Italy in January – Where to Go + Weather 2025

There are many interesting things to do in Italy in January. Hopefully, you’ll consider visiting Italy in this season. The country has plenty to offer beyond the “popular months”, and with a little research and an open mind you could discover a truly wonderful experience!

If you love your peace and quiet, January is the perfect time to visit Italy. With fewer tourists around, the streets are quieter, accommodation is cheaper and there are more opportunities to meet local people.

At the same time, be prepared because Italy in January is quite cold. It’s the coldest month of the year, but also one of the driest – you know those bright, beautiful winter days? They are a common occurrence in Italy in January!

Another advantage is that it’s the perfect month to go skiing. Italy’s mountains are at their best in January, with good snow conditions and an abundance of sunny days. Many people visit to go skiing or snowboarding, but you can also go hiking, snowshoeing or enjoy spa days.

If mountain activities aren’t your thing, there are beautiful towns and cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome which you can visit with few tourists at this time of year. Due to the low tourist season, prices for accommodation and guided tours are quite affordable, so that’s another plus.

We put together a list of seven remarkable places to visit during your holiday to Italy in January. Keep reading to learn what they are, and to find out about weather and festivals in January.

Weather in January in Italy

Earlier, we mentioned that Italy is pretty cold in January. Snow and sub-zero temperatures are definitely to be expected in the mountains, and not unheard of in the cities of Northern Italy.

January in Italy is not the time to be out on the beach, so ditch those bikinis and throw in some fleeces and warm jackets into your luggage.

In southern Italy, though, the weather may be warm. In these parts, the average temperature can range from 10 to 16°C – so definitely too cold for swimming, but probably warm enough to sit on the beach, especially on a sunny day.

On the other hand, temperatures in northern Italy are around 5/-5°C, often dipping below freezing at night. In the mountains, the ski season is in full swing, so you may expect to find even lower temperatures, especially at night.

Climate change means that snow some years might be really scarce, but you may expect all the major ski resorts in Italy to be open in January, with artificial snow in case there hasn’t been any natural snowfall.

Where to Go in January in Italy

1) Trentino

Trentino is one of those places that is amazing throughout the year, with different experiences available in different seasons.

In January, skiing is definitely the most popular activity – after all, in Trentino there are 800km of slopes available. If you are new to the activity but wish to try, you’ll find ski academies and ski teachers in all the resorts. Some really nice ski resorts you can check out are Madonna di Campiglio, Latemar, and Carezza Ski.

winter mountain forest trentino — Views from the tobogganing slope in Madonna di Campiglio

January is also a great month to go hiking in the mountains and admire beautiful landscapes, especially at sunset. Have you heard of ‘alpenglow’? It happens towards dusk, when the disappearing sunlight leaves impressionable light effects on the peaks of the Dolomites. Taking a camera to capture the view is a smart idea – and January is the best month to experience it.

Book your Trentino tours here!

2) Valle d’Aosta

Valle d’Aosta / Aosta Valley is Italy’s smallest region, with the highest mountains in the Alps like the Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, and the Gran Paradiso, surrounded by beautiful valleys. In January, it’s one of Italy’s main ski hotspots, and home to the famous resorts of Courmayeur and Cervinia.

In Valle d’Aosta can find the country’s first national park – Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, as well as some stunning medieval castles. Some of the castles, like the Fénis Castle, date as far back as the 14th century and are really worth visiting – a wonderful alternative activity if you don’t like skiing or snowboarding!

When it comes to the cuisine, cheese features in pretty much all dishes from Valle d’Aosta, especially the fontina. It is a staple in most of their dishes. Even a dish like zuppa valdostana (translating as Aosta Valley Soup) has nothing to do with soup, it’s actually melted cheese on bread!

Book your Valle d’Aosta tours here!

3) Venice

You’ll agree with me that romantic getaways hit differently in winter. If that’s what you’re aiming for, then Venice is the perfect destination for you. December and January are the only months of the year when the city is not completely overrun with tourists, and the winter atmosphere makes it really magical!

The main things to do in Venice if you’re visiting for the first time include climbing the Campanile di San Marco, visit the Basilica and Piazza San Marco, and the Ponte di Rialto. If you’ve already been in Venice before, make sure you pay a visit to some of the nearby islands like Torcello, Mazzorbo and San Lazzaro degli Armeni – the latter is a real hidden gem, housing an Armenian monastery.

January is also a great time to go cycling near Venice – the Venetian Lagoon offers a unique ecosystem and countless itineraries between nature, culture and traditions, perfect to explore on two wheels!

Book your Venice tours here!

4) Rome

Wonderful view of St Peter Cathedral, Rome, Italy

This list wouldn’t be complete without Rome. Italy’s capital is another tourist favourite, and it’s always packed full in the summer. However, it’s quite calm in winter – especially in January.

