Centro Storico di Milano

The Centro Storico is the historic centre of the city of Milan, contained within the area once delimited by the medieval city walls and today by the streets forming the Corso Navigli easily distinguishable on the map of the city. Centro Storico encompasses Milan's perhaps most famous landmarks and tourist attractions, including the Duomo (cathedral), Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle shopping arcade and the Teatro alla Scala opera house. Compact in size and easily walkable, the Centro Storico is just as full of historic monuments as it is of designer boutiques and showrooms, restaurants and cafés – you will find almost all one comes to find in Milan for within a short walk.

The defunct old Milan district of Centro Storico included a broader area; the area covered in this guide corresponds to the Quartiere 101 – Duomo of the present-day Zona 1.

Get in

See the Duomo from below…

Reaching Milan by rail, or by air then bus or train to the city, will usually bring you to Milano Centrale station, as described in Milan#Getin. That's 3 km north of Centro Storico. From there you can:

• Take Metro line 3 (yellow, south for San Donato) to 1 Duomo  M1  M3 , right by the cathedral in the heart of the district.
• Take Metro line 2 (green, south for Assago Milanofiore/Abbiategrasso) to 2 Lanza   M2  or to Cadorna, and start your tour at Castello Sforzesco.
• Or walk straight down Via Vittor Pisani, onto Piazza della Republicca and Via Turati, about 45 min to come into the centre.

From Malpensa Airport you can also take the train to 3 Cadorna   M1  M2  next to the Castello. Then for the Duomo walk east, or take Metro Line 1, or Trams 1 or 27.

From Linate Airport, bus lines 73 and X73 run to 4 Piazza San Babila   M1  just east of the centre.

See

…or from above

Churches

• 1 Duomo (Cathedral), Piazza Duomo (Duomo  M1  M3  and many buses and trams). Daily 08:00-19:00, roof from 09:00. Massive, impressive and slightly mad: the cathedral is a late Gothic confection in white marble, festooned with spires and statues. You can admire the facade free from the piazza; getting inside or onto the roof involves three separate queues that may take over an hour, unless you book online. First locate the ticket office: it's along the street on the cathedral's south flank but has been known to wander, with various pop-up outlets. Here you queue #1 to pick up a number to queue #2 for the ticket desks. Buy your ticket, which will be for a specific time slot that day. When that time approaches (and off-peak it could be immediate) join queue #3 at the cathedral door for security and ticket check. There's a tedious list of what is and isn't allowed, and there's no photography inside. The interior is just as impressive as outside, though if you hate it you'll be in distinguished company. The problem was that construction went on in fits and starts for over 500 years, with every ruler adding bits or disliking previous work. Then in 1805 the conquering Napoleon said "Get this finished tout de suite, and my treasury will pick up the bill" and lo! it was finished. (Though he never paid up.) The Crypt of St Charles is entered within the cathedral, no extra fee, it closes around 17:00. The Baptistery of St John (extra fee) is within the cathedral. The roof (extra fee) can be reached by a lift or by 250 steps. The museum (included in ticket, closed W) is in the adjacent Church of St Gottard in Corte. It displays the story of the construction, with walk-in wooden models, façade designs from several centuries, sculptures and more. Cathedral: adult €3. Roof by stairs €13, by lift €15; Baptistery of St John €3. (updated Feb 2024)

  

  And look down into the piazza below

• 2 San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (Saint Maurice), Corso Magenta, 15, ☏ +39 0220404175. A must-see! A stunning fully frescoed renaissance church. Most of the paintings are the work of Bernardino Luini. Free.  
• 3 Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio (Saint Ambrose), Piazza San Ambrogio (Sant'Ambrogio  M2 ). A beautiful and huge Romanesque church which was almost destroyed by allied bombing in World War II, although some of its mosaics left well preserved.  
• 4 Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore (Saint Lawrence) (tram, or the Missori Metro Station). A lovely 4th-century basilica, perhaps is one of the oldest basilicas in Western Europe. It is famous for its beautiful courtyard, with Roman-age columns and statue of the emperor Constantine. The columns, Colonne di San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence's colonnade), are actually a remain of the Roman "Mediolanum", dating from the 3rd century AD. Further south the square you can see Medieval Porta Ticinese (there is also a homonymous newer gate which lies about 600 m south by Corso di Porta Ticinese).  

