Venice, Verona, Florence… These destinations may come to mind first when you picture destinations for couples in Italy. Yet Milan, with its classy and charming vibes, can make a marvelous destination for a romantic getaway too.
There’s an unlimited number of romantic things to do in Milan for couples, which is why I thought you might use some help planning your trip. So I compiled this list with the activities couples visiting Milan should enjoy the most.
Please don’t mind my nostalgic remarks here and there — writing about Milan always brings back memories of the semester I spent in the city back in my college days.
Table of Contents
Romantic things to do in Milan for couples
1. Have brunch at the Galleria
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II has been dubbed il salotto di Milano, or “Milan’s living room” because it’s where all things exclusive come to become trendy — whether in Italy or everywhere else across the world.
Opened almost 150 years ago, the Galleria is one of the oldest shopping malls ever and is still as glamorous and imposing as it was back in the day.
The gallery is home to historic shops (including the very first Prada location, established in 1913), upscale restaurants, and boutique hotels like Galleria Vik Milano.
Besides strolling around the arcades and people-watching, one of the most romantic things to do in the Galleria (and in Milan as a whole) is stopping for brunch at 100-year-old Caffè Camparino.
While the highlights at Caffè Camparino are the cocktails featuring the classic Campari bitters (both were founded by Gaspare Campari), its menu includes great options for breakfast through dinner.
2. Shop till you drop at the Quadrilatero della Moda
Milan is of course synonymous with high fashion, which shouldn’t come as a shock: most of the iconic Italian fashion houses (e.g., Prada, Versace, Armani) are headquartered in the city.
The Quadrilatero della Moda is the district where these and all other brands that we love (if only from a distance) have established their Milanese flagship shops.
Between Corso Venezia, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, and Via Monte Napoleone, you and your loved one can wander at the impressive displays (and the occasional Ferrari) and splurge on the finest things money can buy.
The innermost streets in the area are virtually car-free and make the perfect stage for an afternoon walk.
Also read: 15 Best Shopping Streets to Visit in Milan
3. Attend a cooking class
Milan is the birthplace of classics like veal Milanese, saffron risotto, and gorgonzola. The city’s hearty culinary tradition blends seamlessly with the highly sophisticated cuisine that developed there as Milan became the world’s fashion capital.
That means cooking lessons with renowned chefs are a click away, and options abound. You can choose to learn how to make fresh pasta, gelato, pizza, tiramisu…
And if you attend a cooking class with your sweetheart, the best thing is you’ll always be able to relive the experience together when you’re back home!
4. Watch the swans at the Giardino di Villa Reale
Tucked behind Milan’s Gallery of Modern Art (formerly an 18th-century royal villa), you’ll find a lovely garden centered on a lawn and a neighboring pond.
Ducks and swans call the pond home. It’s a pleasure to watch them zip through the water — especially with your significant other by your side.
You may be tempted to feed the critters, but the garden’s management is in charge of that and asks visitors to just let them be.
No big deal, though! Strolling around this hidden gem and observing its “wildlife” feels good enough.
5. Tour the city on a bike or in a vintage car
Since Milan is almost entirely flat, cycling around town is like a walk in the park. Plus the historic core only receives light traffic, and by now the city’s cycling path network is almost 200 km long (and counting).
If this activity resonates with you and your partner, you can either go on a bike tour with a professional guide (which is ideal for checking all the must-sees) or rent a bike through BikeMi, Milan’s bike-sharing service.
In case exercising isn’t really your idea of fun, you should look into a tour onboard a vintage Fiat 500. Each tour takes between 30 minutes and three hours depending on the itinerary you pick. Evening tours are available too.
Better yet, a local guide will do all the driving so you can focus on the sights outside and the person sitting right next to you.
6. Explore the Sforza Castle’s secret passageways
The 15th-century Sforza Castle is so huge that there’s room for 10 museums inside it. Among plate armors and Egyptian sarcophagi, wandering through its maze-like corridors and battlements is an inspiring and intriguing experience.
Still, if you think you may have a hard time finding your way out, hire a private tour of the castle and you should be just fine.
7. Have a picnic at Parco Sempione
Right behind the Sforza Castle, you’ll find the largest park in central Milan: Parco Sempione. Beautifully landscaped, the park is home to a design and art museum (Triennale di Milano), an observation tower (Branca Tower), as well as an aquarium.
Most importantly, the lawn connecting the castle on one side to the monumental Arco della Pace on the other is a scenic place for a picnic with your loved one.
Ponte delle Sirenette, or the Bridge of the Little Mermaids, is one of the most romantic spots within the Park and is definitely worth a detour with your significant other. It’s also where many Milanese go to propose.
