Italy says “Buongiorno!” to about 70 million tourists this year (2025), with most arriving in the summer months. If you’ve been to Florence, Venice, or Rome that time of year, then you know what it feels like to have thousands of new friends who all want to visit the same places as you, right?
If you’re an astute traveler, you may be asking yourself what it’s like to visit Italy other times of the year, such as in the winter or off-season. The good news: There are some real advantages if you’re willing to brave a little cold.
Let’s take a look at why you should consider visiting Italy in the winter or off-season months. Then we’ll suggest a few choice destinations for those quieter months.
Why to Visit Italy in the Winter or Off-Season
You’ll have more destinations to yourself
We’re not saying you’ll be the only tourist there, but most destinations will have fewer people. Enjoy the so-called la dolce vita with fewer visitors! It’ll make it a lot easier to book museums, hotels, etc.
Enjoy cooler temps
Let’s face it, Italy can get hot in the summer. Walking around Rome, Sicily, and even Milan in June, July, or August can get uncomfortable. Although many places have air conditioning, it’s not as chilly cold by default as in the U.S. The solution? Bring a coat, scarf, and gloves, and come in the winter!
Plus, keep in mind that Italy has a diverse climate depending on where you go. For instance, Milan’s temps can average in the 40s (Fahrenheit) in the winter, compared with average temps in the 50s (Fahrenheit) in places like Puglia and Sicily.
We visited Florence, Milan, and Lake Como in early March and got around most days with the requisite jacket and scarf. One day in Milan even reached near 70 and was sunny.
Christmas markets!
Whether you’re familiar with European Christmas markets from previous in-person visits or just Hallmark movies, this shopping experience is a real pleasure. Find dozens of vendors with hand-crafted Christmas items that are perfect as unique gifts for others or souvenirs for yourself.
Here are a few Italian areas famous for their Christmas markets, according to the tourism operator Discover Your Italy-FuorITinerario:
–Trento in north Italy
–the Dolomites, a chain of mountains in north Italy
–Florence, which features a German-style market
–Arezzo in Tuscany, which takes on the feel of a Tyrolean village
–Rome, where you can find a festive market feel in Piazza Navona
You can try different types of foods
It’s no secret that Italy is known for terrific food. With eating in Italy a hyper-local experience, it’s probably also not a surprise that food changes seasonally there based on what’s available at certain times of the year.
So, the special dishes you may have in the summer could have a completely different feel in the winter or other times off-season. One Rome resident we spoke to sung the praises of artichoke dishes in the winter. Root vegetables like potatoes as well as greens are commonly in season in the winter, and citrus season in Sicily (like blood oranges and regular oranges) goes through the winter and spring–just like here in our home state of Florida.
Pursue winter sports
If you’re into skiing, snoeshowing, ice skating, or other winter sports, then visiting Italy in the winter is an obvious choice. You’ve got your pick of mountainous destinations (see below). The Winter Olympics held in 2026 in and around Milan and the town of Cortina will further shine a spotlight on Italy as a winter destination.
Get new perspectives for pics
A view of Italy in the summer, with historic buildings drenched with sun and everything colorful? That’s low-hanging fruit. Yet how do make those same buildings look interesting on a rainy, cold day? If you’re into photography, visiting Italy in the winter can become a fun photographic challenge. If you’re creative enough without using filters on your phone, you can still have blockbuster pics from your trip.
6 Places to Visit in Italy in the Winter
Here are six specific destinations to consider in Italy for the winter or off-season. Don’t be afraid to explore areas outside the typical big-city destinations.
The Dolomites
This mountain chain that spans several northern Italian regions can become your winter playground for sports or relaxing by a fire. With its close proximity to Austria, both Italian and German are commonly spoken here.
Lake Como
This famous destination in north Italy, just an hour by train from Milan, will lead you with charm through towns like Bellano and Bellagio. Hop on a train to traverse between towns. The ferry on the lake operates year-round although it’s on a reduced schedule in the winter. Find out more about day tripping around Lake Como with our articles here and here.
Florence
For the heart of Renaissance art and culture, you can’t go wrong with Florence. Find Christmas markets if you visit around the holidays, or find fewer crowds if you visit in the months thereafter. You’ve probably read enough about Florence elsewhere, so we’ll just share our article about eating in Florence, here.
You also can find Christmas markets in Rome, Venice, and Naples. Naples is well-known for its living nativity scenes, or presepi.
Sicily
Sicilia in the winter? It’s definitely worth considering! Bigger cities like Palermo and Catania may have enough going on to keep you busy, but smaller resort towns like Cefalu may be pretty dead, according to the blog Adventurous Kate. Still, if you want some Sicilian culture and quieter views and don’t mind some potentially rainy weather, you still could have a great trip. Some people even go skiing on Mount Etna. Plus, you’ll find several winter festivals as well as Christmas markets.
Cortona
The town of Cortona in Tuscany (not to be confused with Cortina, the site of the Olympics) has medieval charm and wonderful artisan markets around Christmas, according to Discover Your Italy. You can even find a Floating Christmas Tree. “This area is perfect for travelers seeking a quieter, heartfelt experience rich in culture and tradition,” Discover Your Italy reports.
Bormio and Vatellina
Yet another recommendation from Discover Your Italy, find skiing and spas in the Alps-based towns of Bormio and Vatellina in Lombardy in north Italy. The towns combine famous ski slopes with Roman-era stone pools, hydrotherapy, salt rooms, and a UNESCO railway that takes you from Tirano into Switzerland.
Buon viaggio!
Italy Dreams 