Parks and Gardens in Milan

Milan is not usually thought of as a green city, but it has more parks and gardens than many visitors expect, from formal eighteenth-century gardens to new parks built among skyscrapers. In summer they offer shade and space to rest, and through the year they show how the Milanese relax: jogging, reading, walking dogs and meeting friends on the grass. We like to include at least one park in every itinerary, as a pause between museums and neighbourhoods.

Parco Sempione

The largest and most central park stretches behind Castello Sforzesco to the Arco della Pace. Laid out in the 1890s in the English style, it has a lake, open lawns, shaded paths and several landmarks, including the Torre Branca, the Arena Civica and the Triennale design museum. It is the obvious choice for a picnic after visiting the castle, and our Parco Sempione guide describes a walk through it in detail.

Giardini Indro Montanelli

The public gardens of Porta Venezia, opened in the 1780s, are the oldest public park in Milan. Ponds with ducks, tall trees, a small playground and a vintage carousel make them popular with families. The Natural History Museum and the Planetarium stand within the gardens, and the Villa Reale and its modern art gallery face them across the road. They fit easily into a visit to Porta Venezia or the nearby fashion district.

Biblioteca degli Alberi

The library of trees, opened in 2018 among the towers of Porta Nuova, is Milan's most modern park. Circular groves of different tree species are set in meadows and lawns crossed by straight paths, with the Bosco Verticale and the UniCredit Tower rising around them. It is a lively place for events and outdoor activities, and it pairs with a walk through Isola and Porta Nuova.

Villa Reale and Palazzo Dugnani gardens

Behind the Villa Reale lies a romantic English-style garden with a small lake, a stream and sculptures, one of the most charming hidden corners of the city. Nearby, the gardens of Palazzo Dugnani and the area around the Montanelli gardens form a green belt that is pleasant to walk through on the way between the centre and Porta Venezia.

CityLife Park

The large car-free park at CityLife connects the three towers and the surrounding residences. It has lawns, play areas, cycle paths and public art, and it is especially pleasant in late afternoon, when the towers catch the light. It combines naturally with a visit to the CityLife district.

Monte Stella and Parco Nord

Further out, Monte Stella, known to the Milanese as the Montagnetta, is an artificial hill created after the Second World War from the rubble of bombed buildings. From the top there are wide views over the city and, on clear days, the Alps. To the north, Parco Nord is a vast park of woods, meadows and cycle paths created on former industrial land, popular with families and cyclists at weekends.

Hidden courtyards and cloisters

Some of Milan's most peaceful green spaces are hidden behind walls. The cloisters of the Università Statale in the Ca' Granda, the courtyard gardens of Brera and the Orto Botanico behind Palazzo Brera all offer quiet corners in the centre. Many palaces have private gardens visible only through their gates, and during the spring open-garden days some are opened to visitors. Looking through doorways as we walk is one of the small pleasures of the city.

Our view

We choose a park according to the day: Sempione after the castle, the Montanelli gardens with Porta Venezia, the library of trees with Porta Nuova, and the Montagnetta for a view at sunset. In summer, we seek out shaded paths and carry water; in autumn, the trees colour beautifully and the parks feel calm. Most parks close at night and are best enjoyed in daylight. Many have kiosks and cafés, and Milan's food shops, described in our Milanese food guide, make it easy to assemble a picnic of bread, cheese and salumi.