Where to Stay in Milan in 2023 (Best Areas & Places)

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Milan

Milan is a very well-designed, easy-to-navigate city. There is a main city center and many interesting neighborhoods surrounding it. However, each Milan neighborhood has its own benefits and disadvantages. There are some essential things to know before committing to an area. 

Duomo / Centro Storico

👉 Best Area For Famous Attractions & First Time Visitors | ✨ Best Duomo Hotels: Hotel Gran Duca Di York • ODSweet Duomo Milano Hotel • Milan Retreats Duomo

The Duomo neighborhood, also known as Centro Storico, is right in Milan’s city center. It’s a fantastic area to stay for first-time visitors to Milan. 

All the main attractions are situated within walking distance of Piazza del Duomo, including Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Ambrosian Library. You can also take advantage of Milan’s fashion scene here by shopping on Via Torino.  

The other advantage of staying around the city center is that there are highly-rated hotels with tempting amenities. 

Milan Retreats Duomo offers visitors rooms that can accommodate up to 8 people, grocery deliveries, air conditioning, and even a helpful hotel shuttle. Plus, it’s just a short walk from the Duomo Cathedral. 

Pros of Staying in Duomo/Centro Storico Neighborhood:

• Central location in the heart of Milan’s city center 
• Lots of hotels
• All the city’s top tourist attractions nearby
• Walkable with lots of metro stops
• Tons of good restaurants

Cons of Staying in Duomo/Centro Storico Neighborhood:

• Very busy
• Touristy
• Expensive

Brera

👉 Best Area For Quaint Charm & Artsy Vibes | ✨ Best Brera Hotels: Milan Royal Suites • Hotel Milano Castello • Hotel Milano Scala

Brera is close to all the action around the historic center without being directly in the madness. There is always a metro station within walking distance to go anywhere. It’s a really convenient location to stay in Milan with cobbled streets and a more intimate charm. 

This Milan neighborhood is a very artsy spot. There are famous art museums like Pinacoteca di Brera and smaller galleries and art supply stores along Via Brera. It’s a fantastic place to stay in Milan for art lovers.

Many of the hotels around Brera also embody this artistic flare, such as Hotel Milano Castello. This Brera hotel is expertly decorated to make the rooms feel luxurious. There are tons of beautiful common spaces at this hotel, like the bar, garden, and terrace. 

Pros of Staying in Brera Neighborhood:

• Artsy atmosphere 
• Close to lots of other cool Milan neighborhoods
• Next to Sempione Park
• Excellent restaurants with a variety of cuisine 

Cons of Staying in Brera Neighborhood:

• Limited accommodations during peak season
• Difficult to find parking
• A bit noisy and crowded

Isola

👉 Best Area For Trendy Bars & Budget Travelers | ✨ Best Isola Hotels: BB Hotels Aparthotel Isola • Hotel Zara Milano • BePlace Apartments in Gae Aulenti

Isola is a Milan neighborhood with a big personality and stylish atmosphere. There are tons of green spaces and the district is covered in massive, colorful murals by local street artists. 

It is a bit far away from the main Milan attractions, which can be a good thing for veteran travelers who want a more authentic atmosphere. There is still a lot of life pumping through the veins of the neighborhood with establishments like Lucky Bar and the Blue Note Jazz Club. 

Isola is also an ideal place to stay in Milan for budget travelers because the accommodations tend to be a bit cheaper around this area. 

For instance, prices at the highly-rated BB Hotels Aparthotel Isola average around $125 per night even during the high season. Just make sure you book in advance to get those deals. 

Pros of Staying in Isola Neighborhood:

• Dynamic atmosphere
• Incredible array of bars
• Delicious restaurants 
• Affordable

Cons of Staying in Isola Neighborhood:

• Far outside the city center 
• Fewer hotels to choose from

Navigli

👉 Best Area For Captivating Nightlife | ✨ Best Navigli Hotels: Combo Milano • B&B El Brumista • Art Hotel Navigli

The Navigli neighborhood is the most romantic place to stay in Milan thanks to its prime location right on the Naviglio Grande canal. All along the water, you’ll find incredible restaurants with very good prices for fresh food, like SCIUÉ Navigli and Osteria Della Darsena.

There is a very lively nightlife scene in Navigli with a variety of different styles of bars. There are fancy cocktail bars, like Rita and RAL, and pubs, like Navigli Craft Beer and Wizard. There are even nightclubs around like Dirty Mondays, which fittingly is only open on Mondays. 

Navigli hosts some of Milan’s top hidden gem hotels, including Art Hotel Navigli. Art Hotel Navigli is brilliantly decorated and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. There is even a fully equipped wellness center with massages, private parking, and a lovely sun terrace. 

Pros of Staying in Navigli Neighborhood:

• Amazing, affordable restaurants 
• Right on the water
• Many hotels to choose from
• Art galleries 
• Incredible nightlife with a variety of different bars

Cons of Staying in Navigli Neighborhood:

• Few attractions 
• Lots of tourists 
• Removed from the city center

Zona Tortona

👉 Best Area For Fashion & Luxury | ✨ Best Zona Tortona Hotels: Magna Pars l’Hotel à Parfum • Savona 18 Suites • Nhow Milan

Zona Tortona’s claim to fame is being the host of Milan’s famous fashion week. Milan is known across the world for its fashion brands. So, these events are a huge deal in the city and happen annually in September and February. 

Zona Tortona is a fashion-heavy neighborhood no matter what time of year you visit, making it an ideal spot for window shopping. Public transportation is plentiful throughout the area and it only takes around 25 to 30 minutes to reach the city center on the metro.  

