10 Free Things to Do in Milan

In 2014, Italian authorities introduced the initiative for free public access to a selection of museums on the first Sunday of each month. In Milan, some of the notable sites which follow this rule include the Modern Art Gallery of Milan, the immense Pinacoteca di Brera library, Milan’s Museum of National History, and the Civic Aquarium on Viale Gadio. 

On any other day, most of the museums have free access an hour prior to their closing times (generally 5 pm). Others offer free entry after 2 pm on Tuesdays or Fridays.

People usually miss some of Milan’s small churches downtown as they are cramped together among rows of cafés and fashion boutiques. Most are worth checking out for their historical architecture and Renaissance interiors and, more importantly, most are completely free to visit. This includes the more notable ones like the basilicas of Sant'Ambrogio and San Simpliciano. 

Just make sure you come in appropriate attire (no short-cut shirts or trousers) or they won’t let you in. The home of da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Santa Maria delle Grazie, is free to access, although tickets are required for entering the refectory.

After admiring the grandeur of the Duomo cathedral from its plaza, next you can stroll directly into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II shopping mall next door. The so-called “world's oldest mall” houses famous luxury brands and high fashion labels like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Prada. You don’t need to break the bank here, though. 

Enjoying a pleasant walk – and taking photos – under the glass-roofed galleria and its glass dome is totally free. It’s equally enchanting in the evening, with the shops’ subtle lighting.

Sforza Castle is a prominent fortress built by the Duke of Milan in the 15th century. It has lovely garden grounds lined by pathways that you can freely roam. Inside, it houses multiple civic museums with beautiful exhibits, such as an Egyptian museum and a museum of musical instruments. Exploring all of it would require around half a day but, if you’re pressed for time and budget, you can make use of its free access from 4.30 pm daily, or after 2 pm every Tuesday.

Parco Sempione is worth a visit if you’re looking for a free respite from Milan’s downtown crowds. You can find this vast green space right behind Sforza Castle. Quiet garden strolls through connecting pathways in the beautiful grounds lead you to artificial lakes and fountains, an aquarium, and a library, all within the park grounds and free to visit. 

If you’re willing and have a few euros to spare, the Torre Branca at the centre of the park is a steel tower that offers sweeping cityscapes from the top.

The Orto Botanico di Brera (Brera Botanical Garden) has preserved much of its historical layout. A few restorations made it accessible and free for all, including visitors requiring wheelchair access.

Cultivated by Jesuit priests in the 16th century, these botanical gardens offer a tranquil walk under the leafy shade of ancient trees with flowerbeds and water features. It may be compact, but it’s worth the visit if you’re interested in exotic species, or simply looking for a cool escape from Milan’s city crowd. 

The Navigli canals aren’t only functional, having transported goods throughout their history, they’re charming to look at. Long gone are the shipping vessels of yesteryears. In their place are passenger boats carrying visitors on sightseeing trips. The quaint Navigli neighbourhood is easily one of the most pleasant urban walks you’ll ever experience in Milan. Most of the length of the canal is lined with small cafés, restaurants, bars, and shops, particularly along the Naviglio Grande (grand canal). The Naviglio Pavese is slightly more urban, but both can be magical at dusk.

You can find Milan’s royal palace southwest of the Duomo cathedral, on the other side of the plaza from Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Besides some exhibition spaces that require tickets to access, the palace houses the Museo della Reggia (Museum of the Palace), which is free to visit. It helps you learn about the palace’s architectural changes throughout history, and you can admire the palace’s beautiful halls on an itinerary that takes you through the different eras, from the Neoclassical through the times of Italian unification.

You’ll find some of the world’s most epic tombs at Milan’s Cimitero Monumentale. The impressive architectural features, massive mausoleums, and beautiful sculptures throughout make this almost more an open-air museum than a cemetery. Some of Italy’s most honoured figures are buried within this 25-hectare gravesite. Each tomb is different and thought-provoking. Check out the beautiful white tower tomb of the Bernocchi family near the centre, with its detailed sculptures depicting the life and death of Christ. Entry is free.

Enjoy free admission into a world of contemporary art at this “hangar” of an art space on Milan’s outskirts. You can reach Pirelli HangarBicocca within a half-hour’s drive north from the Duomo in the city centre. It’s very spacious inside, and you can check out its permanent towering art installation, The Seven Heavenly Palaces by artist Anselm Kiefer, alongside 5 large-format paintings along the hangar’s walls. Different sections of the art space feature varying mood lighting features, enhancing the presentation of the artworks on display.