The 5 Best Markets in Milan to Visit

Located in Lambrate, a periphery but hip and creative district on the rise, East Market is definitely the coolest market in Milan. Over 100 stalls are located in a vast industrial building formerly a metalworking company in World War II. Vendors are not restricted to a particular bracket of produce, so there is great variety. There are epic vintage garms but also new casual-wear brands; antique and retro furniture, but also new design pieces; refurbished bikes, records and jewellery, and the list goes on. What unites the stalls at East Market is a cool aesthetic – you won’t find any sad-looking craft items here. There is also a great selection of international food stalls and a small bar area so you can have a drink and listen to the live DJ set. It’s worth dedicating an afternoon for your visit, or staying at nearby boutique hotel. At the moment there are no fixed dates, so check their website or social media to find out if there is a market on during your trip to Milan.

On the first Sunday of each month, Navigli Grande is transformed into a thriving antique market. Amble (or hustle) along the canal side, which is crowded with stalls selling everything from traditional white linen tablecloths with lace embroidery and antique glassware, to mid-century lamps and vintage designer Italian skirt-suits. The canals are also lined with bars and restaurants so you can stop for lunch or coffee at any time. It is open roughly between 8am and 6pm, but some vendors start packing away at about 4pm.

This wholesale flower market is worth mentioning for residents of the city. It might not be particularly central but it’s worth the trip because you can find all kinds of flowers, plants and pots at discounted prices. Whether you are looking for striking floral decorations for an event, cut flowers for your kitchen table, or vogue indoor plants, you will be able to find them here. Usually the preserve of commercial buyers, it is open to the public every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am–12pm.

This is a permanent indoor market selling second-hand goods of all genres. Because Mercatino Usato buys goods as well as accepting donations, the quality of the products is typically very high. It’s like a giant, classy Oxfam. Open Monday–Friday, 10am–1pm and 3.30 pm–7.30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am–7pm, you’ll find it conveniently close to some of the city’s more wallet-friendly accommodation.

Don’t waste your time visitng Fiera di Sinigaglia. A quick Google search will tell you that this is a great flea market, but in reality it’s mostly junk. It is in the same location as the monthly antique market in Navigli but is smaller and there is hardly anything desirable on offer. Every Saturday.