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Index
- Northern Italy
- Milan, Lombardy
- Verona, Veneto
- Dolomites, Trentino-Alto Adige
- Venice, Veneto
- Courmayeur and Valle d’Aosta
- Valtellina, Lombardy
- Center of Italy
- Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna
- Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia, Tuscany
- Perugia, Umbria
- Urbino and Urbania, Marche
- Florence, Siena and Terme Toscane
- Southern Italy
- Pompeii and Sorrento Peninsula, Campania
- Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, Puglia
- Cosenza, Calabria
- Catania and Etna Volcano, Sicily
- Matera and Murgia Materana, Basilicata
Photo by Zairon. What better month to unplug from the usual routine than January, the beginning of a new year that already promises to be full of all kinds of prerogatives
If you are looking for the best destinations to explore in Italy in the first 31 days of the year, here is the most beautiful cities, from north to south, to visit in Italy in January!
Travel advice post COVID19
If you are planning a trip, make sure you are in line with safety measures. Follow government guidelines and only return to travel when the green light is given. Prefer natural and perhaps non-mass destinations, and in general promote local tourism: discover the wonders of your city, your region and your state. Try to avoid long-haul travel and at most choose destinations that can be reached with a few hours of flight.
Northern Italy
Destination Temperatures (min / max) Average weekend cost (flight + hotel) Milan, Lombardy 2 ° / 7 ° from € 160.00 per person
Verona, Veneto -1 ° / 6 ° from € 166.00 per person
Dolomites, Trentino-Alto Adige -8 ° / -1 ° from € 280.00 per person
Venice, Veneto 0 ° / 7 ° from € 190.00 per person
Courmayeur and Valle d’Aosta -1 ° / 4 ° from € 300.00 per person
Valtellina, Lombardy -7 ° / 3 ° from € 240.00 per person
1 – Milan, Lombardy
It is the Italian capital of fashion , chaotic metropolis and worldly, home to two of the strongest football teams in the top flight.
If you decide to spend your January in a great tricolor city, the choice can only fall on Milan. Culture, entertainment, nightlife will keep you more than busy, because the Lombard capital never sleeps.
On the occasion of the Epiphany then the procession of the Magi takes place, parade in historical costume that from Piazza Duomo passes through Corso di Porta Ticinese and ends at the Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio, where the Magi offer gifts in front of the living nativity scene.
Events aside, Milan always offers a lot: from the Duomo to the museums of the Castello Sforzesco or the Cenacolo Vinciano, from parks such as Parco Sempione to the shows at the Teatro Alla Scala: in short, it is impossible to get bored!
SEE ALSO : What to see in Milan
- Low cost flights: from € 22.00 – see the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 61.00 per night – see the offers
2 – Verona, Veneto
If you want to anticipate the Valentine’s Day celebrations by a month, why not give your partner a weekend in romantic Verona
The Venetian city, which has even captured the heart of William Shakespeare, is the hub of artistic and spectacular events northern Italy, thanks to the presence of the Arena di Verona , location every year of concerts and kermesse of wide international scope.
In addition, if you leave the first week of January, until 6 in Gardaland there is Magic Winter , with snow, ice skating, Santa Claus village, and even access to the aquarium!
And while you’re at it … take a ride on Lake Garda! You don’t know what to do in the winter on the lake
. Lots of activities! From the Christmas markets and ice rinks, to the relaxing Sirmione and Lazise spas . You can already imagine yourself in a thermal bath overlooking the lake, eh …
ALSO SEE : What to see in Verona
- Low cost flights: starting from € 27.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 56.00 per night – see the offers
3 – Dolomites, Trentino-Alto Adige
There are no winter holidays that do not include a stay, albeit short, in one of the most famous mountain resorts in Italy: the Dolomites. The local Eastern Alps, also known as the “pale mountains”, are one of the most popular high mountain locations for Italian and other tourists , who never miss an opportunity to get to know the its narrow streets, the animals that populate this dream location and, above all, its peaks. A walk in the Dolomites is ideal for nature lovers and born explorers!
