Are you wondering what to wear in Milan in November? Although November in Milan is technically Fall the weather is starting to have a Wintery Chill. In this guide we tell you everything to pack for Milan in October for men, women, to cope with the changing weather, to look like a local and more.
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Weather in Milan in November
Milan in November is classified as Fall. Or autumn as we would say in Europe. However Winter is coming as they saying goes.
As such the warmer weather is well and truly behind you and you can expect cool weather with changeable conditions throughout your trip to Milan. But how cold is Milan in November?
How cold is Milan in November?
From October to November the temperatures in Milan really start to drop. The average temperatures are now in the range of 11°C / 58F to 6°C/42F. So it is substantially cooler.
For this reason we recommend packing layers and transitioning into a winter weather wardrobe.
Note: if your visit covers two months be sure to check out our other Milan packing list guides:
Is it rainy in Milan in November?
While the temperatures from October to November change dramatically, the rain remains consistent with around 6 rainy days.
Though when the rain comes it can be in heavy bursts not just showers. For this reason I do like to have a compact travel umbrella and a pair of waterproof shoes with me for visiting Milan in November. .
Note: if you are traveling to other cities and regions in Italy be sure to check out our other monthly guides:
- What to wear in Lake Como
- What to wear to Tuscany in November
- What to wear in Florence in November
- What to wear in Rome in November
- What to wear in Venice in November
- What to wear in Italy in November
- What to wear to Pompeii
- What to wear in Naples
- What to wear to the Amalfi Coast
- What to wear in Puglia
- What to wear in Cinque Terre
- What to wear in Positano
How do local people dress in Milan in November?
If you want to be more in keeping with the locals you will need to know how locals Milanese dress.
Locals in Milan tend to have transitioned into their Winter capsule wardrobe in November. This means you will be seeing more layers, and coats.
Generally speaking the coats are more fashionable, smart and wool as opposed to sports coats and more casual parkas.
Also it is worth noting that smart casual tends to be the most commonly seen attire in Milan among the locals especially when dining out in Milan. For more information on what to wear to dinner in Italy check out this post
Therefore when visiting Milan if you want to dress casually be sure to so in a stylish way.
Dress Codes in Milan
The main dress codes considerations for November in Milan are dressing for churches and restaurants. This translates into your packing list in the following ways:
Restaurant Dress Code
Not many dress codes in Milan have strict and enforced dress codes. However you will find that locals do tend to dress in a smart casual fashion for dinner.
Church Dress Code
All Italian churches have dress codes including the Milan Cathedral. On days you play to visit churches be sure that your outfit keeps your knees and shoulders and is modest.
What to wear in Milan in November
So now you know what to expect from the weather, what should you wear in Milan in November?
Best Shoes for Milan in November

Sneakers
In my opinion, sneakers are the best shoe for any city break where you will be doing lots of walking. And you will be doing lots of this in Milan as it is a city best explored on foot.
Sneakers cope well with cobbles, bridges and the uneven surfaces that you find in Milan.
As November is quite rainy it can be a good idea to have a sneaker with some waterproofing. I like the Ecco brand for waterproof sneakers personally.
I know some people worry that sneakers won’t be smart or fashionable enough to wear in Italy, but especially in the fashion capital that is Milan, but please do not worry. Tourists and locals alike will be wearing sneakers in Milan.
Ankle Boots
As the weather is changeable in Milan in November we recommend having a leather boot with some waterproofing as well as a sneaker. Click here to shop ankle boots.
I personally don’t like to wear sneakers to dinner, and hate overpacking so I find two pairs of shoes is perfect for Milan in November.
The only other shoe I would even consider is a hiking boot but only if you are going into the mountainous areas around Milan. Otherwise I would just stick with two pairs.
What to wear in Milan in November for women

