About the Milan gay guide: In a country renowned for its contributions to art, fashion, and science, Milan is bursting with creative flair, seducing the senses with stylish design, timeworn yet timeless architectural styles, and unparalleled flair. However, the queer scene is alive here, particularly in Via Lecco and Sammartini. Consequently, for your definitive Milan gay guide, you’ve come to the right place. Furthermore, we will show you what to do, where to sleep, where to party, how to get there, and much more.
Here are a few facts about Milan
Firstly, it is the second largest city in Italy and the capital of Lombardy. The city’s urban area is the 5th most populous in Europe, with approximately 5.2 million people. More importantly, Milan is considered the world fashion & design capital and is home to important museums and landmarks, including the Milan Cathedral and Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Attracting over two million visitors annually, Milan is famous for several international events, including the Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair. The city is also home to the world’s most renowned football teams, A.C. Milan and F.C. Milan.
Gay Scene in Milan
As we have mentioned earlier in our Milan gay guide, the city is a global fashion hub and the financial capital of Italy. These industries have acted as a gay magnet for gorgeous Italians, and a new generation of men now live proudly out in the open. Signs of affection such as holding hands, hugging in the street, and kissing cheeks to cheeks are perfectly acceptable. Nevertheless, touching someone below the waist in public is considered inappropriate.
Milan’s main gay nightlife used to be centered around Via Sammartini Street, near the Milan Central Station. But today, the area is considered unsafe. And while a few gay venues remain on Sammartini, the Milan gay scene has made a new home in the Porta Venezia district, particularly on Via Lecco Street. More importantly, the famous gay bars here (LeccoMilano and MONO Bar, among others) are within easy walking distance.
Just So You Know
Gay nightlife in Italy usually isn’t out in the open. For most gay bars, clubs, saunas, and even parties, you need the national gay membership card. This is usually the ANDDOS card in Milan. One can quickly get these cards at the entrance of venues requiring the card. A fee must be paid, and a photo ID is required for the card. Also, the card is valid for a year across different venues.
How to get to Milan
From the airport to the hotel in Milan
When flying to Milan, there are three possible Milan airports you can fly into. International Airport Malpensa (MXP) is 50 kilometers northwest of Milan and is the largest airport. Airport Linate (LIN) is a smaller airport located 8 kilometers east of Milan. Finally, there is Milan-Bergamo (BGY). This airport is located 50 kilometers west of Milan near Bergamo. It is often the destination for cheaper and budget airlines.
By bus: The cheapest option to travel from Milan airport to the city center. Buses usually run very frequently. A single journey costs 5 euros (depending on the airport), and you can easily book tickets in advance (book your tickets online).
By train: Every half hour, the Malpensa Express leaves from Malpensa airport towards Milan Cardona or Milan Central stations. At the last destination, you can also quickly transfer to a metro at the Garibaldi stop. The journey takes about 50 minutes, and a single train journey costs 15 euros and 8 for children. While traveling from Bergamo airport to the city center is complicated, the Linate Airport needs a train connection.
By taxi: A taxi is an affordable option from Linate airport. Secondly, a taxi ride from Bergamo airport will cost you 80 euros. From Malpensa Airport, the taxi costs are usually above 95 euros. That’s why we don’t recommend this option.
Milan City Pass
The Malpensa Shuttle is one of the best ways to reach the city from Malpensa Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. It departs from Milan Central Station every 20 minutes and serves terminals 1 and 2 of Malpensa Airport (and vice versa). Milan City Pass + Malpensa Shuttle: This combo is a good solution for visiting Milan quickly. The Card is available for one day or three days and allows free access to the entire public transport network, free access or discounted rates for museums, tours, and more, and Malpensa Shuttle One Way. Similar combinations are possible for Bergamo Airport and Linate Airport.
Note: We advise you to purchase these passes in advance. If you are interested in buying them, click on this link.
