What to Do in Milan When It Rains? As the capital of economy and fashion, Milan is a metropolis that never stops. For this very reason, in this city you can engage in all kinds of activities, even in the rain.
Bad weather might suggest we slow down. Walking in the rain through the city center can be fun, perhaps sheltered by a colorful umbrella to brighten a gloomy day and wearing boots suitable for dodging puddles.
The image of Milan in the rain, with a bit of imagination, can become a decidedly romantic postcard.
The Classics When It Rains in Milan: From Aperitivo to the Brera Art Gallery
There are many things you can do in Milan even when the sun isn’t out. We might suggest spending an evening at the cinema, a restaurant, the spa, or having an aperitivo with friends, like those organized by Meeters. The “Fomo,” or fear of missing out on events and missing the most important and popular ones, is thus avoided.
But there are other ways to experience the Lombardy capital when it rains, and some of these are true opportunities for cultural enrichment or pure enjoyment.
Taking shelter under the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is an instinctive move when walking downtown.
But how about leaving its luxurious shop windows, which you know by heart, for a day, taking a few steps and seeking refuge at the Duomo Museum, at Palazzo Reale? In the rain, this place, its silent and contemplative rooms, enriched by marble and unique artworks, becomes even more special.
Not far from Palazzo Reale are two other Milan classics: the La Scala Museum and the Vinciano Cenacolo Museum. The latter houses the famous Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most important and fascinating paintings in the history of world art.
Also not to be underestimated is the reassuring beauty of the Brera Art Gallery, which immediately comes to mind when thinking of indoor places to visit in Milan. You will admire up close the painting The Kiss by Francesco Hayez, a cornerstone of Italian Romanticism and the Risorgimento.
Here are also preserved The Dead Christ by Mantegna, The Marriage of the Virgin by Raphael Sanzio and the Montefeltro Altarpiece by Piero della Francesca. Among modern works, notable are theEnfant Gras by Amedeo Modigliani and the futuristic Riot in the Gallery by Umberto Boccioni.
Libraries as an Antidote to Bad Weather
When it rains in Milan, you can also find shelter at the Ambrosiana Art Gallery, which houses several works by Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio. Its ancient library contains numerous incunabula and fundamental volumes dating from the 16th century to today, such as the essential Atlantic Codex by Da Vinci.
Milanese libraries are very pleasant places to spend a few hours of the day while it rains outside.
Have you ever heard of the dark academiaaesthetic? Some historic libraries in Milan, with their ancient collections and austere environments, perfectly fit this style that centers on a love of culture. It becomes even more captivating in the rain.
The building that best fits this canon is the Braidense Library in Brera. Its book collection is very vast, making it one of the three largest libraries in Italy.
Milan, Rain, and Fashion
If you love the combination of culture and fashion, you can’t miss visiting theArmani Silos. It is an exhibition space accompanied by installations, all dedicated to the activities of the fashion house and its founder, the renowned designer Giorgio Armani.
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The Prada Foundation is home to three permanent exhibitions titled respectively “Haunted House,” “The Grotesque Trial,” and “Atlas.” The latter, housed in a nine-story tower, features a unique room that will make you feel like a modern Alice in Wonderland.
We are talking about the Upside Down Mushroom Room, curated by German artist Carsten Höller. The room is decorated with enormous mushrooms positioned upside down. Recommended for experiencing an original and “topsy-turvy” experience, in the most literal sense.
An indoor place that can even more unleash the creativity and imagination of visitors is the Selfie Room, located in the Fiera district of Milan.
It’s perfect for those who love filling their social feeds with colorful and ironic selfies, to spend an afternoon full of lightheartedness and fun with company.
Science and Sports Even When It Rains
If you are drawn to innovation, when it rains in Milan you can visit the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. A place imbued with experimentation and a sense of progress. Its temporary and permanent exhibitions, interactive workshops respond to these imperatives.
The Tinkering Zone of the Museum is dedicated to learning STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), seen as a driving force for development in innovation and creativity. It’s also ideal for spending an afternoon with children as it combines hands-on activities and games with more intellectual ones.
The little ones (but also those who have grown up) might also appreciate the spaces of Casa Milan, home of the eponymous football club that hosts the Mondo Milan Museum.
Among iconic jerseys and trophies, and a path dedicated especially to children, this collection traces the history of the Milanese team from its founding years to today.