Backpacking Milan (The Definite Budget Guide)
Written by Anna Kiefer| Last update: Aug 20, 2025
(First-Hand Travel Experience & Price Comparison)
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Milan feels like fashion week 24/7, but you can still backpack it in scuffed sneakers and eat well for coins.
I’ve crashed in dorms by the Duomo and in artsy lofts in Isola—same city, totally different budgets.
This backpacking Milan guide shows how to pick the right area, keep costs low, and sip spritz without emptying your card.
Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Milan
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Hostel Price Statistics & Key Numbers in Milan
| Total number of hostels | 45 |
| Typical dorm bed prices in Milan | $14 |
| Private room costs in Milan | $101 |
| Cheapest hostel in Milan | Mrhostel Milano for only $20 |
| Popular Party Hostel in Milan | Ostello Bello Milano Duomo (15 hostels for partying in total) |
| Where to stay in Milan on a budget? | Casoretto, Ticinese, Loreto |
Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Milan
- Shoestring €60‑75: Dorm bed, bakery breakfast, market lunch, metro pass, one low‑cost sight.
- Mid budget €90‑110: Smaller dorm, café meals, aperitivo buffet, museum ticket.
- Flash‑packer €140+: Private pod, day trip to Como, rooftop bar night.
Summer and big events (Fashion Week, Salone) lift prices 20 %. Book early or slide dates.
Typical Daily Expenses in Milan
- Accommodation: €25–35 dorm (shoulder); €40+ peak.
- Food total: €20–25.
- Breakfast: €3–4 — bar espresso + croissant.
- Lunch: €6–8 — panzerotti or market pasta box.
- Dinner: €9–13 — aperitivo buffet or pizza slice trio.
- Transport: €4.50 — 24 h metro/tram pass.
- Attractions: €0–12 — many churches free; Duomo roof €9 stairs.
- Extras: €10 — gelato, thrift find, cheap wine.
A solid shoestring day sits near €70; €100 adds comfort and paid tours.
Money Saving Tips
- Grab the 48 h ATM transport pass if using trams a lot.
- Stand at café bars—seated service doubles the bill.
- Hit aperitivo buffets (buy one drink, eat free snacks = dinner).
- Fill bottles at public fountains marked “Acqua Potabile.”
- Use Esselunga supermarkets for €3 takeaway salads.
- Visit civic museums on first Sunday each month—entry is free.
- Download the Trenord app for €5 day returns to nearby towns.
- Validate tram tickets; fines are instant and high.
- Skip “tourist menus” around Duomo; walk two blocks for half price.
- Share Navigli canal boat deals with hostel friends to split costs.
Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Milan
- Gogol'Ostello & Caftè Letterario - best for Couples, Female Solo Traveller
- Milan Hostel Emmy
- New Generation Hostel Urban Città Studi
- Hostel Mister Mido
- Sofia Hostel
Getting Around Milan on a Budget
The city is flat and compact—walk 20 min between most sights. Metro has four main lines; trams give scenic rides through old streets.
Buy paper tickets in tabacchi shops or use contactless cards at new gates. Night buses run after 00:30; check times on the ATM Milano app.
Bike‑share services (BikeMi) cost €4/day; first 30 min of each ride are free.
Best Free & Budget Friendly Attractions
Free things to do
- People‑watch on Piazza del Duomo at sunrise.
- Walk Parco Sempione and climb the small tower (free view).
- See modern art at Galleria d’Italia on first Sunday.
- Explore graffiti tunnels under Porta Garibaldi.
- Window‑shop the Quadrilatero fashion district.
Low cost attractions
- Duomo roof: €9 stairs, €13 lift.
- Pinacoteca di Brera: €10 student.
- Leonardo’s Vineyard: €12 with audio guide.
- San Siro stadium tour: €17; match day atmosphere is free outside.
How much are hostels in Milan?
Let's talk about hostel prices in Milan. This graph shows you typical, average prices for a bed in a dorm and for a private room. Simply mouse-over to see rates for each month.
Prices can vary a lot, especially on high-season, weekends, and special holidays such as New Years Eve.
Average Dorm Price per Month in Milan
Average Private Room Price per Month in Milan
Food and Drinks on a Budget
- Breakfast hack: “Caffè + brioche” combo at standing bar = €2.50.
- Lunch spots: Luini panzerotti near Duomo or Mercato Centrale for €5 pasta cups.
- Dinner cheap: Aperitivo in Navigli—pay €10 for drink, refill buffet till full.
- Street snack: Slice pizza (“pizza al taglio”) from Spontini at €4.
- Nightlife: Happy hour spritz in Isola €5; buy one, people‑watch two hours.
- Meet locals: Join public wine tastings at Eataly on Friday evenings—many are free.
Looking for a specific district?
Check out hostels near the following landmarks
Experiences for Backpackers
- Free walking tour from Duomo steps—tip what you can.
- Cycle Navigli–Darsena canal loop at sunset—bike rental €5.
- Day trip to Lake Como for €10 return if booked early.
- Catch a student opera ticket at La Scala for €12 (standby line).
- Join hostel pasta‑making night—cheap dinner and new friends.
- Watch a local football match at San Siro upper tiers €18.
Additional Tips & Final Thoughts
- Best time: April‑June or Sept‑Oct—milder heat, lower dorm prices.
- Book ahead: Fashion Week beds, Last Supper tickets, and trains on holidays.
- Avoid traps: Duomo pigeon photos, overpriced gelato mounds, and “free” friendship bracelets in tourist spots.
- Safety: Pickpocket risk on tram 2 and metro M1; keep zips forward.
- Cultural respect: Cover shoulders in churches, queue quietly, recycle—Milan pushes green rules.
Milan mixes high fashion with student pizza, gothic spires with graffiti. Stay near a tram line, eat like locals, and let aperitivo be your dinner.
With these tips, you’ll leave full of risotto and still have euros for the next train south.
Backpacking Milan? Here's What You Need to Know
These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I've been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I'm passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!
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About the author: Anna Kiefer
My travels have taken me from the vibrant streets of Vietnam to the tranquil beauty of Spain, each destination adding a new chapter to my journey. For me, travel isn’t about counting countries or ticking off lists; it’s about the freedom it brings and the stories that unfold with each new adventure. At Hostelgeeks, my goal is to infuse our brand with this sense of freedom and discovery.
Whether it’s finding the perfect 5 Star Hostel or sharing a hidden gem in a bustling city, I’m here to ensure that our travelers get more than just a journey – they get an experience that resonates with the joy of exploration and the freedom of the open road.
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