The outdoor swimming pools are open from the beginning of June till the end of August.
Wearing a swim cap (and obviously a swim suit) is obligatory but you can buy one for a relatively modest price at the entrance. If you haven’t brought a swim suit you can buy one at e.g. Calzedonia, Yamamay, H&M which you can find everywhere in the city., check out our shopping guide here.
Buy your tickets online before going, that way you are sure not to go and find the whole place full or maybe have to stand in direct sunlight in a queue for a long time inorder to get in
In the city
Bagni Misteriosi, 18, Via Carlo Botta (find on map), Bagni Misteriosi is now also open for evening swims Friday-Sunday 7-10 pm. Romano,20, Via Ampére (find on map) Argelati, 6 Via Segantinin (find on map) Solari, 20, Via Montevideo – located inside the small Solari Park (find on map)
You get a tbreathtaking view of all of Milan from the Torre Branca (find on map) in Parco Sempione right next to Triennale Design Museum. Opening hours are 10.30 am-12.20 pm and 3-6.30 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10.30 am-2 pm, 2.30-7 pm and 8.30 pm-midnight on Saturdays and 10.30 am-2 pm and 2.30-7 pm on Sundays.
You could combine your vist with a visit to the Triennalemuseum and from here take a walk through Milan’s big park Parco Sempione to Castello Sforzesco, for the second beautiful view.
The battlements of Castello Sforzesco
Another hit is the tour of the castle’s battlement, the Panoramic Merlate, you get some astounding views of Milan from this place.
From here you have a short walk to Piazza Duomo and the third vantagepoint.
The Cathedral Rooftop
This is a truly spectacular point to enjoy the view of Milan from, on a clear day you can see the Alps from up here. Read more and book your ticket here.
Highline Galleria
The fourth palce to enjoy a wonderful view from is only a short walk from the Duomo; Highline Galleria which has opened the terrace above Galleria Vittorio Emanuele with a spectacular view over Piazza Duomo and extended access to the old Room of Clocks, get more informations and tickets here.
A classic sightseeing tour on your first day here can actually be a really good way to get a feeling of the city and of which things are in the same area. Here we have a list of the best tours Milan has to offer.
With thedouble-deckers you can buy tickets for either 24 or 48 holurs (repspectively €22 and €25) with departure from Piazza Castello (find on map)
In Milan you can also do your sightseeing from a tram, TraMilano, a charming and different way to vist the tourist attractions. The trip includes a professional guide, food and drinks and pick-up from your hotel.
If you have the MilanoCard you get a 15% discount on tickets.
Vintage Tour
Vintage Tour Milano offers private and semi private tours of Milan on a classic red Fiat 500.
Segway tours
See Milan from a segway – for details go here – in small groups with 8 participants, choose between the day trip of 3 hours. or the night trip of 2.5 hours. Both trips are €75 and there is a 30 minute orientation before the trip begins.
Tours on the canals (April-September)
You can go on a boat trip back and forth on the Milanese navigli and see the city from a different perspective – Milan is no Copenhagen, Venice or Amsterdam though.
Optinonally you can take the boat trip and aperitivo, you can book it here.
Sightseeing on bicycle with a guide
Bicycle store Rossignoli, located at 71, Corso Garibaldi (find on map) organize tours of the city on bicycle in Italian and English and to book and get information call +3902804960 some days in advance.
There are also other guided tours of Milan in bicycle in English. Here are the 3 most popular ones:
The view from the roof of Duomo is breathtaking especially on clear days, where you can see the Alps t’s a really good idea to reserve tickets in advance so you can skip the line. Book here.
If you’re in Milan for 72 hours or less, you should consider getting a MilanoCard. Read more here.
Ferragosto is a very important holiday in Italy, but most big stores and restaurants in the center are open, however you have to book a table at the restaurants.
Ferragosto is a religious holiday celebrating the Assumption of Mary. According to Italians it is also the hottest day of the year and is celebrated with lots of good food and wine. Below is a list of things taking place on and around August 15th.
Canal tours on the Navigli
On August 13th, 14th and 15th in the Navigli area of Milan (find on map) you can go on the canal boat trips but you must book your seat by August 12th 5 p.m. (read more here).
Outdoor swimming pools
All the city’s other outdoor swimming pools are open on August 15th, read more about them here.
The Bagni Misteriosi (the outdoor swimmingpool in 18, Via Carlo Botta (find on map) is also open for aperitivo on August 15th 7-10.30 pm.
Museums
You can visit almost all museums and all the city’s civic museums free of charge on August 15th. Find out where they are here.
Note that Triennale offers free admission thorugh the entire month of August.
Restaurants
Book a table at Milan’s restaurants well in advance of August 15th because everybody wants to eat out on that day. Check out our recommendations here.
