Choose from 46 Fun Things to Do in Milan
ShowingFilter 41-46 of 46 listings.
Sempione Park (Parco Sempione)
Chic Milan is known for its contemporary elegance and relentless pace, so it may come as a surprise to learn that one of Italy’s loveliest city parks sits at its heart. Sempione Park (Parco Sempione) covers 116 acres (47 hectares) of central Milan, offering a welcome respite from the surrounding urban hustle and bustle.
The Basics
Located just behind Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) and adjacent to the fashionable Brera neighborhood, this public park was laid out in the late 1800s. The grounds include gravel paths, the triumphal Arch of Peace (Arco della Pace), a lake, and even the small Arena Civica used for concerts and sporting events. The park’s Torre Branca tower offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire city. Museums inside the park include the Triennale contemporary art and design museum in the Palazzo dell’Arte and the city’s small aquarium.
Sempione Park is one of the best places in Milan to take a relaxing stroll or bike ride, perhaps as part of a walking or bike tour of the city’s highlights. On sunny weekends, many city residents relax in the park—and there’s no reason you shouldn’t follow suit. It’s also an excellent stop on a Segway or rickshaw tour and is especially recommended as a stop on a kid-friendly private tour.
Things to Know Before You Go
- If visiting Milan with kids, Parco Sempione is a great place for them to run around.
- The park is the perfect spot to snap unique photos of the city, so be sure to bring your camera.
- The park is best explored on foot; choose comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
- There are a number of well-maintained gravel and paved paths accessible to wheelchairs or strollers.
How to Get There
Parco Sempione is in Milan’s city center, an easy walk from the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Cadorna and Cairoli Castello metro stops are both just outside the park. Milan is well connected by train to other Italian cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome.
When to Get There
Sempione Park opens at 6:30am daily and closes at 9pm in winter and as late as 11:30pm in summer. It’s relatively empty in the early morning and late evening hours, but during the day—especially in summer—the park serves as a cool oasis for locals and tourists alike.
Seeing the Nearby Last Supper
Santa Maria delle Grazie, the church and monastery that houses Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic The Last Supper mural, is just a 15-minute walk from Parco Sempione, so it’s easy to combine the two sights into a single tour.
Address: Italy
From $ 25
Sirmione
The town of Sirmione occupies the tip of a tiny peninsular that protrudes into the southern edge of Lake Garda in northern Italy. Its unique position makes it a popular tourist destination.
Sirmione is known to have been a popular resort town since the 1st century B.C.E., largely because of its thermal hot springs. Much of what you see in Sirmione today is newer, but there are Roman ruins in the historic center, too. The remains of a Roman villa are at the end of the peninsula, and are called the Grottoes of Catullus - the name of a Roman poet whose family lived in Sirmione in the 1st century B.C.E.
Another attraction is the Rocca Scaligera, a 13th-century castle. The picturesque and small historic center gets very crowded during the summer months, so if you can spend the night you may enjoy some peace and quiet.
Practical Info
Sirmione is roughly 80 miles from Milan, or about two hours on the faster train. You would need to take the train to nearby Desenzano del Garda, and then take a bus to Sirmione. It may seem easier (and faster) to drive, but because space is limited and the historic center is pedestrianized, parking can be very difficult.
Address: Sirmione, Italy
From $ 80
Serravalle Designer Outlet
Shopping in Milan isn't limited to the boutiques in the city center; there are outlet malls near Milan, too, including the Serravalle Designer Outlet. The town of Serravalle Scrivia is southwest of Milan, en route to Genoa, and the outlet center there has nearly 200 shops. You'll find designer brands like Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Prada, and more, all at discounted outlet prices of 30 to 70 percent off retail.
The outdoor shopping center at Serravalle is Italy's first and largest shopping mall, and the architecture is designed to reflect Italian style.
Practical Info
Serravalle Designer Outlet is open daily from 10am-8pm, and is just under 60 miles from Milan. There's a special shuttle bus service to/from Milan which costs €20-25 for adults and €10 for children ages 4-12. There are three departures from Milan (10, 11am, and 1:30pm) and two departures from the outlets (5 and 8pm).
Address: Via della Moda, 1, Serravalle, Italy
Hours: Daily 10am-8pm
From $ 23
Ticinese
Milan's Ticinese district is in the southern part of the historic center, known for its shops and restaurants. It houses one of Milan's old city gates, originally built in the 16th century, while today's gate dates from the 19th century and marks the southern end of the Corso di PortaTicinese. This street is lined with shops, and "“ along with nearby Via Torino "“ is known particularly for its shoe shops.
The Ticinese area is historically working class, as is the nearby Navigli district, but both are becoming more upscale as hip cafes and restaurants move in. There are historic attractions here, including Milan's best-preserved Roman ruins, as well as a weekly antiques market.
Practical Info
To reach the Ticinese district, take the tram that runs right down the Corso di Porta Ticinese. This area is a nightlife hotspot in Milan, and some shops stay open later to attract evening shoppers.
Address: Ticinese, Milan, Italy
From $ 25
Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale)
Some cemeteries are like small cities, such as the Monumental Cemetery in Milan. It's the second-largest cemetery in Milan, and its paths are adorned with a fantastic array of sculptural tombs.
Milan's Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale in Italian) was opened in 1866, originally built to consolidate the large number of smaller cemeteries around the city. Two new and very large cemeteries were created: one for the wealthy (Cimitero Monumentale) and one for everyone else (Cimitero Maggiore). Because it has been the final resting place for so many wealthy and famous people over the years, the tombs and mausoleums are often works of art.
Argentina's Eva Peron was secretly buried in this Milan cemetery until 1971 because of anti-Peron sentiments in her home country, and Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi was buried here for about a month before his body was moved. Today, the main draw for non-Italian visitors is the way the cemetery resembles an outdoor sculpture garden.
Practical Info
The cemetery's main entrance is through a building called the "Famedio," part memorial chapel and part mausoleum for famous graves. Cimitero Monumentale is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8am-6pm. Guided tours are free, but must be booked in advance. Admission is also free.
Address: Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale, Milano 20154, Italy
Hours: Tue-Sun 8am-6pm
From $ 25
Corso Buenos Aires
Milan is known as Italy's fashion capital, and there are several areas in the city known for shopping. One street with a particularly high concentration of clothing stores is Corso Buenos Aires.
The Corso Buenos Aires is a major thoroughfare in central Milan, running from Piazzale Loreto in northeast Milan toward the cathedral in the heart of the city. Closest to the Duomo, the street turns into Corso Venezia.
Unlike the cobblestone lanes of the Quadrilatero d'Oro shopping district, Corso Buenos Aires is a broad street that's busy with traffic - but it's also packed with shops. This street is said to have Europe's densest population of clothing stores. These are primarily ready-to-wear instead of the high-end fashion on display in the Quadrilatero d'Oro.
While mainly known as a shopping destination, Corso Buenos Aires also has several hotel options and is not far from the main train station in the city, Milano Centrale. Where the street becomes Corso Venezia is also one corner of the large park that includes the Museo Civico and a planetarium.
Practical Info
Because of its focus on shopping, Corso Buenos Aires is an ideal destination during the two official sales periods in Italy - one in winter, and one in summer.
Address: Corso Buenos Aires, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
From $ 25