Milan is probably one of the best cities that you’ll ever see and if you were wondering about your budget, worry no more! Whether you’re traveling on a budget or just want to save some extra money to spend in other things – like shopping and stuff – check out this awesome list with a bunch of cool things to do and see in the fashion capital.

First things first, get to learn more about the city checking out Facts about Milan you should know and What to do in Milan.

Duomo

Yes! To be amazed by this beautiful and historic Duomo Cathedral you don’t have to spend any money. Probably one of the most iconic symbols of Italy and you can appreciate the hundreds of statues of saints, monsters, and gargoyles from the outside.

If you want to just check some part of the cathedral you can enter for free as a worshiper.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

The unique and historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is for free! Besides being blow away with all the glamorous shops (Prada, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci just to mention a few) you need to do the ritual of the bull where you grind your heel three times on the bull’s private part and bring good fortune into your life.

The Galleria is known as Milan’s sitting room, located between two of Milan’s main monuments: the Duomo Cathedral and the Teatro alla Scala, and is a commercial gallery designed in the 19th century.

Parco Sempione

If it’s a nice day and you want to enjoy a park, Parco Sempione is your place. This is one of the biggest parks in the city center and during summer you can often find presentations of musical acts and different performances.

Also, don’t miss your chance to check the Art Noveau Acquario, Palazzo dell’Arte, and Arco della Pace.

Castello Sforzesco

In the Parco Sempione, you find the Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle). The castle was built as a fortress during the 14th century and today if full of museums within it.

If you want to see the museums you need to pay, but to stroll the castle courtyards is free.

Source: Flickr/dgavez

Milan Churches

Milan doesn’t have as many churches as Rome, but don’t let this fool you. The city is full of beautiful and authentic buildings. From Paleo-Christian, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque origins, the churches of Milan often hidden treasures that not every tourist will have the chance to see.

If you’re interested to see a little more, here are some churches that are free to enter: Sant’Eustorgio; San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore; San Bernardino alle Ossa; Santa Maria alla Fontana; San Simpliciano and Sant’Ambrogio.

Source: Flickr/Revolweb

Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse

The famous painter spent some years of his life in Milan and created beautiful masterpieces such as the Last Supper and the Il Cavallo (of course there are many more, but we’re going to focus on these two for now).

The horse (Il Cavallo) is the world’s biggest bronze statue and was made in the 15th century to protect Milan’s soldiers against the threat of French conquest. Pretty cool, huh?

Naviglio Grande at sunset

Walk around the canals of Milan and enjoy the sun reflecting the water to understand why people clap at sunsets.

The Naviglio Grande is located in the Navigli neighborhood, a place full of entertainment, bohemian and one of the areas most frequented by locals and tourists to enjoy the Milanese nightlife since there’s a lot of options of bars and restaurants.

If you want to know more about the dishes in the city, check out Where and what to eat in Milan.

Source: FLickr/Marco Mosti

L.O.V.E. or middle finger

If you’re feeling a little rebel don’t miss the chance to check out this iconic sculpture by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

The sculpture is titled L.O.V.E. which stands for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità (Freedom, Hate, Vengeance, Eternity) is located at Piazza Affari and sends a message to Italy’s bankers since is in front of Milan’s stock market.

Source: Flickr/penrose

Pirelli HangarBicocca

With a classic industrial architectural structure and a total area of 15,000 square meters, the Pirelli HangarBicocca is currently one of the largest exhibition spaces in Europe, for the understanding and study of themes of culture and contemporary art.

And the best part, is free!

Choose wisely where to spend your money

Now that you have seen a lot that you can do for free, what about investing a little bit on your vacation? Traveling on a budget is always a challenge, and the best decision is to make your money worth it. Check out our tours, all with English guides, and choose yours!