Cremona
Cremona is where Antonio Stradivari made violins. Visit the Torrazzo bell tower and the cathedral on Piazza del Comune, watch the violin workshops at work, and buy torrone nougat to take home.
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Cremona is a city in Lombardy in northern Italy, on the Po plain southeast of Milan. People come for violin making. Antonio Stradivari worked here in the 17th and 18th centuries, and workshops called liutai still build and repair stringed instruments. Those workshops are the main reason to visit.
The historic center is compact and easy to walk, and the Torrazzo, the tall bell tower beside the cathedral, is the first landmark you see. Torrone, a nougat made with honey, egg white and almonds, is the sweet to buy. Cremona is an easy day trip from Milan by train, which takes about an hour each way, and an overnight stay gives more time for the museums and workshops. Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for walking. Plan one full day, or two if you want music and workshops.
Cremona in five
- Take the train from MilanDirect regional trains run from Milano Centrale in roughly 1 to 1.5 hours. A regional ticket is all you need, and a rail pass adds nothing for a trip this short.Milan travel guide
- Book time for the Violin MuseumThe museum displays instruments by the great makers and has a listening room. Check its official site for days, hours and any audio guide or concert slots before you travel.
- Climb the Torrazzo with fit kneesThe bell tower has around 500 steps and long views over the plain. Check its opening days, and go on a clear morning when the Po valley haze is thin.
- Visit a luthier's workshopCremona still has working violin makers, and some welcome visitors at set hours or by appointment. Ask the tourist office, and do not expect to walk in during a lunch break.
- Taste torrone and mostardaCremona nougat and its fruit mustard are local specialties. Buy torrone from the pasticceria counters, and look for the nougat festival if you are here in November.
Things to do in Cremona
See all attractions in Cremona
Need to know
- Airport
- Milan Linate (LIN) or Bergamo (BGY); Verona (VRN) also works
- Getting there
- Train from Milan, Mantua or Brescia; car via the A21
- Getting around
- Compact center, on foot
- Best base
- The old town, close to the square and station
- Time needed
- Half a day to 1 night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Cold, foggyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, foggyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, foggy
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low5°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Spring, quietAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneClear10 rainy daysHigh29°Low18°WarmJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyClear10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low20°Hot, humidJulyClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, humid
- AugustClear9 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low20°Hot, humidAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, humid
- SeptemberClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Mild, harvestSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Autumn, foggyOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, foggy
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Torrone festivalNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Torrone festival
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, markets
Average daily high and low in Cremona, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cremona
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 1 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Cremona
10:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°4°0%Monday: Fog. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue15°5°5%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed14°8°8%Wednesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu14°7°5%Thursday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Fri11°6°46%Friday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Sat11°8°41%Saturday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sun13°8°27%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 27%.
Updated 06:34 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jun–SepArena di Verona FestivalVerona, a day trip
- SepFestivaletteraturaMantua, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Mantuaabout 1 hour by car or train with a changeA Renaissance city ringed by lakes, with the Gonzaga palace.Read the guide
- Parmaabout 1 hour by carCheese, ham and a cathedral and baptistery in an easy-going city.Read the guide
- Milanabout 1–1.5 hours by trainThe usual starting point and a worthwhile city for a longer stay.Read the guide
Before you go to Cremona
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Cremona, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering the cathedral in Cremona.
- Old violins and other antique instruments may need an export licence to leave the EU. Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy.Source
Plan around Cremona
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideMilanBig city one to 1.5 hours by train
Read the guideMantuaGonzaga palaces and lake views to the east
Read the guideParmaHam, cheese and a calm cathedral city
Read the guideEmilia-RomagnaThe food region across the river Po
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakA rail route that avoids the crowds
Read the guideCremona FAQ
Is Cremona worth visiting?
Yes, if you like music, quiet old towns and food. It has fewer crowds than Verona or Mantua. It is a short stop rather than a place for a week.
Can you visit Cremona as a day trip from Milan?
Yes. Direct trains take roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, and the station is close to the old center. Leave in the morning, see the museum and the square, and eat an early dinner before the return.
What is Cremona famous for?
Violin making, tied to Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri, plus torrone nougat and mostarda. The Violin Museum and the working workshops are the main reasons to visit.
How many days do you need in Cremona?
Half a day gives the square, the Torrazzo and a quick museum visit. A night lets you add a workshop and a slow dinner, which is the better way to see it.
When is the best time to visit Cremona?
Spring and autumn, when the plain is mild. Summers are hot and humid, winters foggy. November has the nougat festival, which brings crowds and sweet stalls.