Museums

• 5 Museum of the 20th Century (Museo del Novecento), Piazza del Duomo 8 (opposite cathedral). M 14:30–19:30, Tu W F 09:30–19:30, Th Sa 09:30–22:30. "Del 900" but meaning "since 1900", this modern art museum has a rich selection of works by Modigliani, Picasso, Morandi, Boccioni and more. The upper stairwell gives a good view of the Duomo rooftop. Full admission €5, reduced admission €3, children 0–12 years free; first Sunday of the month, and first and third Tuesdays of the month from 2 pm are also free.. (updated Feb 2024)
• 6 Ambrosian Library (Biblioteca Ambrosiana), Piazza Pio XI, 2, fax: +39 02 80692 210, info@ambrosiana.it. Historical library that also houses the Ambrosian art gallery with treasures such as Leonardo Atlantic Codex.  
• 7 Civic Archeological Museum (Civico Museo Archeologico), Corso Magenta 15. Roman antiques from Milan and the surrounding area.  
• 8 Brera Art Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera), Via Brera (Lanza-Piccolo Teatro  M2  Station, Montenapoleone  M3  Station, trams lines 1, 4, 8, 12, 14, 27 or buses 61 and 97). 8:30-19:00 Tu-Su. One of Italy's most important art collections and one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings. The ticketing system is a bit unusual – there are no "standard" single-entry tickets, only a "Brera card", which allows one to visit any number of times within 3 months. It costs €15, but the entry date/time slot still needs to be booked and may be sold out for the current day! 15€. (updated Feb 2024)
• 9 Scala Theater Museum (Museo Teatrale alla Scala), Inside La Scala (Duomo  M1  M3 ), ☏ +39 02 88797473, museoscala@fondazionelascala.it. 09:00-17:30; closed Dec 7, Dec 25, Dec 26, Jan 1. A museum dedicated to one of the world's most famous opera houses. All types of memorabilias like dresses and pictures are on display. This includes a view into the opera hall from one of the loges, which is a short and simple alternative to the official guided tour of the opera. (Note that third party tour operators of the opera are not showing anything other than this view from the museum.) Check the museum website for the practice schedule, which determines visibility of the opera hall. €12 (reduced for students and people older than 65).  
• 10 Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) (opposite the South side of Duomo; Subway: Duomo  M1  M3 ). Always hosts many exhibitions, usually very interesting. Tickets are sold separately for each exhibition! €17. (updated Feb 2024)
• 11 Bagatti Valsecchi Museum (Museo Bagatti Valsecchi), Via Gesù 5 (between via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone; subway Montenapoleone  M3  Station, San Babila Station  M1 , trams lines 1 and 2 Montenapoleone stop). Tu W F-Su 13:00-17:45, Th 13:00-21:00. A late 19th-century aristocratic mansion with Italian Renaissance art collections. €9.  
• 12 Poldi Pezzoli Museum (Museo Poldi Pezzoli), Manzoni St (subway MM3 Montenapoleone Station, or with many buses and trams). M W-Su 10:00-18:00 (last entrance at 17:30). One of the world's richest private art collections. €10.  

