Where to stay in Milan: best areas and neighborhoods

If you have planned a trip to Milan and you have not yet decided where to stay, know that there are lots of options to choose from, located in practically all the most important areas of the city, and there is something for every budget. The main attractions in Milan are concentrated in its historic centre: its majestic Duomo, Castello Sforzesco and the Pinacoteca di Brera, and, it is precisely for this reason, that it is one of the main areas to choose from, however there are also other options to be evaluated for different reasons.

Read on to find out about neighbourhoods and useful tips on where to sleeps in Milan!

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Best neighborhoods to stay in Milan

Foto di wheresleep.

The most convenient neighbourhood to stay is certainly the Centre, where the main attractions such as the cathedral , the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery and the Sforzesco Castle are located. In addition, the centre includes some truly iconic areas, the sub-districts of Brera and Quadrilatero della Moda, are certainly the most expensive in the whole area, but ooze with a timeless charm.

Equally recommended is the Navigli area as it offers a lot of choice in terms of accommodation and above all a fervent nightlife. If you prefer a quiter but still interesting area, choose Sempione or Porta Venezia, perfect for travellers with children. Also, Isola is a good neighborhood, very avant-garde and with lots of modern options and equipped with all services.

If you visit Milan for a football match or a big concert, the best solution is definitely to stay near the famous Stadio San Siro. The area is connected to the centre by the metro (San Siro Stadio stop. Line 5). If you are staying for work, we recommend Fiera and City Life, where you will find MiCo - Milano Convention Centre.

Best accommodation: we have selected the best hotels, B&Bs and hostels in Milan. Check out our recommendations and make your reservation on Booking.

Not recommended areas: Lorenteggio, Giambellino, Baggio and Quarto Oggiaro are areas to be avoided, as they are characterized by greater petty crime

Our Favorite Milan Hotels

Staying for work: if you are in Milan as a one-day stopover to other destinations, consider sleeping near the airport. If, on the other hand, you are staying in the city for events or fairs, choose accommodation in City Life / Fiera.

Centro storico, the best for first-timers

• Pros: Major attractions, shopping heaven, walkable
• Cons: Pricey, touristy, crowded
• Main attractions: Duomo, Vittorio Emanuele Gallery, Sforzesco Castle
• Average prices: from €100,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

It is the most representative district of Milan, all the main attractions are concentrated here, such as the Cathedral, Vittorio Emanuele Gallery and Sforzesco Castle. The district is well connected by tram and metro (Duomo, Cairoli, Cordusio and San Babila stops are the reference ones). The only flaw is the fact that the area is not exactly cheap, therefore not recommended for those on a budget

But, within the centre, there are several sub-districts that you can choose from according to your needs. The area around Duomo is the most central one, and obviously the most expensive, but ideal if you are in Milan for the first time. The sub-district of Brera, where the famous Pinacoteca di Brera is located, is a luxurious district, full of boutiques and art galleries, considered the bohemian and chic soul of the city. But even more luxurious and exclusive is the Quadrilatero della Moda, which develops around the famous Via Montenapoleone, with the most elegant and refined buildings.

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €100,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Sempione, perfect for families

• Pros: Family-friendly, huge park, Chill vibes
• Cons: Less central, fewer sights, busy weekends
• Main attractions: Parco Sempione, Sforzesco Castle
• Average prices: from €90,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

Bordering the centre is the district of Sempione, which still falls within zone 1. The entire district takes its name from Parco Sempione, one of the largest parks in Milan, where the great Arco della Pace is. On the other side of the park is Sforzesco Castle.

Given its location, it is an ideal area for families, given the presence of the large park and the proximity to the centre, without being in the middle of the nightlife. As well as being quiet and green, it has all amenities nearby.
From here, you can reach the centre by walking through the park, alternatively the area is served by numerous bus and tram stops and by the Moscova metro station (line M2). The Milano Cadorna railway station is also nearby.

• Pros: Family-friendly, huge park, Chill vibes
• Cons: Less central, fewer sights, busy weekends

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €90,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Navigli, perfect for nightlife

• Pros: Lively nightlife, tons of bars and restaurants, artsy vibes.
• Cons: Crowded at night, touristy, not much green space
• Main attractions: Navigli, Darsena
• Average prices: from €79,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

If you want savour moments of the typical Milanese aperitif, opt for the Navigli area without thinking twice! Even today you can walk along some of the canals created thanks to Leonardo da Vinci and staying here won't break the bank either. It is located south-east of the city centre, on the edge of Porta Ticinese.

