Milan is known for quite a few things: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the Duomo, the fashion…read morecapital of the world, and more. Castello Sforzesco, while it doesn't get as much hype, is on par with the aforementioned attractions. It's a must-visit while in Milan! We saw the castle as part of a tour which did a gross injustice because the tour guide only spent about 20 minutes at the attraction. We ended up skipping the rest of the tour to spend more time at Sforzesco. Located in the heart of Milan, Castello Sforzesco is one of the largest castles in Europe. It's free to enter. Once you do, marvel at the medieval architecture. You can also check out the park adjacent to the castle where you'll find a large statue of Napoleon along with other goodies. While entering the castle is free, you have to pay to see the various museums inside the castle. The most prominent is the one that features Michaelangelo's Pieta. The famous artist's last work, although unfinished, is one of his most notable works. Beyond this museum, there's plenty more to visit. We spent three hours or so at the castle and didn't have time to visit everything before it closed. Make sure to make it part of your Milan itinerary!

This is a campus of museums- you could spend an entire day here alone!…read more We visited prior to another tour so only explored the campus itself not any of the museums- impressive! Many many various courtyards that all have a different purpose & feel. I am sad we did not have more time here to explore but we had not researched the area enough to... shame on our loss

Rem Koolhaas is an amazing architect and one of my favorite buildings I've ever been to is his…read moreSeattle Public Library. When I found out he designed this museum I had to go. It's in a repurposed old distillery and new meets old in this pleasant space. It was founded by Miuccia Prada the owner of Prada, Miu Miu, helmet lang, etc... and her billions went to good use as no expense was spared. The bathrooms and locker room are a must visit. The decorative panels are normal construction material but it's been powder coated lime green and feels much more elevated. The bathrooms are the nicest and most interesting I've used in a long time. Each one is private and there is a lightbulb above the door where you can easily see which is open. It's a very large space and the best part is the "tower" you climb. It's 10 stories with something different every wall, you also get a great view of Milan cityscape the higher you go. Probably the most famous exhibits are by Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst. Both works are representative of their style as artists. The most memorable one is the mushroom room which you enter after following a handrail in complete darkness.

If you are into contemporary and experimental art and installations and interesting exhibition…read morespaces, this is a MUST-visit if you are in Milan. I'm not going to detail what you will see, it will ruin the surprise(s). Especially awesome is the elevator in the 10 story building, the bathroom on the 1st floor (the 2nd floor by American counting), the restaurant on the 6th floor with views, and all of the other site-specific buildings on the grounds, with installations. Simply, just GO.

When I was a long haired teenager I would use my Grandmothers Opera tickets in San Francisco and…read moreexperience Wagner, Puccini, Verde etc... I love all opera houses and one of the Grand Dame's of them is Teatro alla Scala: Simple on the outside...stunning on the inside. Amazing history Take the tour it is well worth it even if you don't care about opera

Oh wow front row seats to Cav/Pag snd it was an unforgettable experience!!!…read more Pluses -front row center is worth it! So easy to hear and see the singers -comfy seats and plenty of leg room -easy to get to bathroom and cloak room -amazing acoustics and gorgeous theater Areas to improve None So I had the actor Mattia Olivieri come sit next to me during the performance of Pagliacci and I was awestruck!!! Highly recommended!!!

A very cool place to enjoy not only movies, but to hang around with friends. With a restaurant,…read morebookshop, exhibition space and film courses - not to mention three screens showing everything - this is one of Milan's best cinemas. Original language films are shown every week for those cultural geeks. I really enjoyed meeting this place.

The Duomo was truly breathtaking and incredibly intricate. We spent a long time admiring the…read moredetails. We purchased the terrace access via stairs for 15 euro each for 9:30 am. I recommend showing up earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds. There are different entrances depending on the ticket you purchase. The staircase is narrow and the turns are quick and can feel a little claustrophobic. Every part of the Duomo is worth taking a moment to take it in.

Magical and a must visit if you are in the city of Milan…read more Be sure to secure a reservation online and print out the tickets or you can just open your phone to scan your QR code. You can buy tickets the day of, but the lines were so long. I wouldn't recommend it! You don't want to spend your day waiting in line. Reserving a time slot online was soooo easy!! People who secure online can bypass the line by simply walking towards the BACK. There will be a lot of workers to help guide you. Before going into the cathedral, there is a restroom to use but for a fee. 2 euros per person and I paid with a credit card. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The cathedral is not stroller friendly and it is not handicap friendly so keep that in mind. You will have to walk up and down stairs. Very manageable! Give yourself time to enjoy the cathedral in all the angles!

Probably much better in spring time than in September...yes, there is an entrance on Via Privata…read moreFratelli Gabba (near the Bulgari hotel), at the end of the street, on the far right (hidden from view unless you're facing the entrance). It's not necessary to go through the Brera museum. Guess this means I will need to return to Milan for a third time, eventually...someday!

An art and design museum founded in the 1930s, the thing I loved most about it was a lot of it was…read morefree though I regret not paying for the special exhibit on Italian design on the first floor. The layout is interesting with a linear entryway that gets broken up by stairs on one side that leads you up to the free exhibits. There were furniture designs and modern art pieces displayed here. The most interesting parts during my visit were the "free" playground pieces outside by Naoto Fukasawa. My friends kid loved playing on these and nice to see such humble objects displayed right outside the museum. Upstairs they had a special section dedicated to Emeco, an American furniture maker, which was interesting to find in Italy. They are most known for the all aluminum "naval chair" in continuous production since 1940s. It's pure utilitarian and interesting to see it respected as museum-worthy.

The main (paid) exhibition of the Triennale tells the story of modern design (pre-dominantely…read moreItalian). They have many interesting and famous pieces of furniture. What is fun and unique about this exhibit is that you can try almost all the chairs! Some are more comfortable than others and they aren't always the ones that you expect. They offer a special program/game for kids who are going through the exhibit to help make it more entertaining. They also almost always have an exhibition or two that is free for you to explore as well. In addition to the bookstore, there is a design library downstairs and a section for workshops/study near the entrance. I've enjoyed the cafe here more than once and although I've not attended, they also offer an apertivo in the evening. Once you are done, it's great to stroll through Parco Sempione.

Not a bad small aquarium. Some interesting exhibits. Infrastructure is a little in disrepair but…read moreanimals seem well cared for. Admission reasonable. You can get through entire facility in under an hour. Not a destination but if into aquariums, worth checking out.

This is a small aquarium on the edge of Parco Sempione. Being a 'land locked' city, I was surprised…read moreto find an aquarium here. The main level has a series of tanks containing different species and are great for very young children as the tanks sit on floor level. Outside, in the back, are a number of pools containing a variety of aquatic life including several turtles. There is a children's arts room on the upper level and a conference room where they were offering a slide show presentation in Italian. On the lower level was an art exhibit, based on sea life. Of course. It's a great day out with the kids and/or a good rainy day activity.