Updated for 2018 – contact us to add information about an event
Milan is a great place to visit before the Christmas holidays. The streets are festively decorated and the shop windows are more enticing than ever. Markets with handcrafted items, food and wine from all regions of Italy and special events are going on all over the city.
Christmas Tree Lighting in Piazza Duomo
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Dec 5, 2018 Christmas tree Lighting ceremony
Unipol will be this year’s sponsor for the Christmas tree in Piazza Duomo which will stand from Dec 5, 2018 to January 6, 2019. 35,000 colorful LED lights will decorate “Vittorio”. “Vittorio” is Milan’s nickname for its Christmas tree, whereas Rome has nicknamed its tree “Spelacchio”. A friendly rivalry between the two cities has sparked interest on social media.
Christmas Markets and Food Markets in Milan
Dec 1, 2018 All Saints Church Christmas Market
Christmas decorations and crafts. New and second-hand books, second-hand clothing. All proceeds go toward the All Saints Church parish fund.Via Solferino 17 Milan, (MM Moscova)
at Cascina Cuccagna
Via Cuccagna 2/4, 20135 Milan
Dec 4, 2018 – Jan 6, 2019 Swarovski Christmas Tree
In the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Swarovski sets up an amazing Christmas tree display. This year it will have 10.000 ornaments, 1.000 of which are Swarovski Christmas stars, lit with 36,000 lights and a brilliant star on top.
Dec 6-9, 2018 Oh bej! Oh bej!
Dec 7th is St. Ambrogio day, the patron saint of Milan and marks the start of the Oh bej! Oh bej! Milan Christmas Festival and market. Oh bej! means ‘how beautiful!’ in the Milanese dialect, and well describes the toys, gifts, gadgets, handmade items as well as specialty foods and wines on sale at the market. You can find the Oh bej! Oh bej! market at Piazza Castello the week of Dec 7th.
Dec 17-18, 2018 Green Christmas
At Fonderia Napoleonica Eugenia, area Isola , browse through clothing eco-fashion , designer eco-friendly bio- products and bio- cosmetics to make people aware of a philosophy of life ” zero impact ” . Via Genova Giovanni Thaon Di Revel, 21, 20159 Milan, Italy – Tel.:+39 02 668 7738
Sport events
Dec 15, 2018 Babbo Running – Run Santa Run!
Santa Claus is known as Babbo Natale, Babbo Running is the annual non -competitive 5K run. Come dressed as Santa Claus!
Giant Christmas Trees & Skating Rink, Events for Children
Dec 1, 2018 -Jan 6, 2019 Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie
At the Pubic Gardens – Giardini Publici there is Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie (The Village of Wonders) a market, children’s play and entertainment center and ice skating rink for all ages.
There is a giant tree at Piazza Duomo, also in Stazione Centrale.
Concerts & Theatre
Dec 30, 2018, Harlem Gospel Choir at the Blue Note
Dec 7-26 2018 Children’s Theatre at the Teatro Nuovo there are Christmas themed shows
(check dates, times, prices at Theatre)
Dec 31, 2018 New Year Concert – Orchestra – at the Teatro Nuovo
Christmas Gift Shopping
For the consumer with more elaborate tastes, the shops in the city center are open longer hours as well as Saturday and Sunday during the Christmas period.
Rinascente Department Store, Piazza uomo
Rinascente Department store
Via Santa Radegonda, 3 20121 Milan (MM Duomo)
Vetrerie Di Empoli, MIlano
Entonteca Cotti Wines
Religious and Cultural Events
Dec 24, 2018 Mass at Il Duomo
Eucharist mass at times: 17:30 and 23:30
The Last Supper
Visit Leonardo DaVinci’s masterpiece “The Last Supper”. Skip the line and get priority tickets.
Discover Milan’s must-see attractions on this comprehensive small group walking tour. Your half-day walking tour includes skip-the-line viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting ‘The Last Supper’.
See also: Special Evening Hours for Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper
Looking for more ideas? Contact us
