Winter in Italy: What to Expect (2025/2026)

Winter Weather in Italy

Winter weather in Italy varies greatly from north to south but also depending on your altitude. For example, even in the northern cities of Belluno and Bolzano, snow isn't super common since both lie in a valley.

The mountains in the central region of Abruzzo and even as far south at Mount Edna in Sicily on the other hand do see snow and even have ski slopes for you to enjoy it.

So, while it does snow in Italy, the exact areas to see flurries depend more on the altitude than the latitude.

That said, winter still hits harder in the north than it does in the south. The general temperatures will be a lot colder the farther north you travel (with the exception of the mountains mentioned above).

Other than a warm day or two far south, you'll want to pack sweaters and pants no matter where you're visiting. If visiting the mountain areas, bring a big waterproof jacket and boots. Sometimes on the slopes we prefer to wear thermal underwear under our ski jackets and pants but it's not always necessary.

Insulation in Houses

Here's the real downside to visiting Italy in winter: insulation in houses tends to be less than ideal, making indoors sometimes feel colder than outdoors.

That means, even if it's a nice sunny day in the south where a light jacket will suffice, you'll likely want a sweater to put on inside your hotel or vacation rental. While in the north, I've always seen heating offered, that's not always the case in the south.

You might not be able to simply turn on the heating to warm up. You might instead need to bundle up.

Even where heating is offered, more often than not, it's centralized. In places like this, it's not uncommon for it to only be turned on in the mornings and evenings, with it simply being cut off during the day. Usually in the heart of winter, at least in the north, you can use it all day, but in shoulder seasons it's only available at certain hours.

A good way to avoid this is by booking a stay with a fireplace. While fireplaces aren't super common in the cities, they're an easy to find amenity in the mountains.

You might actually feel colder in a hotel in Southern Italy in the winter than you would in the mountains, just for the lack of heating combined with poor insulation.

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Events this Winter (2025/2026)

This winter is a big one in Italy thanks to one of the biggest events in the world being held here: the Winter Olympics. But that's not all you can expect this year.

Do note that many towns and cities host events and festivals throughout the year. This is certainly not an all-inclusive list of every event but a few of the biggest and most unique I think should be on your radar. Most places in Italy decorate and host some sort of celebration on NYE so I'm skipping over those.

Do keep in mind that January 6th is a Catholic holiday and many things may be closed that day.

Also, no shame if you want to use this list as places to avoid during these dates, rather than events you'll want to attend. I'll write more about this in another article but I for one will be avoiding the areas set up for the Winter Olympics when it's time to hit the slopes, rather than flocking to them.

Christmas Markets

• Held throughout December (sometimes starting late November - early January)
• Each city and even small towns tend to have a market but the best are in South Tyrol

I will be very clear before I start telling you the joys of Christmas markets in Italy, they're not quite like what I've experienced in Germany. If you're a big fan of Christmas markets, you might be let down by the ones in Italy but if you just enjoy a festive environment, you'll enjoy yourself.

Most cities in Italy hold a market in the city center during the month of December, some starting in November and ending in January.

In general, the region of South Tyrol is home to the "best" Christmas markets, at least in terms of what you're envisioning from movies and TV. Since this region was part of Austria, they've done a good job preserving their German roots in language, food, and even Christmas markets.

If you're looking for ones that'll rival other European countries, I'd head north. If you're simply happy to browse artisan booths with a mulled wine in hand, most cities and even some small towns will have what you're looking for.

Santa's Regatta, Venice

• Sunday morning before Christmas (exact date TBD)
• All along the Grand Canal in Venice

La Regata dei Babbi Natale translates more or less to Santa's Regatta. Given that the race is in Venice, you won't be surprised to know that it's not a running race, but a gondola race down the main canal. The only real rule to participate is to dress like Santa and believe me when I say, I've never felt Christmas cheer quite as vividly as when urging on 100s of Santa's racing on their gondolas.

Some take the regatta seriously and buzz by, while others casually ride by with a group of their friends laughing, singing, and drinking as they go.

