Here’s our Milan Anti-Tourist Guide to make sure you take the best of it while feeling like a local

Ditch the typical sightseeing spots and discover what it’s really like to live in one of Italy’s biggest, and probably most elegant, city Milan. With its world-renowned Duomo, the famous Teatro alla Scala, and unmistakable fashionista vibes, the city offers something to enjoy all year round. Follow this anti-tourist guide to experience cosmopolitan atmosphere and artsy charm of Milan.

Let’s answer the most important questions about traveling to Milan so you can make the most of your visit!

 

How many days should I save to visit Milan?

Tricky question! You could easily spend an entire month exploring all the cafés, bars, and exhibitions, just like in many other European cities. However, if you’re backpacking or interrailing and your travel time is limited, two to three days are enough to see all the must-visit spots.

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to visit the nearby Lake Como (which I highly recommend!), definitely add an extra day.

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s move on to our next question…

Where should I stay during my trip?

Excellent question and quite an important one! Your accommodation can truly make or break your trip. That’s why I always choose the Ostello Bello Hostel. It’s centrally located near the downtown area and the Duomo, with nearly everything within walking distance. Plus, take advantage of all the free amenities and don’t forget to enjoy your complimentary welcome drink!

Now lets move on to our 5 handpicked anti-tourist gems of Milan!

Creepy Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa

Attention all horror fans! If you like spooky things, you should definitely visit this church. Located on the Piazza Santo Stefano, the Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa is known for its ossuary chapel, whose walls are largely covered with bones used as decoration.

The story behind this place is even scarier since most of the bones in San Bernardino alle Ossa come from people who died in the nearby hospital or the town’s prison. However, this is not true for all of them—the chapel also contains numerous skulls of people who were once executed.

Fun fact: Ossa is Italian for “bones” (makes sense, right?).

All I could think about during my visit was memento mori—a truly bizarre piece of architecture.

You should definitely check out this gem! The entrance is free, it’s only about 300 meters away from the Duomo di Milano, and it’s much less crowded.

The anti-tourist district – Via Lincoln – of Milan

Some people might say Milan is boring and gray, but that’s simply not true. You just need to know where to look.

A row of colorful little houses lines up next to each other, instantly making you fall in love with the district. Along the way, you’ll also discover flower-filled balconies and charming gardens. That’s why locals affectionately call this part of the city the Rainbow Block.

It sits just outside the city center, and no one really knows why it’s (fortunately) still off most tourists’ radar. The area feels quite different from the more modern and chic parts of the city and it’s definitely worth a visit.

Visit Villa Necchi to feel like royalty

Nestled away from the hustle and bustle, you’ll find this stunning villa with a private garden, swimming pool, and tennis court, all within the city limits. Though it’s in Milan, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. Built almost a century ago, the villa now serves as a beautifully curated and well-maintained historic house museum. It has even made appearances in the films I Am Love and House of Gucci.

A regular ticket costs €15, but you can also purchase a museum card that grants access to three additional museums for €25 instead of €40—a great deal for culture lovers!

The anti-tourist museum of Milan: Casa museo Boschi di Stefano

I do love visiting all the big museums, and especially Italy has a lot to offer when it comes to art. However, I can get quite overwhelmed. Sometimes the galleries are so large that I don’t even know where to stop. If I were to read every text, I’d probably be there for an entire week!

That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with this small private collection showcasing Italian artifacts from the first decade of the 1900s to the late 1960s, housed in an Art Deco apartment that’s just as beautiful as the works themselves. Antonio and Marieda Boschi Di Stefano collected around 2,000 wonderful pieces. Nowadays, it’s possible to admire 300 of them in 11 exhibition rooms arranged chronologically.

You can even get in for free. Nevertheless, reserve your ticket in advance in case it gets crowded.

Relax at Rotonda della Besana

Escape the bustling city life and unwind near this stunning Baroque monument, surrounded by a peaceful green oasis. Maybe read a book, plan what to do in the evening or write your postcards.

It was once common practice to build a chapel at the center of hospitals and burial grounds, so that the sick and their caregivers remained closely connected to Christianity. Later on, the entire complex was redesigned with a circular layout to protect it from water ingress. Today, the little chapel even houses a restaurant.

Bonus tip for more anti-tourist gems beyond Milan

Milan is amazingly connected to many other cities all over Europe. Whether you are planning your following trip or where to go next, we have a gift for you. Famous Hostels is on a journey to promote sustainable tourism, pushing train and bus travel as opposed to flying.

For that, we partnered with Flixbus & Eurail and created a calculator that compares your carbon emissions if you are traveling by train or bus versus plane and converts it into a direct discount at over 54 hostels in Europe.

Discounts go from 5% to 20% based on the distance you go.

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