It's easy to underestimate summer in
Milan since it's in Northern Italy. This part of the country is notorious for its cooler climates, especially compared to the famously sunny southern provinces, but it still gets all four seasons. So when summer comes around, it's essential to prepare for the heat! Head to the churches for shelter, go to museums or art galleries for their air-conditioning, and it'll probably help if you don't dine on the terrace during brunch. You'd be surprised at how much you can do to survive the summer heat in Milan.
Lose The Backpack
It's worth starting with what you put on when you step outside. Let's begin with your bag! While it's always useful to wear your backpack around, you might want to swap it for something else every summer in Milan. Perhaps a canvas tote bag will do, or even a big clutch bag. No matter how light it is, a backpack will always add another layer to heat you up under the scorching sun. Before you know it, your back will look as if it rained all day long when it was actually sunny. That's how hot backpacks can get in Milan every summer.
Dress Lightly
Now, let's talk about your clothes. Always dress lightly when you step out in Milan during the summer. Unless you're a corporate bigwig who has to wear a suit to work every day, you don't need to wear anything more than just one layer of clothing. Go for light clothing too, namely those made in cotton and linen. Not only are these materials light enough to keep you cool amidst the intense summer heat, but they're also organic. With just one outfit, be it a cotton shirt with jeans or linen co-ords, you're already staying cool, looking fashionable, and protecting the environment.
Avoid The Big Crowds
If you've already
moved to Milan and have stayed here for a long time, do you really need to see the famous landmarks? You've likely seen them already, right? Possibly multiple times by now! So why do you have to go there again? Not only will there be a lot of people, but having to face those crowds in summer is too much! The moment summer arrives in Milan, you should already be avoiding the most crowded areas. You don't ever want to be stuck in spaces cramped with several tourists and sweaty bodies pushed up against each other!
Go To The Big Churches
Ironically though, Milan's big churches, which tend to be the most popular tourist attractions, are some of the best places to retreat to when summer in Milan gets too hot. These massive stone and concrete structures provide the best shade from the scorching sun, especially since they're mostly free. Most of the churches throughout
Milan's central neighborhoods and beyond don't charge fees for you to get inside. If you simply need to sit down, catch your breath, and, of course, cool off, then head to any of these beautiful places of worship. Some are worth exploring, too!
Go Anywhere Air-conditioned
Museums, cultural buildings, music venues, cafes, restaurants, bars, bookstores, boutiques, and more. These are just some of the types of places where you can go to enjoy some air conditioning! Milan's summer heat often reaches unbearable peaks that simply taking shade under a tree or in a church won't be enough. You'll need to go somewhere air-conditioned just to catch your breath and cool off. So the moment you feel faint from the heat, go to the nearest place that's air-conditioned. Some may charge for entrance, but they're rarely too expensive.
Swim at The Pool
Swimming at the pool is the perfect activity to stay cool every summer in Milan. If you didn't have time to escape to Southern Italy and enjoy its most beautiful beaches, Milan's public swimming pools are a fine alternative. They may not boast beautiful sceneries, but they'll refresh you just the same! Some of
Milan's best swimming spots include Lido di Milano, Centro Balneare Romano, Assago Beach Forum, and Piscina Solari, to name a few. Acquatica Park is also a must since it's the city's most popular water park. It's a great place to bring your family and friends for a fun day!
Don't Eat Outdoors
Sometimes, one of the best ways to stay cool in Milan in the summer is to change your everyday routine. Let's take eating out as an example. You might be the type to eat alfresco, especially since the best places to eat, which even include
Milan's finest Michelin-starred restaurants, have terrace areas. It's undeniably more enjoyable to enjoy Italian food under the sun, but not when it's summer and it's 30.7°C (87.26°F) outside! You would've already fainted from a heat stroke before you finished your meal. Fortunately, you can avoid that and more by simply eating inside.
Ask for Ice
Do you know what's surprisingly difficult to get in Europe, let alone Milan? Ice! It's not that ice isn't common or even scarce here; it's just not that common compared to other parts of the world. When you ask for a drink, they'll either serve it without ice, or it will only have one or two ice cubes in it. That's not enough now, is it? It won't even quench your thirst; what more when you need to cool off? If a cold drink will help refresh you amidst Milan's intense summer heat, then ask for more ice!
Indulge in Some Gelato
Getting some gelato is perhaps the best way to stay cool in Milan every summer. Not only will it cool you off when the temperature is especially high outside, but it will also sweeten your day in more ways than one. Luckily, there are many great
gelato spots in Milan! La Bottega del Gelato is particularly popular since it serves as many as 50 different flavors. Cioccolati Italiani is much beloved too since its specialty is chocolate gelato. A classic is always a good idea when your taste buds are yearning for something cold and sweet!
Stay at Home
Finally, when all else fails, you can simply stay at home. If you're lucky to get an
air-conditioned luxury apartment in Milan, turning it on and letting the cold air fill your space is enough to keep you cool. It may hike up your electricity bill, but you'll at least survive the Milanese summer another day. But what if your place isn't air-conditioned? What do you do then? Well, then it's time to buy an electric fan to place in front of you all day long. No matter what, there are many ways to keep cool at home in Milan.
Don't underestimate how hot summer in Milan can get! Though the city is in notoriously wintry Northern Italy, the country, as a whole, is still in the very sunny Mediterranean. So you’ll need to prepare hard to stay cool amidst the often intense summer heat.
