The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan will be the first Games of this magnitude to be held in several Italian cities. For travelers, this means not only sporting events, but also a new format for traveling between different regions of the country. Find out more about how attending the Winter Olympics in Milan can completely change the way you travel

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be not just a sporting event, but a full-fledged journey through Italy. For the first time in history, the Games will be held in several cities and regions at once: from dynamic Milan to the alpine Cortina d'Ampezzo and historic Verona. This format opens up new opportunities for tourists: combining sports, culture, gastronomy and travel in one itinerary. The event will be of interest to travelers from all over the world: Poland, Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, etc. Therefore, you should plan your trip to Italy in 2026 in advance and carefully.

In the previous article, we provided a selection of 13 best beaches in Italy that are definitely worth visiting during the summer season of 2026.

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New format of the Winter Olympics: experience of several cities

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will be the first ever Games to be held in several cities and regions of one country. Instead of the traditional single-location model, the organizers have chosen a multi-city format that covers the north of Italy: from a large metropolis to mountain resorts and historic cities. For travelers, this means a completely different approach to the trip, where sporting events are combined with a full-fledged trip around the country.

This format allows visitors not to be limited to one city or arena. Traveling between locations becomes part of the itinerary, and the Olympics itself becomes an excuse to see different regions of Italy in one trip. Urban experiences, alpine landscapes, and historical atmosphere now exist in one travel experience, not as separate destinations.

The multi-location model also changes the logic of travel planning. Tourists can choose where to stay longer, which events to attend live and which to combine with sightseeing. That is why the 2026 Olympics is seen not only as a sporting event, but as a new travel format that other major international events may adopt in the future.

Milan - the center of events and the start of the Olympic journey

Milan will be the key point of the 2026 Winter Olympics and the first city that most guests of the Games will get to know. It is here that the Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place, as well as a significant part of the competitions in indoor sports arenas. Thanks to its international airports, high-speed rail connections and developed urban infrastructure, Milan is the most convenient city to start a trip to Italy during the Olympics.

The city offers a wide range of accommodation options: from budget hotels and apartments to premium world-class hotels. A well-developed public transportation system makes it easy to move between neighborhoods and quickly get to sports venues. That is why Milan is often seen as a base from which to plan visits to Olympic events in other cities.

In addition to sports, Milan attracts tourists with its cultural and gastronomic diversity. Visitors can see iconic landmarks, including the majestic Duomo Cathedral, stroll through the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, or visit world-class museums and theaters. Milan's cuisine and numerous restaurants allow you to combine your sporting experience with tasting traditional Italian dishes and wines.

Earlier we told you that UNESCO has officially recognized Italian cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Cortina d'Ampezzo - the Alpine heart of the Olympics

Cortina d'Ampezzo will be the main mountain location of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the complete opposite of dynamic Milan. Located in the Dolomites, this resort town will host competitions in skiing and other winter sports. For travelers, Cortina is an opportunity to change the rhythm of travel and immerse themselves in the Alpine atmosphere right during the Olympics.

Unlike the urban format of Milan, a stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo is built around nature, mountains and winter landscapes. Here, the Olympic Games are combined with a resort vacation, which makes the location especially attractive for those who want to not only attend the competition but also enjoy winter Italy.

For tourists, Cortina offers:

- Direct access to Olympic ski slopes and sports arenas;

- A wide range of accommodation: from traditional alpine chalets to modern hotels;

- A unique mountain atmosphere with panoramic views of the Dolomites;

- A calmer pace of travel after the busy city life of Milan.

The local cuisine, which combines Italian and Tyrolean traditions, plays a special role in the experience. After sporting events, visitors can taste hearty mountain dishes, enjoy warm restaurants with fireplaces and experience the true alpine lifestyle.

Cortina d'Ampezzo shows the other side of the 2026 Olympics - less loud, but no less impressive. It is here that the trip takes on a resort character and turns from watching the competition into a full-fledged winter vacation in the heart of the Italian Alps.

Verona - the symbolic end of the Olympics and a journey into history

Verona will be the final point of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and the symbolic end of the entire Olympic journey. It is here that the closing ceremony of the Games is planned, which will take place against the backdrop of the city's historic architecture. This choice of location emphasizes the idea of combining a modern sporting event with the centuries-old cultural heritage of Italy.

Verona has a very different atmosphere from Milan and Cortina. While the former city sets a dynamic pace, and the latter is resort and natural, Verona offers a slower, more romantic travel format. That's why it's perfect for the final leg of the route after busy days of competition and travel.

For tourists, Verona is interesting because it combines several dimensions of travel at once:

- Rich Roman history and well-preserved architecture;

- The world-famous atmosphere of the city of Romeo and Juliet;

- Compact historical center, convenient for walking;

- The opportunity to combine the Olympics with classic cultural tourism.

The Closing Ceremony in Verona's historic arena will be not just a sporting event, but a real cultural highlight of the entire Olympics. For many visitors, this city will leave the strongest emotional impression and become a bright spot in their trip to Italy.

How does the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics change the travel format?

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics show that traveling to a major sporting event is no longer limited to one city or stadium. The multi-location format of the Games turns the trip into a full-fledged itinerary, where sports becomes only one part of the overall experience. Tourists have the opportunity to combine attending the competition with discovering different regions of Italy: from a modern metropolis to mountain resorts and historic cities.

This approach also changes the travel planning itself. Instead of a short visit, travelers are more likely to consider longer routes, combine several cities and think through the logistics between them in advance. The Olympics are becoming a reason to see the country in more depth, not just to attend a specific event. This format can become a new standard for future international events, where travel experiences are no less important than the competition itself.

When planning a trip to Italy during the Winter Olympics, it is important to take care of comfortable travel between cities and regions in advance. If you plan to use a car, it is worth issuing a vignette for Italian toll roads before the trip - this will help you avoid fines and make traveling between Milan, Cortina, and Verona much more convenient.

Apply for an e-vignette before your trip and travel around Europe calmly and without risks!

We remind you! The Italian town of Radicondoli offers rental subsidies, grants for the purchase of housing, and support for new residents. Read more about the conditions for moving to Tuscany in 2026.

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