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Christmas Tree in Milan City Life Shopping District, photographed in December 2018. Photo by Davide Marzorati on

15 Best Things to do in Milan for Christmas

Milan is the best city to spend time in any season of the calendar. However, this fashionable city is the best to visit during the Christmas period. During Christmas, you will get to enjoy the seasonal festivities, get child-friendly Christmas markets, and also engage in Christmas-related activities.

You and your kids can enjoy hitting the ice-skating rinks as well as post wish lists to Santa. For those who love staying indoors, they are also sorted out. Enjoy Christmas concerts at various landmark venues as you can also stroll past glittering Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and many other fan things.

Here are the 15 Best Things to do in Milan for Christmas:

1. Visit the Duomo and Enjoy the View of the Christmas Scene

Piazza Duomo in Milan during the Christmas holidays 2008. On the left a Christmas tree in front of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Photo by Goldmund100 on

The Duomo is one of the most visited landmarks in Milan which sees thousands of visitors daily. During Christmas, more people enjoy a visit to the Duomo cathedral for various activities other than site seeing.

At the Duomo during this festive period, things are different than the usual time of the calendar. As you stroll through the Piazza in front of the Duomo, you will be welcomed by the twinkling lights and decorations of this cathedral.

In front of the cathedral, the huge sparkling Christmas tree with more details is erected and visible from afar as you get closer. You will feel the festive feeling as you are around the Duomo. Take a wonderful picture in front of the Christmas tree to keep memories of your stay over in the city. This is a free gateway place where you will enjoy the festive period.

2. Head Out for Shopping at the Christmas Village

As you walk around the city of Milan, you will feel the festive season as various business units decorate and prepare for this special time. One of the things to do during Christmas while in Milan is go out shopping at the Christmas village.

Walk through the wooden stalls which are made of local arts and crafts, get carried away with the fun, live performances, and take photographs with Santa Claus. Christmas village is located in the Porta Venezia area which is a cool area for families to visit where you can post your wish list to Santa.

Board the small train that makes its way around the Christmas village which has multiple stop-off points where you can grab anything you want. This location is the best for family and friends’ time.

3. Go Ice Skating

Handstand stunt with three participants. Photo by HendrixHammer on

You can engage in several activities while in the city of Milan during this wonderful and colorful Christmas period. Because it is the winter period, there are multiple popular winter activities in which you can take part.

Lace up your skate boots and go out Ice skating in the city of Milan. Even though you don’t know how to skate, you will enjoy this opportunity to skate as there are lots of people who group up for this fun time. Several spots open up for skating which is always open from morning until midnight. You should remember to wear your gloves and scarves to avoid being frozen by the cold.

4. Enjoy an Evening Christmas Concert

Various hotspots across the city of Milan offer Christmas concerts that attract several people who live within or those who are visiting. An evening of high culture at the prestigious Teatro alla Scala is where the Christmas concerts take place majorly.

As the evening starts, relax in your plush seats and enjoy the incredible choirs and orchestras performing their Christmas-themed songs and their unique performances with incredible acoustics. The decor of the interior is of red velvet curtains, gold-detailed balconies, and pillars which go hand in hand with the performance. This event requires you to dress casually and also arrive earlier for you to enjoy a little tour of the historic theatre.

5. Enjoy the Christmas Lights at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Lush and exclusive ‘Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II’ in the center of Milan, next to the Dome and the famous Scala opera house. Photo by Ralf Steinberger on

Other than touring the Duomo during this festive period, you can also visit other locations and enjoy their breathtaking views. Do not miss out on making a tour of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele which is an incredible location during this festive period.

This shopping arcade is always so impressive and captivating with its curved glass domes and tall grandiose buildings which are full of high-end as well as designer shops. During Christmas, more additional decorations are added on top of the beautiful arcade.

Glittering Christmas trees with twinkling lights are put up during the festive period which makes it a perfect place to visit. You will openly fall in love with this location as you walk through doing your evening strolls, window shopping, or catching up on other things.

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6. Bagni Misterioso

Another perfect location for some ice skating is Bagni Misterioso. Enjoy skating at this location as well as drink some hot chocolate-flavored drinks. You can also go through Christmas market stalls which are full of brilliant things to enjoy.

