Best Parks in Milan: 10 Green Spaces You Shouldn’t Miss in the City
The 10 best parks in Milan for relaxing, taking a walk or playing with kids. A local-friendly guide to the city's top green spaces, easy to reach and free.
When you think about Milan, parks might not be the first thing that comes to your mind. But the city is full of green spots where you can unwind, take a walk or just sit in the sun. Spring and early autumn are the best times to enjoy them.
Here’s a list of the 10 best parks in Milan, with simple tips on what to see, do and enjoy in each one of them.
1. Parco Sempione: The Most Iconic Park in Milan
Parco Sempione sits right behind Castello Sforzesco and stretches all the way to Arco della Pace. It’s one of Milan’s best-known parks.
Locals come here to walk, run or hang out with their dogs, while visitors often discover it by accident and end up staying longer than planned. We recommend visiting it during weekdays, when it’s calmer and not too busy.
Families typically head to the playgrounds or visit the Civic Aquarium, one of the oldest in Europe. If you’re into architecture or design, don’t miss the nearby Triennale Design Museum. For a great view over Milan, climb Torre Branca, where you’ll see the whole skyline over the city.
- 📍 Location: 20121 Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM (seasonal)
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Cairoli (M1), Lanza or Cadorna (M2)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Torre Branca, Civic Aquarium, Triennale Design Museum
2. Giardini Indro Montanelli: History, Culture and Nature
Get off the metro at Porta Venezia and you’ll be right next to one of Milan’s oldest parks. The Giardini Indro Montanelli are in the city center, but they feel calm and timeless.
If you’re into museums, there’s the Museo di Storia Naturale (yes, with dinosaur skeletons!) and a Planetarium that’s great if you feel like staring at stars in the middle of the day. And if you’re visiting in winter, stop by the Christmas Village. There are lights, music and even an ice skating rink.
- 📍 Location: Via Palestro, 20121 Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM (seasonal)
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Porta Venezia (M1)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Natural History Museum, Planetarium, Christmas Village (in winter)
3. BAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi: Modern Green Space
Right behind the glass towers of Porta Nuova, just steps away from Bosco Verticale, there’s a park that feels more like a living installation than a traditional green space. BAM (short for Biblioteca degli Alberi) is one of Milan’s newest and most original parks.
During the week, it’s full of people grabbing lunch outdoors or walking their dogs. On weekends, it becomes a community hub: kids at the playground, people stretching on yoga mats, locals chatting on benches or enjoying one of the many events hosted here (like open-air concerts, talks, workshops and festivals).
- 📍 Location: Via Gaetano de Castillia, 28, 20124 Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Always open
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Gioia (M2), Isola (M5), Garibaldi (M2/M5)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Birch tree circles, modern playground, open-air events and yoga classes
4. Parco delle Basiliche: Green Space in the Heart of History
Just a short walk from the Navigli area, Parco delle Basiliche sits between two old churches: San Lorenzo and Sant’Eustorgio. It’s quiet and peaceful, not as famous as other parks in the city, but loved by locals for its relaxed vibe.
You’ll find open lawns, rose bushes and shady paths that make it easy to relax. Kids play on the playgrounds, people sit on the grass and some enjoy a quiet moment with a book. In spring, the rose garden near Sant’Eustorgio adds a nice splash of color.
It’s close to everything (Navigli, Porta Ticinese and the Colonne di San Lorenzo) so lots of people come here: students, couples and families. On a nice day, it’s the perfect spot for a walk before grabbing an aperitivo at a nearby bar.
- 📍 Location: 20121 Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Open daily, 6:30 AM - 11:30 PM
- 🚇 Nearest metro: M2 Sant’Ambrogio or M3 Missori (15-min walk)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Rose garden, playground, central location near Navigli
5. Giardino della Guastalla: A Peaceful Historic Hideout
The Giardino della Guastalla is actually one of the oldest green spaces in Milan and definitely among the most peaceful.
In the middle of the garden, there’s a small pond with stone edges, old trees all around and tidy gravel paths. People come here to read, eat lunch quietly or just relax in the shade. It’s a peaceful place that feels like it hasn’t changed all over the years.
