Milan Christmas Market: The Complete Guide
The majestic city of Milan is known for its cultural and historic landmarks as well as its architecture, fashion and art scene. The noble city transforms into a festive winter wonderland with decorations, Christmas trees, lights and a real festive spirit every holiday season.
If you are fortunate enough to be spending time here during the wintertime then you might notice Christmas markets taking over some of the city streets. They attract enthusiastic holiday shoppers from around the globe who come to enjoy the festive activities and find gifts for their friends and family. If you are one of these eager visitors, you'll fill your arms in no time! Find a safe place to leave your bags in Milan and continue with your shopping. Pick up a gift for yourself too.
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Mercatino di Natale in Piazza Duomo
The Piazza Duomo Christmas market is the perfect first stop during your Christmas Market tour of Milan. It is usually open from late November all the way until the first week of January, giving you plenty of time to visit and shop around the 60 market stalls set up in the area. As the biggest and most popular of all the Milan Christmas markets, you can expect quite a crowd of other excited guests.
In the different stalls, you will find traditional gifts, like ornaments and decorations, as well as handcrafts and even nativity cribs. If you get hungry you will have more than enough of a selection of local delicacies to snack on while you admire the gorgeous traditional Milanese Christmas tree!
What to do near Mercatino di Natale Piazza Duomo
Take some time to admire the Piazza Duomo while you are at the market; it is one of the city's top landmarks after all! If you want to see it from above you can head to the Terrazza Aperol, and make sure to visit the Corso Vittorio Emmanuele II Galleria as well.
Fiera Degli Oh Bej! Oh Bej!
This next Milan Christmas market is held in the Piazza Castello near the beautiful Sforza Castle (take Milano Centrale to get here – the station itself is a must-see). Locals love shopping at these Christmas market stalls and you should keep it in mind when it is time for you to do some Christmas shopping. It is also called the Fiera di Sant'Ambrogio in name of Milan's patron saint, which is why it opens on Saint Ambrose every year, which is December 7th. It usually only runs for a few days so make sure that you stop by before it closes again for another year.
This is one of Milan's oldest holiday markets and it first started in 1288. Today there are dozens of stalls that sell clothing, kids' toys, hand painted decorations and festive food. Take this opportunity to try the traditional treat of panettone, a cake filled with pieces of fruit, or other yummy snacks. Even if you don't want to buy anything, the market is a nice place to walk around and is decorated with pretty fairy lights and garlands.
What to do near Fiera Degli Oh Bej! Oh Bej!
The Piazza Castello is home to some lovely art museums; why not visit their exhibits while you are already there? This includes the Rondanini Pieta Museum and the Museo Archeologico Sezione Preistoria e Protostoria.
Darsena Christmas Village
Keep an eye out for the Darsena Christmas village this Christmas season! It will be open for about a month beginning in early December and finally closes during the first week of January. It is one of the smaller markets in Milan but still offers plenty of festive attractions for the whole family. You will find it in a cute neighborhood called Navigli which is famous for its canals dating back from 1177 and 1257.
Aside from some stalls selling Christmas goodies, you can also find an ice skating rink and a booth where kids can go to meet Santa Claus himself. There is a huge Christmas tree in the central square. Mainly locals frequent the market giving it an authentic feel, and it will be less busy than some of the others as well!
What to do near Darsena Christmas Village
This festive event is usually set up near the Darsena di Milano, which offers some other great activities nearby. Consider going to see a movie at the Orfeo Multisala theater!
Villaggio delle Meraviglie
Located in the Porta Venezia district, this is one of the best Christmas markets in Milan for family fun and holiday spirit. It takes over the beautiful Indro Montanelli Public Gardens, transforming it into a gorgeous wintry paradise. Milan Christmas market dates are not yet finalized but this spot is usually open for several weeks between early December and early January. There are places to go shopping as well as festive programs and activities set up for your entertainment.
Feel like going ice skating? There is a great heated ice rink that you can glide around on, as well as a Santa Claus house that will definitely be popular among the kids. Go see the miniature nativity scenes, too! They even have a big Christmas tree carousel.
What to do near Villagio delle Meraviglie
After you've filled up on Christmas treats and everything else that this winter fair has to offer, you can explore the rest of the gardens. There are hiking trails, sculptures and monuments to look at. You can also visit the Modern Art Gallery situated just outside of the park.
Green Christmas Market
The last Christmas market in Milan that we will introduce is Green Christmas. You will find it tucked away in the Isola district by the Napoleonic Foundry during the second weekend of December, so don't miss your chance to stop by! You will only have two days to see all the market has to offer, and they put most of their focus on ecological and sustainable practices that are good for the world.
Learn how to live and shop with a zero-waste lifestyle as you browse the markets selling home furnishing, natural cosmetics, sustainable clothes and more gifts. There are lots of workshops and conferences following the same theme as well!
What to do near Green Christmas Market
After exploring the market you should stick around the area to see what kinds of things there are on the adjacent streets. The Teatro Fontana is just a minute's walk away and is worth visiting if you have the time.
Visiting the Best of Milan's Christmas Markets
There are several Christmas markets scattered around Northern Italy and they are a favorite attraction for lots of people during the Christmas period. Get ready for the Christmas spirit! With Christmas decorations, unique presents and delicious food, there is no way that you can be in a bad mood when you visit them. Leave the shopping streets behind and take a day trip to do your present hunting at the markets in Milan this year!
Now you are ready to enjoy the Christmas markets in Milan. For more things to do in Milan, check out these other guides.
Wine Tasting in Milan: 10 Places You Have to Try
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