Where to Stay in Milan in 2024 (Best Areas & Places)

a large building with a clock on the ceiling

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Milan | Neighborhoods & Areas | Tips | FAQ

Deciding where to stay in Milan isn’t as simple as picking the nicest-looking hotel. Even though it’s a manageable city to explore, each of Milan’s neighborhoods is unique. The best places to stay in Milan for you may be very different from another traveler’s ideal. 

Before you can get into all the best things to do in Milan, you have to nail down where you’ll stay. During my trip to the fashion capital of Italy, I became very well-acquainted with a few of Milan’s bustling neighborhoods and what makes them great. So, let’s get into it.

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Best Places to Stay in Milan

Just looking for a quick answer on the best places to stay in Milan? Here are my top picks: 

Let’s do a deep dive into the best areas and neighborhoods in Milan: 

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Milan

Milan is a very well-designed, easy-to-navigate city. There is a main city center and many interesting neighborhoods surrounding it. However, each Milan neighborhood has its own benefits and disadvantages. There are some essential things to know before committing to an area. 

Duomo / Centro Storico

a large building with a large clock on it

👉 Best Area For Famous Attractions & First Time Visitors | ✨ Best Duomo Hotels: Hotel Gran Duca Di York • ODSweet Duomo Milano Hotel • Milan Retreats Duomo

The Duomo neighborhood, also known as Centro Storico, is right in Milan’s city center. It’s a fantastic area to stay for first-time visitors to Milan. 

All the main attractions are situated within walking distance of Piazza del Duomo, including Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Ambrosian Library. You can also take advantage of Milan’s fashion scene here by shopping on Via Torino.  

The other advantage of staying around the city center is that there are highly-rated hotels with tempting amenities. 

Milan Retreats Duomo offers visitors rooms that can accommodate up to 8 people, grocery deliveries, air conditioning, and even a helpful hotel shuttle. Plus, it’s just a short walk from the Duomo Cathedral. 

Pros of Staying in Duomo/Centro Storico Neighborhood:

  • Central location in the heart of Milan’s city center 
  • Lots of hotels
  • All the city’s top tourist attractions nearby
  • Walkable with lots of metro stops
  • Tons of good restaurants

Cons of Staying in Duomo/Centro Storico Neighborhood:

  • Very busy
  • Touristy
  • Expensive

đź“š Duomo Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Famous Attractions & First-Time Visitors 
Google Maps

Brera

people walking down a city street

👉 Best Area For Quaint Charm & Artsy Vibes | ✨ Best Brera Hotels: Milan Royal Suites • Hotel Milano Castello • Hotel Milano Scala

Brera is close to all the action around the historic center without being directly in the madness. There is always a metro station within walking distance to go anywhere. It’s a really convenient location to stay in Milan with cobbled streets and a more intimate charm. 

This Milan neighborhood is a very artsy spot. There are famous art museums like Pinacoteca di Brera and smaller galleries and art supply stores along Via Brera. It’s a fantastic place to stay in Milan for art lovers.

Many of the hotels around Brera also embody this artistic flare, such as Hotel Milano Castello. This Brera hotel is expertly decorated to make the rooms feel luxurious. There are tons of beautiful common spaces at this hotel, like the bar, garden, and terrace.

Pros of Staying in Brera Neighborhood:

  • Artsy atmosphere 
  • Close to lots of other cool Milan neighborhoods
  • Next to Sempione Park
  • Excellent restaurants with a variety of cuisine 

Cons of Staying in Brera Neighborhood:

  • Limited accommodations during peak season
  • Difficult to find parking
  • A bit noisy and crowded

đź“š Brera Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Quaint Charm & Artsy Vibes
Google Maps

✨ Best Hotels – Milan Royal Suites • Hotel Milano Castello • Hotel Milano Scala

🏠 Apartments – Browse Top Rentals in Brera

🍽️ Where to Eat – Ristorante Nabucco ($$$), Brera 29 ($$), Salsamenteria di Parma ($$)

🍸 Where to Drink – N’Ombra de Vin,Montmartre Cafè 1952,O’Connell Irish Pub Milano Brera

🎟️ Top Attractions – Palazzo Citterio,Via Brera,Pinacoteca di Brera,Museo del Risorgimento,Palazzo Orsini

Isola

a man riding on the back of a skateboard

👉 Best Area For Trendy Bars & Budget Travelers | ✨ Best Isola Hotels: BB Hotels Aparthotel Isola • Hotel Zara Milano • BePlace Apartments in Gae Aulenti

Isola is a Milan neighborhood with a big personality and stylish atmosphere. There are tons of green spaces and the district is covered in massive, colorful murals by local street artists. 

