It is always said that Milan “lacks only the sea” and that if it were there it would be a truly perfect city: yet, despite the fact that the Lombard capital is not blessed with a seaside resort, it is easy to find what to do in Milan in summer!
The Milanese metropolis, as the summer period approaches, empties out as if by magic: the Milanese indulge in weekend getaways to the nearest lake or seaside resorts, and the city remains all in the hands of both tourists and those citizens who want to see Milan from a new perspective and without the usual crush.
However, if you still don’t really have a clear idea of what to visit and what to see and what places to discover in Milan during the summer period, rely on the team of NEIADE Tour & Events: from the Darsena for an afternoon boat ride on the Navigli to the sunset on the Terraces of the Duomo, from outdoor tours in the green areas of the city to the very cool Crypt of San Sepolcro, from the Monumental Cemetery to the new neighborhoods of Milan, there are many tours you can join to fill your summer days with activities, culture and surprises.
11 exciting itineraries with NEIADE Tours & Events If you don’t know what to do in Milan in the summer time.
1. A Boat Ride on the Navigli
It is true that Milan does not have the sea, but it still has the Navigli, which are also navigable, and a nice boat ride even in the Milanese capital cannot be taken away from us! In the heat of Milanese afternoons, enjoying the air aboard the Battello is an enviable experience. As you set sail from the Darsena, you’ll discover unseen views and a Milan like you’ve never seen before by going back a bit in time, to when the Navigli were the city’s main transportation route, both for people arriving from outside and for goods. In fact, even the Candoglia marble for the construction of the Duomo arrived in Milan via these waterways. On board the boat you will also discover how the conchette system that allowed navigation worked, long studied even by Leonardo da Vinci, and you will immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Old Milan!
2. The Cathedral Terraces at Sunset
Milan Cathedral and its Terraces are among the most beautiful and evocative places in the city, and whatever the occasion or time, they are always worth a visit. In the summer period there is a great novelty! Every Thursday, until the end of July, there will be the opportunity to ride the elevator up to the Terraces right at the time of sunset, when the warm light of the sun pokes through the spires enlivening them with a new beauty! For the occasion, every Thursday the guided tours will be accompanied bylive performances of pieces by the greatest musicians in history; from Bach to Vivaldi, Morricone to Mozart. An event not to be missed to amaze oneself while admiring the wonders of our dear Duomo and the amazing Milanese skyline !
3. The Crypt of San Sepolcro by lantern light, a cool place in the summer of Milan
Right in the “true center” of Milan, as Leonardo da Vinci called it, there is an evocative place steeped in history: it is the Crypt of San Sepolcro, below the church of the same name within the complex of theAmbrosiana. Not only that! The Crypt is the perfect place to take refuge in the hot Milanese summer, to indulge in culture, history andart and regenerate in the coolness of this hypogeal place by walking on the same stones trodden by the great Roman emperors. In the even more mysterious atmosphere, in the soft light given only by our lanterns, you can go on a discovery of this almost legendary place and discover the magnificent decoration resurfaced by the most recent restoration in 2019.
4. The Monumental Cemetery and its works.
The Monumental Cemetery-an iconic place you absolutely must visit-is perfectly on the list of things to do in Milan in the summer, when the city empties out and becomes even more magical! Among its tree-lined avenues, in the shade of cypress trees, rest so many illustrious Milanese citizens whose names you can also glimpse in the Famedio, which houses the remains of the Milanese writer Alessandro Manzoni, as well as tombs and funerary monuments made in the most varied styles (from Art Nouveau to late Romantic to avant-garde trends) and the brainchild of famous artists, including the likes of Fontana and Pomodoro.
5. Brera walking tour, discovering the souls of the neighborhood
On the wave of Fuorisalone 2023 , which literally invades the narrow streets and alleys of Brera, in collaboration with Brera Design District, the tours in Milan’s most picturesque neighborhood and among the most beloved by the Milanese continue until July. The area reveals its different faces to us: from the more historical, bohemian and creative soul that evokes the atmosphere of the Old Brera frequented by artists and intellectuals who orbited around theAcademy and Bar Jamaica, to the more mysterious and spicy soul that lurks behind Via Fiori chiari, Via Fiori scuri or Via Madonnina, where the most famous brothels in Milan were once located!
