For anyone staying in Milan even if only for a few days in August, there are countless events and places open during the summer. In fact, precisely because the city is quieter, some of these spots are enjoyed even more.
With temperatures nudging 40°C, there is nothing better than seeking a cool indoor spot or finding relief by splashing in a pool or enjoying the shade of trees. We have chosen the best places that we recommend you visit.
Exhibitions and Aperitifs at Palazzo Citterio
During the first days of August (closing between the 10th and 26th), the interior courtyard of Palazzo Citterio, on Via Brera, one of the most charming gardens in the centre of Milan, returns to being a place to pause, from morning to night. It hosts, indeed, the Citterio Garden by St-Germain, a chic venue for sipping aperitifs based on St-Germain, the French liqueur made from hand-picked wild elderflowers gathered every spring, with a carefully chosen selection of cocktails designed specifically for this space and this season, accompanied by dishes from the kitchen crafted by the Michelin-starred chef Claudio Sadler, who has created an exclusive menu just for the Garden. this moment of relaxation is exactly what we need after visiting one of Palazzo Citterio’s exhibitions, such as the one devoted to photographer Giovanni Gastel with 250 images tracing his entire career, from early fashion covers to still lifes, from portraits to advertising campaigns, and Lorem Ipsum Variorum, the site-specific digital installation by Kalmyko-American artist and poet Sasha Stiles, whose exploration unfolds across poetry, language and artificial intelligence. And with a single ticket you can also visit the Brera Pinacoteca.
Cinema at Castello Sforzesco
For the entire month of August, the Cortile delle Armi at Castello Sforzesco becomes one of the city’s most evocative and spacious cinemas (800 seats). The film series “All the Beauty of Cinema” offers 25 evenings of outdoor screenings of major classics, auteur films, comedies and international cults. From “Young Frankenstein” to “Wings of Desire,” from “Ghost” to “Casablanca,” from “Blade Runner” to “The NeverEnding Story.” The films are free, but booking is mandatory. Yet before the film, throughout August, it is possible to visit the Museo d’Arte Antica, the Museo della Pietà Rondanini and the exhibition Passion and Drawing at the Castello Sforzesco, with extended hours until 19:30, from Tuesday to Sunday. In the extended time slot (17:30-19:30), the entrance ticket is discounted (evening tickets: full price 5 euros, reduced 2.50 euros).
The pools of Terme De Montel
The splendid pools at Terme De Montel in the San Siro area remain open with a schedule of events that blend wellness, culture, entertainment and sociability. Among rituals focused on regeneration inspired by light, energy and freshness, treatments designed to beat the summer heat, evening aperitifs set among the greenery every night from 18:00 until closing and evening appointments, the thermal park becomes an open-air stage. From Friday to Sunday the appointment is with Pizza & Relax, an experience that combines evening entry to the baths with a robe-wearing dinner in the Vip Lounge, featuring freshly baked pizza, gentle music and conviviality under the starry summer sky. Each evening, from 21:00 to 23:00, the Light Garden ignition ritual takes place, the illuminated path that accompanies the sunset, transforming the garden into an immersive setting of reflections, water and light play. Ferragosto is celebrated with Star & Fire, a grand event with fire performances, live music, DJ sets, artistic performances and wellness rituals. The baths are reachable by the metro on line 5 (lilla), getting off at San Siro Stadio station.
Idroscalo, Milan’s sea
The Idroscalo park does not close at all in August and is accessible every day from 7:00 to 21:00. Milan’s sea is the best place to engage in water activities and stay cool. You can practice stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), easy to learn, by renting a board and paddle and perhaps taking a lesson; canoe and kayak, traveling 6 km immersed in the beauty of Idroscalo’s nature and, if desired, also rowing and dragon boat, though these require training. And of course you can swim, either in the pool or in the Idroscalo waters where there are dedicated lanes.
Sparkling Aperitifs at Café Swarovski
Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá is a must-visit address in August. On the ground floor, the August pop-up Café Swarovski opens, delivering a colorful summer experience, mixing design and sociability, from breakfast to dinner. Inside the elegant 19th-century palace designed by Luca Beltrami that overlooks Piazza Cordusio, a few steps from the Cathedral, from shops and from museums, one can immerse in the sparkling atmosphere and live the Swarovski world. The dishes ordered at Café Swarovski are served on fine porcelain from the Swarovski x Rosenthal collection (which can also be purchased).
A tropical beach at Acquaworld
Indoor and outdoor pools: Acquaworld, in Concorezzo, at the gates of Milan, is the only water park and wellness park in Italy to offer both possibilities. With its 20,000 square meters of surface, nine very entertaining water slides, pools and hot tubs with water kept at a constant 31°C and, especially in summer, a large garden with sun loungers, deck chairs and umbrellas, it is one of the ideal places to spend whole days in a bikini and flip-flops. The park is divided into several areas: Wellness Area with the Thunder Cave, sauna, steam bath, salt room, wellness ceremonies, frigidarium, and the Fun Area (indoor with many attractions, such as the tower of slides, the wave pool, the Mini World for children, the lazy river, Pirates World and the Tiki Bay, a park zone with white sand, cabanas, Balinese beds, straw umbrellas, slides and tropical island-like vegetation, expanded last summer with the Blue Paradise, a real 800 m² tropical lagoon. Acquaworld is open from 10:00 to 24:00. On Ferragosto, besides a day among pools, slides, relaxation areas and water attractions, they host the Ferragosto Foam Party, with music, performances and a festive atmosphere. In addition to arriving by car, it is also reachable by public transport, getting off at the green Line 2 metro stop Cològn Nord and taking the Z323 bus.
The Villa Arconati Park
For those spending August in Milan, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of Villa Arconati’s monumental garden, where the city’s mugginess gives way to a pleasant breeze along the paths, the cool shade of ancient trees, the sound of sparkling fountains, and the magic of water features designed to surprise and refresh the villa’s guests. Between statues, scenographic viewpoints and majestic theatres, every corner of this enchanting spot in Castellazzo, just outside Milan, tells of the refinement of a residence conceived to enchant, move, and invite contemplation. Making these visits even more exclusive is the opening of some of the villa’s most representative rooms, interiors rich in history, art, and memory that, exceptionally, welcome visitors as a natural continuation of the garden walk, offering the opportunity to discover Villa Arconati in its most authentic, intimate, and fascinating form. Every Wednesday and Friday in August at 10:00 there is a guided tour, every Tuesday there is a special family visit for children. It is also open every Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00 and exceptionally also on Ferragosto with both free and guided visits. In addition to by car, the villa is reachable by train at Bollate Nord or Garbagnate Groane. The station is about 2 km away. In Bollate there is a Velostation for bike rental.