The Dolomites are also a perfect place for holidays with children: from the Christmas markets in Merano (until 6 January) toamusement parks in the snow ! Nevelandia in Sappada (disembarking in Friuli), the Ski-Fun-Park Kids on the Alpe di Siusi, the Ursus Snowpark in Madonna di Campiglio, but also the King Laurin Snowpark in Bolzano, the largest snowpark in Trentino, ideal for those who loves snowboarding and adrenaline-pumping freestyle!
If you are looking for relaxation rather than adrenaline, you are in the spa region! Pejo, Comano, Levico Terme, the thermal complexes are the flagship of the Trentino accommodation offer .
- Low cost flights: flights to Verona or Venice from € 27.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 90.00 per night – see the offers
4 – Venice, Veneto
For a dream stay, let yourself be lulled by the movement of a romantic Venetian gondola!
The Venetian capital is the ideal destination for lovers of all-round holidays, where to combine a day of culture with more “playful” activities, such as shopping or a stroll through the lively city center. Venice is the ideal city for lovers of art, craftsmanship and good food .
Furthermore, if you leave the first week of the month, Venice celebrates the epiphany with the Regata delle Befane : 50 men disguised as witches compete in a rowing competition on the Grand Canal, with the finish line marked by a giant sock hanging on the Rialto Bridge!
In January, the weather is certainly not mild, rather bring rubber boots with you in case of high water. However, it is a great time for two reasons: it is the cheapest month and the one with the least crowds of tourists . It will be like having Venice all to yourself!
SEE ALSO : What to see in Venice
- Low cost flights: from € 22.00 – see the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 69.00 per night – see the offers
5 – Courmayeur and Valle d’Aosta
Courmayeur is one of the most renowned tourist resorts in the Alps. Its territory boasts the presence of the highest peak in the Alps, Mont Blanc. In the village you can breathe a sweet characteristic atmosphere, made of wooden huts and flowered balconies , artisan shops and authentic flavors of tradition.
Here you can ski in style: the Checrouit-Val Veny area boasts over 100 km of slopes , and the long trails that climb from the town are an unparalleled spectacle.
Here you can climb to 3,500 meters high thanks to the Skyway Monte Bianco: and a cable car with the cabin that travels suspended and rotates on itself to guarantee everyone inside a breathtaking view of the ascent, even when the cabin is crowded.
For the little ones, at the foot of Mont Chetif there is the Fun Park Dolonne , an ideal playground for children to take their first steps in the snow. it is equipped with a treadmill for the ascent, a tubing track and a bob track for descents on the snow, but also a play area with inflatables, trampolines and rides.
For lovers of walks and mountains, the Val Venyand an alpine valley west of Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is a very quiet place where you can go for walks and excursions. There are also large car parks and benches where you can sit and rest while admiring the highest peaks in the Alps.
- Low cost flights: Flights to Turin (190 km) starting from € 60.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 93.00 per night – see the offers
6 – Valtellina, Lombardy
Valtellina is one of the most popular destinations for winter tourism : from the spas of Alta Valtellina, in the province of Bormio, to the paths and views of the Lower Valtellina, between Sondrio and the Orobie Alps, this area really has it all for a perfect winter vacation.
In Livigno, a stone’s throw from the lake of the same name, there is the Mottolino Fun Park, the largest bike park in Europe with trails for trekking, mountain biking and free ride, but also with spaces for families, adventure parks and greedy stops .
In the Stelvio National Park, above Bormio, you will discover enchanted landscapes, an alpine setting among the most beautiful in the world. Of course there is no shortage of ski slopes, and in the evening, you will find the right relaxation in the renowned spas of Bormio , in the Bagni Vecchi and Bagni Nuovi di Premadio.