The exact date for this race hasn't yet been announced but if you'll be around Venice in the weeks leading up to Christmas, keep your eye out. Last year it was held the Sunday before Christmas and was truly so much fun.

I adore visiting Venice and winter really is one of my favorite times in the city.

Living Nativity Scene, Matera

• Each weekend, December 6, 2025 - January 4, 2026
• Sassi di Matera, Basilicata

For the more religious visitors reading this, the Living Nativity Scene, or Presepe Vinvente, in the Sassi of Matera is the perfect winter destination.

Matera is one of the most unique places I've visited in the world and one I always recommend to those looking for a different spot to see in the country. Located towards the southern boot, Matera is nestled in Basilicata but close by to better-known Puglia.

In the summer, it gets really hot down here so off-season tends to be more pleasant. I visited Matera in spring and fell completely in love. Just note that nights can get chilly here so you'll want to pack warmly especially for the evenings.

The Living Nativity Scenes in Matera actually take you on a 1.5 kilometer walking tour of the Sassi, or old town. During this self-guided walk, you'll stop at different "live paintings" along the way to watch actors recreate scenes from the Christmas story. You can buy a guided tour or bonus entries if you'd like on the official website.

Umbria Jazz Winter, Orvieto

• December 30, 2025 - January 3, 2026
• Orvieto, Umbria

Umbria hosts 2 jazz festivals throughout the year: a summer and winter edition, and even with some concerts sprinkled in throughout September. Apparently Umbria loves their jazz.

While the summer festival is held in Perugia and the September events are held in Terni, Orvieto takes over as host in the winter.

With the exception of a street parade making its way through the historic center of the city each day of the event, you will need to purchase tickets to whichever of the concerts you'd like to see. This event is a big one with a number of concerts to choose from with jazz artists flying in from all over the world.

View the full program and find ticket information on their official website.

Torchlight Procession, Monte Lussari

• New Year's Day
• Monte Lussari, Tarvisio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Monte Lussari is a snowglobe come to life. This small alpine village perches on the mountain top, feeling something more out of a Disney movie than real life. It’s one of my favorite places in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

It really is a special place and worth visiting for the view alone. Each New Year they take their typical mountain beauty and turn it into something even more special with a torchlight procession on skis starting at the village and looping its way down the slopes. In Italian, this event is called the Fiaccolata del Monte Lussari.

If you've ever seen the slopes here you know what a feat it is even just to ski down in normal conditions. This black diamond is one of the steepest around. But for the last 50 years, fearless locals have shot down, following their leader to precision, with a torch in each hand no less.

This event is held each year on January 1. All day you'll find live music and a lively environment on the mountaintop, with the downhill procession kicking off at 6pm.

The Winter Olympics, Milan & Cortina

• February 6 - 22
• Throughout Northern Italy

Although called the "Milano & Cortina" Winter Olympics, quite a few cities and towns will host events for this year's games.

The Opening Ceremony will take place in Milan and the Closing Ceremony will happen in Verona, with sporting events hitting the mountains of Livigno, Bormio, Tesero, Predazzo, Anterselva, and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Tickets are on sale now if you want to catch an event.

When Raf and I were living in South Korea, it happened to be the year that Seoul was the host of the Winter Olympics. We went to the Olympic Village and even caught the bobsled race. While it was a fun day and certainly had its share of excitement, there's one thing I know now:

It's really hard to see in-person what you see on TV with winter sports. With the exception of hockey, ice skating, or something else hosted inside an arena, it can be tough to get a good view in-person. So, think twice when choosing your event about what would make sense to see live.

If you choose not to go to an event (we probably won't either), I would let this help you decide where not to plan your skiing or snowboarding trip. There are a lot of good places to go skiing in Italy that you can easily skip over those gearing up for these events.

Carnival Celebrations

• Throughout February
• Venice, Viareggio, and Ivrea host some of the unique celebrations

Carnival, or carnivale, is an international week of celebration based on a Catholic calendar but now equates to parties, parades, and celebrations.

While it's possible to find other cities and towns celebrating Carnival throughout Italy, the biggest celebrations are most certainly found in Venice, Viareggio, and Ivrea.

