Guide
Milan on a Sunday
A Milanese Sunday is quieter than Saturday but far from shut down. Here is how the day is organised for anyone who wants to be out.
Sunday markets
Only a handful of street markets run on Sunday: they are filtered on the markets open on Sunday page. The one tourists know best, the Fiera di Sinigaglia at the Darsena, is on Saturdays, but on Sunday the baton passes to the antiques fairs.
Antiques and vintage
On the last Sunday of the month the Naviglio Grande hosts the antiques market, more than 300 exhibitors along the towpath. East Market, in a former industrial shed, opens one Sunday a month for retro goods, vinyl and street food. They are the main reason many Milanese go out on a Sunday morning. The full list is on the flea markets page.
Where to walk
The areas that work best on a Sunday are the Navigli and the Darsena, Parco Sempione with the Castello, the Isola quarter, Porta Nuova and the Giardini Montanelli. In winter add the Villaggio delle Meraviglie with its ice rink.
What stays shut
- Many neighbourhood shops and the covered municipal markets are closed on Sunday.
- Supermarkets in the centre mostly stay open; neighbourhood ones often only in the morning.
- Public offices, non-duty pharmacies and many restaurants outside the centre close.
The rhythm of the day
Morning for the market and the walk, a long lunch, afternoon for a museum or the park. In the evening the city empties early: a Milanese Sunday ends sooner than in many other capitals.
Frequently asked questions
Are there markets in Milan on Sunday?
Yes, but few. Some street markets run on Sunday morning, and on the last Sunday of the month there is the large antiques fair along the Naviglio Grande. This site’s “open on Sunday” page lists them all.
Are shops in Milan open on Sunday?
In the centre and the shopping streets almost all shops and large supermarkets are open. In residential areas many small shops and the covered municipal markets stay closed or open only in the morning.