It is a bit far away from the main Milan attractions, which can be a good thing for veteran travelers who want a more authentic atmosphere. There is still a lot of life pumping through the veins of the neighborhood with establishments like Lucky Bar and the Blue Note Jazz Club. 

Isola is also an ideal place to stay in Milan for budget travelers because the accommodations tend to be a bit cheaper around this area. 

For instance, prices at the highly-rated BB Hotels Aparthotel Isola average around $125 per night even during the high season. Just make sure you book in advance to get those deals. 

Pros of Staying in Isola Neighborhood:

  • Dynamic atmosphere
  • Incredible array of bars
  • Delicious restaurants 
  • Affordable

Cons of Staying in Isola Neighborhood:

  • Far outside the city center 
  • Fewer hotels to choose from

đź“š Isola Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Trendy Bars & Budget Travelers
Google Maps

✨ Best Hotels – BB Hotels Aparthotel Isola • Hotel Zara Milano • BePlace Apartments in Gae Aulenti

🏠 Apartments – Browse Top Rentals in Isola

🍽️ Where to Eat – Bosco Verticale Restaurant ($$), Stravagario Bistrot ($$$),  Assaje ($$), miscusi Isola ($$) 

🍸 Where to Drink – Bar BAH,Bar Frida,Lucky Bar,Blue Note Milano

🎟️ Top Attractions – Casa Della Memoria,Terrazza Belvedere dal Palazzo Regione Lombardia

a city street filled with lots of colorful umbrellas

👉 Best Area For Captivating Nightlife | ✨ Best Navigli Hotels: Combo Milano • B&B El Brumista • Art Hotel Navigli

The Navigli neighborhood is the most romantic place to stay in Milan thanks to its prime location right on the Naviglio Grande canal. All along the water, you’ll find incredible Milan restaurants with very good prices for fresh food, like SCIUÉ Navigli and Osteria Della Darsena.

There is a very lively nightlife scene in Navigli with a variety of different styles of bars. There are fancy cocktail bars, like Rita and RAL, and pubs, like Navigli Craft Beer and Wizard. There are even nightclubs around like Dirty Mondays, which fittingly is only open on Mondays. 

Navigli hosts some of Milan’s top hidden gem hotels, including Art Hotel Navigli. Art Hotel Navigli is brilliantly decorated and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. There is even a fully equipped wellness center with massages, private parking, and a lovely sun terrace.

Pros of Staying in Navigli Neighborhood:

  • Amazing, affordable restaurants 
  • Right on the water
  • Many hotels to choose from
  • Art galleries 
  • Incredible nightlife with a variety of different bars

Cons of Staying in Navigli Neighborhood:

  • Few attractions 
  • Lots of tourists 
  • Removed from the city center

đź“š Navigli Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Captivating Nightlife
Google Maps

✨ Best Hotels – Combo Milano • B&B El Brumista • Art Hotel Navigli

🏠 Apartments – Browse Top Rentals in Navigli

🍽️ Where to Eat – Ristorante Belè Navigli ($$$), SCIUÉ Navigli ($$),  El Gaucho ($$$), Trattoria Bolognese da Mauro ($$), Osteria Della Darsena ($$)

🍸 Where to Drink – Rita,Mag Cafe,Zog,UGO Cocktail Bar,Wizard,Elita Bar

🎟️ Top Attractions – Naviglio Grande,Naviglio Pavese,Vicolo Lavandai

Zona Tortona

a crowd of people walking down a sidewalk

👉 Best Area For Fashion & Luxury | ✨ Best Zona Tortona Hotels: Magna Pars l’Hotel à Parfum • Savona 18 Suites • Nhow Milan

Zona Tortona’s claim to fame is being the host of Milan’s famous fashion week. Milan is known across the world for its fashion brands. So, these events are a huge deal in the city and happen annually in September and February. 

Zona Tortona is a fashion-heavy neighborhood no matter what time of year you visit, making it an ideal spot for window shopping. Public transportation is plentiful throughout the area and it only takes around 25 to 30 minutes to reach the city center on the metro.  

This Milan neighborhood is a luxury paradise. Some of Milan’s fanciest hotels and nicest restaurants are all tucked away in Zona Tortona. 

Both Magna Pars l’Hotel à Parfum and Nhow Milandemonstrate how opulent Milan can really be. These hotels cater to your every whim and make you feel like royalty on a trip to Milan. 

