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Milan's 38km Naviglio Canal Path Joins Marathon Routes 2026
Milan pairs the central Parco Sempione loop behind Sforza Castle with Monte Stella, an artificial hill built from WWII rubble, and the 38 kilometre Naviglio Martesana canal towpath, all featured on the official Wizz Air Milano Marathon course.
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Milan is a genuinely flat city for the most part, but a handful of parks and a historic canal system give runners real variety, plus one unusual piece of elevation training built from the city's own history. Here are the best running routes in Milan for 2026.
Parco Sempione
Parco Sempione, directly behind Castello Sforzesco, offers a perimeter loop of roughly 3.5 kilometres on mixed gravel and paved paths, passing the Arco della Pace, the Arena Civica and the Triennale di Milano building. It is flat, shaded and highly popular with locals for short daily loops thanks to its central location.
Monte Stella
Combined with Parco Sempione, a longer route of about 12 kilometres links to Monte Stella, an artificial hill in the QT8 district built from rubble left over from World War Two bombing, rising about 50 metres with roughly 150 metres of cumulative elevation gain across a loop. Locally nicknamed "Il Monte di Munscitt", it is the closest thing to genuine hill training within Milan's city limits.
The Naviglio Martesana Towpath
A dedicated pedestrian and cycle path runs about 38 kilometres alongside the Naviglio Martesana canal, connecting central Milan out toward the river Adda. A popular runner's combination links this towpath with Parco Lambro for a loop of around 14 kilometres, flat and tree-lined, following the historic Milanese canal system.
Idroscalo Park
Idroscalo Park, an artificial lake about 10 kilometres east of the centre near Linate Airport, offers a roughly 6 to 7 kilometre loop path around the waterfront, flat and green, popular for longer steady runs alongside open-water swimmers.
Running the Milano Marathon Route
The Wizz Air Milano Marathon, a flat, IAAF-certified 42.195 kilometre course with only about 70 metres of total elevation gain, starts at Corso Sempione and finishes at Piazza del Duomo, passing the Arco della Pace, Castello Sforzesco, Porta Venezia, the San Siro stadium, the CityLife skyscraper district and the Navigli, effectively a running tour of the city's landmarks.
Practical Guide to Running in Milan
Parco Sempione and the Naviglio Martesana are the most reliable choices for a flat, scenic run; Monte Stella is worth the detour for anyone wanting genuine elevation within the city.
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