Europe · Sightseeing

Top Free Things to see and do in Milano 

Milan – the fashion capital – and not exactly the cheapest place to visit, all about glamour and luxe lifestyle. Armani, Gucci, Louis Vitton on every corner. But What else is there to do in Milan besides shopping?  Exploring a ‘champagne’ city on beer money…

Here is a guid of the top free things to do in Milan.

Admire the Duomo 

The Milan Catherdral, or Duomo, is one of the worlds largest cathedrals. Explore the piazza, taking in the buzz from the hustle and bustle created by locals and tourists alike. Take time to sit back and gaze at the Duomo’s stunning, gothic architecture. 

 

Beautiful, even on a stormy day
 
Window Shop at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II 

This magnificent, cross shaped, glass vaulted arcade is a popular meeting place in the city. Home to not only the grandest designer boutiques, but the home of some of the oldest shops and cafes. Although the shops may be way out of budget, it’s free to wander through the arcade and admire the floor mosaics and stunning architecture. 

   
 

Chill out at Parco Sempione 

Grab a panino and an espresso and head for Parco Sempione, the city’s largest park. Adjacent to the gardens of Sforza Castle. Take a stroll along the winding walkways. Lye on the grass and watch the world go by. This site frequently hosts free concerts and events also, so keep an eye out.  

   
Arco Della Pace

Opposite the park you’ll find the Arco Dellla Pace, ‘The Arch of Peace’. A beautiful stand out piece of architecture that is worth a visit. 

  
Visit the Santa Maria Del Grazie

Even though I work opposite this beautiful church and see it every day, it still hasn’t lost it’s wow factor. One of Milan’s visited and treasured attractions and the current home of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’.

  
Piazza Nuova 

Not far from Garibaldi Station, and where I’m lucky enough to live, you’ll find Porta Nuova. The glass and steel district of Milam, built as a focal point for Expo. Sit at the beautiful fountain and crane your neck to look at the spire of the tallest building in the city. An area, even more beautiful at night time, when the fountain lights up with the colour of the rainbow. A great spot to sit and watch the world go by.  

   
Castello Sforzeco 

Wander through the grounds of the 15th century castle complex, a walk back in time and a great escape from the modern city life. Sit at the flowing fountain and toss a coin in for good luck.  

 Navigli

Wander the canals, or sit in the sun and grab a gelato. A great atmosphere and a great people watching spot. If you go on a Saturday or Sunay there are cute market stalls. My favourite time to go is at sunset to see the pink skies illuminate the canals.  

Have you ever visited Milan? Where did you enjoy visiting? If not, where would you like to visit if you ever make it to this Metropolitan City?

  
 

45 thoughts on “Top Free Things to see and do in Milano 

  1. Sforza Castle is on my list for quite some time now! Seems like there are not many free things to do for a broke student, so thanks for sharing this and making my life easier!

    Like

  2. I haven’t been to Milan since I was a child (aged 13) when I didn’t have control of my itinerary. I need to come back and check out some of your great suggestions. I love a good castle, so would definitely check out Castello Sforzeco.

    Like

  3. I’ve only been in Milan once and under less than ideal circumstances — my friend had her passport stolen on the way to Venice, and we had to get to the embassy in Milan to get it replaced. I’ve always regretted not being able to see this beautiful city. It is definitely on my list of places to see. Thank you for the tips!

    Like

  4. I visited Milan and although it was the only city where someone ALMOST pickpocketed me, I still enjoyed it. I found this little panini place where this elderly Italian woman asked me tons of questions about my trip and told me all about herself. So great and will be coming back to Milan sometime in the next year as a good friend of mine is living there!

    Like

  5. I was lucky to get free tickets for some fashion shows in Milan a couple of years ago. The city was burstling with fashionistas and models, which made it very entertaining. The highlight of my trip was the pizza I had next to our little hotel, outside of the centre. Damn that was the best calzone of my life haha. I can still taste the fresh mozarella.

    Like

  6. I’ve only seen a tiny part of Italy and I’d love to explore more! Milano is on my list. Thanks for these tips, especially the park!

    Like

  7. I haven’t been to Milan but it’s on my list! I’ve been wanting to visit the Amalfi Coast and stopping by Milan on the way. Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to adding this to my itinerary 🙂

    Like

  8. Hi Frankie,

    This is Saul at GPSmyCity. We are interested in sponsoring a giveaway on your blog for mutual benefits. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please reply to my email at your earliest convenience. I suggest using the email in the signature. Thank you.

    Kind regards,
    Saul Tarasoff,
    sault [at] gpsmycity [dot] com

    Like

  9. I am studying in Milan this semester! I will be there next month until May. I’m from the US and would love it if you could give me any advice for living there and adjusting to Italy! I would love to even possibly grab a cappuccino once I am there if you would like! I will leave my email below if you are interested 🙂
    msheehy45@gmail.com

    Like

Leave a comment