Pros of Staying in Zona Tortona Neighborhood:

  • Loads of fashion culture to explore
  • Boutique shops all around
  • Events happening often
  • Best luxury hotels  

Cons of Staying in Zona Tortona Neighborhood:

  • Limited tourist attractions
  • Very expensive
  • Noisy and crowded during big events

đź“š Zona Tortona Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Fashion & Luxury
Google Maps

✨ Best Hotels – Magna Pars l’Hotel à Parfum • Savona 18 Suites • Nhow Milan

🏠 Apartments – Browse Top Rentals in Zona Tortona

🍽️ Where to Eat – Belle Donne Bistrot ($$), Osteria Del Binari ($$), Enrico Bartolini ($$$$), Osteria Fiorentina ($$)

🍸 Where to Drink – Morna,BeerGallery,Blues Canal

🎟️ Top Attractions – Armani/Silos,Mudec

Porta Garibaldi

people walking down a city street

👉 Best Area For Business Travelers & Day Trips | ✨ Best Porta Garibaldi Hotels: Urban Hive Milano • Hotel Manin • Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze • Hotel VIU

The Porta Garibaldi neighborhood is located north of the city center. It’s the best place to stay for business travelers and day-trippers. It’s also very easy to reach Milan’s Malpensa Airport from this area.

Porta Garibaldi is only a 20-minute walk away from Milan Central Train Station where you can get to any other region in Italy. It’s a good home base to take Milan day trips to explore the Lombardy region.

The hotels around Porta Garibaldi are accommodating for business travelers and make it easy to navigate the city. Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze is a modern hotel in Porta Garibaldi that’s great for these types of visitors. 

The rooms are immaculate with comfy beds and black-out curtains to beat any jet lag. The grounds also feature a business center with 5 meeting rooms, a stunning rooftop bar, and two different restaurants right inside the hotel. 

Pros of Staying in Porta Garibaldi Neighborhood:

  • Near Milano Porta Garibaldi train station, Milan Central Station, and metro stops
  • Easy access to Milan Airport and other neighborhoods
  • Many hotel options 
  • Yummy and affordable restaurants 
  • Great shopping scene

Cons of Staying in Porta Garibaldi Neighborhood:

  • Limited greenery 
  • Noisy 
  • Not very charming scenery 

đź“š Porta Garibaldi Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Business Travelers & Day Trips 
Google Maps

✨ Best Hotels – Urban Hive Milano • Hotel Manin • Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze • Hotel VIU

🏠 Apartments – Browse Top Rentals in Porta Garibaldi

🍽️ Where to Eat – Prime ($$), Orianna ($$), Osteria del Gambero Rosso ($$)

🍸 Where to Drink – Pub Al Panino,The Manhattan,Scott Duff Pub

🎟️ Top Attractions – Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli,Piazza Gae Aulenti,Corso Como

Porta Venezia

a park filled with lots of green grass and trees

👉 Best Area For Families & Cultural Sightseeing | ✨ Best Porta Venezia Hotels: Sospeso Boutique Hotel • Ai Suma Hotel • Château Monfort

Porta Venezia is one of the best places to stay in Milan for families. This quiet neighborhood is located adjacent to the bustling city center. It has easy access to major attractions without being too close. It’s a laid-back area that’s known for being calm, safe, and LGBTQ+-friendly.  

Kid-friendly cultural attractions like the Milan Natural History Museum, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, and Indro Montanelli Gardens are all located in Porta Venezia. There is also a pretty big shopping scene along the lengthy Corsa Buenos Aires.

Ai Suma Hotel in Porta Venezia has rooms for one to four people, so it’s great for families. The hotel has amenities that can ease the stress of traveling with kids, such as shuttle services, room soundproofing, a big daily breakfast, and planned walking tours. 

Pros of Staying in Porta Venezia Neighborhood:

  • LGBTQ+ friendly 
  • Gorgeous boutique hotels 
  • Centrally located
  • Safe and peaceful 
  • Museums and cultural attractions to explore

Cons of Staying in Porta Venezia Neighborhood:

  • Pricey 
  • Few hotels 
  • Limited nightlife scene 

đź“š Porta Venezia Mini Guide đź“š
Best Area to Stay for Families & Cultural Sightseeing
Google Maps

✨ Best Hotels – Sospeso Boutique Hotel • Ai Suma Hotel • Château Monfort

🏠 Apartments – Browse Top Rentals in Porta Venezia

🍽️ Where to Eat – L’Angolo di Casa ($$$), Maruzzella ($$), Piccola Cucina ($$), Ristorante Pizzeria La Ragazza ($$)

🍸 Where to Drink – Orange Spritz Bar,Atmosphere American Pub,Bar Picchio,Kilburn Cocktail Bar

🎟️ Top Attractions – Quadrilatero del Silenzio,Milan Natural History Museum,Galleria d’Arte Moderna,Indro Montanelli Gardens

Tips for Staying in Milan

Get Food at the Train Station in Milan Central Market

a store that has a lot of signs on it

Mercato Centrale Milano is the best place for indecisive eaters to eat in Milan. This upbeat market is filled with tempting food options and there is plenty of seating around the market, too. 