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How to get around in Milan
Public transport in Milan is quite efficient, is relatively cheap and runs until late. However, if you stay in the center, you’ll only use it to get to the airport.
- Metro – Despite the Milan Metro only having four lines and 111 stations, it’s currently the longest metro line in Italy – measuring 58.7 miles – 94.5 km. It surpasses the metro in Rome, which only consists of three lines.
- Trams in Milan – The Milan tram network system has 18 lines running until midnight. The trams in Milan have longer schedules than the Milan Metro and the city’s local buses. The trams in Milan are numbered from 1 to 33.
- Local buses in Milan – Milan has over 80 local bus lines and a few trolley bus lines (electric buses run with overhead wires). Since the city’s metro network is so limited, Milan’s urban buses are one of the best ways to get around.
- Taxis – Milan is a relatively small city with an efficient and extensive public transport system. Moreover, if you stay in the city center, you can walk to most of the city’s attractions on foot. Nevertheless, reading about Milan’s taxis is always helpful as you can take one during your stay in Milan.
Note: Unlike most European cities, Milan taxis rarely stop when someone hails them in the street. To catch a cab, you’ll need to walk to the nearest taxi stop or call to book one in advance.
- Milan Transport Tickets and Travel Cards – All the tickets and travel cards are valid for Milan’s means of transport: urban buses, trams, Milan Metro, and urban trains. You can purchase transport tickets in the various metro stations, off-licenses, and any of Milan’s parking meters. As well as the already mentioned tickets, Milan’s public transport system also has weekly, monthly, and annual travel cards. These cards are not so valid for tourists unless you plan on staying in Milan for over a week, as the Card costs € 10. You can buy a Milano City pass card here.
Where to Stay in Milan
This is one of the most important subjects when going on vacation, that’s why Milan Guide will include one further article, dedicated just to the best areas to stay.
Although Milan hotel prices are lower than in Rome or Venice, they are still relatively expensive. Nevertheless, if you book in advance, you can find good deals in mid-range centrally located hotels.
Most of the town’s tourist attractions and museums are in the city center or very close to it, so we recommend looking for a hotel near Milan Cathedral or La Scala. However, if you’d like to stay close to the LGBT+ community and all the gay bars and pubs, we recommend staying near Porta Venezia.
Note: If you are looking for suitable accommodations, find valuable deals here.
Note: If you’d like to learn more about the areas to stay in Milan, please read our related article.
About Porta Venezia – best for LGBT+ travelers
The neighborhood is easy to get to; the Metro line M1 has a metro station on the Corso Buenos Aires, so you can move through the area, hop on the metro, and head out to explore more of Milan. You will find affordable restaurants where you can sit and relax, looking out over the canal and watching as tourists and locals mingle.
Porta Venezia has a large LGBTQ community and is home to several gay bars. Otherwise, check out the affordable hotels, or if you are looking for something a bit grander, there are a few luxury hotels in the neighborhood.
Things to See & Do in Milan
- Quadrilatero D’oro – No trip to Milan would be complete without a strut along the world’s finest fashion block.
- Duomo – You may have seen it on the TV, but your first glimpse at the Milan Cathedral will leave you gasping in awe. The sheer size and piercing spires are magnificent.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele 11 – The iron and glass neoclassical shopping arcade links the Duomo with the La Scala Opera House. Prada and Gucci are found here.
- Appertivi – Many bars offer food in the evening to complement your drink. Italians eat late, and “aperitivi” is extremely popular to keep you going until dinner.
- A Night at La Scala – Opera lovers will be spoilt in the world’s most legendary Opera House.
- Navigli – Wander along Navigli’s canal-side bars and restaurants, some of the liveliest in Milan.
- Il Cenacolo – Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper must be seen. You only get 15 minutes to gasp and glare, so make the most of it.
Note: If you want to learn more, please read our Milan Guide.
