Quick answer
The best time to visit Milan is April to June or September to October, when average highs run from 66°F to 83°F. May is the safest single month. Avoid Design Week (13 to 18 April 2027) and fashion weeks unless you are going for them, because hotel prices can more than triple, and expect closed restaurants around 15 August.
The weather figures below are the official 1991-2020 climate normals for Milano Linate, published by the World Meteorological Organization. Event dates and hotel prices were checked on 5 October 2026.
Milan weather by month
Milan has hot summers and cold winters with frosty nights. Spring and autumn bring most of the rain, and November is the wettest month.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Days at 86°F or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F (7°C) | 31°F (0°C) | 1.5 in | 5 | 0 |
| February | 50°F (10°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 1.5 in | 5 | 0 |
| March | 60°F (15°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 1.7 in | 5 | 0 |
| April | 67°F (19°C) | 47°F (8°C) | 2.3 in | 8 | 0 |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 in | 9 | 2 |
| June | 83°F (28°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.7 in | 7 | 10 |
| July | 87°F (31°C) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.7 in | 4 | 20 |
| August | 86°F (30°C) | 66°F (19°C) | 2.3 in | 5 | 17 |
| September | 78°F (26°C) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.9 in | 5 | 3 |
| October | 66°F (19°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 in | 7 | 0 |
| November | 54°F (12°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 in | 8 | 0 |
| December | 45°F (7°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 1.8 in | 6 | 0 |
Rainy days count days with at least 1 mm of rain. Thunderstorms cluster from May to August, at about three days a month. Humidity is highest from November to January, at about 80%.
Big events in 2026 and 2027
These are the dates that fill hotels or change what is open. Book rooms early if your trip overlaps one of them.
| Dates | Event | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 8 November 2026 | EICMA motorcycle show | Trade fair at Rho, higher hotel prices |
| 7 December 2026 | Sant’Ambrogio and La Scala opening night | City festival, fair around the castle |
| 8 December 2026 | Immaculate Conception | National holiday |
| 15 to 19 January 2027 | Men’s Fashion Week | Higher hotel prices |
| 23 February to 1 March 2027 | Women’s Fashion Week | Higher hotel prices |
| 28 March 2027 | Easter Sunday | Easter Monday is a national holiday |
| 4 April 2027 | Milano Marathon | City marathon on a Sunday |
| 13 to 18 April 2027 | Salone del Mobile and Design Week | The most expensive week for hotels |
| 18 to 22 June 2027 | Men’s Fashion Week | Higher hotel prices |
| 15 August 2027 | Ferragosto | Many restaurants and shops closed |
| 3 to 5 September 2027 | Italian Grand Prix | Formula 1 weekend at Monza |
| 21 to 27 September 2027 | Women’s Fashion Week | Higher hotel prices |
The Salone del Mobile takes place at Fiera MilanoMap in Rho, at the end of metro line M1, and design events spread across the city the same week. The fashion week dates come from the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, the body that runs the shows. Formula 1 races at the Monza circuitMap, just north of Milan.
When Milan hotels cost the most
Design Week is the peak. In April 2026, across more than 200 Milan hotels, the average double room cost €598 a night during Design Week, against €173 in ordinary weeks (Maiora Solutions data). A four-star room went from €180 to €638.
For context, Milan’s average room rate from April to June 2026 was €228.94 a night, one of the highest in Italy (Trademark Italia hotel monitor). The fashion weeks and trade fairs at Rho also push prices up, so check your dates against the table above before you book anything non-refundable.
Our guide to where to stay in Milan compares the neighborhoods, and our pick of the best hotels in Milan covers every budget. To see what is left on your dates, search hotels in Milan on Booking.com.
Spring in Milan (March to May)
Spring is mild. March highs average 60°F, and by May they reach 75°F. April and May are wetter, with 8 or 9 rainy days a month, so pack a light umbrella.
The Duomo rooftop terraces, which can close in rain, ice or strong wind.
- April is warm enough for the rooftop of the DuomoMap (see our Duomo tickets guide), but Design Week (13 to 18 April 2027) makes it the most expensive week of the year. Come before or after it.
- Easter 2027 falls on 28 March, and Easter Monday is a public holiday in Italy.
- May is the best all-round month, with highs of 75°F and only two days on average at 86°F or more.
Spring weekends are among the busiest dates for the Last SupperMap, and peak slots can sell out soon after each release. Our Last Supper tickets guide explains when new dates go on sale.
Summer in Milan (June to August)
Summer is hot. July averages 20 days at 86°F or more, and nights stay around 67°F, so a hotel with air conditioning matters. June is the most comfortable summer month, with highs of 83°F.
The Navigli canals in the evening.
August is quiet. Many Milan restaurants, including well-known ones, close for two or three weeks around Ferragosto on 15 August, and small neighborhood shops often shut for the whole week. Most museums stay open on 15 August with holiday hours. Brera, the Navigli, Isola and Porta Nuova keep the most bars and restaurants running, so plan your evenings around them; our guide to the Navigli covers the canal district.
