamo), no one forbids travel outside the region.
For example, a traveler can easily get from Milan to Venice in 2.5 hours by the Red Arrow (Frecciarossa) train.
To see the sights of Turin you will have to spend only an hour on the road. The journey to Verona will take 15 minutes longer, and you can reach Genoa in 1.5 hours.
Well, for those who are not planning to go anywhere else, we address our final section:
Sales in Milan
After all, the city, as you know, is the center of attraction for all the fashionistas of the world. Well, in January and July, when seasonal sales begin in Italy, for some categories of citizens it even becomes something like the capital of the world.
Concentrate your efforts When it comes to shopping in Milan, it makes sense to visit the boutiques on the streets via della Spiga, via Manzoni, via Sant’Andrea, via Montenapoleone. Shopaholics will find a place to wander along the long Corso Buenos Aires, where shops of lesser-known but still high-quality brands are presented.
However, you can buy what you need at a discount not only in city stores and boutiques, but also in huge shopping centers. The list of popular outlets nearby and at a certain distance from Milan looks like this:
Scalo Milano – Outlet & More
Located just 15 minutes from the city center (free shuttle service), it houses about 130 designer and even grocery stores. Brands represented: Karl Lagerfeld, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Levi’s, Cassina, Poltrona Frau, Kartell and Alessi.
Franciacorta Outlet Village
Located near Brescia, 90 km from Milan. More than the previous one – 160 brands are represented: Adidas, Calvin Klein, Fratelli Rossetti, Roncato and Timberland.
Vicolungo The Style Outlets
It is located not in Lombardy, but in Piedmont, near the town of Novara. But, due to the short distance (60 km), it is popular among Milanese. Brands represented: Armani, Missoni, Trussardi, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Nike and many others.
Serravalle Designer Outlet
This outlet is located 95 km to the south and is considered the largest in Europe. With more than 240 stores, it is literally impossible (it’s just a shame) not to buy at least something.
- What things can you bring home from Italy?
- How long does it take to drive from Milan to Rome?
- How to travel around Italy by car
- Is it worth visiting Venice in January?
© Eurotraveler
