Summer in Milan: all the activities to enjoy the city at its best, including bike rides and art exhibitions

Whether Milan is your vacation destination for summer 2023, or the city where you’ll be staying to work until the long-awaited holiday break, here’s our selection of summer activities in Milan, including music events, art exhibitions, poolside aperitifs, and suggestions of routes for bike tours. With this short guide, it will be enjoyable and informative to spend some of the hottest weeks in the Italian city of fashion, urban parks and design. 

Summer 2023. Art shows, exhibitions, outdoor cinema and and bike rides on the Navigli

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in Milan.  

In honor of Dutch artist Van Gogh, in Milan you can enjoy “The Immersive Experience,” a 360º digital exhibition through which you can enter the universe of the greatest post-impressionist painter, a universal talent who lived in the 19th Century. After stopping in Naples and many cities across Europe, Asia and America (with more than 5,000,000 visitors since 2017), the virtual immersive experience dedicated to the Dutch genius finally arrives in Milan.  

In a 1,000-square-meter immersive room, Van Gogh’s works come alive thanks to sounds, projections and lights. The exhibition also gives you the chance to step inside, in the truest sense of the word, eight of Van Gogh’s masterpieces, including Vincent’s Bedroom at Arles and Starry Night on the Rhone, thanks to Virtual Reality. Finally, you can show off in the painting room, which gives you the chance to reproduce Van Gogh works in your own personal style, and display them in the dedicated showroom. 

Where: Lampo Scalo Farini, Via Valtellina, 5. Milan.  

At MUDEC, on the other hand portai admire the “Masterpieces of Surrealism Exhibition” with an extraordinary selection of 180 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, documents and artifacts. These works come from the prestigious collection of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum. The exhibition creates a stimulating dialogue between these works and selected pieces from the Permanent Collection, offering a comprehensive and enriching art experience for visitors. Featured are epigones of the movement Salvador Dali, Magritte and Man Ray. 

Where: MUDEC, Museo delle Culture, via Tortona 56, Milan. 

Outdoor Cinema in Milan is an established tradition that captivates visitors to the city every year. A unique experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the magical charm of cinema under the stars, accompanied by a pleasant summer breeze or a glass of wine. Among the striking locations, Sempione Park in the heart of the city and the courtyard of the Palazzo Reale transformed into a high-altitude film arena offer screenings that please a wide range of genres and tastes. Enjoy the unique atmosphere of this unforgettable summer experience. 

For lovers of two wheels, an afternoon of cycling along the Navigli is not to be missed, a true gift for escaping the urban hustle and bustle and immersing yourself in the open countryside of the Milan area. With each turn of the route, you will suddenly find yourself in front of a new and surprising landscape that can reveal itself with all its magic.  

Slow your pace, admire the beauty of these places and be enchanted by the nature that opens up before you. Here are the 4 main routes that lead from the Navigli to the outer suburbs of the city, characterized by rural and scenic beauty. 

From Milan to Bereguardo: cycling along the Naviglio Grande, starting from the dock. 

Difficulty: medium-low. Length: 88 km round trip. 

From Boffalora Ticino to Turbigo: bike route along the Naviglio, mixed asphalt and bike path, departing from Boffalora sopra Ticino, arriving in Turbigo. 

Difficulty: low. Length: 20 km round trip. 

Naviglio della Martesana bike path: departure from Milan’s Naviglio Piccolo, passing through several municipalities with arrival in Trezzo d’Adda. 

Difficulty level: low. Length: 38 km round trip. 

Naviglio Pavese, route for cyclists: route for cyclists, on the way (downhill and paved) you can see the Milano Sud Agricultural Park and the Certosa di Pavia. 

Difficulty: medium. Length: 33 km round trip. 

We refer you to an in-depth discussion of other Naviglio Grande routes and hiking suggestions.

Summer activities in Milan: the outdoor swimming pool at Hotel VIU

For those who want to enjoy a relaxing day instead, the spectacular The VIU Pool, an outdoor pool with panoramic views of Milan, is definitely ideal. DJ sets, mixology bar, sunset aperitifs are some of the ingredients offered by the eighth floor of Hotel VIU Milan. In a space that opens 360 degrees to the city skyline, the hotel’s terrace is a favorite spot for the Milanese (and others) for terrace aperitifs and private events in Milan. 

Pool exclusively accessible for hotel guests until 6 pm. From 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., on the other hand, the outdoor pool is also accessible for outside guests to enjoy an aperitif or a drink by the pool on unforgettable evenings.