6. Torre Branca, an aperitif in height
Right in the center of Parco Sempione, one of Gio Ponti‘s architectural masterpieces stands in all its height: Torre Branca! In the summertime, before the sun sets behind the Milanese skyscrapers, you can treat yourself to one of the most beautiful Milanese Golden Hours by climbing to the city’s highest viewing terrace, suspended above the park’s green tree canopies. From here you will have a unique experience, losing your gaze in the Milanese skyline and also taking the opportunity for a good aperitif at the height and with a 360-degree view of the city!
7. What to do in Milan in summer? Discover the greenery of the Leonardo’s Vineyard at Casa degli Atellani
Casa degli Atellani, on Corso Magenta, is much more than a historic and elegant building: in fact, the 15th-century residence that belonged to the Atellani, court dignitaries of Ludovico il Moro, is also home to one of the gifts that the Duke gave to his master Leonardo da Vinci: a splendid vineyard! While you admire the refined architecture of the mansion renovated by architect Piero Portaluppi, enjoy a walk in the shade of Leonardo’s lush vineyard, and then discover the interiors of the house, passing through the Sala dello Zodiaco, the Sala del Luini, the Sala dello Scalone and the Studio of Ettore Conti.
8. CityLife and its futuristic skylineo
The CityLife district is also known as the Three Towers: in fact, the real stars of the district are the three extravagantly shaped skyscrapers, the Straight, the Crooked and the Curved. These three towering, ultra-modern buildings were respectively designed by famous archistars such as Isozaki, Zaha Hadid and Libeskind. Walking around the neighborhood in the Fuorisalone climate, you can also relax in the neighborhood’s varied green areas, among the sculptures of ArtLine Milan, or decide to admire the very special apartments of the Hadid Residences, shaped like cruise ships! On the other hand, if you feel like indulging in the wildest shopping, you will have the entire CityLife Shopping Center at your disposal, with its wide range of stores of all kinds. A guided tour of the neighborhood at sunset, when the sun is reflected in the glass surfaces of the skyscrapers, will make the visit even more impressive.
9. The modernity of Porta Nuova
What better time thansummer to visit the most modern Milan without the frenzy that usually marks it? Along with CityLife, in fact, the newest and most innovative (and super-frequented!) district of the Lombard capital is that of Porta Nuova: here there are several architectural masterpieces to admire, such as the Unicredit Tower and the Auditorium Pavillon, but not only. Strolling through Piazza Gae Aulenti you will reach Stefano Boeri’s Bosco Verticale: the architect has created a work that blends perfectly with its surroundings, a real green skyscraper! For a bit of relaxation, however, you can enjoy the sunset in the park of the Library of Trees, before heading to the Palazzo della Regione Lombardia and the Diamantone. Children, on the other hand, will surely be intrigued by the 23-trumpet installation known as “Egg,” created by artist Alberto Garutti.
10. Porta Venezia and the Art Nouveau Milan
From Casa Galimberti to Casa Campanini, Porta Venezia is a triumph of gold and floral-themed decorations! Milanese Art Nouveau is at home in this neighborhood, and a stroll through its elegant streets will take you to admire exquisite palaces marked by sinuous floral motifs, charming female characters and singular animals. You’ll discover early 20th-century Art Nouveau palaces such as Giuseppe Sommaruga’s Palazzo Castiglioni , the Berri-Meregalli House and the Dumont Cinema.
11. A walk in the greenery of Parco Sempione, among the things to see in Milan in summer
Just behind the majestic Castello Sforzesco, the 15th-century residence of the Sforza family, you can enjoy Milan’s most famous green lung, the Sempione Park! It’s a park, it’s true, but there are not only many varieties of flowers and plants to observe here: on our guided tour, in fact, you’ll also have the chance to discover some of the points of interest found within this striking green area, such as the Acqua Marcia Fountain and the Little Mermaid Bridge, or De Chirico’s Mysterious Baths and the nearby Triennale. You will also admire iconic places such as the Arco della Pace, the Arena and the Civic Aquarium.
Do you want to know the places you should not miss during a tour in Milan? Find out in the article the places that are definitely worth visiting in the city: 10 things to see in Milan at least once.