Streets

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II

• 13 Via Dante. One of the grandest and most frequented fashionable high streets in Milan. The Via Dante, named after the poet, is a beautiful and debonair pedestrian avenue which goes from the busy Piazzale Cordusio, all the way to the Largo Cairoli, just in front of the city castle. With loads of street vendors, restaurant and cafe tables, and often, street art, glamorous boutiques and often bustling with people, it's great for anyone who wants to get to the Sforzesco Castle, but who also wants to do some high-class shopping, observe at some glorious Milanese palaces, and possibly sip at a coffee in one of the many open-air bars. It also contains the Piccolo Teatro, a renowned local theatre. At times, especially Christmas and some of the holidays, it can be chokingly filled with locals, shoppers and tourists.  
• 14 Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (near to the Duomo; Duomo metro station or that of San Babila). One of the most popular high street shopping arteries in the city. It has a very elegant modern appearance, but too has some well-preserved grand 18th- and 19th-century buildings, including a rotunda-like neoclassical church. The Corso contains some great retail stores, including big shopping centres, fashionable outlets, and youthful, sporty designer boutiques. It is pedestrian.  
• 15 Via Manzoni (Montenapoleone metro station or tram). Impressive refined-air street lined with aristocratic apartment blocks and opulent churches. It also hosts the Poldi Pezzoldi museum. Today, it is also one of the city's premier shopping streets, and is noted for containing the Armani Megastore. It is very close to La Scala opera house.  
• 16 Via della Spiga (short walk from the San Babila  M1  metro stop). Lovely and classy little cobblestone street, with some beautiful ancient buildings. The street and its neighbourhood are more famous for the center of high-class shopping, where almost every luxury brand can be found.  
• 17 Via Montenapoleone (Montenapoleone or San Babila metro stations). The city's top high fashion shopping street. It contains many of the biggest names in fashion, and some of the trendiest and famous emporia and designer stores in the world. Today, despite containing mainly fashion boutiques, there are also some jewellery shops and cafes scattered here and there. (updated Jun 2021)
• Viale Beatrice d'Este. Viale Beatrice d'Este is a street in the center of Milan, which is a 1 kilometer walk from Piazza del Duomo, begins in piazzale di Porta Lodovica and ends at the ancient Porta Vigentina, continuing with the name of viale Angelo Filippetti. It is a tree-lined avenue, which is connected in its continuation with viale Regina Margherita and viale Majno.
  The street is named after Princess Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan in 1494 and wife of Ludovico Sforza. (updated Jul 2022)

Squares

• 18 Piazza del Duomo (Metro Duomo). The grandest square in the city, the Piazza del Duomo is the cultural and social heart of Milan, and contains several of its most famous sights. There's the majestic cathedral and classy Galleria, plus the 18th C Palazzo Reale and several big, venerable buildings. The square is centred around the statue of King Victor Emmanuel II at Solferino – his horse is skidding to a halt as if it's just clocked the Austrian bayonets. The square is grandiloquent yet softened by its cafés, restaurants and shops, pigeons, and passers-by. Exchange kiosks here offer decent rates, better than those in the VE arcade. (updated Jun 2021)

  

  Piazza Mercanti

• 19 Piazza dei Mercanti (Duomo or Cordusio subway stations). A truly enchanting and tiny medieval square, hidden by the grand palaces in the central part of Milan. Here, in "Merchants' Square" you get lovely Gothic and Renaissance-porticoed houses, and a well right in the middle. At the one side of the square there is the Palazzo della Ragione (1233), the old town hall, aka Broletto Nuovo. At the other – Loggia degli Osii (1321) decorated with black and white marble, used to host judicial and notary offices. At Christmas time, the square fills up with markets selling local produce, including mouth-watering panettone, sweets, bonbons and souvenirs.  

  

  Monument to Giuseppe Parini in Piazza Cordusio

• 20 Piazzale Cordusio (To be reached via Cordusio station, or, the slightly further Duomo). A central and busy square in Milan, right near the Duomo. It boasts some grand and beautiful late-19th-century architecture. Once, and to some extent still today, it was an economic hub of the city, with the headquarters of several companies, and big banks and postal offices.  
• 21 Piazza Belgiojoso (Montenapoleone station). A small, yet very impressive square, which hosts the magnificent neoclassical Belgiojoso Palace, built by Milanese noblemen in the late 1700s, and the House of Manzoni, where notable Italian writer and literary figure Alessandro Manzoni lived, and which today hosts a library and the Centro Nazionale di Studi Manzoniani (National Centre of Manzoni-related studies).  
• 22 Piazza Della Scala. The location of the Statue of Leonardo da Vinci and La Scala theatre. It is a small, but grand square flanked by fine palaces, such as the city hall and the commercial bank. Great place for a photograph and right next to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Ticket office is underground in the Duomo Metropolitana stop.  