- Low cost flights: flights to Bergamo (144 km) starting from € 29.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 80.00 per night – see the offers
Central Italy
Destination Temperatures (min / max) Average weekend cost (flight + hotel) Ravenna, Emilia Romagna 1st / 6th from € 168.00 per person
Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia, Tuscany 2nd / 11th from € 148.00 per person
Perugia, Umbria 0 ° / 7 ° from € 182.00 per person
Urbino and Urbania, Marche 2nd / 7th from € 170.00 per person
Florence, Siena and Terme Toscane 2/11 ° from € 176.00 per person
1 – Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna proves once again to be a “young” region, thanks to its cities rich in culture and charm, which wink at the much-coveted fun of young people during their weekday remnants. Ravenna is no exception, guaranteeing an “all inclusive” holiday to all those people wishing to combine business with pleasure by alternating “educational” moments with more “profane” distractions, such as shopping or a compulsory stop at a restaurant!
SEE ALSO : What to see in Ravenna
- Low cost flights: Flights to Bologna (80 km) starting from € 33.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 51.00 per night – see the offers
2 – Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia, Tuscany
If you love the more “intimate” side of Tuscany without giving up the charm of history and culture, then you can opt for a tour in the charming Pisa.
A guided tour of the Leaning Tower and the most important squares of the city is obviously a must. Let yourself be tempted by having lunch and dinner in the numerous restaurants that offer exquisite local cuisine before setting out for the alleys of the beautiful Pisa: it will be a stay that you will hardly forget.
Lucca, a young destination linked mainly to the graphic arts, does not fail to reveal its more “religious” and traditional soul. A perfect destination for lovers of the outdoors, because walking through the streets of the Tuscan province is a real cure for the body and the spirit. City recommended especially for young people and lovers of art and good food.
Finally, if you are traveling for Epiphany, spend January 6 from Pistoia : here you can witness the descent of the old woman from the bell tower of Piazza Duomo, flying over the square with a zipline and full of sweets and candies to be distributed to young and old!
- Low cost flights: from € 22.00 – see the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 52.00 per night – see the offers
3 – Perugia, Umbria
In the streets of Perugia you can breathe a particular and … delicious air! The Umbrian city, land of chocolate and good music , is a place designed for young people, but which can also give pleasant surprises to families.
Easy to access, Perugia is a center that never sleeps and where you eat (and drink!) Really well!
SEE ALSO : What to see in Perugia
- Cheap flights: flights to Perugia or Florence (126 km) from € 66.00 – see offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 47.00 per night – see the offers
4 – Urbino and Urbania, Marche
The town, along whose streets it is possible to admire religious and civil monuments of considerable importance for the history of our country, could prove to be an atypical as well as pleasant surprise. In fact, there is no shortage of entertainment for the diehards of shopping and nightlife, demonstrating the fact that the saying “appearances can be deceiving” could not be more truthful than that.
If you travel in the first week of January, move to Urbania for the Epiphany, just 15 km. On days 4, 5 and 6 there is an incredible party, with a very rich program of events. Suffice it to say that Urbania is home to the Befana house, where it resides all year round, complete with a post box. The party culminates with the acrobatic descent of the “old woman” from the bell tower of the town hall! And more shows with soap bubbles, the longest sock in the world, acrobats, jugglers … in short, an event not to be missed!
- Low cost flights: flights to Florence Bologna (176 km) starting from € 33.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 52.00 per night – see the offers
5 – Florence, Siena and Terme Toscane
Florence and Siena are two evergreen destinations , two of the most beautiful Italian cities that can be visited at any time of the year.
Enjoy a Florence less crowded with tourists, with fewer queues and less crowds in front of the museums but also in the restaurants or sandwich shops in the center. In case of bad weather, there will certainly be no shortage of museums to visit, from the Uffizi Gallery to Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery. And for the Epiphany, Piazza della Signoria is filled with Magi, flag-wavers and, of course, witches!
Siena reveals a medieval face in all its layout, which culminates in the Piazza del Palio: visiting it, between climbs and descents, will be a pleasure, as well as eating anddrink some excellent Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino .
And if you love landscapes, cross the villages of the Chianti region, between Siena and Florence, and then descend towards the Val d’Orcia and the thermal plants of Chianciano Terme, Saturnia, Montepulciano and Bagni San Filippo .
