Where to sleep in Milan?

12 November 2025 Blog

Start your journey in the right place

Let’s face it: when planning a weekend or a few days in Milan, one of the first questions that pops up is “where do I sleep?”

It is a practical question, of course. But much more important than it sounds. Because choosing where to sleep in Milan is not just about booking a bed, it’s about deciding what kind of experience you want to have in this city.

Milan is fast-paced, full of energy, but it can also be intimate, surprising and even warm. But to really discover it you need the right starting point. And no, it’s not always a hotel with breakfast included.

Not all places to sleep are the same

Hotels there are lots of them, of all kinds, and they work well in Milan: efficient, central, comfortable. But sometimes they are all the same: the same rooms, the same buffets, the same beige curtains.

What if you could feel part of the city instead, even if only for a few days?

That’s where a choice that many people are increasingly making comes in: a short-stay rental house. Maybe in a lively neighborhood with a market below, a baker who greets you every morning, and a kitchen where you can make yourself a dinner out of what you just bought.

Another world, isn’t it?

Home or hotel?

It all depends on what you are looking for from your trip. If you want instant convenience, 24/7 reception, and breakfast served without having to think about anything, a hotel is certainly a practical choice. But if you crave freedom, space, and above all to experience Milan as if it were your own home, then an apartment is a different story.

Sleeping in a house gives you little big luxuries: the chance to wake up without imposed schedules, have breakfast in your pajamas with the coffee you really like, discover the flavors of neighborhood stores, and relax in an environment that has character, personality, history. You are not just passing through: you are inside the city, if only for a few days.

And perhaps that is the best way to really discover it.

Best hotels in Milan

If you prefer the classic hotel experience, Milan does not disappoint. On the contrary: the city offers truly spectacular facilities, capable of combining design, comfort and impeccable service. Let’s start with the tops: the Bulgari Hotel Milano is an oasis of understated luxury in the heart of Brera, with a private garden that seems stolen from a Zen monastery. Not far away, the Mandarin Oriental mixes Milanese elegance and Oriental ambiance, with dreamy spas and signature suites.

For those who like contemporary style and a strategic location, there’s Room Mate Giulia, a stone’s throw from the Duomo, with colorful interiors and a young, creative vibe. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for the charm of the past, the Grand Hotel et de Milan welcomes you with history and charm: this is where Giuseppe Verdi stayed, just so you understand.

Then there are more affordable but atmospheric hotels, such as theHotel Spadari at the Duomo, beloved for its attention to detail and breakfast to remember, or the NYX Hotel near the Central Station, perfect for those seeking an urban, international setting.

In short, in Milan you really can choose the hotel that speaks your language. But if you prefer something more personal, authentic and, why not, as comfortable as your home, then you might look elsewhere. Maybe a nice rental house in a neighborhood where you can wake up to the aroma of fresh bread and experience Milan your way.

Where to sleep in Milan for rent?

The center is beautiful, nothing to say. If you want an overview of the most famous neighborhoods such as Duomo, Navigli, Brera and Isola, we talked about them in our previous article > Best Neighborhoods for Short Rentals.

Instead, here we take you around to alternative, surprising and, often, more livable areas.

Bicocca: for those seeking space and tranquility

It doesn’t immediately come to mind when we think of Milan, but Bicocca is a super neat neighborhood with large green spaces, new residences, and a relaxed atmosphere. There’s the university, the Arcimboldi theater, and a connection to the lilla metro that takes you everywhere in 15 minutes.

Ideal if you want to get a good night’s sleep, be a little quieter, but still be within city limits.

Lambrate: creative spirit (and a bit underground)

A former industrial area, today Lambrate is one of the most interesting areas for those looking for something different. Street art, small artisan workshops, alternative markets and clubs with personality. If you like the idea of waking up in a neat apartment, having a coffee overlooking an old workshop turned gallery, and feeling a bit like an insider, then this is the area for you.

Our apartments: Art Lover Apartment

Simplon: greenery and elegance

A beautiful park, the Arch of Peace, elegant restaurants, stately buildings. In Sempione you live well, and you sleep even better. It is not chaotic, but it is very central. If you find a house for rent here, you’ll probably want to stay there even longer than expected. Then there is a particular area that definitely does not go unnoticed: Paolo Sarpi, Milan’s Chinatown. Needless to say, here you can find truly outstanding products of Asian cuisine: dumplings, hot pots, bibimbap and other delicacies. Have we made you hungry? Then run and book the right place for you.

Our apartments – Sarpi Apartment

San Siro: beyond the stadium

Of course, everyone immediately thinks of the stadium. But San Siro is also much more: a residential area, with small villas, green areas, and much more affordable rents. It’s perfect if you’re in Milan for an event, but also if you want a real neighborhood, inhabited by Milanese people, where you can shop at a local market and drink coffee at the café below.

Our apartments – San Siro Green

Fair and Citylife: design and convenience

Modern, neat, architecturally spectacular. If you like beautiful, well-kept things, and want to be in a well-serviced area but without the chaos of downtown, then CityLife is a good choice. So many apartments for rent here are designer, with panoramic terraces and Instagram-worthy furnishings.

Much more than a rental: a living experience

In the end, it doesn’t just matter what you see. It matters how you feel while you are there.

This is why choosing where to sleep is an important decision: not to have a roof over your head, but to choose what kind of experience you want to have.

With a rented house you have a chance to see Milan with different eyes: slower, more attentive, more real. You wake up, open the window, go downstairs to get bread, say hello to your neighbor. And suddenly, Milan is no longer just the city of fashion and business. It is your city, if only for a weekend.

If you’re looking for accommodation in Milan that really makes you feel at home, take a look at our proposals. We have selected well-kept, cozy and well-connected homes that are perfect for experiencing Milan in an authentic way.