Best Things to Do in Milan with Kids 2026

Milan is most famous as Italy's fashion and finance capital, but the city offers families with children a surprisingly rich range of experiences beyond its high-end shopping reputation. The city's extraordinary collection of Renaissance art, excellent natural history and science museums, and easy access to the Italian Lakes make it a rewarding family base for exploring northern Italy. Australian families transiting through Milan's busy Malpensa Airport have good reason to build in additional days.

The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, painted directly onto the wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, is one of the most famous artworks in the world and one of the most difficult to visit without advance planning. Entry is timed in groups of 30 for 15-minute windows, and tickets must be booked months in advance, sometimes more than six months ahead during peak season. The experience of seeing the actual painting, despite its deteriorated condition, is genuinely profound for older children who have studied Renaissance art. The church exterior and cloister are worth visiting even if Last Supper tickets are unavailable.

Natural History Museum

The Milan Natural History Museum in the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens is one of Italy's oldest and most comprehensive natural history collections, with impressive dinosaur fossil exhibits, a large mineral and gemstone collection, and extensive zoological galleries. The museum is housed in a beautiful 19th-century building and is rarely crowded, making it an excellent choice for families seeking an unhurried educational experience. The surrounding public gardens have playgrounds and a small funfair that operates seasonally, making it easy to combine a museum morning with outdoor play time for younger children.

Science and Technology Museum

The National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in the Sant'Ambrogio neighbourhood is Italy's largest science museum and houses an extraordinary collection of interactive exhibits covering energy, transport, communication, and materials. The submarine Enrico Toti, a real Italian military submarine, can be toured internally on guided visits, which children consistently find among the most exciting museum experiences available in Milan. The railway pavilion contains historical steam locomotives and early electric trains that railway-enthusiast children find compelling. The museum's Leonardo da Vinci galleries display models based on his engineering notebooks.

Lake Como Day Trip

Lake Como, about 50 minutes north of Milan by train from Centrale station, is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Europe, surrounded by steep wooded mountains and dotted with historic villas. The ferry network connecting the lake's main towns of Como, Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio is excellent and children find the ferry hopping format inherently enjoyable. Swimming in the lake is safe in summer, and the lakeside towns have gelato shops, playgrounds, and restaurants with outdoor terraces. Bellagio is the most picturesque stop and the ferry connections make it an ideal day trip destination for families.

Brera Neighbourhood

The Brera neighbourhood in central Milan is the city's most charming quarter, with cobblestone streets, independent bookshops, street artists, and excellent aperitivo bars that accommodate families in the early evening. The Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery houses one of Italy's great Renaissance painting collections, with Raphael's Marriage of the Virgin and Mantegna's extraordinary Dead Christ among the highlights for older children studying art history. The piazza in front of the gallery has street artists and a pleasant atmosphere for outdoor rest between activities.

Practical Tips for Australian Families

Milan's best weather for families is April to June and September to October, with warm days and comfortable evenings. July and August are hot and humid. Milan is more expensive than southern Italian cities but less so than Zurich or London. The Milan Metro is excellent and covers most major attractions efficiently. Italian restaurants universally welcome children and the culture of family dining means children are comfortable in virtually any establishment. Book tickets for major attractions online well in advance, particularly the Last Supper. The Milan Duomo roof terraces are excellent for children and provide unbeatable views of the Gothic spires at close range.

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.