8. Relax at a spa
As a restless city with a hectic pace, it’s no wonder Milan has a wide array of day spas where you and your sweetheart can let your hair down.
One of the best-rated venues in town is QC Termemilano, which stands against the evocative remnants of the 16th-century Spanish walls. Here, you can even enjoy sauna time inside a repurposed tram.
A few specialized agencies offer spa sessions that are followed by aperitivo, which should make for a relaxing — and then exciting — evening with your loved one.
And in case you don’t know what aperitivo is, check out my next tip.
9. Get a rooftop aperitivo
Aperitivo is hands down the most sacred Milanese institution. Between 6 and 8 p.m. (-ish), bars across town will serve either free snacks or set up an all-you-can-eat buffet. Just order your drink and help yourself!
And since any city is best seen from above — particularly one with such a suggestive skyline like Milan —, you’ll make the most of aperitivo time if you pick a rooftop bar to take your loved one.
One of the most popular spots in town for sky-high aperitivo is the rooftop of luxury department store La Rinascente, where you’ll get unobstructed views of the Duomo.
Alternatively, head to LiQuido Rooftop Bar near Centrale train station for more privacy in a modern and stylish environment.
10. Take a food tour
Unlike Naples and Florence, Milan isn’t famous for its street food culture. That said, as the one and only Italian melting pot, it’s an awesome place to try delicacies from all over the country, from Sicilian arancini to Apulian panzerotti.
And of course, Milan has an endless offer of bars and restaurants where you can try top-notch cold cuts, cheeses, wines, and cocktails. A great way of experiencing all that is to take a walking food tour with your partner.
11. Watch the sunset from the Cathedral’s terrace
The gothic cathedral that has served as the city’s ultimate symbol for centuries is by far one of the most romantic spots in Milan.
The Duomo, as Italians call it, is absolutely gorgeous from both the outside and the inside — but its terrace is a whole nother level of romantic.
Since the Duomo remains one of the tallest structures in town, you’ll have commanding views of Milan from its rooftop.
Among staircases, pinnacles, and gargoyles, the whole place makes you feel like you’re in a movie.
12. Have dinner at Brera
If you’re in town for a few days, you can’t miss a night out in Brera. With must-see Pinacoteca di Brera at its core, the quaint district turns bohemian after dark and has a small-town vibe that you and your partner will love.
Wander through the area’s winding streets to pick a restaurant that speaks to you. Nero 9 should please the meat-obsessed, while soccer fans will enjoy the refined Botinero, owned by Argentinian retired player Javier Zanetti.
To find out if you’re meant to live happily ever after, you’ll just need to ask Brera’s fortune teller, a fixture of evenings in the neighborhood.
13. Go wine tasting
Though the wines from Tuscany and Veneto may have more name recognition abroad, Milan is an hour drive away from a prestigious wine region: Franciacorta. The sparkling wine of the same name usually sells for a higher price than Prosecco.
To try Franciacorta and other typically Italian wines, you can go wine tasting with your significant other.
The city is filled with enoteche, or specialized wine shops, especially in the area between Brera and Porta Garibaldi. That’s where you’ll find 70-year-old Enoteca Cotti, for example. For a tailored experience, you can always book a private wine tasting.
14. Catch an opera at La Scala
La Scala was built in the late 18th century and went on to become the most renowned opera house on the planet.
Dressing up to match the theater’s imposing interiors will make you and your partner feel pretty special.
Yet the lavish theater isn’t a mere opera house. You can watch ballets, recitals, and orchestral performances at La Scala as well.
15. Stroll along the Naviglio Grande
The area around Milan’s old river port is known as Navigli, after the network of canals that encircled the city for centuries.
Only a couple of canals survived to this day, including the longest of them. The Naviglio Grande is lined with bars, restaurants, gelato shops, and is popular with locals and visitors alike.
The Naviglio Grande is particularly beautiful at sunset and gets charmingly lively in the evening. In fact, the whole stretch between the repurposed port (called Darsena) and the Naviglio riverwalk is worth a hand-in-hand stroll with your loved one.
16. Take your S.O. on a surprise day trip
In case you’re planning to stay in Milan for three days or longer, you may want to consider exploring other stunning cities in northern Italy.
Lake Como and hillside Bergamo are less than an hour away by train, while Turin and Verona are around two hours from Milan.
I didn’t spend more than a day in any of these places, but I still could get a good glimpse of them. And I’m sure your partner will love the surprise!
Conclusion
Because the capital of Italian fashion is such a perfect place for lovers of every stripe, our list of romantic things to do in Milan for couples could go on forever.
I did have to stop at 16 items, though! After all, my goal was to make things easier for you rather than harder.
Now let me know in the comments which of these you just can’t wait to do with your significant other!
