Milan Brera & Navigli
Milan
7.2 km · 98 min · 8 stops$8.49
Milan Audio Walking Tours
Self-guided, narrated walks through Milan. Buy a tour once, download it, and let the story play at each stop while you walk at your own pace.
Tours from $5.49
5.0 on Google Play
What to expect on a Milan audio walking tour
A Milan audio walking tour takes you from the marble spires of the Duomo into the bohemian streets of Brera and the nightlife along the Navigli canals, with narration filling in the history behind a city that's as much about fashion and design as it is about the Renaissance.
The Duomo & Castle Walk is the shorter of the two routes, 2.9 kilometers and about 39 minutes, starting right in Piazza del Duomo before ducking through the glass ceilinged Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. You'll pass Teatro alla Scala and Piazza dei Mercanti before the route opens up at Sforza Castle and the greenery of Sempione Park.
The Brera & Navigli Walk runs longer, 7.2 kilometers and just over an hour and a half, weaving through the art galleries of the Brera District and past the Pinacoteca di Brera before reaching Santa Maria delle Grazie. From there it continues to the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and down through Porta Ticinese toward the canals.
That second route ends along the Navigli Canals, where the old shipping waterways are now lined with bars and evening crowds, finishing at the wide basin of the Darsena. Pair the two walks and you'll cover Milan's grand civic core and its more relaxed, artsy side in one visit.
Where to walk in Milan
A few of the stops you will pass, and why they are worth slowing down for.
Piazza del Duomo and the Galleria
There's no better place to start a Milan walk than the Duomo's vast square, with the cathedral's forest of marble spires rising overhead and pigeons scattering across the open piazza. Step into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II next door and you'll be walking under an enormous glass and iron dome, past marble floors and grand old cafes beneath luxury shopfronts. It's one of the most elegant covered arcades in the world, and it links straight through to Piazza della Scala. Give yourself time here, it's the kind of place you'll want to look up at constantly.
Navigli Canals
In the evening the Navigli district comes alive, with restaurants and bars lining the old canal banks and their lights reflecting on the water. By day it's a calmer, charming walk past converted warehouses, small art studios, and the occasional flea market stall along the Darsena basin. Cross the little footbridges and you'll find yourself in a neighborhood that feels more relaxed and bohemian than the rest of central Milan. It's especially good for a sunset stroll before dinner.
Brera District
Brera's cobblestone lanes are lined with art galleries, antique shops, and ivy climbing over old buildings, giving the neighborhood a bohemian, artistic feel that dates back to when painters and students filled its studios. You'll pass the Pinacoteca di Brera's courtyard and small piazzas where locals linger over espresso at outdoor tables. It's a compact area, easy to cover slowly, with plenty of quiet corners to duck into. This is Milan at its most charming and least hurried.
Sforza Castle and Sempione Park
The red brick towers and moat of Sforza Castle make for a dramatic start to this walk, and once you pass through into Sempione Park the city opens up into wide green lawns and tree lined paths. You'll find joggers, families, and couples picnicking under the trees, with the Arco della Pace framing the far end of the park like a grand gateway. It's one of the few spots in central Milan where you get real breathing room and greenery. A full loop through the park makes for an easy, scenic hour.
Via Dante
This wide pedestrian boulevard connects the Duomo area to Sforza Castle and is lined with elegant buildings, cafes, and shops that make for easy, unhurried walking. You'll pass street performers and outdoor seating spilling from restaurants, with a steady flow of locals and visitors moving between the two landmarks at either end. It's one of Milan's most pleasant car free stretches, wide enough to never feel crowded. It works well as a connector walk between two of the city's biggest sights.
Milan audio tours
Each tour is a mapped route with narration at every stop. Buy it once and it is yours to keep, no subscription.
Start your Milan audio tour in three steps
No group to keep up with and no departure time. Get set up in a couple of minutes and walk whenever suits you.
- 1
Get the app
Download Walk With Me free on iPhone or Android, then open the audio tours for your city.
- 2
Pick your tour
Choose a Milan tour, sample the free intro and first stops, then unlock the whole route with a one-time purchase.
- 3
Press play and walk
Head to the first stop and start walking. The narration triggers by GPS as you arrive, and it works offline once downloaded.