Over the Summer we visited Milan with the kids and although it can often feel overwhelming to visit large cities with young children, I can honestly say it felt completely relaxed. For a start Milan is a very laid back city, spread over a large area, so you can easily go from the thriving centre at the Piazza del Duomo to the relaxing neighbourhood of the Navigli and do as much or as little as you choose. Although we love to just go with the flow and see where our travels take us, pre-planning your accommodation and attraction tickets is a sensible choice if you’re visiting at peak times. And, with the benefit of hindsight, I thought I would share our top tops for visiting Milan with kids.

Where to stay?

If you’re looking for luxury family accommodation in the centre of Milan then the Hilton Milan offers just that. Situated just two blocks from Milan Central Station, you can take a coach from Bergamo airport to the station (25 euros for a family of 5) and walk just a few minutes direct to the hotel. Next door you’ll find a Europcar hire shop where you can arrange and collect your car for the duration of your stay, and next door to that an Aldi supermarket so you can be sure to have everything you need right on your doorstep.

The hotel itself is beautiful with a range of rooms to suit all travellers including interconnecting for the larger than average family. There’s free wifi, a fitness centre, room service, concierge and an on-site restaurant – cotoliAMO – which is most definitely worth booking during your stay. Breakfast is a self service buffet and the perfect way to set yourself up for a long day of exploring. We averaged around 15 miles a day exploring the city so a good breakfast is paramount!

Although it was lovely to be in Milan and enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, we loved that at the end of each day we could go back to our hotel room, close the door and enjoy the peace and quiet as we got some much needed rest. Should you be planning a visit to Milan in the future I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hotel and you can find out more via the website here.

Top tip: Join Hilton Honours for free and get exclusive rates when you book on Hilton.com or via the app. 

Walk as much as possible

Even with kids, my top tip would always be to walk as much as possible during a city break. That doesn’t mean that you have to walk for miles on end, but when you’re walking the streets it’s only then you discover the real hidden gems and Milan has so many of them to offer. Down every street you will find hidden courtyards and doors to peer behind, not to mention the most incredible bars, restaurants, cafes and gelateries which give you the perfect excuse to stop and take a breather. Although Milan has an extensive rail and metro network, as well as sight seeing tours direct from the Duomo, walking is the best way to really appreciate the city and don’t forget to look up because the skyscrapers here in Milan are so impressive!!

Top tip: For those with small children get a hop on/hop off bus pass so you can jump on a bus at any time if their legs get a little tired. 

Pre-book tickets for the Duomo

Although as I said, we are definitely a family who likes to wing our way around city breaks, one thing I would recommend is pre-booking your tickets for the Duomo. The Duomo – the Cathedral of Milan – is undoubtedly the most popular tourist attraction and sees five million visitors through the doors each year. Spanning over six centuries the Duomo is absolutely beautiful to look at and one of my favourite things about our visit was climbing the stairs to the roof top terraces and enjoying panoramic views of the city below. It’s not often you get to walk at the very top of a Cathedral and as lovely as it was for Gaz and I to admire the architecture, it was equally fun for the kids to feel on top of the world.

The great thing with pre-booking your tickets is obviously that you join a shorter queue and believe me, in the height of Summer when it’s pushing 40 degrees, the last thing you want to be doing is queueing on concrete paths waiting for your turn. We booked in advance with Getyourguide.com for the best price and a fast track inside. You can find out more here.

Top tip: As a sign of respect bare shoulders are not allowed inside the Cathedral so take a t-shirt or wrap in your bag as this is expected in other churches throughout Italy also.

Visit Sempione Park

I think when you’re visiting a large city such as Milan with kids, some downtime is so needed and Sempione Park is the perfect place to take a breather. Built between 1890 and 1893, Sempione Park was made to imitate a traditional English garden but with all of the Italian charm you would expect from Milan. With beautiful gardens and a stunning artificial lake spanning 47 hectares it’s a public place to sit down and relax, get a bite to eat from one of the kiosks in the centre, seek some shade under the large trees or do a work out circuit on the outdoor gym equipment. Our children loved watching the terrepins from a bridge onto the lake which was a real highlight for them during our stay.

The great thing is that everywhere you turn within the park you will see a historic monument or point of interest in the distance so you can easily navigate your sightseeing in and out of the park. Make sure you take a visit to the Arco della Pace (the Arch of Peace) which was originally built back in 1807 to commemorate Napoleons victories and then completed in 1838 to celebrate the Italian unification.

Top tip: Take bug spray with you!!! 

Spend time in the Navigli District 

Although the centre of Milan offers the most well known attractions and historical monuments, it is so worth spending some time in the Navigli District. For those with younger children you can take a tram or a bus, or those who prefer to walk it’s around 40 minutes from the centre. I had no idea until our visit that back in the 12th century Milan constructed their very first navigabile canal and by the 15th century a system of locks used for the transportation of people and goods for irrigation. It was only in the 20th century with the introduction of trams and trains as a means of transport that almost all of Milans beautiful canals were completely covered with just two remaining.

These days the Navigli District is reminiscent of Burano, Venice with the ancient bridges across the Naviglio Grande with bars, restaurants, gelateries and shops running along each side. Here you will find art galleries, artisan markets held on the last Sunday of each month and in the evening the district transforms into the the most entertaining and bustling area of the city.

Top tip: If you have kids they will adore the street art found on the bridges of Naviglio Grande. This one is a photo opportunity too good to miss!