Month guide · Milan · Italy
Milan in January
What January is really like in Milan: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alessandro Perazzoli, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 6°C (43°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 6 rainy days and roughly 9.1 hours of daylight. Cold and often foggy; winter sales fill the shops and museums are quiet.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 6°C (43°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 6
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Milan: days average 6°C (43°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 6 of its 31 days. Compared with December (6°C (43°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:59
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:05
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and often foggy, with Christmas markets, opera season, the January sales and quick access to Alpine ski resorts.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in April). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Winter sales (usually from early January)
- Men's Fashion Week (usually January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Architecture · Centro Storico
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Walk through after dark, when the arcade is lit and much quieter than in the daytime.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Architecture · Centro Storico
Teatro alla Scala
Opened in 1778, La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses, where Verdi and Puccini premiered major works.
- Time needed
- 1 hour for the museum
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Couples
- Rainy day
Gallery · Brera
Pinacoteca di Brera
After your visit, walk through the palazzo's courtyard to the small Brera Botanical Garden behind it.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Gallery · Centro Storico
Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Founded in the early 17th century by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, the Ambrosiana combines a historic library with a gallery holding Caravaggio's Basket of Fruit, Leonardo's Portrait of a Musician and Raphael's full-size cartoon for The School of Athens.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 6°C, lows near -1°C and 6 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Milan?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Milan in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Milan?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and often foggy; winter sales fill the shops and museums are quiet.
+How warm is Milan in January?
Average highs are around 6°C (43°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Milan in January?
Expect rain on about 6 days of the month.