  

  The church of San Babila

• 23 Piazza San Babila (It can be reached via the Via Montenapoleone, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele or the Corso di Porta Venezia. To visit it, one may stop at the San Babila metro station, right in the middle of the piazza). Busy and modern square just north of the cathedral and near the city's fashion district. Architecturally, Piazza San Babila's buildings are virtually all Art-Deco office blocks from the 1930s, but it has a trendy business and cosmopolitan feel to it, and despite being very modern, boasts a very old sight, San Babila, a tiny, pretty, Romanesque church standing shadowed away by the huge modern skyscrapers. Piazza San Babila also contains numerous banks, post offices, fast-food restaurants and today also a touch of some funky designer stores too. Convenience wise, it's a great place to go, because it connects the Montenapoleone shopping area, with the more central Duomo zone.  
• 24 Piazza del Liberty (The closest station is Duomo, but San Babila is a decent distance too). Small square, which however, is noted for a stunning Art Nouveau palace today called the Hotel del Corso, but once the Trianon. You reach it just off a tiny opening at the beginning of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.  
• 25 Piazzale Cadorna (Cadorna Square) (Cadorna FN station). Medium-sized, normal square in central Milan with the funky modern North Station and some fine buildings, but notably a set of peculiar modern sculptures in the middle.  

Historic monuments

Castello Sforzesco courtyard

• 26 Castello Sforzesco (Metro M1 Cairoli, M2 Lanza or Cadrona on both lines). "See who's in charge!" The round corner towers of the castle are two fists smacked down on the city plains, while the central square tower stares balefully down towards city centre. Who'd dare challenge the Duke? Yet so confident is he, he's built an extra redoubt within those walls, the military design is already outdated by the 15th century, and that rasping noise is his own family sharpening their knives against him. The Sforza-Visconti dynasty was ousted in the 16th century and the city was ruled by Spain, Habsburg Austria then Napoleon. The castle encloses a large grassed courtyard which is free to enter. Within are several museums, including museums of applied arts, ancient art, historical musical instruments, prehistory, Egyptian art and fine arts. (updated Mar 2019)
• 27 Old Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore). A Renaissance complex which now serves the university.  

Other sights

• 28 Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense (Biblioteca di Brera). A library established in 1770 by the Austrian governor. It has since acquired other historical collections and the archives of RAI (Italy's state television). It is very active in organising workshops and debates on new media and new technologies.  
• 29 Torre Velasca (Closest metro stations in order are Missori and Crocetta.). A tall, huge, castle-like skyscraper built in the 1950s, and one of the first in Italy. Stunning modern architecture. Unfortunately it is not possible to go on top, since it is a private building. (updated Jun 2021)
• 30 Expo Gate, Via Luca Beltrami (between Castello Sforzesco and the beginning of Via Dante). Daily 10:00-20:00. Information hub and ticket office for the Expo Milano 2015. The gate consists of two structures designed by Scandurra Studio. 
• 31 L.O.V.E. sculpture (Il Dito), Piazza degli Affari. On the square, where the Italian Stock exchange has its headquarters. The abbreviation L.O.V.E. stands for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità (Freedom, Hate, Vengeance, Eternity) ideated by Maurizio Cattelan in his atelier on Viale Bligny in Milan. (updated Jan 2018)

Do

Teatro alla Scala

• 1 Teatro alla Scala, Via Filodrammatici 2 (Reachable by subway: Duomo  M1  M3 ), ☏ +39 02 88 79 1. One of the most renowned opera houses in the world. It first opened in 1778 and re-opened in 2004 after extensive renovation. It has seen performances by stars such as Maria Callas and Pavarotti. Since Italy is the birthplace of opera, The Teatro alla Scala would be one of the best places for one to have an introduction to the world of Italian opera. La Scala is also a venue for other classical music.  
• 2 Teatro dal Verme, Via San Giovanni sul Muro, 2, dalverme@dalverme.org. Classical music.  

