Where to go on holiday in January in Italy

1. North Italy

   • Milan, Lombardy

   • Verona, Veneto

   • Dolomites, Trentino-Alto Adige

   • Venice, Veneto

   • Courmayeur and Valle d'Aosta

   • Valtellina, Lombardy

2. Central Italy

   • Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna

   • Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia, Tuscany

   • Perugia, Umbria

   • Urbino and Urbania, Marche

   • Florence, Siena and Tuscan Spa

3. Southern Italy

   • Pompeii and the Sorrentine 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 pull the plug from the usual routine than January, the incipit 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 are the most beautiful cities, from north to south, to visit in January!

North Italy

1 - Milan, Lombardy

It is Italy's fashion capital, a chaotic and worldly metropolis, and home to two of the top football teams in the top division.
If you decide to spend your January in a great tricolour city, the choice has to be Milan. Culture, entertainment and nightlife will keep you more than busy, because the Lombard capital never sleeps.

On theoccasion of Epiphany, there is also the procession of the Three Kings, a parade in historical costume that starts in 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 has so much to offer: from the Duomo to the museums of the Castello Sforzesco or the Cenacolo Vinciano, from parks such as Parco Sempione to shows at the Teatro Alla Scala: in short, impossible to get bored!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Milan

• Low cost flights: from €22.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €61.00 per night - look at the offers

2 - Verona, Veneto

If you want to anticipate Valentine's Day celebrations by a month, why not treat your partner to a weekend in romantic Verona?
The city in the Veneto region, which even captured the heart of William Shakespeare, is a hub of artistic and spectacular events in northern Italy, thanks to the presence of theArena di Verona, a venue for concerts and festivals of wide international scope every year.

Moreover, if you leave the first week of January, until the 6th at Gardaland there is the Magic Winter, with snow, ice skating, Santa's village, and even access to the aquarium!

And while you're at it... take a trip to Lake Garda! Not sure what to do in winter on the lake? There are plenty of activities! From Christmas markets and ice rinks to the relaxing thermal baths of Sirmione and Lazise. Already imagining yourself on a thermal bath overlooking the lake, eh?
SEE ALSO: What to see in Verona

• Low cost flights: from €27.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and B&Bs from €56.00 per night - look at the offers

3 - Dolomites, Trentino-Alto Adige

There is no winter holiday that doesn't include a stay, however brief, in one of Italy's most famous mountain resorts: the Dolomites. Our own Eastern Alps, also known as the'pale mountains', are one of the most popular high-mountain locations for tourists from Italy and beyond, who never miss a chance to get to know 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) to the snow fun parks! Nevelandia in Sappada (landing 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 snowboarding and adrenalin freestyle lovers!

If you are looking for relaxation rather than adrenaline, you are in the spa region! Pejo, Comano, Levico Terme, the spa complexes are somewhat of a feather in the cap of Trentino's accommodation offer.

• Low cost flights: flights to Verona or Venice from €27.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and B&Bs from €90.00 per night - look at the offers

4 - Venice, Veneto

For a dream holiday, let yourself be lulled by the movement of a romantic Venetian gondola!
The capital of the Veneto region is an ideal destination for lovers of all-round holidays, where you can combine a day of culture with more 'playful' activities, such as shopping or a stroll through the lively city centre. Venice is the ideal city for lovers of art, crafts and good food.

Also, if you go in the first week of the month, Venice celebrates Epiphany with the Regata delle Befane: 50 men dressed as witches compete in a rowing race on the Grand Canal, with the finish line marked by a giant sock hanging from the Rialto Bridge!

In January, the weather is certainly not clement, rather bring rubber boots 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 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and B&Bs from €69.00 per night - look at the offers

5 - Courmayeur and Aosta Valley

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 in a sweet characteristic atmosphere, made up of wooden chalets and flowered balconies, artisan shops and authentic traditional flavours.
Skiing is great here: the Chécrouit-Val Veny ski area boasts over 100 km of slopes, and the long trails that climb from the village centre are an unparalleled spectacle.
Here, you can ascend to a height of 3,500 metres thanks to the Mont Blanc Skyway: it is a cable car with a 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 thelittle ones, at the foot of Mont Chetif, there is the Dolonne Fun Park, 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 bobsleigh track for descents in the snow, as well as a play area with inflatables, trampolines and merry-go-rounds.

