New Year in Milan 2025 | Top things to do, events, parties & more!
New Year’s Eve in Milan blends Italian glamour with festive sparkle. The city comes alive with open-air concerts, rooftop dinners, and midnight fireworks bursting above the Duomo. Whether you’re here for fashion, food, or music, Milan knows how to end the year in pure style.
Top things to do in Milan on New Year’s Eve
Experience the Navigli canals by night
The canals buzz with energy: bars and trattorias offer festive aperitivi, live DJs, and waterside fireworks.
Indulge in Italian haute cuisine
Savor a New Year’s Eve feast at Michelin-starred restaurants like Joia or Cracco, where gourmet tasting menus take center stage.
Explore Milan's festive lights
Walk through Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the Galleria, glowing with installations, trees, and designer displays celebrating the season.
Toast at midnight from Brera district
Join locals in this artsy neighborhood filled with wine bars, cozy cafes, and small squares perfect for the midnight countdown.
Your perfect New Year's Eve itinerary
Day 1: Culture, cuisine, and celebrations
Morning
Begin your day with espresso and pastries at Marchesi 1824, then visit the Duomo and its rooftop terraces for city views
Afternoon
Explore the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and grab lunch at Ristorante Savini.
Later, catch an opera or concert at Teatro alla Scala.
Evening
Head to Piazza del Duomo for the main fireworks celebration or dine on a rooftop terrace for a more refined experience.
Day 2: New Year’s Day relaxation and discovery
Morning
Enjoy a slow brunch at Panificio Pattini, then wander through Parco Sempione to admire the Castello Sforzesco in winter light.
Afternoon
Visit the Pinacoteca di Brera or Da Vinci’s Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie (advance booking required).
Evening
End your trip in style with aperitivo and dinner by the Navigli canals — the perfect Milanese sendoff to the holidays.
Frequently asked questions about celebrating New Year in Milan
Some of the best things to do in Milan on New Year are to watch the fireworks, visit the Milano Christmas Village, watch a live performance, go on a city tour, visit a museum, and drink champagne.
You can visit the Villaggio delle Meraviglie Milano Christmas Village with kids for a memorable winter wonderland experience. You can have a lot of fun with kids at Leolandia or the Balloon Museum on New Year in Milan. Kids would also enjoy the festivities and fireworks display at Piazza Castello and Piazza del Duomo on New Year’s Eve.
It is winter in Milan in December with the average temperature ranging from 0 °C to 5 °C on New Year’s Eve, and the nights getting chilly. Moreover, the 31st of December and the 1st of January are two of the shortest days of the year in Milan.
Yes, all means of public transport are available in Milan on New Year’s Day, following the Sunday/holiday timetable. Buses, trams, and metro trains running along lines 90 and 91 operate for 24 hours while most other lines run till 2 in the morning on New Year’s Day.
It is recommended to wear warm clothing such as woolen wear, jackets, hoodies, sweaters, neck scarves, gloves, thick socks, and comfortable walking shoes to stay comfortable on New Year in Milan.
Many retail stores, restaurants, and cafes remain closed for New Year in Milan. They reopen on the 7th of January after the Epiphany. However, most museums, theatres, ice rinks, and historic landmarks will be open on New Year in Milan.
Milan’s Hop-on Hop-off bus tours are a convenient way to explore the city’s festive sights, including illuminated streets, markets, and iconic landmarks.
Yes, with a Milan City Card you get discounted access to many attractions, as well as unlimited public transport—perfect for holiday sightseeing.
Why visit Milan during New Year’s Eve
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Fireworks at Piazza del Duomo
Milan’s most iconic square lights up at midnight with a dazzling fireworks display framed by the cathedral’s spires.
Free concerts and open air parties
From live pop acts to DJ sets, the city’s piazzas transform into dance floors celebrating under the stars.
Rooftop dinners with skyline views
Indulge in a multi-course dinner and champagne toast at rooftop terraces overlooking the illuminated skyline.
Winter elegance and shopping
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Via Montenapoleone shimmer with festive lights and post-holiday sales.
Aperitivo culture at its finest
Toast the last sunset of the year with spritz and antipasti in the city’s chic bars — a Milanese tradition.
Art, opera, and history
Celebrate the season at La Scala, explore art at Pinacoteca di Brera, or visit Milan’s beautifully lit landmarks by night.