Itineraries for Your Trip to Milan
3 Days in Milan for Families
Milan, a city of finance and fast-paced fashion, isn’t necessarily a destination that screams “family trip.” But it has a lot going for it when it comes to traveling with kids: it boasts a compact and walkable center, it’s close enough to lakes and mountains that it’s easy to escape to nature, and there’s plenty of gelato.
Living just two hours by train from the city, I’ve made enough trips to Milan with the kids in tow to offer up some tips.
Milan is rarely too hot but rarely too cold; light layers are best for the kids.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a cycle around Parco Sempione, renting bikes easily via Milan’s bikeMi app.
Start your trip at the Duomo di Milano, or Milan Cathedral. The grand cathedral is the crowning glory of Piazza del Duomo, a huge square where my kids like to chase the pigeons around. Its spiky Gothic architecture holds surprises, too, with its facade hiding gargoyles galore. Beat the crowds by purchasing skip-the-line tickets online or taking a tour. If you have younger kids like me, skip the cathedral and go straight to the roof—take the elevator if climbing the 250-odd steps to the top is too much for little legs.
If you’re with older kids, consider spending the afternoon on a bike tour that hits a few of the city’s main attractions. End the evening wandering around the Navigli canals and grabbing dinner at a riverside restaurant.
Cater to any soccer obsessions in the family with a trip to the San Siro Stadium, the shared home of Milan’s top two division teams: AC Milan and FC Internazionale, aka Inter. The stadium is a little out of town, but the tram is fun and stress-free. Time your trip right and you can even get tickets to a game—as long as you’re prepared for some noise and rowdy behavior. Older kids will love the spectacle of a match, and it’s a great way to experience a different side of Italian culture.
End the day with pizza and gelato—or try your hand at making some of your own.
Dedicate your last day to Milan’s museums, starting with the excellent Triennale Design Museum. Kids and adults will enjoy the quirky and colorful art and objects, and there’s a sweeping garden with a café. After running around the lawns of the Parco Sempione, just behind the museum, stroll south to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology or take the tram east to the Muba Children's Museum.
Alternatively, if you’re heading to the airport, don’t miss the Volandia Park and Flight Museum—a firm favorite for my family. There are hangars of planes and helicopters, a classic car collection, a planetarium, flight simulators, and soft play areas.