Buy

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Milan's main shopping area is the so-called Fashion Quadrangle (quadrilatero della moda), a set of blocks roughly between Duomo Square (Piazza Duomo), Cavour Square (Piazza Cavour) and San Babila Square (Piazza San Babila). Here in Montenapoleone Street (with prime brand shops), Della Spiga Street, Vittorio Emanuele Street, Sant' Andrea Street, Porta Venezia avenue and Manzoni Street, it contains the most prestigious boutiques and showrooms in the world. Everything reeks of ostentation and the splendor of a chic, fashionable lifestyle. Shop windows shine, exhibiting the trendiest shoes, coolest glasses, funkiest dresses, most glamorous clothes, and most luxurious crystal chandeliers.

The 1 Brera district (Lanza, or Montenapoleone metro stops) is also not to be missed for trendy and young, yet stylish, boutiques. The Brera district is great for other things, such as browsing through ancient rare art stores and galleries, sipping a hot drink at a refined-air cafe, attending a funky disco, or looking for exotic furniture. However, today, there are a lot of young designers who have up-and coming boutiques, which are slightly less expensive than their Montenapoleone counterparts, but are quite fashionable and of high quality. The Brera district is great because it combines chic, old-air shops, with zeitgeist, modernist and youthful ones. Jewellery stores include Papic oro e argento or Alcozer & J. Bijoux, fashion shops include Accessori or Laura Ashley, and furniture stores include Zohar or Lucitalia.

Let us not forget, the 2 Piazza del Duomo, 3 Via Dante, 4 Piazza San Babila, and the 5 Corso Giacomo Matteotti which are excellent shopping places. In the Galleria, you get brand fashion stores, two bookstores (Rizzoli and Libreria Bocca) and a silverware store called Bernasconi plus a Gucci café (and many, many more!). In the Corso Giacomo, you can find Abercrombie & Fitch, in Piazza del Duomo you have Grimoldi, Ruggeri, Donna and La Rinascente department store, in Piazza San Babila you can find Upim, Eddy Monetti, Guess and Valextra, and there are loads of shops in the Via Dante, so there are really heaps of shopping opportunities in this area.