The cool thing about Milan Central Market is that it’s located inside the city’s main train station that connects Milan to other places in Italy. It’s a convenient stop to grab a snack before a day trip. 

Try Pizza From A Variety Of Establishments

a man standing in front of a pizza oven

Milan (and Italy in general) has more pizza places than anywhere else on earth. Don’t just stop with the first slice you find! There are a bunch of fantastic pizzerias around Milan to try, like Piz, Pizza AM, Maruzzella, and MARGHE.  

Buy Handmade Street Souvenirs Near the Parks and Outside the City Center

a man standing on a sidewalk next to a bike

There are all types of souvenirs to buy around Milan, including handmade works of art for surprisingly affordable prices. 

I bought the little painting pictured above for just 10 EUR near Sempione Park. You may even want to bring a hard-cover folder for all the potential artwork you buy in Milan.   

Beware of Scams Near the Duomo Cathedral and Other Tourist Attractions

a large building with a large clock on it

Milan’s biggest tourist attractions are swarming with people at all times. That makes it the perfect environment for scammers to pull one over on unsuspecting tourists. 

Stay vigilant at major attractions like the Duomo Cathedral. Pickpocketing is the most common way to get into trouble. There are also more elaborate scams, like the photo swindle where a scammer takes your photo and then overcharges you.

Stay Outside of Milan’s City Center for Cheaper Accommodations

a large stone building with a clock on it`s side

Milan is known for being one of the most expensive places to visit in Italy. Luckily, you can reduce your expenses a little by smartly mapping out your accommodations in Milan.

Outside Central Milan is the cheapest place to stay for visitors and full-time residents. Staying in a neighborhood like Città Studi, Porta Romana, or Isola can save you a lot of money in Milan. 

Don’t Expect to Find Private Parking at Milan Hotels in the City Center

a large building with a clock on the ceiling

Finding parking in the middle of Milan is nearly impossible unless you’re staying very far outside the city center. Most hotels in the city don’t offer private parking either. That’s why you’re better off relying on public transportation or walking on a stay in Milan. 

Visitors who absolutely need their ride in Milan should try to stay outside of the city center for a shot at getting parking with your room. 

FAQs About Where to Stay in Milan

What are the best areas to stay in Milan for first-timers?

The Duomo neighborhood, also known as Centro Storico, is the best area for first-timers to stay in Milan. It’s right in the middle of the city and all the major Milan tourist attractions are within walking distance. There are a bunch of hotels, restaurants, and nightlife options all close by, too.

What are safe areas to stay in Milan?

Brera,Porta Venezia, and Zona Tortona are the safest areas to stay in Milan. Although Milan is a fairly safe city in general, these areas have a particularly low crime rate. They’re also much less busy than the more central, touristy neighborhoods in Milan.  

What areas are best to stay in Milan?

The best areas to stay in Milan are Brera,Navigli, and Isola. These neighborhoods allow visitors to get a real feel for Milan while still having easy access to major tourist destinations. However, the best area to stay in Milan depends on your travel objectives and style.

Where to avoid staying in Milan?

Avoid staying in the Milan neighborhoods of Quarto Oggiaro and Corvetto. While visitors likely won’t face any violent crime, things like pickpocketing and theft are more common in these parts of Milan. 

How many days do you need in Milan?

A three-day Milan itinerary is the perfect amount of time to spend in the city. This provides enough time to indulge in the northern Italian food, walk around, and see all of Milan’s top tourist attractions. It may even be enough time for a day trip to somewhere like Lake Como or Bologna. 

What are the best Milan hotels?

The best hotels in Milan are Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze,Hotel Milano Castello,Hotel Gran Duca Di York. These accommodations have spotless facilities and luxurious amenities, and they’re each located in prime locations across Milan.

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Thanks for checking out my guide to where to stay in Milan. Which part of the city is your cup of tea? Before you go, don’t forget to read my complete breakdown of Milan vs Florence – Which is Best? (Honest Pros & Cons). 

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Welcome to my travel website! I’m Mary Howard, an American who has been exploring the world full-time for 8 years.

Together with my husband, Intan, we often find ourselves in our second home, Bali, but our adventures take us to exciting destinations all over the globe.

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