Dog Parks & Walks in Milan

Milan's most central and famous park, surrounding the Sforzesco Castle, covering 47 hectares of lawns, paths, and a central lake. Dogs are welcome on-leash throughout and there are designated aree cani where off-leash play is permitted. The park is a favourite of Milanese dog owners and on any morning you will see dozens of dogs. Several café kiosks within the park welcome dogs on their outdoor terraces.

At 600 hectares, Parco Nord is one of the largest urban parks in Italy and the best option in the Milan area for dogs needing real space. The park has multiple aree cani, kilometres of trails, open meadows, and wooded areas. It is a favourite of Milan's dog-owning community for weekend outings. Several dog-friendly cafés and kiosks are located within the park.

The Giardini Pubblici, Milan's oldest public garden (1784), is centrally located between Porta Venezia and Palestro and is a genuinely pleasant on-leash walking space. There is a small designated dog area, and the tree-lined paths and pond make for a relaxing break in the middle of the city. Located directly next to the Villa Reale and the Museum of Natural History — both excellent for dog walks around their perimeters.

The Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals, running south from the city centre, have canal-side towpaths that provide excellent linear dog walks of several kilometres. The towpaths are flat, relatively quiet in the mornings, and lined with the backs of the canal-side houses and bars. Dogs are entirely normal here. The best walking is between the Porta Ticinese locks and the southern residential sections of both canals.