Family Life in Milan

By Richard Greenbury
30 Aug 2019

Milan is well-known as one of the capitals of fashion and business in Europe but that doesn’t mean that it has forgotten about its youngest residents. It is a city that has a lot to offer for youngsters and families. Discover all below!

Indro Montanelli 2 Public Gardens

Parco Sempione

Entertainment

There are a lot of indoor and outdoor activities on offer in Milan that will be fun for all the family from parks to museums to monuments but here are some that you might find particularly interesting.

Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli

A park that is filled with gardens and waterfalls
Home to the Natural History Museum which is full of fun, interactive exhibits perfect for children
Near Corso Buenos Aires so that you can do a little bit of shopping afterwards

Parco Sempione

The perfect place for kids to run around and burn off some energy
Home to the Civic Aquarium of Milan, the Leonardo di Vinci Museum of Science and Technology and the Castello so that there’s something for everyone
Frequently hosts various pop-up events

Idroscalo

An artificial lake that doubles as a water park and sports venue
Try your hand at various water sports like canoeing, skiing and swimming
Pop by the nearby amusement park, Europark Idroscalo, for a fun family day out

Il Nano Gigante

An indoor play centre that has bouncy castles, climbing frames and other activities
A great location for kids’ parties or a fun day out

Zero Gravity

A one-of-a-kind trampoline park which will be fun for kids and adults

The perfect way to get some extra exercise and get rid of any excess energy

Leolandia

Amusement Park for kids with over 40 attractions suitable for all ages.

35 minutes on the train from Milan

If you have a day off without the kids you may find these peaceful places in Milan handy : )

Support

Raising children in a different country can be a huge challenge especially if you don’t have a solid support network. If you’d like to make friends with some fellow parents, here’s how.

Moms and Tots Milano

An English-speaking playgroup where you can meet and socialise with parents while your children play
Find out more here: https://mumabroad.com/moms_tots_milano/

Facebook Groups

In the digital age, there is no shortage of Facebook pages dedicated to expat parents
Just type in anything related to ‘Expat parents in Milan’ and you’ll find a plethora of results

Neighbourhoods to Live

Finding the perfect place to live is always a challenge and it’s a decision that requires a lot of thought and effort. Below are three of the best places for families to live in (and around) Milan.

Isola (For those looking for a buzzing city centre location)

It’s popular with young families

There’s a strong sense of community with local events and festivals

It has great transport links

There are lots of bars and restaurants (perfect for a night away from the kids!)

*The downside: It’s a very busy area that has a lot of traffic*

Fiera & San Siro (For those looking for a little peace and quiet in the big city)

They are both up-and-coming neighbourhoods
These are more relaxed while still being in easy reach of the main attractions
They have great transport links
There are lots of green spaces and parks perfect for children

*The downside: Apart from the parks, there isn’t as much child-friendly entertainment as in other areas*

Monza (For those who don’t mind being commuters)

It’s a small town just outside of Milan that has a large community of expat families
It has lots of parks and green spaces that are perfect for kids
It has great transport links
You can make substantial savings with rent

*The downside: Commuting to and from Milan can take a while*

For more ideas on whee to live in Milan check out this article for the best ideas to live in Milan depending where you work or study.

Education

Italy does have a comprehensive schooling system that includes free education, but many expats opt to send their children to international schools instead. It’s a good idea to send your kids to an international school if they:

lack Italian skills
are older
will spend a short amount of time in Milan

International schools usually offer access to many international qualifications and diplomas, but it does come with a large price tag as tuition fees start from 15,000 euros a year.

Below, you can find a list of international schools in Milan and the surrounding area:

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Richard

Richard is the founder of Cribmed. He was born and grew up in New Zealand. In his twenties, he traveled and backpacked extensively before finally settling down in Rome, Italy in 2011.