Venice's Carnival has become famous due to the papier-mâché masks and Renaissance costumes people wear. This year, the events will take place February 7-17. My biggest piece of advice if you decide to join in on the fun is to grab a mask and do your best to dress the part. You don't need to rent a full costume but by putting a little effort into your look, you'll feel more a part of the celebration than just a bystander with a camera.

Viareggio, a beach town in Tuscany, does it differently and takes over their streets with giant floats. I'm talking about massive, satirical papier-mâché sculptures that overtake your line of vision. This year you can expect to enjoy a number of parades from February 1-21.

And last but certainly not least is Ivrea, a small village just outside of Turin. The 2026 date hasn't been set yet but it's worth keeping on your radar. Instead of masks and parades, Ivrea hosts the "Battle of the Oranges." Yep, that's right, people gather to join one of the teams and pelt each other with (hopefully) ripe oranges. It's apparently more organized than it sounds but isn't for those that aren't turned off by some bruising.

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How to Decide Where to Visit in Italy in Winter

Instead of telling you where to visit in Italy this winter, I'm going to share a few tips to help you make your decision easier. This country is full of incredible destinations that not all trips need to look the exact same.

Ask yourself these questions to help you narrow down your destinations:

1. Do you want to join or avoid an event?

If your answer is to join in on something, you have a nice short list of destinations right above you. As I mentioned, these aren't all the events in the country. If you want a longer, more inclusive list, this one covers more holidays but does miss out on big ones like the Olympics.

2. Do you want winter weather or to avoid it?

If you want to enjoy a winter wonderland, head north. Here you're more guaranteed snowy days, alpine villages, and cozy cottages. From the border with France to the other side of the country touching Slovenia, the northern regions of Italy are home to some of the most stunning mountains in the world, ideal for a winter escape.

Want to avoid? Ignore everything I just said and head as south as possible.

3. Do you want to rent a car or rely on public transportation?

The answer to this question will help you better understand how far you should branch from where you arrive in the country. Personally, I think the public transportation in Italy is really great.

There are even special trains that only run in the winter to connect Rome to towns with big Christmas markets. The Espresso Assisi takes you from Rome with stops in Terni, Spoleto, Foligno, Spello, Assisi, Perugia, and Arezzo. The Espresso Monaco, also from Rome, is a night train that takes you up to the Alps and into Bavaria.

I'd suggest using public transportation if you plan to visit big cities or nearby small towns. For those wanting to explore the mountains, I suggest renting a car.

4. How many days do you have in Italy?

I often see people coming to Italy for only a week and bouncing off on a grand trip from Naples to Rome to Florence and then Venice. While this trip is completely doable by public transportation, you won't really get to enjoy each destination if you're moving from one place to another so quickly.

I highly recommend you schedule at least a few days in each city. Smaller towns are more doable in a day trip or one night but know you will only be scratching the surface.

It's a personal preference but I also recommend more time in fewer destinations.

Unless you have a lot of time here, I suggest hanging around the region you arrive in instead of losing precious time moving from one end of the country to the other.

You can of course fly but do know that many of the major airports are not in the city themselves or even connected by train. It can make traveling by plane even slower and more difficult than trains since almost everywhere (with the exception of the mountain towns) has a train station in the center.

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Ready for Your Winter in Italy?

From the Christmas season to Carnival celebrations, Italy is a lot of fun in winter. I know most people associate the country with picturesque beaches, endless Aperol Spritz', and sundresses, Italy is far more dynamic than that.

In the winter, you'll find fewer tourists than the summer crowds bring, a festive atmosphere, and yes, colder weather. Pack smart with extra sweaters, especially comfy ones to wear indoors, and you'll be in for a treat.

Everywhere always feels a little bit more charming with Christmas lights and trees adorning every corner and that's no less true for Italy as it is anywhere else.

While most people have Italy on their summer bucketlist, many swap the country for Germany, Switzerland, or Austria when it comes to winter. Trust me though, after a few winters living in Italy, the holiday season is a real treat here, too.