There’s a fun activity for everyone. If you’re an opera lover, Rome has one of the most famous theaters in Italy – the Teatro dell’Opera, second only in fame to the Scala in Milan. In January alone, there’s an open chance to see noteworthy performances, perfect to beat the cold on a cold January night.

Football lovers can attend live matches in the stadium – Rome has two teams, Roma and Lazio, and football matches take place every week at the Olimpico stadium. Another fun activity is a food tour – this Trastevere food and wine walking tour really hits the spot in January!

History freaks have a good number of museums and other notable historical landmarks (Capitoline Hill, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Castel Sant’Angelo, Baths of Caracalla…) With an attraction pass, you can even visit these sites for a lesser fee on days when there are not many tourists.

Just one word of warning – don’t forget to book your tickets for the Vatican Museums! The queues are super long, even in January!

Book your Rome tours here!

5) Amalfi Coast

Italy Sorrento Vesuvius — Vesuvius across the bay

The Amalfi Coast is known for more than its beaches! For example, its stunning villages, clinging to hillsides with alleyways and staircases, are impossible to visit in summer with all the tourist crowds, but are just a delight to wander in January.

January is also the perfect time to hike along the Sentiero degli Dei, a 6 km hike between Agerola and Positano, with scenic views over the Amalfi Coast and Gulf of Naples. In summer, it’s way too hot and busy – in January, you might be alone between the sea and the sky!

Other fun activities in the Amalfi Coast in January is a boat tour, especially on a nice sunny day. This Amalfi Coast cruise includes a visit to Positano, as well as a limoncello tasting!

Accommodation at this time is also cheap, and if you’re fortunate enough, you might get a space offering you a nice view of the water.

Book your Amalfi Coast tours here!

6) Abruzzo

Before we proceed, here’s a fun fact about Abruzzo. This region in Central Italy offers very distinct experiences without having to travel too far – you’ll find a wonderful coastline, as well as the highest mountains in the Apennine range, some of which house ski resorts open in January.

The ski resort of Campo Imperatore is the largest in Central Italy, with a variety of slopes for all levels under the Gran Sasso peaks. Abruzzo is also famous for its mountain castles like Rocca Calascio, filming location of the popular movie Ladyhawke.

If you decide to visit Abruzzo in January, you might want to take a swig of the Vino Cotto. It is a local drink of the people there. It was used to preserve wine in the past. It has a sweet and sour taste and is a nice treat to warm up on a cold day.

7) Sicily

ragusa duomo san giorgio — Ragusa Ibla’s main square – and you may find sunshine in January!

Are you visiting Italy in January but really don’t want to deal with the cold? Head to Sicily, where you can find the mildest weather during winter in Italy. It’s probably too cold to swim unless you are really brave, but you could head to geothermal hot springs like the Santa Venera Pozzo, which has water coming from the sulphuric base of the Etna volcano. In January, these hot springs are a better substitute for beaches.

Skiing is also a popular activity in Sicily during the winter months. Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, also has a popular ski resort and affordable ski rental facilities – or you can always choose to go wine tasting in some of the most beautiful villages in Sicily, like Castiglione di Sicilia, overlooking the mighty volcano.

Sicily is also great for history and art lovers, and it accommodates some captivating art galleries and museums. A lesser known one is the Francesco Pantaleone Arte Contemporanea gallery in Palermo, a must visit if you’re into contemporary art.

If you prefer ancient art and architecture, make your way to the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento, where you can see the remains of 7 Greek temples. While you’re there, check out the garden of Kolymbetra, a well-irrigated citrus garden framed by historical monuments. It’s very pleasant in January!

For more Sicily inspiration, check out our 7-day Sicily itinerary for first-timers!

Book your Sicily tours here!

January Events and Festivals in Italy

New Year’s Day

Italians start the year with a public holiday, so don’t be surprised if you find shops and attractions with their doors shut on January 1st.

Most people usher in the new year with a party into the wee hours of the night, either at home, in the streets or in the clubs – something worth keeping in mind if you don’t like noise and crowds.

For this reason, New Year’s Day is usually quite chilled, with people sleeping in and starting the day late to recover from the festivities of the previous night.

Befana (Epiphany)

In most countries the Christmas holidays come to an end after New Year’s Day, but in Italy they continue up to the 6th of January.

On this day, Italians celebrate a good witch, known as Befana, who is depicted as an old lady. The main aim of this festival is to give gifts to children – sweets and chocolates are given to ‘good’ kids, while ‘bad’ kids get carbone (charcoal made out of sugar).

January 6th is also Epifania (Epiphany), the religious festivity during which the three kings gave gifts to baby Jesus. Religious people attend Mass on this day.

Looking for more month-by-month Italy guides? There you are!