Don't know what to see in Milan? Here you find 10 museums you can't miss
Milan has become a real financial center, but this should not make us forget that it is also a city full of art and culture. Whether you are an art lover or not, the city has the right answer for you, hosting museums and exhibitions ranging from ancient to modern and contemporary art, up to natural and religious history. In this collection, we have selected for you those museums to visit for the first time or to see to spend a different day.
MUSEO DEL NOVECENTO
Piazza del Duomo
The Museo del Novecento, located in the Palazzo dell'Arengario and opened to the public since 2010, houses a permanent collection of Italian art of the twentieth century. The exhibition welcomes the visitor with a spiral ramp, which runs along a series of collective and monographic rooms, until you reach the top floor, which has a beautiful panoramic view of Piazza del Duomo. For more information visit the official site.
MUSEO DEL DUOMO AND CATHEDRAL
Piazza del Duomo
Located on the ground floor of the Royal Palace, a visit to the museum is recommended before seeing the Cathedral itself. This is because, in addition to telling the story of this magnificent monument, it also allows you to admire the works present in the Cathedral up close. The museum offers different types of tickets, which include more or less monuments to visit, depending on your needs. To know the most suitable type, we refer you to the official website.
CASTELLO SFORZESCO
Piazza del Castello
The Castle, one of the most important symbols of the city, was hated by the local people in the past as it was considered a symbol of foreign power. The Castle, which overlooks Sempione Park, houses a wide range of museums, archives and temporary exhibitions including: the Egyptian Museum, the Pietà Rondanini Museum and the Archaeological Museum. The Castle represents an element of the city that, together with the park, cannot be missed on the list of things to see in Milan. For more information on exhibitions and museums inside visit the site.
PINANOTECA DI BRERA
Via Brera, 38
The art gallery, certainly one of the most famous museums in the city, is located at the palace of the same name. Built on an ancient convent, the museum opened in 1776 at the behest of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. The art gallery houses important works including The Kiss by Hayez, for which a visit is a must. The cost of the ticket is 15€ for the full one and 10€ for the reduced one. For more information visit the site.
CENACOLO VINCIANO
Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 2
Another important museum that should not be missed in the list of things to see in Milan is the Cenacolo Vinciano, where you can admire Leonardo's Last Supper and Donato Montorfano's Crucifixion. Due to its peculiarity, access is allowed only by reservation, which must be made three months in advance. So its visit must be booked in advance. For information on reservations use the following link.
MUSEO DELLE ILLUSIONI
Via Luigi Settembrini, 11
Although this museum was only opened in 2021, it can already be considered a staple among the must-see museums in the city. Suitable for all ages, it's a great idea to visit a different museum than usual. For visitors, a piece of advice: be prepared not to trust your senses. For more information visit the official site.
PIRELLI HANGARBICOCCA
Via Chiese, 2
Pirelli HangarBicocca was born in 2004 in a former industrial plant, proposing exhibitions by Italian and international artists. The fundamental characteristic of all the exhibitions is that they are conceived in close relation to the architecture of the building. A visit is a must, considering that all exhibitions are free and if that wasn't enough, there is also a bistro inside. To discover the current exhibitions we leave you the link to the site.
MUDEC
Via Tortona, 56
The Mudec- Museum of Cultures in Milan, born in 2015 inside a disused factory, hosts a permanent exhibition Milano Globale. Il mondo visto da qui, which proposes a narrative in which the stories of individuals are intertwined with the great global historical processes. At the same time, the museum continuously hosts temporary exhibitions and an important starred restaurant, making MUDEC a must-see. For more information on the exhibitions and services offered visit the official site.
GAM - GALLERIA D'ARTE MODERNA
Via Palestro 16
Located in one of the most beautiful villas in Milan, Villa Belgiojoso, GAM houses masterpieces of art from the 13th and 19th centuries. The villa is surrounded by a beautiful garden in which there is also a small lake, which alone is worth the visit. The cost of the ticket is 5€ for the full one and 3€ for the reduced one. If you want to organize a visit do not go there on Monday, because it is closed. For more information visit the official site.
MUSEO DELLA STORIA NATURALE
Corso Venezia, 55
This is Milan's oldest civic museum, founded in 1838, and includes the Science Garden and the Ulrico Hoepli Civic Planetarium. The permanent collection houses a large collection of dinosaurs, fossils and minerals. A stop at this museum is a must for anyone interested in learning more about the natural history in one of the oldest museums in the city. For hours and tickets visit the site.
This selection of museums and exhibitions represents only a small part of what the city has to offer. Considering the large number of museums and exhibitions, we wanted to highlight the most important and famous ones. If you don't have much time to visit a museum, you might want to check out this article.
With the hope of having given you ideas for your trip, we invite you to leave a comment and come back to visit us for more tips on Milan.
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