Italy · Western Europe#16 most-visited city

Milan

Edited by the ErBiage editors

TL;DR

Plan a family trip to Milan. What to do with kids, best time to visit, where to stay, and family tips from ErBiage.

Milan gets unfairly written off as "just the fashion city" — with kids in the mix, it's a great two-day base with a killer day-trip radius. Do the Duomo (climb to the rooftop; kids get a kick out of walking among the spires), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for the world's prettiest shopping mall, and a plate of proper Milanese risotto. From Milan you can day-trip to Lake Como in 45 minutes, to Bergamo's medieval upper town in an hour, or to Verona (yes, Romeo's balcony is a real spot, teens love it). Base near the Duomo or Brera. Take the Metro; taxis and traffic aren't friends. Weekend evenings, the aperitivo culture is genuinely family-friendly here — order a spritz and get a plate of snacks that's basically dinner.

What to do in Milan

Duomo rooftop

Climb or take the lift — the marble roof is the whole photo album.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Iron-and-glass 1877 arcade — spin your heel on the bull mosaic for luck.

Lake Como day trip

Train to Varenna, ferry to Bellagio and Menaggio — the classic loop.

Leonardo's Last Supper

Book 6+ weeks in advance — 15-minute timed slots, no walk-ups.

Aperitivo hour

6–8pm at any Navigli-district bar — drink + buffet dinner.

Start planning your Milan trip.

Your first trip is free. Bring the whole family — grandparents to toddlers.

Start free

More cities in Italy

Rome Venice Florence

← All Italy guides

Travel news

Get Milan travel updates in your inbox

A short digest when something matters. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.