• 6 Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Get off at the Duomo station.). The mother of all shopping malls: upscale shops in a splendid 19th century palace of a mall, with a stunning mosaic floor, and wonderful glass roof and cupola. Contains boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, a McDonald's fast-food restaurant, a silverware store called Bernasconi, and eating places such as the Zucca in Galleria, Biffi or a Gucci cafe (and loads more, notably art galleries, fashion boutiques, bookstores and restaurants). At Christmas time, it becomes an enchanting place, with beautiful lights and glitzy decorations. For real Milanese cheap food, go to Luini for a Panzerotti on nearby Via San Radegonda.  
• 7 Armani Megastore, Via Manzoni 31 (Metro: Montenapoleone), ☏ +39 02-7231-8630. Giorgio Armani's flagship store. Covering over 8,000 ft² (740 m²) with outlets for his high-fashion creations, the Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans lines, plus the new Armani Casa selection of home furnishings, and flower, book, and art shops; a high-tech Sony electronics boutique/play centre in the basement; and an Emporio Café and branch of New York's Nobu sushi bar. 
• 8 Dolce e Gabbana, Via della Spiga no. 2 (Metro: San Babila), ☏ +39 02-7600-1155. High-end designer store dedicated to women's wear. 
• 9 Gucci Flagship, Via Montenapoleone, no. 5-7 (Metro: San Babila [Montenapoleone is not to far]), ☏ +39 02-771-271. This is Gucci's flagship store in the city, opened in 2002, which has high fashion clothing and accessories. There are also some other Gucci stores in Milan, including the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and even in Milan's Malpensa airport. 
• 10 Prada, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, no. 63 (Metro: Duomo). One of Prada's several boutiques in the city, the one in the Galleria is the closest to the Duomo and the central square. It sells a variety of high-fashion items, such as shoes, perfume, handbags, and accessories, both classical and modern, in a chandelier-filled, multi-floored shop (it is bigger than it looks from the outside). 
• 11 Etro, Via Montenapoleone 5 (Metro: Montenapoleone), ☏ +39 02-7600-5450. Boutique store carrying the mens and womenswear line from high end label Etro. 
• 12 La Rinascente, Piazza Duomo (Metro: Duomo), ☏ +39 02-88521. M-Th 09:30-21:00; F Sa 09:30-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00. A big department store in Milan, right in the centre of the city near the Cathedral and Galleria, and very close to the chic Montenapoleone shopping zone. Here you can get houseware, design and appliances, male, female and children's fashion, youthful sports clothes, jewellery, accessories, cosmetics, watches, perfumes, glasses, socks, underwear, lingerie, gifts, table decor, a hair stylist, a restaurant, sushi bar, food market, sandwich, drink and chocolate bar, an enoteca (wine bar) and several other things. Good place to do some shopping of all kinds in a very central location and then stop for a drink, snack or meal at the cafe or restaurant. 
• 13 D Magazine, Via Montenapoleone 26 (Metro: Montenapoleone or San Babila), ☏ +39 02-7600-6027. This shop, in one of the most exclusive shopping streets in Milan, and in the world, is an outlet where you can a lot of find designer clothes. Names such as Giorgio Armani, Prada or Fendi can be found. 

Food

• 14 Peck, Via Victor Hugo 4, ☏ +39 02 861040. Foodies in the Duomo area should not miss this place. It is the Dean and Deluca of Milan, a gorgeous food shop that stocks the finest of just about everything. The prices are high, but since everything is counter service, you can graze a wide variety of delicacies for your money. Speaking of counter service, there is a special way to buy things at Peck. First, you order from the counter. They give you a little receipt. Once you have collected all your receipts, you pay at one of two registers. Then, you return to each of the counters you visited, where the staff have wrapped your treats exquisitely. 

Eat

Budget

There are many budget-friendly restaurants in the city center of Milan.

• 1 Luna Rossa, Via Broletto, 26. A pizza restaurant. (updated May 2022)
• 2 Spontini, Via Santa Radegonda, 11. Pizza. (updated May 2022)
• 3 Il panino del laghetto, Via Laghetto, 7. Sandwiches. (updated May 2022)
• 4 Bistrot Brun'ora, Via Amedei, 5. (updated May 2022)
• 5 Mensa e Pizza.9, Via Lodovico Necchi, 9. (updated May 2022)
• 6 Chiosco Squadre Calcio, Piazza Castello, 4. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range

• 7 Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo, Largo Corsia dei Servi, 11, 20122 Milano. Probably the best pizza in town at a reasonable price. The restaurant reopens for dinner at 19:00, people will be lining up in front of the entrance beforehand (because the pizza is so good). Come early to avoid waiting! (updated May 2022)
• 8 Biffi, Passaggio Duomo, no. 2 (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II) (Metro: Duomo), ☏ +39 02 8057 961. 12:00–24:00 (you can have breakfast at 07:30). Opened in 1867, it is an old fashioned restaurant/café in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, surrounded by a plethora of interesting shops, which serves drinks, and foods such as spaghetti, veal, steak, fish, and desserts such as chocolate Sacher, Tiramisu, ice cream and fruit salads. The waiters serve in the formal white gloves. 
• 9 Terra e Mare, Via Cristoforo Gluck 13. Sea food restaurant with specialities such as grilled swordfish and oysters on the menu. (updated Nov 2024)

