Milan – Hostels in Milan. Maps for Milan, Photos and Reviews for each hostel in Milan.

Towering over the city, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, Duomo di Milano, is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world - a must for backpackers and tourists alike. Entrance is free, or you can pay €10 and take the lift to the roof.

Website: http://www.duomomilano.it/en/

Address: Piazza del Duomo, Milano, Italy

District: Centro storico

La Scala or, to give it its full name, Teatro alla Scala (Theatre at the Stairway), is Italy’s leading opera house and one of the best in the world. Don’t give up on seeing a show just because you’re staying in a hostel - gallery tickets can be had for as little as €11.

Website: www.teatroallascala.org

Address: Via Filodrammatici, 2, 20121 Milan

District: Centro storico

The Sforza Castle, designed in the 14th Century, houses the Museums of the Castello, where you can view Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietà Rondaniniand the frescoes by da Vinciand Bramante. Behind the castle, Parco Sempione is a popular public park.

Website: http://www.milanocastello.it/

Address: Piazza Castello, 27029 Milan

District: Centro storico

The huge San Siro Stadium is home to Milan’s two world-famous Serie A football clubs AC Milan and FC Internazionale.

Website: www.sansiro.net

Address: Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 Milano, Italy

Leonardo da Vinci’s mural, The Last Supper, is painted in the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Tours are expensive and need to be booked in advance, but there are plenty of other opportunities to admire the great man’s work, such as Leonardo’s Horse, destroyed in 1499 but painstakingly recreated 500 years later to original designs.

Website: http://legraziemilano.it/

Address: Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milan

District: Centro storico

You’ll probably head to laidback Navigli at some point. Home to Milan’s student population, it’s great for backpackers - think low prices and like-minded locals - and really comes to life at night.

The Quadrilatero d’Oro (Gold Quarter) is where you’ll find all the top fashion stores. It’s a little pricey for the average backpacker, but it looks beautiful, and window-shopping can be great fun. After all, you can’t come hostelling in Milan and not get some sort of fashion fix...

More upmarket, Brera is north of the Duomo, where you’ll find the Pinacoteca Brera, regarded by many to be Milan’s best art museum. There aren’t many youth hostels here, but it’s walking distance from the downtown hostels in the Centrale and Ticinese districts.

For one night, every year, in mid-June, Milan has a ‘white night’, La Notte Bianca, when bars, eateries and entertainment venues are open until 6am. If you’re the kind of backpacker who likes to party in the small hours, this is when you need to visit.

Address: City wide

In early December, the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! street festival takes place, with over 400 stalls plus live bands. It has moved around over the years, but is currently held at Sforza Castle.

Address: Piazza Castello, 27029 Milan

District: Centro storico

At the end of March or early April, many of Milan’s historic buildings that are normally closed open up to the public (19th and 20th March 2016) during Giornata FAI di Primavera.

Website: http://www.giornatefai.it/

Address: City-wide

Go straight from your hostel dorm to some of the most opulent interiors in Milan. See how the beautiful people live at the once-a-year Cortili Aperti, when private residences let you snoop around their courtyards. It’s held on a Sunday in late May.

Website: www.cortiliaperti.it

Address: City-wide

Twice a year, in March and September, models, designers and journalists jet in for Milan Fashion Week. Book your youth hostel while the week’s in full swing and catch Milan doing what it does best.

Website: www.milanfashionweeklive.com

Address: Various venues

The Milano d’Estate takes place from June-August, with open-air concerts in the grounds of Castello Sforzesco. It might not be traditional fare for backpacker groups, but trust us - the setting and atmosphere will win you over.

Website: www.visitamilano.it

Address: Piazza Castello, 27029 Milano, Italy

District: Centro storico

Let’s be honest: few people book a hostel in Milan for the quality of its clubbing. But Elita’s Design Week Festival has evolved over the course of a decade into a genuinely forward-thinking dance and electronica showcase.

Website: http://www.designweekfestival.com/artists/

Address: Various venues

The Festa dei Navigli runs from the 1st to 3rd Sunday in June, where crowds come to see bands, street art, cooking workshops and more.

District: Sant'Agostino-Genova

The best way for backpackers to eat well on a budget in Milan is to buy a drink from 6pm, when plates of food (aperitivo) are set out for customers to snack on. This funky bar does it well, and has a nice patio to boot.

Website: http://www.fridaisola.it/bar.html

Address: Via Pollaiuolo 3, 20159 Milan, Italy

District: Stazione Garibaldi

Phone: 6043628460

E-mail: c.recavarren@hotmail.com

Pandenus has four outlets, serving good sandwiches from €3.50 and a budget-friendly buffet. If you’re in a city centre hostel, the most central branch is Largo La Foppa, which opens into the early hours for late-night revellers.