It is an ideal area for those looking for nightlife! Here, the Milanese gather for the aperitif hour. In the evening it can be a bit noisy, so the area is not entirely recommended for families, however, it is a perfect place for people looking for nightlife.

Although far from the centre, the Navigli area is well connected to the whole city thanks to the metro.The reference stops are Porta Genova and Romolo (M2), while the tram stops are those adjacent to the spectacular Arco di Porta Ticinese, from here take lines 2 and 12.

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €79,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Porta Venezia, good for everyone

• Pros: Fashion vibes, super central, buzzing nightlife.
• Cons: Busy, limited parking, not super quiet
• Main attractions: Museum of Natural History, Modern Art Gallery, Public Gardens Indro Montanelli
• Average prices: from €85,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

Foto di Paolobon140. The Porta Venezia area is certainly one of the most fascinating: you can take in the essence of Milan. On one side: Corso Venezia and Via Senato, avenues dotted with shops and clubs, while you will have history, culture (Museum of Natural History and Modern Art Gallery) and a huge park (Public Gardens Indro Montanelli) on the other side.

It is a neighbourhood suitable for everyone, both for families who want to be near the greenery of Public Gardens, and for young people, who will be a stone's throw away from the centre. On the northern side are the districts of Porta Nuova and Centrale, in the latter is Milan Central station. So it is also perfect for those who have planned excursions in the surrounding area and must travel by train. However, of the whole area, Porta Venezia remains the best neighbourhood to stay. We do not recommend going near the central station late in the evening.The reference metro stops are those of Palestro and Porta Venezia (M1).

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €85,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Bicocca, nice for young

• Pros: Modern vibe, affordable, well connected.
• Cons: Less central, fewer sights, limited shopping
• Main attractions: University, Street Art
• Average prices: from €65,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

Foto di Carlo Dell'Orto. Bicocca is one of the most modern areas, it is located in the northern suburbs and is well connected to the rest of the most important districts by the red (M1) and lilac (M5) metro, and the number 14 tram crosses the city and connects the district with Corso Sempione and City Life.
It is a neighbourhood suitable for young people, above all because the University of Milan-Bicocca is located here; moreover, families and couples can also find several options to choose from, but we still recommend those traveling with children stay closer to the centre. It is also a neighbourhood for those on a budget, as the costs are lower than in the centre, especially in the summer, when many students go home.

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €65,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Isola, the best for families and couples

• Pros: Hip and trendy, buzzing nightlife, cool street art
• Cons: Pricey, not many classic sights, crowded on weekends
• Main attractions: Bosco Verticale, UniCredit Tower, Blue Note
• Average prices: from €90,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

Isola is one of the "youngest" areas of the city, recognisable around the world for its very modern Piazza Gae Aulenti, the UniCredit Tower (the tallest skyscraper in Italy) and the original Bosco Verticale, skyscraper entirely covered by greenery. There are also Isole Lilla dotted around here, which are wooden structures that serve as a place to relax, as well as offering bike storage and a place to charge your phone.

The Isola district is extremely avant-garde, very popular with business people, but also with tourists. Its characteristics make it a perfect neighbourhood for those on a medium-high budget, it is perfect for couples and families.

The reference stops are Isola and Zara (lilac line M5) and Garibaldi and Gioia (green line M2). If you are travelling by bus use lines 60 and 70 and with trams, lines 2, 7 and 33.

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €90,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Citylife and Fiera, the best for business travellers

• Pros: High-end shopping, chill park, futuristic vibes
• Cons: Pricey, feels a bit polished, few historic sights
• Main attractions: CityLife Shopping District, Fiera Milano City, Casa Museo Boschi Di Stefano
• Average prices: from €100,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

Foto di Paolobon140. If you go to Milan for work or to attend a fair, we recommend staying in the Fiera/City Life area. Here, are the MiCo - Milano Convention Centre and the congress and exhibition centre Fieramilanocity.