- Low cost flights: flights to Florence from € 38.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 50.00 per night – see the offers
South Italy
Destination Temperatures (min / max) Average weekend cost (flight + hotel) Pompeii and Sorrento Peninsula, Campania 11 ° / 16 ° from € 166.00 per person
Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, Puglia 2 ° / 9 ° from € 164 , 00 per person
Cosenza, Calabria 7 ° / 11 ° from € 124.00 per person
Catania and Volcano Etna, Sicily 5 ° / 16 ° from € 162.00 per person
Matera and Murgia Materana, Basilicata 2 ° / 9 ° from € 140.00 per person
1 – Pompeii and Sorrento Peninsula, Campania
For a January with a perfect blend of culture and worldliness , the ideal is to organize a stay between the Sorentina Peninsula and the remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
On the one hand, therefore, the excavations of the city that made our nation so famous, even if often “victims” of neglect, keep their charm intact. A visit to the museum dedicated to them is a must. Pompeii is the ideal destination for experienced “Indiana Jones” and history lovers.
On the other hand we have Sorrento and that strip of land that extends towards Capri: extraordinary landscapes, unique places like the Vallone dei Mulini, and of course the postcard surroundings with the various villages of Amalfi, Ravello, Positano and the whole Amalfi Coast.
- Low cost flights: flights to Naples (42 km) from € 22.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 66.00 per night – see the offers
2 – Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, Puglia
Lovers of characteristic villages cannot fail to appreciate the “gems” of Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, charming towns in the provinces of Bari and Brindisi.
The most famous, Alberobello, is characterized by the architectural style of its houses: the trulli are in fact the workhorse of Alberobello, which every year registers a surge of tourists ready to immortalize the characteristic white houses with conical roofs.
Not least are the villages of Locorotondo and Cisternino: the first, the most beautiful terrace of the Murgia dei Trulli, with a very intimate and tidy historic center and surroundings rich in vineyards, farms and olive groves; Cisternino and a succession of flowered balconies, courtyards, arches, a real jewel in which to get lost as in a dream.
If you travel in the middle of the month, from 16 to 18 make a visit to Focara di Novoli , 15 km from Lecce, where the most important winter event in Salento is held . Here, in fact, the vine shoots are burned in a gigantic bonfire. It begins with a procession on the 16th and the bonfire in the evening, and ends with the Sagra del Porco on the 18th, for three days full of events!
SEE ALSO : Most beautiful towns and villages in Puglia
- Low cost flights: flights to Bari (55 km from Alberobello) starting from € 29.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 52.00 per night – see the offers
3 – Cosenza, Calabria
Photo by Lupo silano 1914. It is a lively city in constant ferment, like all universities.
Cosenza is a destination intended above all for young people , with a historic center full of charm and history, which goes well with a lively street in the city center and specially designed to be accessible, an area dedicated to leisure and shopping.
- Low cost flights: flights to Lamezia Terme (72 km) from € 22.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 39.00 per night – see the offers
4 – Catania and Etna Volcano, Sicily
In winter the summit of the Etna volcano does not stop smoking, but the blanket of white snow that covers it makes the landscape truly extraordinary. Whether it is for a simple excursion or for skiing in the Linguaglossa stations, visiting Etna is an unforgettable , magical, almost religious experience. In this period, given the uncertain weather conditions, we recommend hiking with professional guides, to avoid any complications.
The city of Catania is also very lively in winter , with its markets, its shopping streets and its neighboring villages always so characteristic and in turmoil, between festivals and country festivals with a Sicilian soul.
SEE ALSO : What to see in Catania
- Low cost flights: starting from € 33.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 48.00 per night – see the offers
5 – Matera and Murgia Materana, Basilicata
The city of the Sassi, carved in tuff , such a unique place, and certainly a destination suitable for everyone even in winter.
This nativity scene perfectly blended in the natural setting is a feast for the eyes, a delight to visit on foot. But Matera is not just stones: the Cathedral, the Rock Churches and the natural areas of the Murgia Materana which preserve the remains of Neolithic settlements.
- Low cost flights: flights to Bari (67 km) starting from € 29.00 – check the offers
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 39.00 per night – see the offers
