Why travel to Italy in the winter, and what are the best things to do? You may dream of an Italian holiday with warm breezes along the sun-kissed shores of the Amalfi coast, the dramatic coastlines of Cinque Terre, or the crystal blue waters of Sicily, but Italy can be just as incredible during the chilly winter months, offering a slower pace while still enchanting travelers with its blend of rich culture, captivating history, and exhilarating outdoor fun.
From picturesque mountain spas to historic cities, twinkling Christmas markets and tempting food tours, thrilling ski slopes and colorful cultural festivals, if you crave a winter getaway with the perfect mix of culture and adventure, Italy is calling you!
Read on for all the best ways to enjoy Italy in the winter, or skip ahead to any section!
Experience the magic of Christmas Markets
Hit the slopes of Northern Italy
Enjoy smaller crowds in Italy’s most popular destinations
Attend winter festivals in Venice, Sicily or Rome
Hunt for truffles or taste wine in Piedmont
Escape to a mountain spa in the Dolomites
Experience the magic of Christmas Markets
Christmas markets, known as Mercatini di Natale, are one of the highlights of visiting Italy during the Winter. Starting in late November and lasting through December, sometimes even until the beginning of January, cities and towns throughout Italy are transformed by festive stalls brimming with handcrafted goods, seasonal treats, and artisan treasures. The charm of Italian Christmas markets creates a holiday paradise that makes this season truly special.
Whether you want to experience a Christmas market with the glitz and glam of Milan, the medieval feel of Verona, or a mountain village in the Dolomites, Northern Italy has the best Christmas markets! The ambiance, highlighted by twinkling lights, the aroma of traditional Tyrolean dishes, and the tingly feeling created by mulled wine, creates an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of the holiday spirit. Check this out for the scoop on all the best Christmas markets in northern Italy!
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Hit the slopes of Northern Italy
For winter adrenaline junkies, Italy offers exceptional skiing and snowboarding opportunities. The Dolomites in Northeastern Italy are a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for their breathtaking views and fantastic ski slopes. Resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Alta Badia and Val Gardena boast over 500 kilometers of slopes ranging from novice to expert. Val Gardena is especially popular for its extensive network of slopes and access to the Dolomiti Superski region and the famous Sellaronda circuit.
There are many excellent ski slopes in the Western and Central Alps as well. The west features resorts in the Aosta Valley and the Cadibona Pass, with notable ski resorts including Courmayeur and Cervinia. The Central Italian Alps feature the Trentino Alto Adige Valley and high-altitude peaks such as Monte Bianco, Monte Cervino, Monte Rosa, and Mount Ortles, with key resorts including Bormio and Livigno. Ski resorts in these regions attract skiers of all levels, offering challenging slopes, scenic beauty, and an active apres-ski scene.
Not a skier? Not to worry! The mountains of Northern Italy offer plenty of other winter activities to enjoy, such as snow-mobile riding, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and sledging. What is sledging, you ask? Picture yourself sitting on a sled with aluminum rails, speeding down a switchback piste with the crisp wind in your face and the spectacular scenery of the Italian Alps rushing past you.
For those of us who don’t have the athletic ability or desire for skiing or snowboarding but still want that adrenaline rush, sledging ("slittino" in Italian) is a perfect alternative with less impact on your knees (and less distance to the ground if you crash). Sledging runs are dedicated trails that are usually several kilometers long and allow you to go as fast or slow as you dare, as you control your speed and direction using the heels of your boots. Sledging opportunities can be found throughout the Dolomites and Alps, and range in difficulty from family-friendly to “I think I’m going to die on this hill”.
Choose your sport and connect with nature in whatever way suits your interest and ability level. I promise that once you experience winter in the Italian Alps, you’re going to want to keep going back for more!
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Enjoy smaller crowds at Italy’s most popular destinations
In winter, you can explore the most popular cities and towns of Italy at a slower pace, enjoying smaller crowds, lower prices and more flexibility with your travel plans. Tours and timed admission for peak travel dates get filled up months ahead of time, and some hotels are booked up to a year in advance. Hotels and other accommodations sometimes increase their rates during peak seasons as well. If you visit Italy during the winter off-season months of January and February, you’ll have a better chance of booking the hotels and tours you want, and you may even save money!
Although many people dream of visiting Italy during the heat of summer, with the sun shining and the blue waters calling, winter offers a different type of beauty that can be just as special. Picture cobblestone streets kissed by snow and early mornings blanketed by mist, transforming even the busiest streets into tranquil scenes.