- 📍 Location: Pescheria barocca, Via Francesco Sforza, 20122 Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Usually 7 AM – 9 PM (varies by season)
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Crocetta (M3) or Missori (M3)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Baroque pond, shaded benches, quiet paths
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🗺️ 2 Days in Milan Itinerary
6. CityLife Park: Art and Play in a Futuristic Setting
If you're curious about Milan's modern side, check out CityLife Park near the Tre Torri area. It’s surrounded by some pretty eye-catching skyscrapers: locals call them il Dritto, lo Storto and il Curvo because of their shapes.
The park mixes green space with creativity. You’ll find the ArtLine, an open-air art trail with big contemporary sculptures, and the Orti Fioriti, small gardens full of herbs and seasonal flowers.
Kids can play in the big playground while adults relax on the lawn or stroll around. It’s a nice spot for a casual picnic or just to enjoy a quieter corner of a busy neighborhood.
- 📍 Location: Piazza Elsa Morante, 20145 Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Always open
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Tre Torri (M5)
- ⚡️ Highlights: ArtLine sculptures, flower gardens, large playground
7. Monte Stella: A Hill with a View
Locals call it la Montagnetta di San Siro and it’s one of the best spots to catch panoramic views over the Milanese skyline, especially at sunset hour.
Monte Stella was built after World War II using rubble from bombed buildings. Today, it’s a quiet green hill not far from the San Siro stadium. With wide spaces and gentle paths, it’s a favorite spot for people who like to walk, run or relax outdoors.
Along the path, you’ll come across shady spots to relax, benches to take a break, plus a memorial honoring the victims of the Holocaust and war deportations.
- 📍 Location: Via Enrico Terzaghi, 20148 Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Always open
- 🚇 Nearest metro: QT8 (M1)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Panoramic city view, Holocaust Memorial, San Siro Museum nearby
8. Parco Nord: Nature, Sports and Biodiversity
If you want to spend a full day outdoors, Parco Nord is a great choice. It’s one of Milan’s biggest parks, stretching for miles through areas like Niguarda and Sesto San Giovanni. With over 600 hectares of grass, trees and paths, it feels like you're far from the city even though you're still in it.
There’s lots of space to bike, run or walk in the nature. You’ll find quiet woods, big grassy areas, small lakes and many places to stop for a picnic.
- 📍 Location: Via Gian Carlo Clerici, 150, 20099 Sesto San Giovanni
- ⏰ Opening hours: Always open
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Bignami (M5), Ponale (M5), Comasina (M3)
- ⚡️ Highlights: Bike and running trails, playgrounds, picnic spots
9. Boscoincittà: A Forest Inside the City
As its name suggests, Boscoincittà is literally a forest inside Milan. Located near San Siro, along Via Novara, this park covers over 120 hectares and offers a real slice of countryside life without leaving the city.
It’s a special park with trails in the woods, wide grassy areas, fruit trees, a small lake and even a barbecue zone (just book it in advance). There are also community gardens and spaces for learning run by the Italia Nostra group.
Boscoincittà is perfect for families looking for a nature-filled day out, for hikers who want a green trail close to their home or for anyone who simply needs a breath of fresh air.
- 📍 Location: Via Novara, 390, 20153 Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (longer in summer)
- 🚇 Nearest metro: San Siro Stadio (M5), then bus 80
- ⚡️ Highlights: Forest trails, lake, picnic areas, barbecue zone (booking required)
10. Parco delle Cave: Lakes, Silence and Local Vibes
Parco delle Cave is in the west of Milan, near Baggio, and it’s one of the quietest parks in the city. It used to be a quarry, but now it’s a peaceful green space with lakes, trees and long walking paths where you can really relax.
Locals come here to walk their dogs, fish or enjoy a break away from the traffic and the noise of the city center. It’s not unusual to spot ducks, turtles or even a heron if you look closely.
- 📍 Location: Parco delle Cave, Via Bianca Milesi, 2, Milan
- ⏰ Opening hours: Always open
- 🚇 Nearest metro: Bisceglie (M1) + short bus ride
- ⚡️ Highlights: Four lakes, peaceful walking paths, birdwatching
Conclusion
Whether you’re with kids, on a romantic walk or just need a quiet break from museums and shops, these parks are perfect for slowing down and enjoying a calmer side of Lombard capital.
Most of them are easy to reach by metro or tram. So grab a snack, bring a book or a ball and go discover the greener side of Milan: you might find your new favorite spot in the city.
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