For walkers and mountain lovers, Val Veny is an Alpine valley west of Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is a very peaceful place for walking and hiking. There are also ample parking spaces and benches where you can sit and rest while admiring the highest peaks of the Alps.

• Cheap flights: Flights to Turin (190 km) from €60.00 - see offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b's from €93.00 per night - look at 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 routes and panoramas of Bassa Valtellina, between Sondrio and the Orobian Alps, this area really does have everything for a perfect winter holiday.

In Livigno, a stone's throw from the lake of the same name, there is the Mottolino Fun Park, Europe's largest bike park with trekking, mountain bike and free ride trails, as well as family-friendly areas, adventure parks and gourmet stops.
In the Stelvio National Park, above Bormio, you will discover enchanting landscapes, one of the most beautiful alpine settings in the world. Of course, there is no shortage of ski slopes, and in the evening, you will find relaxation in the renowned Bormio thermal baths, Bagni Vecchi and Bagni Nuovi di Premadio.

• Cheap flights: flights to Bergamo (144 km) from €29.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €80.00 per night - look at the offers

Central Italy

1 - Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna once again proves to be a 'young' region, thanks to its cities rich in culture and charm, which wink at the fun so much craved for by young people during their weekday breaks. Ravenna is no exception, guaranteeing an"all-inclusive" holiday for all those people eager to combine the useful with the pleasant, alternating 'educational' moments with more 'profane' distractions, such as shopping or the obligatory stop at a restaurant!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Ravenna

• Low cost flights: Flights to Bologna (80 km) from €33.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €51.00 per night - look at 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 of charming Pisa.
A guided tour of the Leaning Tower and the city's most important squares is obviously a must. Let yourself be tempted by lunch and dinner in the numerous restaurants offering exquisite local cuisine before strolling through the alleys of beautiful Pisa: it will be a stay you will hardly forget.

Lucca, a young destination mainly linked 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 body and soul. A city recommended especially for young people and lovers of art and good food.

Finally, if you are travelling for Epiphany, stop by Pistoia on 6 January: here you can watch the descent of the little old lady from the bell tower of Piazza Duomo, flying over the square on a zipline and laden with sweets and candy to distribute to young and old alike!

• Low cost flights: from €22.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €52.00 per night - look at the offers

3 - Perugia, Umbria

In the streets of Perugia you can breathe a special and... delicious! The Umbrian city, land of chocolate and good music, is a place designed for young people, but can also offer pleasant surprises to families.
Easily accessible, Perugia is a town that never sleeps and where you can eat(and drink!) really well!
SEE ALSO: What to see in Perugia

• Cheap flights: flights to Perugia or Florence (126 km) from €66.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and B&Bs from €47.00 per night - look at the offers

4 - Urbino and Urbania, Marche

The town, along whose streets you can admire religious and civic monuments of considerable importance for the history of our country, may turn out to be an atypical yet pleasant surprise. There is no shortage of entertainment for the die-hard shopper and nightlife enthusiast, proving that the saying'appearances can be deceptive' could not be truer.

If you are travelling in the first week of January, for Epiphany move to Urbania, just 15 km away. On the 4th, 5th and 6th there is an incredible festival, with a rich programme of events. Suffice it to say that Urbania is home to the Befana, where she resides all year round, complete with post office box. The festival culminates with the acrobatic descent of the 'little old lady' from the bell tower of the town hall! Plus soap bubble shows, the world's longest stocking, acrobats, jugglers... in short, an event not to be missed!

• Cheap flights: flights to Florence Bologna (176 km) from €33.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €52.00 per night - look at the offers

5 - Florence, Siena and Tuscan Spas

Florence and Siena are twoevergreen destinations, two of Italy's most beautiful cities that can be visited at any time of year.
Enjoy a Florence that is 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 centre. In case of bad weather, there will be no shortage of museums to visit, from the Uffizi Gallery to Michelangelo's David in the Accademia Gallery. And for Epiphany, Piazza della Signoria will be filled with Three Kings, flag wavers and, of course, witches!

