Milan travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
Milan has a humid subtropical/continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid (25-34°C), winters are cold and occasionally foggy (0-8°C), and spring/autumn offer the most comfortable sightseeing conditions. The city lies in the Po Valley where the Alps block cold northern winds but also trap summer heat and winter fog.
Best time to visit
Best: April-June and September-October
Avoid: August (many restaurants and shops close; Milanese leave; heat 30-35°C)
Peak Season: Fashion Week (Feb/Mar and Sept/Oct); December (Christmas markets); Easter
Notes: Milan Fashion Weeks (late Feb/early Mar and late Sept/early Oct) cause hotel prices to double or triple and the city fills with industry professionals. Plan around these if on a budget.
Items:
- Month
- Jan
- Temperature
- 4°C (39°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Low
- Notes
- Cold, occasional fog and frost. Low tourist numbers. Milan Fashion Week menswear in mid-January.
- Month
- Feb
- Temperature
- 6°C (43°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Low-Medium
- Notes
- Still cold. Fashion Week (womenswear) late Feb/early Mar drives hotel prices up significantly.
- Month
- Mar
- Temperature
- 11°C (52°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Medium
- Notes
- Fashion Week peak (early March). Temperatures rising. First outdoor aperitivo days possible.
- Month
- Apr
- Temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Medium-High
- Notes
- Salone del Mobile / Fuorisalone design fair (usually mid-April) — city extremely busy but exciting.
- Month
- May
- Temperature
- 20°C (68°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Medium-High
- Notes
- Ideal month to visit — warm, flowery, manageable crowds. Long daylight hours.
- Month
- Jun
- Temperature
- 24°C (75°F)
- Rain
- Low-Moderate
- Crowds
- High
- Notes
- Warm and pleasant. School groups visit. Pride Milano usually in late June.
- Month
- Jul
- Temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Rain
- Low
- Crowds
- Medium
- Notes
- Hot, humid, and sunny. Many Milanese on holiday; some restaurants close in the last two weeks.
- Month
- Aug
- Temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Rain
- Low
- Crowds
- Very Low
- Notes
- Ferragosto (Aug 15): city shuts down. Many restaurants, shops and services closed. Very hot. Not recommended.
- Month
- Sep
- Temperature
- 22°C (72°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- High
- Notes
- Fashion Week (late Sept) causes price spikes. Otherwise excellent weather — arguably the best month.
- Month
- Oct
- Temperature
- 17°C (63°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Medium-High
- Notes
- Autumn colours in parks; Duomo in beautiful October light. Fashion Week (early Oct) still in effect.
- Month
- Nov
- Temperature
- 10°C (50°F)
- Rain
- High
- Crowds
- Low
- Notes
- Rainy and grey. Good museum season. Hotels cheapest of the year. Sant'Ambrogio (Dec 7) approaches.
- Month
- Dec
- Temperature
- 5°C (41°F)
- Rain
- Moderate
- Crowds
- Medium-High
- Notes
- Christmas markets and decorations from late Nov. Sant'Ambrogio (7 Dec) — La Scala opening night, 'Oh Bej Oh Bej' market. Atmospheric but cold.
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
Items
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Items
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- Items
- Period
- Peak (busiest)
- Months
- Fashion Week (Feb/Mar and Sept/Oct), Salone del Mobile (April), June, December
- Tip
- Book accommodation 3-6 months ahead; prices very high
- Period
- Shoulder (moderate)
- Months
- May, October, March, July
- Tip
- Good balance of weather and manageable crowds
- Period
- Off-peak (quietest)
- Months
- November, January, February (non-Fashion Week), August
- Tip
- Lowest prices; August hot with closures; winter cold but atmospheric
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.