Milan with kids: What to see in a weekend
When we think about cultural city to explore in Italy with the family, we surely think about the most famous one, like Rome, Florence or Venice. But there is actually a lot to see and to do in the wonderful Milan, even for the children. This city is not just the capital of Italian fashion, it has in fact a lot of attraction and museum that are perfect for our beloved little one. And as you know, Italy is well known for its family spirit, so you will fell welcomed everywhere.
1. The Milan Dom
The easiest way to start your vacation here, is to go directly to the city center and see the magnificent Dom of Milan. These cathedral is an incredible piece of art that will take your breathe away with all of its statues and decoration.
After looking the cathedral from the inside, I highly suggest you to go all the way up to enjoy the wonderful view above the city. This is an unique experience to see Milan at once.
2. Castello Sforzesco
The Castello Sforzesco is one of the symbol of Milan. The children will just love this place that evoke stories of old King and princess! In this castle you will also find a lot of museum that you should visit, like: Musical instrument Museum, Museo dell arte antica, archeological Museum and the furniture museum.
In fact it’s possible to buy a convenient entrance ticket to visit all of them, even if the most interesting for children are probably the music instrument one and the armerie. If you are generally not interested in those museum, you can take a walk (for free) at the wonderful patio inside of the castle.
3. Parco Sempione
Next to the Castle, there is the real breathing place of the city: Parco Sempione.
The children will surely have a lot of fun playing around the parc, while you can enjoy a cappuccino at one of the bars located inside the parc. In the middle of it there is also a small lake animated by its animals, like fishes, birds and turtles.
Take your family also to see the fountain ” Bagni misteriosi”, a really big sculpture made from the artist Giorgio de Chirico and also the Mermaid bridge, adorned with 4 mermaid.
4. National museum for science and technology Leonardo da Vinci
This is the biggest museum in Italy about science and technology and is dedicated to the famous painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci. I recommend you to see the machine created from the scratch of Leonardo and the the transport gallery, the children will surely love the first train ever built. If you buy an additional ticket, you can also enter in a real submarine and discover how it works. This is the submarine “Toti” and is the first one ever built in Italy after the Second World War.
5. Natural history Museum
Are your children passionate about science, animals and dinosaurs? Then you cannot leave Milan without a visit at the Natural history Museum! This might not be a big as other European science museum, but is for sure really interesting. There are a lot of galleries dedicated to minerals, dinosaurs, zoology, extincted animals and plants.
6. Navigli and Darsena
Did you know that you can navigate through the canal in Milan? I am talking about the “Navigli “, one of the most suggesting and characteristic place in this city, that still has a part of the ancient canal, that once crossed Milan. Along the Navigli, you will find many restaurants and bars to drink and eat something, but also some good art and antiquities shops. Take your time for a walk here and you I’ll find yourself walking through history. The children will surely like the colorful “Vicolo delle lavandaie” where you can still see the old lavatory that the washerwoman used.
Also enjoy a walk in the Darsena, the small canal that connect the two Navigli.
Where to eat in Milan
Like every big city, Milan offers a variety of restaurants and fast food. If you want to try something typical, then you have to order “risotto all a milanese”, which is risotto with saffron, or “cotoletta alla milanese”, a fried steak.
If you are looking for some family places to eat, get a look to this restaurants:
Pollicino: located in the area called “Isola”, is perfect to have pizza, hamburger and chicken. On Saturday there are also activities for children.
The “Mamusca” is a sort of bar-library for children: here you can read and eat at the same time!
Another family friendly restaurant is the “Mom’s the family bar”, loved from parents that can rest enjoying coffee or something to eat, and from the children that can play in the fun area.
Here you find our cheap hotels in Milan.
