Navigli District Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Navigli District. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Small-Group Milan City Center and Navigli Bike Tour

• Exclusive Private Tour of Milan with Pickup

• 1.5-Hour Private Guided Tour of Milan by Electric Scooter

• Milan Vespa Adventure: Private Tour for Couples and Friends

• Milan Design and Fashion Walking Tour with a Guide

It doesn’t cost anything to explore the Navigli District independently, as it’s a neighborhood in Milan. Budget for what you want to do, buy, and eat there. However, you’ll get a lot more from your visit if you take a guided tour of the area with a local guide—prices start from US$55 for bike tours and US$187 for Navigli-specific explorations.

Yes, if you're in Milan, you should definitely make some time to explore the Navigli District, as it's one of the city's most popular and bustling neighborhoods. Many people choose to explore the area by boat, or on walking or bike tours; however, you can also go there independently for dinner and drinks, or for the monthly flea market.

Per one customer who booked the Small-Group Milan City Center and Navigli Bike Tour, "Loved this tour! We had a great time seeing the highlights of Milan via bicycle. We were given lots of helpful and interesting information. Our guide was great, and she provided lots of helpful hints to make our stay in Milan even better."

Milan’s Navigli (artificial canals) were built between the 12th and 16th centuries to facilitate transportation and irrigation; some helped to transport the marble used to build Milan's Duomo. Leonardo da Vinci helped improve the canal system with a levee system that is still in use today.

Milan's Navigli system has five canals in total—the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese are the main two. The Naviglio Grande dates back to the 12th century and is about 31 miles (50 kilometers) long. It’s lined with the shops, cafes, and restaurants that make the Navigli neighborhood a tourist attraction.

Popular attractions and landmarks in the Navigli District include the picturesque Naviglio Grande canal and the Vicolo dei Lavandai, a historic alley where Milanese residents once washed their laundry. The bustling Porta Ticinese gate and the Darsena waterfront are also worth visiting.

Yes, you can take boat tours along the canals of the Navigli District in Milan—these on-the-water tours are very popular and offer unique perspectives of the district's historic waterways and sights. Boats typically depart from various points along the Naviglio Grande multiple times a day.

The Navigli District in Milan is a hot spot for dining and nightlife. Top dining options include the Pizzium pizza house on Via Vigevano, the Michelin-rated Belé Ristorante along the Naviglio Grande canal, and Testone, known for pasta and truffle dishes. Zog and Backdoor43 are highlights of the neighborhood nightlife scene.

Yes, the Navigli District in Milan hosts markets and flea markets. On the last Sunday of the month, the area along Naviglio Grande transforms into a giant antique market called Mercatone dell'Antiquariato sul Naviglio Grande. Here you can find antiques and collectibles ranging from furniture, books, and artworks to second-hand clothes, vinyl, and more.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Navigli District. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Milan:

• Milan Cathedral

• Da Vinci's Last Supper

• Sforza Castle

• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

• La Scala

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Milan.