In the hottest weeks, plan indoor sights for the afternoon and save the outdoors for the early evening, when aperitivo starts. On warm evenings I like Parco SempioneMap, where people gather on the grass to play bongos and sing. In early summer, CasciNetMap, a farmhouse on the east side of the city (M4 Repetti), runs Friday dinners with music, films and workshops; it takes a break from mid-July to mid-September, so check its events page first. A day on Lake Como is a good break from the city heat; go on a weekday, because summer weekends and August bring the biggest crowds on the ferries.
Autumn in Milan (September to November)
September is summer’s easier end, with highs of 78°F and only 5 rainy days. The last week of September is Women’s Fashion Week (21 to 27 September 2027), so book early or come in the first half of the month.
Milan in October brings highs of 66°F and more rain, about 3.2 inches over 7 days. Since 2026, 4 October (St Francis of Assisi) is a national holiday in Italy. It is a good month for museums and day trips, and the art season is back after the summer: galleries open new shows almost every week. Search “vernissage Milano” or check the openings listed on Zero and Itinerari nell’arte. Openings are free, and in my experience someone often pours you a glass of wine. The lake season, meanwhile, is winding down: the Villa Melzi gardensMap in Bellagio close for the year on 1 November, and many Bellagio hotels close from late October or early November until around April.
November is the wettest month, with about 4.1 inches of rain over 8 days, and highs fall to 54°F. The EICMA motorcycle show runs at Rho from 5 to 8 November 2026.
Winter in Milan (December to February)
Winter is cold and fairly dry. Highs average 45°F in December and January, and about 16 nights in an average January drop below freezing. Bring a warm coat, gloves and shoes that can handle wet pavements.
Teatro alla Scala, which opens its 2026/2027 opera season on 7 December.
Milan in December is the most festive month. On 7 December the city celebrates its patron saint, Sant’Ambrogio, and the Oh Bej Oh Bej fair fills the streets around Sforza CastleMap; in 2025 it ran from 5 to 8 December, and the 2026 dates should be checked closer to the time. The same night Teatro alla ScalaMap opens its season, in 2026 with Verdi’s Otello conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, with further performances until 5 January 2027. 8 December is a national holiday too. The Christmas market in Piazza del Duomo opened on 2 December in 2025.
Holiday closures matter at Christmas: the Last Supper museum closes on 25 December and 1 January, and 25 and 26 December, 1 January and 6 January are national holidays.
Milan in January and February has two fashion weeks, for men from 15 to 19 January 2027 and for women from 23 February to 1 March 2027. The weeks in between have no fashion week, which makes them a good window for museums. January and February are the driest months, at about 1.5 inches of rain each. February highs climb back to 50°F.
The best month for each kind of trip
| If you want | Go in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mild weather and everything open | May or September | Highs of 75-78°F, few days at 86°F |
| Lake Como as well as Milan | May, June or September | Villas, hotels and full ferry timetables |
| Christmas atmosphere | December | Sant’Ambrogio fair, La Scala opening, markets |
| To avoid the fashion weeks in winter | 20 January to 22 February 2027 | The gap between the men’s and women’s shows |
| Design, at any price | Mid-April | Salone del Mobile, 13 to 18 April 2027 |
| The lowest heat risk in summer | June | Highs of 83°F, half July’s hot days |
Whenever you go, a few things are free on set days. On the first Sunday of the month the Last Supper (with a booking), the Pinacoteca di BreraMap (with a booking) and the civic museums, including the Sforza Castle museums, are free.
If Milan is one stop on a longer trip, our 10-day Italy itinerary starts in Milan and continues to Venice, Florence and Rome, and the first trip to Italy guide covers entry rules and money. For short trips by train in any season, see our day trips from Milan, including Verona.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Milan?
May is the best all-round month, with average highs of 75°F and every sight open. April and September are close behind, but check that your dates miss Design Week in mid-April and Fashion Week in late September, when hotels cost far more.
What is the weather like in Milan in winter?
Cold and mostly dry. Average highs are about 45°F in December and January and lows sit around freezing, with about 16 nights below 0°C in January. December and January see only 5 to 6 rainy days each.
Is Milan worth visiting in December?
Yes, if you like Christmas markets and do not mind the cold. The city celebrates its patron saint on 7 December with the Oh Bej Oh Bej fair around Sforza Castle, and La Scala opens its season that night, in 2026 with Verdi's Otello.
Is August a bad time to visit Milan?
It is hot, with highs around 86°F, and many restaurants close for two or three weeks around Ferragosto on 15 August. Most museums stay open, and Brera, the Navigli, Isola and Porta Nuova keep the most places running.
When are hotels most expensive in Milan?
During Design Week. In 2026 the average double room cost €598 a night that week against €173 in ordinary weeks. The next Salone del Mobile runs from 13 to 18 April 2027, and the fashion weeks also push prices up.
When is Milan Fashion Week 2027?
Women's shows run from 23 February to 1 March 2027 and from 21 to 27 September 2027. Men's shows run from 15 to 19 January 2027 and from 18 to 22 June 2027, on the official Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana calendar.
What is the rainiest month in Milan?
November, with about 104 mm (4.1 inches) of rain over 8 rainy days on average. January and February are the driest months, at about 37 to 38 mm each.