If you’re with your children in Milan then buy 3 day’s access to the civic museums for just €12 an adult (under-18s don’t pay). You can get it online or, easier, at the ticket sale at the first museum you visit. There are lunch ideas mentioned after every museum.
If you are here between the months of June and September there are public swimmingpools in Milan. Read more here.
Check also our post on classic sightseeing here. Milan offers canal tours and double-deckers.
Rent a different bike for the kids at the park
In the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli (find on map) and Parco Sempione (find on map) you can rent the beautiful originale 3-wheel take bike Alternative Byki from 1959.
Museo nazionale scienza e tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
The Leonardo Da Vinci museum is a must for children from age 6 and up. There is enough entertainment to last you several hours on a rainy day.
The most diversely talented person ever to have lived is painter, inventor etc. Leonardo da Vinci, and Italy’s national technical museum, located in Milan, is also his official museum. It combines the chance to actually try out some of his inventions with the more traditional exhibitions.
Museo di Storia naturale – Dinosaurs and other monsters
Museo di Storia Naturale is yet a perfect place for children from age 6 if they like dinosaur skeletons and everything to do with wild beasts.
It’s located in a great park with a wooden jungle gym and a really cozy outdoor café, Bar Bianco where you can get coffee, ice cream, frozen yogurt, soft drinks and lunch. The park also houses a genuine old-fashioned merry-go-round, a little train and bumper cars for very young kids.
The children’s musum in Milan. where children can play, paint and create on their own terms. For children aged 2-11. –> 12, Via Enrico Besana (find on map).
In the Rotonda della Besana where the children’s museum is located is a very nice restaurant with kids’ menu, it is called Rotonda bistro (find on map)
Milan Cathedral (Duomo)
The city cathedral is very impressive on the outside and rather gloomy on the inside. You should spend your time visiting the roof which has an extraordinary view of the whole city and when the weather is clear you can see the Alps in the background. Either take the elevator up or get a fun experience walking all the way up the crooked old stone staircase
You can go get lunch at Luini (find on map) a very good cheap lunch place.
The city’s impressive medieval castle Castello Sforzesco where you can choose to just walk right through the beautiful courtyards to the Sempione park, which contains playgrounds and ample lawns where you can have your sandwiches, you can eat at Bar Bianco (find on map) or try the incredibly vast choice of sandwiches at the kiosk on Piazza Castello left of the fountain when coming from Piazza Cairoli.
But you could also visit the inside of the castle, where there are several art museums, displaying historical weapons, paintings, musical instruments and furniture. Especially the weapons tend to appeal to kids.
Another hit with children and adults alike is the tour of the castle’s battlement, the Panoramic Merlate, you get some astounding views of Milan from this place.
On the other side of the park the entrance to the design museum Triennale di Milano is located.
Take a trip on the tram
It’s really kind of awesome and cheap entertainment and children under 14 don’ pay. Milan has old, very elegant trams that were built between 1928 and 1932.
Events in red have yet to be confirmed, we are on it!
November 28th-December 1st
Fiera del Re Panettone / The King Panettone Fair
November 28th 4-8 pm, November 29th 10 am-8 pm and November 30th10 am-7 pm Milan’s traditional Christmas Cake is celebrated during this weekend at the Parco Esposizione Novegro (find on map) it is located an 11-minute walk from Linate airport metro stop (blue line).
Le Pulci Pettinate – The Combed Fleas
November 30th 10 am-8 pm Christmas Market at Salumeria del Design at 18, Via Stazio (find on map).
December 2nd-7th
Artigiano in Fiera – The Fair for Artisans
December 6th-14th from 10 am-10 pm we have the huge Fair for artisans – also get your free mandatory pass at this link – from all over Italy and the world, it is held at the Fair in Rho (find on map). You can get beautiful handmade Christmas gifts and taste culinary specialties from Italy and the rest of the world. In order to get a free ticket you must register on their website here, where you need to click on “Ottieni il tuo pass gratuiro” and enter your email address and choose a password, you then receice your pas which gives you access anytime during the fair.
Milan’s Christmas tree
December 7th-January 8th the traditional Milanese Christmas tree can be admired in Piazza Duomo (find on map) The lighting ceremony is on December 6th 5 pm. This year’s tree will be blue in honour of the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Fiera degli Obej Obej
December 7th-10th 8.30 am-9 pm in Piazza del Cannone (find on map) – behind Castello Sforzesco – there is the traditional market Fiera degli Obej Obej which dates all he way back to 1288 and is always held on the days around December 7th where the Milanese celebrate their patron saint Sant’Ambrogio – the day before the national holiday for the Immaculate Conception. The atmosphere is wonderful and there are lots of local specialties to taste like vin brulè (mulled wine) and chestnuts.The name Obej Obej originates according to tradition from the exclamations of the Milanese children “Obej, Obej” (dialect for oh belli,oh belli which means “How pretty!”) when they saw the gifts Pope Pio IV’s emissary brought to the city of Milan in 1510.
