As with most of the ‘most popular’ cities in the world, Milan gets expensive. Quick. As such, you may be worried that it’s not an option for you if your budget is tight. But do not surrender to despair, as we can, instead, just enjoy what the city offers for free. And there’s plenty of that too. Today, we’ll look at what you can see and do in Milan on a budget.
Introduction
Milan on a budget
Though Milan is, generally, an expensive city, there’s a lot that you can see completely free of charge. All the less popular churches and temples are usually available to visit for free – examples being the Chiesa parrocchiale di San Francesco di Paola, the Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Segreta or the Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria delle Grazie al Naviglio.
Public transport is, also, thankfully, not very expensive and you can buy special tourist cards, like the MilanoCard, to save up more. We also recommend installing the ATM Milano app if you want to get around by metro, tram or bus.
Castello Sforzesco
Milan’s free attractions
One of Milan’s best and most popular attractions, the Sforza Castle is located in the centre of the city, near Piazza il Duomo. It’s a decently sized rectangular castle where you can leisurely explore the courtyard and take in the atmosphere. And entering the courtyard is absolutely free. What’s more, Castello Sforzesco is also on the route to Milan’s three other free attractions – Piazza Duomo, Arco della Pace and Parco Sempione.
Arco della Pace and Parco Sempione
Best sites in Milan
Here’s another great Milan attraction, also outdoors. It’s a park complex which includes the Arco della Pace (also known as Porta Sempione). It’s a symbolic gateway to Zone 1 of the city. In the past, the Roman walls of Milan ran along this point, and on this spot (more or less) stood the Jupiter Gate. In 1807, the architect Luigi Cagnola designed today’s version of the Arch of Peace. It was completed in 1838.
Right next to the Arco della pace is the charming Parco Sempione – it sits right next to the Castello Sforzesco. It’s a lovely park and a common meeting spot for locals. You’ll find the Ponte delle Sirenette here, providing shelter from the sun, as well as the Statua Equestre di Napoleone III, the Triennale di Milano (museum) and the famous Acquario Civico e Stazione Idrobiologica di Milano. A ticket to the Acquario costs €5, entrance to the park is free.
Cimitero Monumentale
Milan’s cemetery
This is probably the most interesting free attraction in Milan, and it is not one of the typical places to visit. The Cimitero Monumentale is a cemetery in the centre of Milan, but not just any cemetery. It’s full of huge tombs, each of which could claim to be an exhibit in a museum of art. The cemetery is full of sculptures, reliefs and other works of art. The mausoleums are beautifully decorated – you can genuinely walk around the place for hours. On top of that, entry to this Cimitero Monumentale is completely free and it’s a great place for both rest and reflection.
Lake Como
A wonderful spot near Milan
Lake Como is one of the most beautiful attractions in the area of Milan, just 50 minutes from the centre. You can either drive up to Como or to Lecco, both are ideal. You have more ferries in Como (though these aren’t exactly free) while the train to Lecco can also take you to Varenna, which is practically right next to the lake.
Tickets to Como and Lecco cost about €5 and the extension to Varenna will add about €2.
Navigli
A district of Milan
Navigli is a district of Milan with canals – not exactly Venice’s Canal Grande, but they do add a lot of charm nonetheless. It’s also a bit less of a ‘big-city’ vibe, if you’ve had enough of that. It’s more like a normal decently sized Italian town. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and artists here.
Stazione Centrale
Milan Central Station
Though you may not be used to train stations being works of art in and of themselves, the Stazione Centrale in Milan is certainly one worthy contender. It’s the largest railway station in Europe (by volume), built in 1931 in a mix of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The most impressive features are the main hall at the entrance, the ceiling, the departure hall with its metal structure over the tracks and the immense front façade.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Shopping gallery in Milan
An absolute classic when it comes to visiting Milan is, of course, the Vittorio Emanuele II. It’s a shopping gallery covered by a wonderful roof with boutiques all around. Though, of course, the boutiques are expensive as hell, no one can charge you for just strolling through the gallery. The Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping mall still in operation in Italy. The roof is made of steel and glass while, on the floor, you can see beautiful mosaics – especially in the central part of the Gallery.
Piazza Duomo
Milan’s best free attraction?
Piazza Duomo is, without a doubt, the single most popular tourist attraction in the city, especially if we include the Cathedral, the main highlight of the square. To the left of the enormous cathedral, you have Vittorio Emanuele II and a statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II in the centre of the square. It’s also where the Christmas Market takes place in December.
Though it’s not free, we still recommend you pay a visit to the cathedral.
Piazza Gae Aulenti
The modern part of Milan
Once you’ve had enough of monuments and history and all that jazz, how about something fresh and new? We recommend you visit Piazza Gae Aulenti, where you’ll see huge vertical blocks of flats overgrown with beautiful greenery. The tallest building in Italy is also here, the 231-metre tall UniCredit tower. You can drop by while at the Garibaldi Station.
Free Sundays at the Museums of Milan
Free admission to museums and galleries
The first Sunday of the month is still an on-going tradition in Milan. You can visit permanent exhibitions in museums, art galleries and archeological sites for free on the first Sunday of each month. The list of free attractions include:
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Castello Sforzesco Museums
- Museo del Novecento
- The Last Supper Museum
- Museo del Risorgimento
- Acquario Civico di Milano (the one we mentioned in the Sempione Park)
And more. As you can see, first Sundays are a wonderful opportunity to save quite a bit, though you have to get a ticket first. Which, in the high season, can be quite a race.
Where to eat on a budget in Milan?
Cheap restaurants in Milan
If you’re looking for a cheap lunch in Milan, we’ve found two interesting pizza places for you – the first is Luna Rosa at Via Broletto, 26 and, the second, Spontini at Via Santa Radegonda, 11. For pasta, try the interesting Pasto – Laboratorio di pasta con cucina at Via Zecca Vecchia, 4.
As you can see, you can easily find free attractions for a few days in Milan. Of course, you won’t be able to see everything, but you can really visit quite a lot, even including the mainstream sites, on a tight budget.
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