Updated on January 14, 2024
The Milan Science and Technology Museum is our favorite place to visit with kids when we’re in the city. It’s interactive and there are a ton of things you can’t see in many other places (a submarine! a Russian space suit!). There’s something inside for every kid (and adult!), but if you just wander in and start exploring, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the enormous labyrinth-like complex.
So, read on for our quick guide to visiting the museum. It will help you plan a family visit that will last 2-3 hours (but know you can always stay longer!).
Enjoy your visit – we love it and find something new to love each time we visit!
You may want to read our Guide to Visiting Milan with Kids
Milan Science Museum – Opening Days and Hours & Ticket Info
You can head to the museum’s official website for up-to-date info on ticket prices and opening days and hours. You can buy tickets online, but we just purchase them at the ticket office inside.
Where is the Milan Science Museum?
The Milan Museum of Science and Technology is in the center of Milan (Zone 1) on the western side of the city.
Getting to the Milan Science Museum
Walk – It takes about 25 minutes to walk (with no stops) from Piazza del Duomo to the museum. I like this walk because you are traveling through ‘real Milan’ and see university students, workers, and children going about their days.
Metro – The Sant’Ambrogio Metro stop (Metro line 2- green) is next to the museum. Read our Guide to the Milan Metro.
What to See with Kids in the Milan Museum of Science & Technology
Good To Know: There are multiple buildings that make up the museum, including M (Main Building), F (Rail Building), E (Outdoor Spaces), A (Air & Water Building), and O (Olona Building).
Itinerary for Kids:
- Pick up the Age-Appropriate Pamphlets at the Entrance. These are excellent! Each one has a few ‘not-to-miss’ items in the museum, plus a fun activity (some are interactive).
- Head to the Space Exhibit (M) then walk back to the entrance.
- Walk to the Rail Exhibit (F).
- Visit the Outdoor Space with the Toti submarine, Vega launcher, and jet (E).
- Explore the planes and boats (A). You can exit the museum from there.
Our Kids Love:
Space Section – Real equipment and space suits; a moon rock; interactive displays that video-game-loving kids will adore (launch a rocket, explore a new galaxy, or examine the surface of Mars!)
Train Building – Amazing displays of real trains
Electronics of the Past – My kids enjoy seeing the electronics that I grew up with like the Walkman and the Nintendo Gameboy.
Steel Section – The visual displays are unique and engaging. We particularly like seeing the steel-making process.
Submarine – See the Toti sub in the outdoor section and learn about how it arrived in Milan.
Good To Know: You can only enter the submarine with a special ticket and reservation. It’s a guided tour and it’s only in Italian. And remember that it’s dark with tight spaces. Ages 6 & up.
Vega Launcher and Jet – Also in the outdoor space (next to the submarine).
Planes and Boats – Variety of boats and airplanes (and helicopters, etc). You can get up close. Excellent English explanation panels. Some exhibits are interactive.
Temporary exhibit hallway
Near the Museum of Science and Technology
The Last Supper – Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, located in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church, is a 5-minute walk from the museum.
Parco Luigi Giussani – Plenty of green space, paths, and two playgrounds for kids.
Piazza Sant’Ambrogio Walkway and Benches – This pedestrian area is perfect for a picnic or snack break.
Alice Pizza – A branch of the pizza chain is just around the corner from the museum.
Museum Visit Logistics with Kids
Strollers – The museum is stroller-friendly in that you can get everywhere using the museum’s elevators. But, it’s kind of a pain in some areas (you’ll need to do some backtracking, some things are tough to see from a stroller, etc).
Diaper Changes – There are multiple toilets with changing tables at the museum so you can change diapers easily during your visit.
Baby Supplies – There’s an Esselunga grocery store a couple of blocks away (Viale Papiniano, 27) where you can find diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, and more. There is also a pharmacy nearby (Via San Vittore, 12).
Eating – You can bring your own picnic and eat in the indoor picnic area or in the garden area by the Rail Building. There’s also a special baby feeding room in the Main Building.
Enjoy your visit and look out for us – maybe you’ll see us wandering around!
Want to make the most of your time in Milan? Read
Brera – Guide to the Artists’ Quarter
Day Trips from Milan
Milan Car Rental
Milano Centrale Train Station
Where to Eat in Milan
How to Spend One Day in Milan
Need help deciding where to go in Italy with your family? Read
Best Places to Visit in Italy with Kids
Best Things to Do in Italy with Kids
Realistic 10 Day Itineraries for Italy with Kids
Spring Break in Italy with Kids
Milan Science Museum FAQ
It’s a little confusing, but there is a different museum focused on Leonardo da Vinci, the famous artist and inventor. The Milan Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci is named after da Vinci, and it does have an exhibit on him. But the museum complex also houses an enormous collection of science and technology exhibits.
Yes! There are English display panels throughout the museum, and you can pick up helpful English-language maps and pamphlets at the entrance.
The da Vinci section in the museum is interesting, but there are plenty of other opportunities to visit da Vinci museums in Italy. We feel like the exhibits above are the best use of time for a short(ish) visit to this museum with kids. If you have more time, add it to your itinerary!