Siena reveals a mediaeval face throughout, culminating in the Piazza del Palio: visiting it, between ascents and descents, will be a pleasure, as will eating and drinking excellent Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino.

And if you love landscapes, drive through the villages of the Chianti region, between Siena and Florence, and then go down to the Val d'Orcia and thespas of Chianciano Terme, Saturnia, Montepulciano and Bagni San Filippo.

• Cheap flights: flights to Florence from €38.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €50.00 per night - look at the offers

Southern Italy

1 - Pompeii and Sorrento Peninsula, Campania

For a January with a perfect blend of culture and worldliness, the ideal is to organise a stay between the Sorrento Peninsula and the remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
On the one hand, then, the excavations of the city that have made our nation so famous, although often 'victims' of neglect, retain 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 side we have Sorrento and that tongue of land that juts out towards Capri: extraordinary landscapes, unique places such as the Vallone dei Mulini, and of course picture-postcard surroundings with the various villages of Amalfi , Ravello, Positano and the entire Amalfi Coast.

• Cheap flights: flights to Naples (42 km) from €22.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €66.00 per night - look at the offers

2 - Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, Puglia

Lovers of quaint villages cannot fail to appreciate the 'gems' Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, charming towns in the provinces of Bari and Brindisi.
The most famous, Alberobello, is characterised by the architectural style of its dwellings: the trulli are in fact the workhorse of Alberobello, which every year registers a surge of tourists ready to immortalise the characteristic white houses with conical roofs.
Not to be outdone are the villages of Locorotondo and Cisternino: the former, the most beautiful terrace of the Murgia dei Trulli, with a very intimate and orderly historic centre and surroundings rich in vineyards, farms and olive groves; Cisternino is a succession of flowered balconies, courtyards, arches, a true jewel in which to lose oneself as in a dream.

If you are travelling in the middle of the month, from 16 to 18 make a detour to Focara di Novoli, 15 km from Lecce, where the most important winter event in Salento is held. Here, vine shoots are burned in a gigantic bonfire. It starts with a procession on the 16th and the bonfire in the evening, and ends with the Sagra del Porco (Pig Festival) on the 18th, for a three-day event packed with events!
SEE ALSO: Most beautiful towns and villages in Puglia

• Cheap flights: flights to Bari (55 km from Alberobello) from €29.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €52.00 per night - look at the offers

3 - Cosenza, Calabria

Photos by Lupo silano 1914. It is a lively city in constant ferment, like all university seats.
Cosenza is a destination for young people in particular, with a historic centre full of charm and history, which is well complemented by a lively and accessible city centre, an area dedicated to leisure and shopping.

• Cheap flights: flights to Lamezia Terme (72 km) from €22.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €39.00 per night - look at the offers

4 - Catania and Etna Volcano, Sicily

In winter the summit of Etna volcano doesn't stop smoking, but the blanket of white snow covering it makes the landscape truly extraordinary. Whether for a simple hike or skiing at the Linguaglossa ski resort, visiting Etna is an unforgettable, magical, almost religious experience. At this time, given the uncertain weather conditions, we recommend excursions with professional guides, to avoid any complications.

Thecity of Catania is also very lively in winter, with its markets, shopping streets and surrounding villages always so characteristic and buzzing, amidst festivals and village festivals with a Sicilian spirit.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Catania

• Low cost flights: from €33.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €48.00 per night - look at the offers

5 - Matera and the Murgia Materana, Basilicata

The city of the Sassi, carved into the tuff, such a unique place, is definitely a destination for everyone, even in winter.
This nativity scene perfectly blended into its natural surroundings is a spectacle for the eyes, a delight to visit on foot. But Matera is not only stones: the Cathedral, the Rupestrian Churches and the natural areas of the Murgia Materana that preserve the remains of Neolithic settlements.

• Cheap flights: flights to Bari (67 km) from €29.00 - look at the offers

• Where to stay: hotels and b&b from €39.00 per night - look at the offers