This Milan neighborhood is a luxury paradise. Some of Milan’s fanciest hotels and nicest restaurants are all tucked away in Zona Tortona. 

Both Magna Pars l’Hotel à Parfum and Nhow Milan demonstrate how opulent Milan can really be. These hotels cater to your every whim and make you feel like royalty on a trip to Milan. 

Pros of Staying in Zona Tortona Neighborhood:

• Loads of fashion culture to explore
• Boutique shops all around
• Events happening often
• Best luxury hotels  

Cons of Staying in Zona Tortona Neighborhood:

• Limited tourist attractions
• Very expensive
• Noisy and crowded during big events

Porta Garibaldi

👉 Best Area For Business Travelers & Day Trips | ✨ Best Porta Garibaldi Hotels: Urban Hive Milano • Hotel Manin • Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze • Hotel VIU

The Porta Garibaldi neighborhood is located north of the city center. It’s the best place to stay for business travelers and day-trippers. It’s also very easy to reach Milan’s Malpensa Airport from this area.

Porta Garibaldi is only a 20-minute walk away from Milan Central Train Station where you can get to any other region in Italy. It’s a good home base to take day trips to explore the Lombardy region.

The hotels around Porta Garibaldi are accommodating for business travelers and make it easy to navigate the city. Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze is a modern hotel in Porta Garibaldi that’s great for these types of visitors. 

The rooms are immaculate with comfy beds and black-out curtains to beat any jet lag. The grounds also feature a business center with 5 meeting rooms, a stunning rooftop bar, and two different restaurants right inside the hotel. 

Pros of Staying in Porta Garibaldi Neighborhood:

• Near Milano Porta Garibaldi train station, Milan Central Station, and metro stops
• Easy access to Milan Airport and other neighborhoods
• Many hotel options 
• Yummy and affordable restaurants 
• Great shopping scene

Cons of Staying in Porta Garibaldi Neighborhood:

• Limited greenery 
• Noisy 
• Not very charming scenery 

Porta Venezia

👉 Best Area For Families & Cultural Sightseeing | ✨ Best Porta Venezia Hotels: Sospeso Boutique Hotel • Ai Suma Hotel • Château Monfort

Porta Venezia is one of the best places to stay in Milan for families. This quiet neighborhood is located adjacent to the bustling city center. It has easy access to major attractions without being too close. It’s a laid-back area that’s known for being calm, safe, and LGBTQ+-friendly.  

Kid-friendly cultural attractions like the Milan Natural History Museum, Galleria d’Arte Moderna, and Indro Montanelli Gardens are all located in Porta Venezia. There is also a pretty big shopping scene along the lengthy Corsa Buenos Aires.

Ai Suma Hotel in Porta Venezia has rooms for one to four people, so it’s great for families. The hotel has amenities that can ease the stress of traveling with kids, such as shuttle services, room soundproofing, a big daily breakfast, and planned walking tours. 

Pros of Staying in Porta Venezia Neighborhood:

• LGBTQ+ friendly 
• Gorgeous boutique hotels 
• Centrally located
• Safe and peaceful 
• Museums and cultural attractions to explore

Cons of Staying in Porta Venezia Neighborhood:

• Pricey 
• Few hotels 
• Limited nightlife scene 

Tips for Staying in Milan

Get Food at the Train Station in Milan Central Market

Mercato Centrale Milano is the best place for indecisive eaters to eat in Milan. This upbeat market is filled with tempting food options and there is plenty of seating around the market, too. 

The cool thing about Milan Central Market is that it’s located inside the city’s main train station that connects Milan to other places in Italy. It’s a convenient stop to grab a snack before a day trip. 

Try Pizza From A Variety Of Establishments

Milan (and Italy in general) has more pizza places than anywhere else on earth. Don’t just stop with the first slice you find! There are a bunch of fantastic pizzerias around Milan to try, like Piz, Pizza AM, Maruzzella, and MARGHE.  

Buy Handmade Street Souvenirs Near the Parks and Outside the City Center

There are all types of souvenirs to buy around Milan, including handmade works of art for surprisingly affordable prices. 

I bought the little painting pictured above for just 10 EUR near Sempione Park. You may even want to bring a hard-cover folder for all the potential artwork you buy in Milan.   

Beware of Scams Near the Duomo Cathedral and Other Tourist Attractions

Milan’s biggest tourist attractions are swarming with people at all times. That makes it the perfect environment for scammers to pull one over on unsuspecting tourists. 

Stay vigilant at major attractions like the Duomo Cathedral. Pickpocketing is the most common way to get into trouble. There are also more elaborate scams, like the photo swindle where a scammer takes your photo and then overcharges you.

Stay Outside of Milan’s City Center for Cheaper Accommodations

Milan is known for being one of the most expensive places to visit in Italy. Luckily, you can reduce your expenses a little by smartly mapping out where to stay in Milan.

Outside Central Milan is the cheapest place to stay for visitors and full-time residents. Staying in a neighborhood like Città Studi, Porta Romana, or Isola can save you a lot of money in Milan. 

Don’t Expect to Find Private Parking at Milan Hotels in the City Center

Finding parking in the middle of Milan is nearly impossible unless you’re staying very far outside the city center. Most hotels in the city don’t offer private parking either. That’s why you’re better off relying on public transportation or walking on a stay in Milan. 

Visitors who absolutely need their ride in Milan should try to stay outside of the city center for a shot at getting parking with your room. 

FAQs About Where to Stay in Milan

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Thanks for checking out my guide to where to stay in Milan. Which part of the city is your cup of tea? Before you go, don’t forget to read my complete breakdown of Milan vs Florence – Which is Best? (Honest Pros & Cons).