Gay-Friendly Milan Tours and Experiences
Of course, in an alpha world city like Milano, you will find plenty of organized tours in and around the city. However, we have handpicked a selection of gay-friendly tours by a gay-friendly agency, Gaily Tour, which offers privately organized tours for 50 euros, while shared terms can be even cheaper. Ultimately, over there, you will find everything from the times for exploring the city’s cultural heritage to the gay night tours, tailor-made for the devoted clubbers.
Be ready for an extraordinary walking tour in Milan with our Gay/Lesbian Tour Guide observing its highlights like Scala Theater and Cathedral Square with the view of Milan’s most famous landmark and one of the biggest churches in the world.
After breakfast meeting with our LGBT Friendly Driver and departure to the jewels of Northern Italy: Lake Como. This is one of Italy’s most romantic destinations, surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains.
After breakfast meeting with our LGBT Friendly Driver and departure to Lake Maggiore. Then boat tour from Stresa to the Borromean islands: Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella.
When to Visit
Milan has a warm to hot climate in the summer, but winter can be pretty cool. If you don’t like the rain, avoid spring when the weather is similar to that experienced in London.
Shopping
Milan may be the financial heart of Italy, but it is equally for its fashion industry and luxury designer shops. This industry’s focal point is Quadrilatero della Moda (the ‘fashion quadrilateral’), comprising Via Monte Napoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant’Andrea & Corso Venezia. This part of the city has dominated the world’s most famous luxury brands, including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Versace, Chopard, Moschino, Bvlgari, Cavalli, Armani, and so on. Dress to impress, and make sure your plastic can handle the damage!
Milan gay guide: nightlife
And now for Milan gay scene guide. Milan is the ideal playground for night owls with a tendency for mayhem. And for hungry souls, the pleasant surprise of most Milano cocktail joints is that they routinely offer buffet-style (aperitivo) options generous enough to substitute a meal. A hot spot supporting this particularity is the art-DFeco beauty H Club Diana, an oasis of finesse featuring signature cocktails, an opulent private garden, and resident DJ beats. Secondly, a goofy mixture that works is the culinary marriage of craft cocktails and pizza at hipster hangout Dry. In parallel, food plays second violin to the artsy design and sounds at Le Biciclette, a popular venue offering a platform for on-the-rise artists and DJs ready to make their mark.
Mono Bar, meanwhile, is a queer-friendly spot for boys, girls, and all stripes to enjoy a rotating line-up of themed event nights. Sonic Wood is a weekly crowd-pleaser spotlighting DJ sets playing disco, camp, R+B, etc. Atmospheric and divine, Boy Bar Blanco is like a blank canvas that comes alive with a changing kaleidoscope of lights. Popular among the fashion set, it’s the place to peacock while sports designer duds. Those looking for bigger and brighter things – with a body-vibrating bass to match – should look no further than TRACK Milano, a club known to host all the best gay events, including popular parties organized by BLOCK, GATE, and COX. Offering laser light shows in the style of a 90s Ibiza rave; the venue is also home to horrendously hot go-go boys and a pay system that stops endless queueing at the bar.
Gay saunas
For all lovers of sensual gay spas, we have prepared a short list of Milano gay saunas, which are in abundance.
A favorite of mature men and bears, this sauna offers a hydro-massage Jacuzzi, massage services (upon booking), and plenty of cruising space.
Perhaps the city’s most popular sauna, spread over three levels, offers a Jacuzzi, tanning booth, a lounge for drinking and socializing, and even a tiny gym.
This is a large venue for fun and relaxation, featuring a Turkish bath, swimming pool, dry sauna, Jacuzzi, and darkroom.
With an inviting pool and Jacuzzi, massage services, and lounge area, this sauna opens every day at 1 p.m. for a relaxing afternoon or night.
The conclusion of the Milan gay guide post
We could write a guide of 1000 pages about this magnificent city, and we will still not be anywhere near the end. That’s how vast the city is. We invite you to share your advice and experiences with us in the comments below.
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