Splurge

• 10 Armani/Nobu, Via Pisoni 1 (Metro: Montenapoleone, also accessible via tram), ☏ +39 02 6231 2645. Lunch 12:00–14:30, dinner 18:30–21:30. Part of Japanese restaurant chain serving sushi with South American influences in Armani-themed surroundings. Apart from sushi, dishes such as ceviche, spicy tuna, different soups, lobster, seaweed, salmon, or different forms of vegetables and meat (and several others) are on the menu, and you can find desserts such as carrot cakes, tea ice creams, chocolates, exotic fruits, or different, both European and oriental plates. You also get sake and champagne. 
• 11 Savini, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Metro: Duomo), ☏ +39 02 7200 3433. Opened in 1867, the Savini is a fancy and well-established restaurant inside the magnificent Galleria, serving meals such as Milanese-style risotto, spaghetti and ravioli, meat cutlet, lamb and beef, different forms of fish, warmly-made Tirmisu, and other forms of desserts including chocolate cake and tart with strawberries. 
• 12 Cracco, Via Victor Hugo 6. 
• 13 Tram restaurant ATMosfera (departs from Piazza Castello). departures daily at 20:00. ATM, which operates the public transport in Milan, has created a tram restaurant. A tram of the class "Carrello" from 1928 has been transformed into a restaurant on tracks and you can have dinner and see many of Milan's sights at the same time. €65 per person. 

Drink

Nights are overwhelmingly crowded at the 1 Colonne di San Lorenzo (not far from Navigli quarter), and in the cozy Latin-quarter of 2 Brera.

• 3 Bar Magenta, Via Carducci 13. This popular bar is best visited with a bunch of friends during apperitivo, a time when free appetizers are given out, usually around 19:00. It was said that Bar Magenta coined the now very popular “aperitivo”, and having a drink in here is a classic experience. 
• 4 Caffè Cova, Via Montenapoleone 8 (Metro: San Babila/Montenapoleone), ☏ +39 02-7600-5599. Founded in 1817, this pasticceria (pastry shop) relocated to the exclusive Montenapoleone street in 1950, and is a good place for a cake/tart with a hot drink, such as coffee. At Christmas, enjoy the traditional Panettone cake. 
• 5 Emporio Armani Caffè, Via Croce Rossa, no. 2 (Metro: Montenapoleone). Found on the ground floor of the Armani Megastore, this café is all Armani themed. It's a good place to stop for a drink after a day of shopping, since it is really close to the ritzy Via Manzoni and Via Monte Napoleone. 
• 6 Dolce e Gabbana Martini Bar, Corso Venezia, no. 15 (Metro: San Babila). A Dolce & Gabbana themed bar, it is in the posh Venezia avenue, right in the top fashion district. Good place to enjoy a Martini cocktail in Dolce & Gabbana surroundings after some shopping or sightseeing. 
• 7 Bar Jamaica, Via Brera, no. 32 (Metro: Lanza), ☏ +39 02-876723. A small, trendy and artsy bar in the bohemian Brera district, which in summer times uses its verandah for open-air drinks. 
• 8 Gucci café, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (Metro: Duomo). If you enjoy cafés where you can sip fashionably at a coffee in the city's stunning glass Galleria, right in the heart of Milan, after some sightseeing or general shopping, then the Gucci café is the place to go. 

