All the Best Things to Do in Milan During the 2026 Winter Olympics
Come for the Winter Olympics, stay for the buzz of new restaurants, fresh-faced hotels and neighbourhood hangouts.
Europe’s fashion capital is getting ready to co-host the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 (6 to 22 February), with the city presenting the Opening Ceremony at the San Siro Stadium, as well as figure-skating and ice-hockey events. Plenty of action will be around the Olympic Village on the city’s southern flank. Built on the former Scalo di Porta Romana site, a disused railway yard, it’s close to Fondazione Prada, known for its contemporary art exhibitions and the onsite Bar Luce, designed by American director Wes Anderson. Clubhouse 26 lounges will pop up in venues like Dazi Milano, offering an exclusive spot for pre- and post-event drinks with big screens for a 360-degree Olympics experience. Beyond the city, Lake Como (about 90 minutes north) or Florence (just under two hours south by train) make for delightful daytrips, especially in the shoulder season.
Stay
Rocco Forte House is a 19th-century palazzo transformed into 11 one- and two-bedroom apartments in the high-end shopping district of Quadrilatero della Moda, an easy stroll from the Duomo di Milano and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Olga Polizzi, the hotel group’s director of design, oversaw the renovation of its marble floors, stone balconies, frescoed ceilings and large, airy rooms. You’ll find Rocco Forte’s second and newest Milan property, the 71-key The Carlton, just down the road on Via della Spiga. Due to open this month, the stay has an onsite restaurant helmed by chef Fulvio Pierangelini and the Irene Forte Spa, where botanicals grown at the group’s Sicilian organic farm enrich its treatments. While in the area, drop into Gran Caffè Visconteo (above), for a quick cappuccino and the view of the Duomo.
Retro-lovers can bed down at the Modernist 16-room Casa Brivio in the buzzing neighbourhood of Carrobbio, while J.K. Place Milano, a 40-room property in the former Versace HQ on Via Borgospesso, is set to open next September.
Visit
Gain an insight into Milan’s manufacturing history, mid-20th-century industrial architecture and global art trends all at once at Pirelli HangarBicocca. This ex-Pirelli tyre factory retains its muscular character via its original raw concrete floors and vast warehouse spaces. It’s worth a trip to the city’s north to lie on the grass, enjoying an Aperol spritz, before viewing the exhibitions, including the acclaimed permanent installation, The Seven Heavenly Palaces by German artist Anselm Kiefer. To get there, take the bus from the city centre or the Metro to Ponale then walk.
In this bustling city, even the public transport comes with a side of art. The Dropcity project utilises a series of abandoned warehouse tunnels behind Milan Central Station to host large installations and shows. Design enthusiasts will love Trienniale Milano’s Cuore research centre, part of the ongoing restoration of the 1933 Palazzo dell’Arte in Parco Sempione. After your visit, walk north for about 10 minutes to reach the Arco della Pace, a grand archway dating back to the 19th century, then head to a cafe or bar for an espresso or prosecco on the tree-lined avenue, Corso Sempione. Hungry? For classic Italian fare, try La Rosa dei Venti, just off the Corso.
Eat and drink
For traditional dishes such as risotto alla Milanese (saffron risotto), cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal cutlet) and osso buco (braised veal shank), book a table at intimate eatery Antica Trattoria della Pesa in the Porta Garibaldi district. Then sample the fusion trend at the new French-leaning Sandì or Bentoteca, where chef Yoji Tokuyoshi of the Pan cafe and bakery combines the best of Italian and Japanese cuisines.
For a well-earned aperitivo, pop into the American Bar, a New York-style rooftop lounge at Ceresio 7, a complex in the Porta Garibaldi district that also includes a restaurant and two pools overlooking the city’s skyline. Another popular choice is the DaV by Da Vittorio Louis Vuitton restaurant and Da Vittorio Café Louis Vuitton, both unveiled in April at the fashion house’s recently renovated flagship store, Palazzo Taverna on Via Montenapoleone. The brand’s monogrammed hazelnut entremet is worth the visit alone.
Relax
It’s hard to beat Milan for the originality of its wellness locations. The sublime QC Spa Milano is located south-east of the city centre, near the 16th-century Porta Romana, in a converted Art Nouveau tram depot. In San Siro to the west is De Montel Terme Milano, the city’s first (and Europe’s largest) urban spa park. It’s spread across 16,000 square metres and has 10 indoor and outdoor thermal pools – with water sourced from a 400-metre-deep aquifer – as well as saunas, a steam bath and hammam.
Explore
Next to the Navigli district, separated by the Darsena waterway, is the bohemian Ticinese neighbourhood. Stroll Corso Genova and the adjacent streets to soak up this vibrant quartieri. Wander through the area’s vintage clothing stores in search of stylish souvenirs. At dusk, grab a bite at the Ticinese Municipal Market’s gourmet butcher shop Macelleria Popolare (Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio; +39 02 3946 8368), where the chefs grill your chosen cut in front of you. Book a table to try the menu of regional classics at Rovello 18 under chef Michele de Liguoro or enjoy artisanal drinks and gourmet snacks at Minerale wine bar.
