• Art & Culture
    • Lifestyle

Milan, a fun with the children

Ancient castles, amusement parks and interactive museums. Discover what Lombardy offers for children. First stop, Milan.

The region of Lombardy offers a wide array of cultural and tourist activities that will keep your children and teenagers entertained, providing the whole family with a few hours of fun.

We begin in Milan, which in itself offers many interesting activities for families and young children, while just outside the city there is a variety of family-friendly destinations.

Milan, located near the Rotonda di Via Besana, behind the Palace of Justice, in the Porta Vittoria area, is the MUBA Children’s Museum, which opened in 2014 in the former church of what used to be the cemetery of the Policlinic of Milan. The centre is open all year round and offers a vast array of exhibitions, play areas and educational workshops.

The gardens of Porta Venezia, dedicated to the famous journalist Indro Montanelli, are home to two historically family-friendly attractions: the Civic Museum of Natural History, with its spectacular permanent exhibitions devoted to palaeontology and the dioramas depicting different planetary habitats, also hosts many educational events throughout the year.

The nearby Planetarium is the perfect place to learn more about the stars and the night sky. Parco Sempione, in the heart of the city, is an excellent choice for a walk, a bicycle ride and to play some football. Within the park there are two other child-friendly attractions: the Civic Aquarium, to explore the sounds and shapes of the underwater world, and the Sforza Castle with its museums – the ones dedicated to ancient Egypt and armoury are always a hit with young visitors – but children also enjoy exploring the castle’s well preserved halls, the battlements and the dungeons.

Milan offers other interesting museums: the Archaeological Museum, which has been rearranged to include specific child-friendly areas; and, of course, WOW, Comics Space.

Just outside Milan, in Cormano, is the Museum of Toys and Childhood, home to the biggest collection of toys in Europe, a children’s library and musical and multi-media workshops. Another perfect place for children is Explorazione, the interactive workshop set up in the Science Museum in Treviglio. For aviation enthusiasts and future pilots a trip to Somma Lombardo, in the province of Varese, to visit the Volandia park and flight museum is a must.

In the province of Cremona, at Rivolta d’Adda, visitors can enjoy the over thirty pre-historical reconstructions located along the green banks of the river in the Parco della Preistoria. But the best way to truly enjoy the river Adda is by boat: from Trezzo d’Adda the ferry will take you up the river towards Lake Como; the ferry that sails along the Naviglio Martesana, which connects the river to Milan, also stops along the way to visit the most important historical villas and castles on the canal.

For active families who love spending time outdoors, there are two great parks located near Livigno: the Mottolino Fun Mountain. Open all year round, with the Bike Park where visitors can take free riding lessons, or high altitude hikes at the Larix Park; or the Carosello 3000 Livigno, a very popular ski centre during the winter that turns into a great running and biking circuit in the summer.

Those seeking action and excitement should head to Civenna, in the province of Como, to the Jungle Raider Park, an adventure park with four different obstacle courses which include Tarzan-style rope bridges and obstacle courses of varying difficulty levels depending on the height from the ground.

History enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Zavattarello Castle – in the heart of the Oltrepò Pavese – which organises frequent medieval re-enactments and hosts many educational and interactive events for young children. The castle also has its own mysteries: legend has it that the ghost of count Pietro dal Verme, who was poisoned by his wife Chiara Sforza, still haunts these halls.

Take me here: Milan, a fun with the children

On the same topic

Milan and its bridges

  • Art & Culture
Milan and its bridges

The Cloister of Voltorre

The monastic art of the Cloister of Voltorre
  • Art & Culture
The monastic art of The Cloister of Voltorre

6 Discovering Lombardy - virtual tour

Museums and castles to visit from your home
  • Art & Culture
Palazzo Te (Mantova)

5 medieval monuments in Lodi

A journey of discovery through the Middle Ages, from Borghetto Lodigiano to Lodi.
  • Art & Culture
Palazzo Rho_Borghetto Lodigiano

Legend of the Seven Brothers

An evocative tale of eight brothers, linked to each other, who lived in the Lecco area
  • Art & Culture
Traditions of Lecco: Legend of the Seven Brothers

A Welcome Card to visit Cremona

Your Sightseeing Pass
  • Art & Culture
A Welcome Card to visit Cremona

Milan, following Leonardo’s footsteps

Pictorial suggestions and drawings. Machines and impressive hydraulic engineering works. In Milan, a journey in the wake of Leonardo
  • Art & Culture
Milan, following Leonardo’s footsteps

Castles Bergamo

Bergamo saw in the past the proliferation of fortifications. Many, today, castles to visit
  • Art & Culture
Castles Bergamo, discovering Lombardy

Museums Lodi

The museum reality of Lodi is heterogeneous. It preserves naturalistic and scientific collections, archaeological and art collections
  • Art & Culture
Museums Lodi, exploring Lombardy

OPEN WINDOWS

A new project by the Association Tapirulan
  • Art & Culture
OPEN WINDOWS

10 good reasons visit Pavia

  • Art & Culture
10 good reasons visit Pavia

Museum Sondrio

Centuries of local traditions and alpine identity in its museums
  • Art & Culture
Museum Sondrio, what to see?

Summer Guided Tours to the Town's Museums

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday till the end of August
  • Art & Culture
Summer Guided Tours to the Town's Museums

House Museums of Lombardy: step inside the homes of renowned historical figures

Discover the history and culture of the Region of Lombardy through its historic house museums, from the homes of famous people and art collectors to artists' studios.
  • Art & Culture
Case Museo in Lombardia - Villa Manzoni, Lecco

Cammino del Vescovado: vineyards and villages

A route in three stages to discover the Terre del Vescovado, amidst picturesque villages, charming hills and famous vineyards
  • Art & Culture
Cammino del Vescovado: vineyards and villages - credits: terredelvescovado.it

In the footsteps of the Promessi Sposi

An unusual itinerary to relive the places, moods and atmospheres of Manzoni's novel, symbol of national identity
  • Art & Culture
Sulle tracce dei Promessi Sposi - Lecco

Monuments Como

Como, with noble palaces, elegant architecture and monuments, is an ideal destination for cultural tourism
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Como, ideas for visiting

On the trail of traditional trades

Six destinations to explore crafts and tradition, on the trail of traditional trades in the timeless landscapes of Lombardy.
  • Art & Culture
On the trail of traditional trades

Visit the interactive exhibit Leonardo3. The World of Leonardo

Discover the works of Leonardo Da Vinci as you've never seen before
  • Art & Culture
Leonardo3. Il Mondo di Leonardo

Between ancient memories and majestic landscapes

Cultural itinerary in lower Valtellina
  • Art & Culture
Between ancient memories and majestic landscapes