At Bagni Misteriosi, you can also take part in some Christmas-themed events which make your evening perfect. Musical entertainment is also offered at this nice joint that many people visit.

7. Babbo Running

There are several other enjoyable things to participate in other than enjoying ice skating in the cold. Another perfect activity to engage in is taking a run or walk around the city of Milan while dressing up as Santa Claus.

The Babbo running is five kilometers which begin at Piazza Del Cannone and ends at Parco Sempione. This event costs €14 for adults, €11 for groups of at least four people, and €5 for kids.

8. Stroll at the Navigli Canals

The “Naviglio Grande” (Grand Canal) in Milan (Italy) was enlightened by Christmas lights. Picture by Giovanni Dall’Orto on Wikimedia

Several locations in the city of Milan are admirable and perfect to take a night walk around during the Christmas period. Several locations are always lit up with beautiful lights that glimmer and shine throughout the festive nights.

One of the perfect locations to stroll in at the Navigli Canals. At the Navigli Canals, enjoy the lights which give a perfect picturesque look that is more memorable and admiring.

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9. Enjoy the First-Hand Performance of Harlem Gospel Choir at Blue Note

Several locations across the fashionable city of Milan are lit up by several melodies and good tunes of festive periods. As you walk around the city, get the first-hand experience of high performance by the Harlem Gospel Choir at Blue Note.

To get to this location, you have to part way with some amount of money for the tickets. It costs €30 per person if you book online, €35 for tickets purchased at the door, there is also a multi-course New year’s eve dinner and concert which costs €220, and champagne for €85.

10. Join the Largest Panettone in the World

Panettone (Münger 2018). Photo by Hp.Baumeler on

Some visitors to the city of Milan love large crowds which match across while viewing wonderful sites. Join the crowd in a specific location in the city and head over to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

Get your piece of the largest panettone in the world which is made by Davide Comashi. It is free to join this distinctive crowd that matches the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele to grab the panettone.

11. Go Shopping at the Obei Obei Christmas Fair

One of the most frequented areas in the city of Milan during the Christmas period is the Fiera degli Obei Obei which is also known as Oh Bej Oh Bej. This takes place in front of Castello Sforzesco for several days starting from the 7th day of December.

This is the biggest market in Milan and the Real definition of Milan’s Christmas Market. It is a perfect place where you can experience the seasonal joy of the festive period. The Christmas fair at this market began way back in the 1510s.

12. Grab Some Local Delicious Christmas Food

An Italian Pandoro cake. Side view with a cut. Photo by Kuebi on

Merry is always experienced across the city of Milan during this period. Several joints make delicious Christmas meals that attract several people who yearn to have a taste.

What you should try out is the local Christmas food which is made all over the city. The panettone, a more of sweet bread whose origin is Milan is a wonderful delicacy that visitors rush to grab.

Other than the panettone, there’s another Christmas cake known as the pandoro which originates from Verona. Both cakes can be found across all the traditional bakeries in Milan.

13. Watch a Show at La Scala

This festive period always has entertaining shows across various opera houses in the city. One of the greatest and most famous opera houses where you can watch a show is La Scala. This opera house provides the perfect venue for a Christmas celebration for all guests.

La Scala is a luxurious concert hall that opened in 1788 that plays host to a selection of ballets, operas, and concerts during the Christmas festive period. The best offer during this period is the Christmas Concert where a medley of classic pieces of music fills in the hall.

14. Tour the Historic Streets and Famous Landmarks

Merry Christmas. Photo by Luca Nebuloni on

The Christmas period presents the opportunity for the locals to shop for their needs during the festive period. This is the perfect moment to tour the historic streets as well as the famous landmarks because there are no crowds.

From the Duomo to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, visit other Famous landmarks like Cenacelo which are not majorly overcrowded during this period. Stroll across the historic streets of Milan and enjoy how well-lit they are with various Christmas lights.

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15. Enjoy the Beautiful Christmas Decorations and Lighting

Christmas Tram in Milan. Photo by Unknown author on

If you want a real definition of the Christmas season, then Milan presents the best scenes for you to enjoy your holiday. Every street in Milan is usually glimmering and glittering with amazing lights and hymns that welcome Christmas.

Various buildings are decorated in beautiful decor which is worth taking a picture of for future memories. The fashionable city of Milan is the best Christmas destination which should be on top of your list.

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