Website: www.pandenus.it/en/

Address: Largo la Foppa, 2, 20121 Milan

District: Centro storico

Phone: 02 2952 8016

Photos: https://instagram.com/p/4Jqj8KlHlS/

© Copyrights: iputnormalonmybac

Streat Food serves good quality burgers, soups and sandwiches to eat in or take away. A basic burger with chips will set you back €7.50.

Website: www.streatfood.it

Address: Via Sebastiano del Piombo 12, 20149 Milan

District: Fiera e Buonarotti

Phone: 02 3672 7651

Photos: https://instagram.com/streat_food_experience/

© Copyrights: streat_food_experience

Toasteria Mi Casa has dozens of combinations – some very unusual – for yummy toasted sandwiches, as well as soups and vegetarian dishes. Perfect for grabbing a snack on the way from your hostel to your next adventure.

Website: www.micasatoasteria.it/

Address: Piazza Governo Provvisorio, 5, 20127 Milano, Italy

District: Turro-Gorla-Greco

Phone: 02 3664 2370

Photos: https://instagram.com/p/3KMUZPRBmw/

© Copyrights: melody_2288

There are few trattorie (budget restaurants) in the centre of Milan. Trattoria da Pino is open for lunch, with seating at canteen-style tables, serving meat specialities.

Address: Via Cerva 14, 20122 Milan

District: Centro storico

Phone: 02 7600 0532

Graffiti-art-clad Leoncavallo claims to be Europe’s largest anti-capitalist, creative squat and holds jazz evenings, debates and alternative theatre. Very backpacker-friendly.

Address: Via Watteau 7, 20125 Milan

District: Turro-Gorla-Greco

Phone: 02 3651 0287

Tipota Pub attracts locals from Navigli, serves international beers such as Beamish, and has free table football in a back room.

Address: Via Brioschi 32

District: Sant'Agostino-Genova

Phone: 02 835 7777

Swing by Colonne di San Lorenzo, on Corso di Porta Ticinese, and join crowds of young locals and backpackers to sip drinks and play music within the Roman ruins and Basilica di San Lorenzo. There are few real ‘bars’, just stands selling drinks.

Address: Corso di Porta Ticinese, Milano, Italy

District: Centro storico

Fabbrica del Vapore is a former train factory now converted into an art complex for music, theatre, dance and cinema performances.

Website: http://www.fabbricadelvapore.org/en/

Address: Via Giulio Procaccini, 4, 20154 Milan

District: Monumentale

Phone: 02 8846 4132

Enjoy frozen daiquiris and a dance at Ragoo, a friendly club with varied music including live singers and bands on a Thursday night playing original songs. It’s in Turro, a little way north of the downtown hostels around Centrale and Ponte Seveso.

Website: http://www.ragoo.it/

Address: Viale Monza, 140, 20127 Milan

District: Turro-Gorla-Greco

Phone: 02 2600 5157

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Europe’s oldest shopping mall, completed in 1877. It’s a stunning space containing mostly upmarket fashion and art shops, plus cafes and restaurants Close to the Duomo, it’s well-placed for those in city centre hostels.

Address: Piazza Duomo, 20123 Milan

District: Centro storico

Fiera di Sinigaglia is an alternative flea market close to Navigli, selling vintage and unusual clothing and handcrafted jewellery. Alzaia Naviglio Grande (corner of Via Valenza).

Website: http://www.fieradisinigaglia.it/

Address: Ripa di Porta Ticinese, Milano, Italy

District: Sant'Agostino-Genova

Backpackers don’t get many opportunities to bag designer bargains - but Milan is an exception. Il Salvagente is one of Milan’s best-known outlets, with discounts of up to 70% on both top-name designers and emerging talent.

Website: http://www.salvagentemilano.it/en/

Address: Via Fratelli Bronzetti, 16, 20129 Milan

District: Bronzetti-22 Marzo

Demi' sells quality second-hand clothing and accessories and holds ad hoc flea markets on certain Sundays. It’s in the backpacker-friendly area around Ticinese and Navigli.

Address: Viale Col di Lana 12

District: Beatrice D'Este

A MilanoCard gives free access on public transport and discounts on museums, monuments and restaurants. Buy in advance from www.milanocard.it

A 10-pack (blochetto) of tram, metro and bus tickets works out cheaper than individual tickets; or buy a 24-hour pass.