Though Milan is known for its high-end fashion and architectural beauty, the city is surprisingly laid back when it comes to dogs. Considering all the historical museums and stunning sites Milan has to offer, you would think that visiting Milan with your dog as a tourist would be somewhat restricting, but you might be pleasantly surprised.
Is Milan dog-friendly?
This question is a complicated one, which is why the answer is yes and no. From the perspective of pet owners, Milan is absolutely dog-friendly. Dogs are allowed in many cafes and restaurants, they can ride public transportation, and there are some beautiful and large green spaces around the city for them to enjoy, as well as many small squares and grassy paths where they can relieve themselves. It’s clear that people generally have a positive and accepting attitude toward dogs.
On the other hand, just because you can bring your dog to a rowdy restaurant for a 9 pm dinner reservation doesn’t mean your dog will necessarily enjoy it. There are parts of the city that are, of course, very crowded and that could overwhelm even the calmest of dogs. Of course, there are also many museums, galleries, and religious sites where dogs are not allowed, which could also be limiting if you’re in Milan primarily to sightsee. But it doesn’t have to be. Read on to find out how you can fix this problem.
Dog-friendly things to do in Milan
Though you’ll find many smaller parks to walk your dog, it would be beneficial for you and your dog to stay around the biggest green spaces in town. The first is Parco Sempione, which is just a 20 minute walk to the Duomo. The perimeter of the park is marked by some other worthwhile landmarks to see including Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco), which is a Medieval-Renaissance fortress and the Arco della Pace arch. Though your dog cannot enjoy the works of Da Vinci and Michelangelo housed inside Sforza Castle, you can walk the grounds and castle courtyard with him. The massive Parco Sempione also has three dog areas (area cani) where dogs can be unleashed and play with other dogs.
A slightly less central but equally sprawling park in Porta Venezia is Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli. This park has long walking paths around the gardens and several leash-free dog zones where your dog can get out some of their energy.
If you’re in Milan for shopping, some boutiques and department stores allow small dogs, although they may have to be carried or in a bag. If you’re traveling with a large dog, you may be turned away.
Not all museums are closed to our furry friends. Not only are dogs allowed inside Milan’s ADI Architecture Museum, there was a temporary exhibition in 2025 dedicated to them and showcasing dog-friendly ramps and mats called Architecture for Dogs.
How to use Bauadvisor to visit museums
For museums and attractions where dogs are not allowed (most of them), a company called Bauadvisor offers pet-sitting at many of Milan’s most popular sites like the aforementioned Castello Sforzesco, Santa Maria delle Grazie where you can see the Last Supper, and the Armani Silos exhibition. To use this service, you must book it online in advance. This goes hand in hand with prebooking tickets to some of these places which are impossible to get into without advance booking.
How does this work? On the day of your visit, a Bauadvisor dog-sitter will meet you at the museum visit and take care of them while you visit the museum. Of course, it is necessary that the dog has a leash, microchip, vaccinations up to date, and a tag with the owner’s name and contact details. Pretty standard stuff when you leave your dog with anyone at any time. The service costs €10.00 per hour.
Practical tip: though the Bauadvisor website offers an English page in theory, you cannot search for venues where Bauadvisor operates unless you’re using the Italian version.
Riding public transportation with a dog in Milan
Dogs in Milan can freely ride the public transportation system including the Metro, trams, and buses with some conditions. Small dogs that are kept in a carrier travel free. Larger dogs that cannot be carried must be leashed and wear a muzzle, and you need to buy them a full-priced ticket.
If you’re taking the trains in Italy outside of Milan, either with Trenitalia or Italo, you’ll also be able to travel with your dogs. The same rules generally apply as with public transportation. Your dog can ride for free if it’s small enough to travel in a pet carrier and needs a “dog” ticket, leash, and muzzle if it’s too large.
Dog-friendly places to eat in Milan
Dining with a dog is simple in Milan because most restaurants don’t mind them. Many will even bring them a bowl of water without you having to ask. As a general rule, a restaurant would have almost no reason to turn you away if they have an outdoor terrace or seating area. However, you’ll likely be in luck at most places even if you’re sitting inside. I was surprised by the fact that even some high-end restaurants are openly dog-friendly. Here is a list:
Ditta Artigianale Specialty Coffee Roasters
Wicky’s Innovative Japanese Cuisine
Like all of Italy, Milan is certainly one of the most dog-friendly cities in Europe. It is not only welcoming, it has fantastic infrastructure to make it easy to visit Milan with a dog.
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Milan.
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