Gay and lesbians clubs

• Viale Bligny
• Via Melzo

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Hotel Centrale, Via Gianfranco Zuretti 46, ☏ +39 02 45370510. Nice but rather basic hotel near the central station. (updated Nov 2024)

Mid-range

• Hotel d’Este (4 Stars), Viale Bligny 23, ☏ +39 02 58321001. doubles rooms from €260. 
• Hotel Uptown Palace (4 Stars), Via Santa Sofia 10, ☏ +39 02 3051131. doubles rooms from €148. 
• Max Brown Hotel Missori, Via Lentasio 3, ☏ +39 02 81260107. doubles from €290. 
• 2 Hotel Galileo Milan, Corso Europa 9, ☏ +39 02 7743, fax: +39 02 76020584. A four-star hotel with a choice of 89 single, double, triple and VIP rooms, all with private bath. Among the public areas are a bar, restaurant, lounge and reception with free internet connection. €130 for single and €140 for a double. Rates include breakfast.. 
• 3 Brunelleschi Hotel Milan, Via Baracchini, 12, ☏ +39 02 88431, fax: +39 02 804924. 4-star hotel. From €100. 
• 4 Hotel Ascot, Via Lentasio, 3, ☏ +39 02 58303300, fax: +39 02 58303203. Single from €83, Double from €124. 
• 5 Hotel Genius Milan, Via Porlezza, 4, ☏ +39 02 72094644, fax: +39 02 72006950. content3-star hotel with 38 bedrooms with private en suite service and Wi-Fi. The rates change according to the season: single €88-99, double €120-155. 
• 6 London Hotel Milan, Via Rovello 3, ☏ +39 02 72020166, fax: +39 02 8057037. Singles €90-130, doubles €120-170. 
• 7 Hotel Lloyd, Corso di Porta Romana, 48, ☏ +39 02 58303332, fax: +39 02 58303365. Offers large meeting rooms and a well-being program. Single rooms from €85, double from €116. 

Splurge

• Santa Sofia Radisson (5 stars), Via Santa Sofia 37, ☏ +39 02 36213200. A five-star luxury hotel. Among the public areas are a bar, restaurant, lounge and reception with free internet connection. €311 for a double. Rates include breakfast.. 
• Palazzo Touring Radisson (5 stars), Corso Italia 10, ☏ +39 02 124128300. A five-star luxury hotel. Among the public areas are a bar, restaurant, lounge and reception with free internet. €402 for a double. Rates include breakfast.. 
• 8 Palazzo Segreti, Via San Tomaso, 4, ☏ +39 345 2157603, fax: +39 055 7471297, concierge@bonsahi.com. From €300. 
• 9 Park Hyatt Milan, Via Tommaso Grossi 1, ☏ +39 02 8821 1234, milano@hyattintl.com. 5-star hotel that hosts La Cupola, a prominent restaurant. 
• 10 Hotel De La Ville, Via Hoepli n.6 (near Via Montenapoleone), ☏ +39 02 879 1311. Rooftop pool offers views of the Duomo. €100-200. 
• 11 Hotel Pierre Milano, Via de Amicis 32, ☏ +39 02 72000581. Each of the 52 rooms has Wi-Fi access and satellite television. €105-215. 
• 12 Ariston Hotel Milan, Largo Carrobbio, 2, ☏ +39 02 72000556, fax: +39 02 72000914. 3-star hotel with 52 bedrooms (single, double and triple), private parking, a wine bar, a breakfast hall and a conference room able to host up to 25 people. Private baths, satellite TV, free internet access and a bike service. Average rates: singles €160, doubles €230. 
• 13 Hotel King, Corso Magenta 19, ☏ +39 02 874432, fax: +39 02 89010798. 4-star hotel, part of the Mokinba Hotels. 
• 14 Antica Locanda dei Mercanti, Via San Tomaso 6, ☏ +39 02 8054080. With/without private terraces. Large double rooms. In an old palazzo. Charming boutique hotel. 
• 15 Santa Marta Suites, Via Santa Marta, 4, ☏ +39 0245373369, info@santamartasuites.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Boutique hotel with restaurant and panoramic terrace. 5 rooms and 5 suites. (updated Oct 2018)

Connect

Routes through Centro Storico

West ← Milano Cadorna ←	W  E	→ Palestro → North
North ← Turati ←	N  S	→ Crocetta → South