December 7th-8th 11.30 am-8.30 pm at Bagni Misteriosi at 18A, Via Carlo Botta (find on map). Entrance fee €5.
Portanuova Pop Xmas
December 7th-January 7th Portanuoava Pop Xmas in Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map) with stands, a 15 metre tall Christmas tree and Warner Music Italy stands for the soundtrack. There is also an ice skating rink – it opens on November 29tth.
December 8th-14th
Artigiano in Fiera – The Fair for Artisans
December 5th-13th from 10 am-10 pm we have the huge Fair for artisans – also get your free mandatory pass at this link – from all over Italy and the world, it is held at the Fair in Rho (find on map). You can get beautiful handmade Christmas gifts and taste culinary specialties from Italy and the rest of the world. In order to get a free ticket you must register on their website here, where you need to click on “Ottieni il tuo pass gratuiro” and enter your email address and choose a password, you then receice your pas which gives you access anytime during the fair.
December 11th-12th 12-7 pm Christmas market with live gospel music in collaboration with Blue Note Milano and holiday workshops for adults and children at BiM, 10, Viale Piero and Alberto Pirelli (find on map)
Saturday in Lambrate
December 13th 10 am-7 pm Christmas market at REDROOM, 9, Via Conte Rosso (find on map)
Green Christmas
December 13th 10 am-8 pm and December 14th 10 am-7 pm Green Christmas eco Christmas market with jewellery,clothes amd things for your home at Fonderia Napoleonica di Milano at 21, Via Thaon de Revl (find on map).
December 14th 9 am-8 pm Christmas party at Cascina Cuccagna, 2-4, Via Privata Cuccagna (find on map) Christmas market and different workshops, there will be food and wine.
December 20th-21st, artisinal Christmas market at BASE Milano (find on map).
Antiques Market at the Naviglio Grande
December 21st 8 am-6 pm, this market normally takes place on the last Sunday of every month but they have moved their Christmas edition up to before Christmas.
November 30th-January 6th Christmas market on Piazza Duomo (find on map) with crafts and gastronomic specialties from all over Italy. The market is open every day from 11 am.-8 pm.
Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie
November 15th-January 6th 10 am-9 pm “Il villaggio delle meraviglie” in the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli (find on map) for the youngest, there are rides, meetings with Santa (starting December 6th) and an Ice skating rink, where you can rent skates. Another popular feature is Christmas street food. There is an admissions fee, buy your tickets and book times for the skating rink here.
Christmas paintings
Free visit to Milan’s municipal Palace and paintings
December 3rd-January 11th 9.30 am-8 pm (last admission is at 7.30 pm) there is a free exhibit of The Crivelli Brothers’ painting “Monte San Martino Polyptych” at Palazzo Marino on Piazza della Scala (find on map)
Museo Diocesano’s Christmas Painting
October 28th 2025-February 1st 2026 you can see Lorenzo Lotto’s Nativity -from the 16th century, this is a Christmas event at Museo Diocesano (find on map)
Christmas Concerts
December 19th 8 pm Christmas Carol Show at the Auditorium La Verdi on Largo Gustavo Mahler (find on map), buy your ticket here.
December 12th 7.30 pm. free Christmas concert in Milan’s cathedral Duomo di Milano (find on map) admission to the concert is free but booking is oblgatory and you can do that here, from December 3rd at 5 pm – you need to be fast to get a seat.
January 6th 11.15 am this Procession of the Three Wise Men in costume from Piazza Duomo (find on map) to the church La Basilica di Sant*Eustorgio (find on map) is one of Milan’s oldest traditions.
Events witten in red have not yet been confirmed /or it’s not the season, either way we are on it!
Bagni Misteriosi
The season in Bagni Misteriosi, 18/A, Via Carlo Botta (find on map) starts on December 7th with a Christmas market and the beautiful floating ice skating rink. Between December 7th and 22nd opening hours are 10.30 am-8.30 pm only on the weekends + December 8th, which is a holiday, After Christmas the rink is open every day with the same opening hours as above.
Porta Venezia
Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie
Until January 6th at the Christmas village Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie inside the park Giardini pubblici Indro Montnelli (find on map) there is an ice skating rink open every day 10 am-9 pm, the price for skating includes rent of skates.
Piazza Città di Lombardia
02Ice
November 23rd-January 18th Milan’s largest indoor skating rink in Piazza Città di Lombardia (find on map). Opening hours can be found (in Italian) here.
Portanuova Pop Xmas – Let it Glow
November 29th-January 11th The Ice skating rink in Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map) is back!