Given the characteristics of these neighbourhoods, it follows that some accommodation is designed to accommodate business travellers, offering useful services such as Wifi, desk space, bright rooms and breakfast and restaurant services with longer hours. If you are traveling strictly for tourism, we advise you to focus your search for accomodation in the centre. In fact, the prices are higher here, especially when fairs or important conferences are taking place

The area is well served by public transport, the metro stops are Portello and Tre Torri (line 5) and Lotto Fieramilanocity (lines 1 and 5) and a few steps away is the Milan Domodossola railway station.

Average prices in the neighborhood start from about €100,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

San Siro, to stay on a budget

• Pros: Big events and concerts, affordable, quieter vibe
• Cons: Far from center, few historic sights, crowds on game days
• Main attractions: Stadium San Siro Meazza
• Average prices: from €69,00 per night - find top stays on Booking

If you are making a flying visit to Milan to watch a football match or to see a concert, then the best solution is to stay in the San Siro district, where the famous stadium of the same name is located.

This area has different types of accommodation. Obviously there is no shortage of apartments or B&Bs to spend the night after the event, but there are also well equipped hostels. So whether you are traveling as a couple, with friends or as a family to attend the match of your favourite team, you will find something suitable!

The stadium and the neighbourhood are well connected to the city centre. The area is served by metro line 5, with the stops of San Siro Stadio (exit right in front of the stadium), San Siro Ippodromo and Segesta.

The average prices here start from about €69,00 per night - compare the best accommodation on booking

Recommended Accommodation

Places to stay near Milan

Foto di wheresleep. Staying in Milan is definitely the best option if you are planning to only visit the city. In fact, we do not recommend staying in neighbouring areas, as the metropolis is very extensive and travel may take a long time, not to mention the rush hours, when the roads are filled with commuters travelling to the centre for work.

The situation is different if your trip includes excursions to the surrounding area. If you want to discover Lake Como or other cities nearby, you can consider these places to stay:

• Assago (13 km / 20 min): on the outskirts of Milan, Assago is famous for the Mediolanum Forum, the most important Italian indoor arena. This area is therefore ideal to stay if you are going to events at the Forum. It is also well connected to Milan (metro line M2 from Milano Centrale FS to Assago Milanofiori Forum) - Compare accommodation on Booking.com
• Como (50 km / 54 min): the best base to start discovering Lake Como and all the wonderful villages around it. Furthermore, it is well connected to Milan by direct train (multiple lines, frequent departures, 40 min) - Compare accommodation on Booking.com
• San Donato Milanese (11.8 km / 30 min): recommended for families and couples who want to avoid crowded places; from here you can easily reach the centre of Milan by metro (about 20 minutes from the M3 stop of the same name) - Compare accommodation on Booking.com

Milan accommodation price map

Booking.com

Cool things to do in Milan

• Visit the iconic Duomo, the symbol of Milan. You can explore the cathedral, climb to the rooftop for panoramic views, and visit the archaeological area. Get your ticket here.
• Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano): Book tickets in advance to see one of the most famous paintings in the world. The Last Supper is located in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
• Experience the vibrant Navigli district, known for its picturesque canals. Enjoy a stroll along the water, visit trendy shops, and dine in one of the many restaurants.
• If you're a football fan, visit the San Siro Stadium, home to both AC Milan and Inter Milan. You can take a guided tour to explore the stadium and its museum.
• Explore the Isola district, known for its vibrant street art scene. You'll find murals and installations throughout the area.

Travel tips

1. First time? Free tour: for an initial approach to the city and its neighborhoods, book a free walking tour, perfect for getting acquainted and identifying landmarks.
2. Language: while Italian is the official language, English is commonly spoken in tourist areas. It's helpful to learn a few basic Italian phrases, which locals often appreciate.
3. Wifi: all major squares have a free wifi, so you won't need any data sim as long as you're in the center. Just look for "Open Wifi Milan".
4. Transports: please do not rent a car in Milan. Traffic is crazy and you can't enter Area C without paying. Use public transport, it's excellent.
5. Shopping: explore Milan's shopping districts, such as Quadrilatero della Moda and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
6. Best areas/clubs for nightlife: Milan is the capital city of italian nightlife. Best areas are Brera, Isola, Corso Como and Corso Sempione, Navigli, Porta Romana and Colonne di San Lorenzo. Best clubs and bars are Nottingham Forest, Fabrique, Backdoor 43, Blue Note Milano, Old Fashion, Mag Cafè, DG Martini, Santeria Social Club