So what does a Milan Packing List for women in November look like? In our opinion you should have the below on your Milan Packing List:
Coats
Although it is unlikely that you will in my opinion you won’t need thick thermal coats in Milan in November however a warm winter coat is a definite must.
And no matter the month of travel you will find Italians are a stylish bunch so you will see locals wearing smarter Winter coats as opposed to walking jackets.
Click here to shop winter coats for Italy.
Longer length dresses and skirts
Short skirts and dresses are on my what not to wear in Milan list. That is because they are not appropriate in churches and not really in keeping with the local style.
And as the weather in November is starting to cool it is better to have skirts and dresses with longer skirts and longer sleeves.
For evenings I personally like a midi jumper / sweater dress that can be paired for boots and thick tights for restaurants.
Click here to shop dresses for Milan
Trousers
Trousers are my go to bottom layer for Milan in November even over skirts and dresses as they cope with Milan’s changeable weather best.
I tend to pack:
- jeans
- cords or
- wool trousers
for Milan in Winter. And I like to include darker colors in my Milan winter capsule wardrobe as this fits in with local styles.
Click here to shop trousers for Milan
Jumper / Sweater / Cardigan
If you are visiting Milan in November one of the keys to your packing list will be having lots of layers. I recommend having some jumpers or some cardigans that can be used to layer up on cool days or for when it get chilly at night.
For information on how to pack layers as part of a capsule wardrobe check out our sudoku packing method.
Blouses
Loose blouses are perfect for Milan in November as they work brilliantly for cooler nights as well as for sightseeing during the day.
They are also the perfect choice for visiting the Milan duomo and churches where modest attire is required.
T Shirts
T shirts are a great base layer for Milan in November. For this time of year I would pack a mix of both long and short sleeve t shirts, however you will need more longer sleeve tops generally at this time of year.
And regarding the style of t shirt, black is always in fashion in Milan, and you will also a lot of neutral colors in many Italian capsule wardrobes at this time of year. If you want to look like a local I would steer away from neon colors and anything with large graphics.
Click here to shop tees for Milan.
Pashmina
A pashmina should be on your Milan packing list no matter the month you are visiting.
Pashminas can act as a scarf or extra layer on cooler nights and can help make your outfit more modest for visits to churches in Italy. Click here to shop pashminas.
PJs or Nightie
A thicker pair are best.
Sunglasses
The sun is bright in Milan even in November so definitely bring a pair with good UVA protection.
Shop Sunglasses for Italy here.
Underwear and Socks
Goes without saying.
What to Wear in Milan in November Packing List for Men
The general pieces you need to pack for Milan in November for men has some similar themes to the women’s packing list. As such we recommend packing:
Chinos/Jeans
For men visiting Milan in November I recommend having a couple of Pairs of smarter jeans and chinos with you. If you have a smarter tailored pair of jeans or chinos this will be the perfect day to night transition item.
But if you are traveling towards the end of November then you may also want a heavier weight trouser such as a corduroy or wool.
Shop men’s travel chinos here.
Shirts
During the day t-shirts are fine but I recommend having at least one button down shirt with you for Milan in November at night. For November long sleeve button down shirts tend to be more versatile.
The Milan dress code at night tends to be more smart casual than casual so you will feel more comfortable when out in a shirt over a tshirt.
Polo
However if shirts aren’t your thing then be sure to pack a smart polo on top.
T Shirts
T Shirts are fine for sightseeing in Rome during the day and work as a base layer in your Italian capsule wardrobe. However I recommend making them the plain type instead of highly graphic or slogan t shirts.
For this time of year, be sure to have some long sleeve tees with you.
Coat
A coat is a good idea for Rome in November as a top layer as the weather turns chillier.
Underwear
What to Pack for Milan in November (Non Clothing)

So now you know what to wear for Milan in November including the best shoes to pack, we will turn our attention to what to pack for Milan in November other than clothes. For a full Milan packing List check out this post.
- Backpack – for storing items on your day trips.
- Crossbody Bag – anti theft type as with any city it can have issues with pickpockets around main tourist attractions.
- Travel Adaptor for electronics
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Sun Screen
- Lipbalm with SPF – Our favorite brand at the minute is sun bum.
- Toiletries – our essential travel toiletries list can be found here.
- Camera
- Charging Equipment
- Battery Pack
FAQs about Milan November Packing list
Do you need a coat in November in Milan?
November is probably the first month you will probably need a coat instead of a jacket. Waterproof jackets are useful, however locals tend to wear smarter coats in Winter.
Can you wear jeans in Milan in November?
As the weather has cooled, jeans have become the perfect trouser for Milan for Fall.
Should I pack swimwear for Milan in November?
It is unlikely, unless you have access to an indoor heated pool, that you will need swimwear for Milan in November.
Have you been to Milan in November? What did you wear? We would love to hear in the comments.