So, you’re thinking of going to Italy in winter. Bold move. Most people flee to warmer climes or stay at home arguing with radiators and burning their mouths on badly microwaved soup. But not you. You’re off to the land of gelato, gondolas and gladiator ghosts during the off-season. Respect.
Now, Italy in winter doesn’t mean it’s all gloom and frozen fountains. On the contrary. The crowds vanish, prices dip and the wine flows just as freely. Plus, Italians really know how to do winter: think steaming plates of risotto, fairytale snow-covered mountains and hot chocolate so thick it could hold up a spoon.
So before you panic-pack only bikinis and Aperol dreams, let’s run through the top 10 things to do in Italy when the temperature drops and the festive lights come on.
1. Ski in the Dolomites and Look Unfairly Photogenic
❄️ Whether you’re an Olympic-level skier or just there for the après-ski and Alpine selfies, the Dolomites deliver. Big time.
Fresh powder, dramatic peaks and cheese-laden mountain huts await. You’ll burn calories, then immediately replace them with melted cheese and wine.
Tip: Cortina d’Ampezzo is the place to be seen. Bonus points if you own designer ski gear you can’t actually ski in.
2. Bathe Like a Roman in a Tuscan Thermal Spa
🛁 Winter in Italy is the perfect excuse to strip off and soak your travel-weary bones in steamy natural hot springs.
Think bubbling outdoor pools surrounded by misty forests and zero judgement if you stay in for three hours.
Tip: Try Saturnia’s free thermal cascades for full spa luxury without the luxury price tag. Just don’t expect towel service.
3. Ice Skate in Front of a Roman Amphitheatre Because Italy
⛸️ Verona, home of Romeo, Juliet and surprisingly excellent seasonal ice rinks.
You can skate in front of a Roman arena while pretending you’re in a Netflix Christmas special. The vibes are immaculate. The bruises are optional.
Tip: Go at dusk when the lights come on and your clumsy footwork becomes charmingly festive.
4. Sip Vin Brulé at a Christmas Market Like a Cosy, Buzzed Elf
🎄From Milan to Bolzano, Italy’s Christmas markets are next-level twinkly.
There are carollers, fairy lights, handmade trinkets and vats of vin brulé (that’s mulled wine with a sexy accent). It’s impossible to be grumpy with your hands wrapped around a hot cup of festive cheer.
Tip: Bolzano’s market is the biggest and most magical, but even tiny towns bring serious Yuletide energy.
5. Feast During Carnevale Because Costumes and Cannoli
🎭 February is Italy’s excuse to go completely bonkers with masks, music and pastries.
Carnevale is like Halloween, but prettier and with less pumpkin and more powdered sugar. Venice is the glamorous poster child, but towns like Viareggio go full-on float frenzy.
Tip: Don’t just spectate. Buy a mask, eat five frittelle and parade around like you own a palazzo. No one will question it.
6. Tour Rome Without the Sweaty Shoulder Battles
🕌 Winter in Rome means no queues, no crowds and no sunstroke while waiting to enter the Colosseum.
You can wander the Roman Forum like an actual emperor, not a sardine. And Vatican Museums? Practically serene.
Tip: Bring a jacket and your smug face. You’ve just cracked the code to stress-free sightseeing.
7. Get Snowed Into a Medieval Village and Call It a Storybook Stay
🏰 Italy’s hilltop towns are beautiful all year, but dust them with snow and suddenly it’s Narnia with better food.
Places like Civita di Bagnoregio or Castelluccio di Norcia feel like magical postcards. Bonus: they’re quiet enough to hear your own snow boots crunch.
Tip: Rent a cosy B&B and pretend you’ve escaped modern life. Just don’t forget to charge your phone. Postcards are great, but Instagram exists.
8. Take a Cooking Class and Learn to Make Pasta Like a Nonna in Hibernate Mode
🍳 Winter = comfort food season and no one does comfort food like an Italian grandmother.
Learn to hand-roll tagliatelle, master the mysterious art of risotto or finally understand why your tomato sauce has always been disappointing.
Tip: Tuscan and Umbrian countryside schools are top-tier. Bonus: you eat what you cook. And possibly everyone else’s leftovers.
9. Ride a Gondola Through Venice in the Fog and Feel Incredibly Poetic
🛶 Summer Venice is hot, crowded and smells faintly of damp fish. Winter Venice? Dreamy, misty, mysterious.
The canals take on a quiet magic, the fog rolls in like something out of a noir film and suddenly you’re starring in a romantic drama you didn’t know you signed up for.
Tip: Gondolas are cheaper in winter. Your Instagram will be smug and moody.
10. Celebrate New Year’s Eve the Italian Way (Spoiler: It Involves Fireworks and Red Underwear)
🎆 Italians love New Year’s Eve like they love espresso – loud, chaotic and with flair.
There’ll be massive fireworks, prosecco by the gallon and a deeply committed tradition of wearing red underwear for good luck. Yes, really.
Tip: Naples puts on the biggest show. Just stay off the rooftops unless you want to end up in next year’s cautionary tale.
Final Frosty Words of Wisdom:
Italy in winter is a secret you’ll want to keep to yourself. It’s cosier, cheaper and filled with magical little moments that summer can’t quite compete with. You’ll eat better, see more and finally understand that sometimes the best gelato is eaten while wearing gloves.
Pack a scarf, an appetite and a sense of adventure. And if all else fails, there’s always a thermal spa and a plate of truffle pasta waiting.
