How to choose
All four bases below are within easy reach of the castle, because the M1 and M2 metro lines both stop beside it. See our getting there guide for the routes. The real decision is what you want from your evenings and your mornings.
We built this page from published sources and maps, not overnight stays, so treat the character notes as a starting point and read recent guest reviews for any hotel you are considering. We give distances in a straight line from the coordinates on Wikipedia, because we have no sourced walking times.
Around the castle and Cadorna
This is the Sempione and Magenta side of the castle. Cadorna is a metro interchange for M1 and M2, and it has a railway station beside it. The Malpensa Express runs from there, with Wikipedia giving 43 minutes from Cadorna to Terminal 2 (from a 2019 timetable source, so check the current time).
Parco Sempione is on the doorstep. Wikipedia gives its area as 386,000 square metres. The Last Supper is also in this part of town: the museum’s directions name Cadorna and Conciliazione on M1, and Cadorna on M2. Read our Last Supper guide before you book, because tickets go on sale in blocks.
- Pros: the shortest trip to the castle, the park and the Last Supper; the simplest airport arrival from Malpensa; two metro lines at one station.
- Cons: several nearby sights close early. The castle courtyards shut at 19:30 and the Last Supper museum at 19:00 (checked October 2026), so for restaurants and bars you will probably head to Brera or the centre in the evening.
- Best for: first-time visitors who want a short, easy morning at the castle, and anyone arriving from Malpensa with luggage.
Brera
Brera is a historic quarter in the city centre. Wikipedia describes it as an artists’ neighbourhood with a bohemian atmosphere, sometimes called the Milanese Montmartre, with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, antique and art shops and street markets. The Pinacoteca di Brera, the art gallery, is in Palazzo Brera, and the building also holds the Academy of Fine Arts and a botanical garden. The middle of Via Brera is about 500 metres from the castle in a straight line. Lanza on M2 is a convenient metro stop and gives access to the district. See our Brera guide for what to do there.
- Pros: the best mix of atmosphere and distance, with the castle in reach on foot.
- Cons: where there are bars and nightclubs, expect some evening noise, so ask about the room’s position.
- Best for: couples and travellers who want to eat and drink well in the evening and see the castle in the morning.
The Duomo and the centre
Duomo station serves M1 and M3 and sits at Piazza Duomo. From there, Cairoli is two stops along M1 (via Cordusio), and the pedestrian Via Dante leads to the castle. Wikivoyage notes a large Christmas tree in front of the Duomo in the weeks before Christmas and says the city can be extremely crowded then. Our guides to the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II cover the sights on your doorstep.
- Pros: two metro lines, the best-known sights outside your door, and a walkable route to the castle.
- Cons: expect crowds, especially before Christmas, and ask about street noise before you book.
- Best for: a short first visit, shopping, and people who want to walk everywhere.
Milano Centrale
Centrale is the main railway station, a terminus at the northern end of central Milan. It is served by the M2 and M3 lines and is a stop for the Malpensa Express. Wikipedia gives 57 minutes from Centrale to Malpensa Terminal 2, against 43 from Cadorna, and the station is about 2.6 kilometres from the castle in a straight line. M2 takes you to Lanza without a change.
Wikivoyage warns that the area south of the station is shabby and that you can run into dubious individuals at night, while saying the hotels are clean and safe and the streets are lit. Be sensible after dark and you will probably be fine.
- Pros: the transport hub, with easy trains and airport links, good for day trips.
- Cons: the least charming of the four bases, and a longer ride to the castle than the other three.
- Best for: early trains, day trips, and travellers who put convenience first.
The four bases side by side
| Base | Metro | Straight-line distance to the castle | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle and Cadorna | M1, M2 | On the doorstep | First visits, Malpensa arrivals, early Last Supper slots |
| Brera | M2 (Lanza) | About 500 metres to Via Brera | Evenings out, walking everywhere |
| Duomo and centre | M1, M3 | Two stops on M1 | Short first visits, shopping |
| Milano Centrale | M2, M3 | About 2.6 kilometres | Early trains and day trips |
Matching your base to your plans
If the Last Supper is the priority, the castle side makes the most sense. The museum opens at 8:15 from Tuesday to Sunday, and you must reach its ticket office at least 30 minutes before your slot with ID, so an early booking is much easier from a short metro ride away.
If you are in town for three days or more, think about how you will spend each one. The castle museums and the Last Supper are both closed on Mondays, which makes Monday a natural day for Lake Como. Trains to Como leave from Centrale, so a Centrale or Brera base on the M2 line keeps that day simple.
If you are arriving late or leaving early, stay close to your train. Cadorna suits Malpensa flights, and Centrale suits both Malpensa and long-distance trains.
Prices and busy weeks
Wikivoyage’s Milan guide notes that hotel prices rise sharply during Milan Fashion Week, which it places in February to March and September to October. It also says many businesses and venues shut in August while locals take their holidays. Wikivoyage also suggests that staying further from the centre, close to a metro station, can save money. For the full calendar, see best time to visit.
When you are ready to plan the castle visit itself, tickets and tours explains the options.