Wander through Venice with the canals sparkling under a delicate frost, and Piazza San Marco shrouded in a blanket of fog. Witness the dramatic coastlines of Cinque Terre set against a winter backdrop. In Florence, the iconic Duomo becomes even more breathtaking with a light dusting of snow, highlighting its stunning architecture. Even if you don’t find snow, you'll appreciate the beauty of thinner crowds and shorter lines at some of Italy's most popular sights in Rome, Milan, Florence and other major cities.
Escape the bustling cities and discover charming mountain villages in the Dolomites, medieval walled cities in Tuscany, or historic cliffside towns in the southern regions of Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, and even Sicily! Smaller towns and villages are a perfect winter destination for those seeking an escape from the crowds, inviting you to unwind and connect with the local culture.
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Attend winter festivals in Venice, Sicily or Rome
Festivals that celebrate Carnevale are held every year throughout Italy during the month of February, to coincide with the beginning of lent. The origins of Carnevale in Italy are linked to pagan feasts, believed by most to be traced to ancient Greece and Rome. They are incredible to be a part of, offering the chance to immerse yourself in historic traditions and experience the passion and extravagance of Italian culture.
The festival of Carnivale in Venice attracts visitors from around the world with its vibrant masks and elaborate costumes. Participants often spend up to six months preparing their costumes, making it a visually spectacular event.
Some of the oldest and most spectacular Carnevale festivals are actually on the island of Sicily! The city of Acireale has long been known to have one of the most beautiful Carnevale festivals in all of Sicily, most well-known for its giant parade of floats that are decorated with thousands of flowers and feature colorfully animated, if not somewhat creepy, allegorical characters. Check this out for everything you need to know to visit Sicily during Carnevale!
Another popular Sicilian festival is the Feast of Saint Agatha. Each year at the beginning of February, the city of Catania hosts a religious festival that celebrates the life and death of its beloved patron saint, known as the Feast of Saint Agatha. It is one of the largest religious celebrations in the world, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Each January, the Feast of Sant'Agnese is celebrated in Rome to honor the life and death of Saint Agnes, a virgin martyr and patron saint of young girls. The Roman Catholic Church has celebrated her feast day for more than 1,700 years, where festivities feature delicious food and centuries-old traditions, allowing visitors to taste authentic Roman dishes and sweets.
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Hunt for truffles or taste wine in Piedmont
One of the most unique experiences you’ll find in Italy during the winter is to take a truffle hunting tour in Piedmont! The unique soil and climate conditions of the Piedmont region create the perfect environment for the development of the "Alba white truffle", highly sought after for its intense aroma and delicate flavor. White truffles have been cultivated in the hills surrounding Alba for centuries, and are considered among the best in the world.
Hunt for these little nuggets of culinary gold, led by an expert guide and accompanied by one of their famous truffle-hunting dogs! The enthusiasm and passion of the dogs and their masters is infectious, and is such a fun and memorable experience. If you’re lucky, you might even get to take home a tiny little morsel of truffle treasure!
Take your winter holiday to the next level with a tour, tasting, or meal pairing at one of Piedmont’s wineries. Rolling hills and frost-covered vineyards await you, creating a perfect backdrop as you sample the rich wines and culinary specialties of the region. Winter is the perfect time to savor traditional Piedmontese dishes that will warm you from the inside out, with the hearty flavors of savory polentas, pastas, risottos and soups.
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Escape to a mountain spa in the Dolomites
If you seek a quiet winter holiday, escape to the peace and solitude of a mountain spa! The Dolomites are the ideal destination for an Italian spa retreat that promises the perfect winter getaway. Many spa retreats in the Dolomites provide a wide range of winter activities, such as sleigh rides, snowmobile excursions, winter hikes and snowshoeing. Some hotels even offer ski service and sledging experiences right outside their doorstep!
Stay in a cozy lodge nestled among snowy mountain peaks, with your choice of winter sports and dinner menus featuring hearty meals and Tyrolean specialties. After an exhilarating day on the slopes, relax your body in a full spa, complete with saunas, steam treatments, salt caves, and pools with underwater massaging chairs. What could be better than unwinding in a steamy outdoor pool while you look out on the winter paradise surrounding you?
So what are you waiting for? Pack your snow boots, bundle up, and prepare for an unforgettable winter adventure in Italy!
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Check out some of the other articles on my European Destinations page or some of my Italian adventures below!
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