Best Areas to Stay in Milan: Top Districts and Hotels

The Old Town or Centro Storico of Milan is the heart of the city and, therefore, it concentrates the most important attractions of the capital of Lombardy, including the Duomo or Cathedral.

This area has a great artistic heritage that includes the Museo del Novecento (Museum of the twentieth century), Castello Sforzesco (the palace where Michelangelo’s last work is located), and the Dominican convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie, where the legendary painting of The Last Supper can be seen, which was created by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Another attraction of the Old Town is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II, where prestigious fashion firms such as Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton exhibit their most opulent windows. The gallery also has nice cafes like the old Cafe Biffi and fast food restaurants.

Moving in and out of the Old Town is simple because, besides being pedestrian-friendly, it has metro and tram stations.

The Old Town is the best area to stay in Milan because of its historical importance, and proximity to the attractions of the city.

However, it must be taken into account that most hotels in the area are luxury and, therefore, the cost of accommodation tends to be quite high throughout the year.

Milan’s central railway station or Stazione Centrale was inaugurated in 1931 and is located in Piazza Luigi di Savoia, near the Old Town.

It is one of the largest railway stations in Europe and is one of the best areas to stay in Milan if you are looking for cheaper hotels than in the most visited neighbourhoods.

In addition, from the station, it is easy to move to attractions such as the Modern Art Gallery of Milan, the Monumental Cemetery of Milan, the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Poldi Pezzoli Museum.

Eating in the surroundings of the station is also very budget-friendly, with small restaurants of Italian cuisine, fast food places and cafes considerably cheaper than in the Old Town.

Similarly, the station is surrounded by department stores and boutiques for shopping lovers who do not have the biggest budget during their stay in Milan.

Porta Venezia is one of the old access to the walled city of Milan, known in medieval times as Porta Orientale because it is located in the east of Milan.

This area is located northeast of the Old Town and offers accommodation of different types at affordable prices, especially considering that it enjoys a relatively central location.

Today, this is one of the most trendy areas in Milan, with many high-end bars and restaurants, as well as shops ranging from boutiques of emerging designers to department stores.

In Porta Venezia, you can also find the gay area of Milan, with bars aimed at the LGBT community where delicious appetizers are served with cocktails.

Like the main tourist areas of Milan, Porta Venezia connects with the rest of the city through metro, tram and bus.

Cittá Studi is a district in the north of Milan that brings together much of the intellectual history and academic achievements of Italy.

The atmosphere of this neighbourhood is more relaxed than in most of Milan, with parks, green areas and gardens that become recreational centres for university students.

Città Studi is the headquarters of study houses such as the Università degli Studi di Milano, which is one of the 21 most prestigious institutions in the League of European Research Universities.

This is one of the best areas to stay in Milan for young travellers, as it also has bars, restaurants, movie theatres and art galleries with very interesting exhibitions.

Città Studi has several bus stops, tram and metro stations that connect it with the rest of Milan.

Navigli is the most charming and romantic neighbourhood in Milan. The canals that surround it, its terraces and monuments of medieval architecture make Navigli a very different area from the rest of the capital of Lombardy.

The Navigli channels were created in the 12th century to connect Milan with the rest of Europe. Through them, it was possible to transport each block that was used to build the Duomo. The iconic Leonardo Da Vinci participated in the redesign of the channels in the fifteenth century

Navigli is also one of the hipster neighbourhoods of Milan par excellence, with vintage markets and second-hand shops where you can find vinyl records, clothing from different eras, as well as all kinds of treasures and curiosities.

Navigli is one of the best areas to stay in Milan for romantic getaways or to get to know a different facet of the city, away from the hustle and bustle of the Old Town.

Milan has two congress complexes strategically located, of which the most important is Milano City.

It is the oldest convention centre in Milan, with more than 43 thousand exhibition spaces where events are constantly held, which makes its surroundings one of the best areas to stay in Milan for business.

An advantage of staying near Fiera Milano City is that the cost of hotels is lower than in other areas of Milan.

Therefore, this is a good place to stay in Milan when travelling on a budget.

Similarly, although there are not many attractions in the vicinity of Fiera Milano City, it has a good location and public transport connections that make it easy to move to other neighbourhoods.

Sampione is one of the best areas to stay in Milan for sightseeing since most of the historical attractions of the city are nearby.

This area revolves around the Sempione Park, one of the main vegetable lungs of the capital of Lombardy. Within the park is the Torre Branca, from where you can get excellent views of Milan, as well as an aquarium, a theatre and a library.

Very close to the park is the Castello Sforzesco, an architectural symbol of the fourteenth century that serves as a starting point to the Old Town.

Sampione is, mostly, a luxury area, so staying here is usually more expensive than in other neighbourhoods of Milan. However, for its many attractions, great hotels and proximity to the Old Town, it is one of the best areas to stay in Milan, especially for a first visit.

The Stazione di Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station is located north of the Garibaldi Historic Port, and is the second busiest in the city, below the Stazione Centrale.

This station has trains that connect it with other cities in Italy and Europe, which makes the area one of the best areas to stay in Milan for those who make a train tour.

The station is opposite the Piazza Gae Aulenti, surrounded by modern skyscrapers with interesting architectural styles and very different from those seen in the Old Town. One of the most interesting buildings in the area is the Bosco Verticale, a residential complex lined with real trees.

The surroundings of the Stazione Garibaldi are among the best areas to stay in Milan for its relatively central location, as well as its shops, restaurants and hotels for all types of travellers.

Loreto is located northwest of Città Studi and is a mostly residential and quiet area that, over the last few years, has gained a new interest for its alternative nightlife, especially in the area known as NoLo or North of Loreto.

As its name suggests, NoLo is located in the north end of the neighbourhood, and it is a very hipster and gay-friendly area, ideal for young travellers who seek to know a different side of Milan in its bars and streets decorated with graffiti.

Similarly, Loreto has its own metro station in front of Piazzale Loreto, which makes moving to the central area of Milan and the Old Town, not a complicated task.

Loreto and NoLo are among the best areas to stay in Milan for its wide gastronomic offer, with affordable costs compared to the most touristic places in the capital of Lombardy.

Aeroporto Malpensa is the largest airport in the metropolitan area of Milan, and is located northwest of the city centre and the Old Town, next to the Ticino River.

This airport concentrates the highest percentage of international traffic in Italy, and is the second in terms of passenger movement, below Rome-Fiumicino.

The surroundings of the airport are home to many kinds of accommodation, especially business-type hotels, which makes it one of the best areas to stay in Milan for business travellers.

Similarly, the airport connects with the rest of the city by bus and train.