From the equinox in September until the Indian summer (the italian St Martin’s Day – 11 November) and perhaps a few days longer, even Milan offers the magic of autumn. Visitors can be surprised by the incredible hues of the leaves that change colour in this season with unexpected views.
Despite being an icon for its industrial, commercial and fashionable spirit, Milan boasts truly evocative natural spaces. According to the “Guida agli Alberi di Milano” (Guide to Trees in Milan) published by the Lombardy Region in March 2022, indeed, there are more than 220,000 trees in public areas in MIlan, for a total of 315 different species and a variety far greater than many other European cities.
With such a vast heritage, it will be an extraordinary experience to admire the foliage here, so take advantage of this period to take a break and treat yourself to a relaxing walk or arm yourself with a smartphone and camera to take selfies and breathtaking pictures.
Here’s a list of the must-see places to admire the changing colours of the trees in Milan, all within easy reach of the Milan Retreats flats. Come and enjoy wonder!

A thousand shades of autumn through parks and gardens
Red, yellow, orange… in Milan, the must-see places to enjoy the best of autumn colours are certainly Villa Belgiojoso Bonaparte in Via Palestro and Parco Sempione that has a group of Parrotia persica (the Pagoda tree) near the pond and rows of Robinia pseudoacacia “Frisia”, around one of the Viale Gadio/Acquario Civico entrances in the area connecting Piazza del Cannone to the Arco della Pace. The Cimitero Monumentale, the world-famous Bosco Verticale in Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Library of Trees, the Guastalla Gardens, the Martesana Park and the Via Cechov-Omodeo-Kant park with its marshy oak are also suggestive for a great “foliage experience”. Finally, in this tour in search of the perfect autumnal glimpse, you cannot miss the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens, which preserve a group of Ginkgo biloba trees, near the “Montemerlo” nursery school and towards the Piazza Cavour entrance, and rows of Calvi cypresses along the banks of the pond. Inside the Villa Comunale garden, along the fence wall, you will also find a solitary specimen of Platanus x hybrida, one of the oldest in Milan.

Among rare species of trees, the other soul of foliage in the small corners of the city
And if parks, gardens and Milan’s vast green areas weren’t enough, here are some other useful addresses to complete the foliage experience and make it even more special. Ready to take your beautiful photos? Start wandering around the city and choose from these 15 stops to immortalise your favourite trees and colours:
– viale Lazio/viale Cirene: row of lime trees
– via Sant’Elia, on the corner with via Osma: Ginkgo biloba ginkgo
– via Alberto da Giussano: row of liquidambar trees
– via Lazzaro Papi/via Tiraboschi: curly maple tree row
– via Saccardo: Parrotia persica
– via Zubiani: Metasequoia glyptostroboides (metasequoia)
– largo La Foppa, near the metro entrance: Rhus typhina (sumac)
– piazza De Angeli: Koelreuteria paniculata (Chinese lamp tree)
– viale Enrico Fermi near via Iseo: Ginkgo biloba
– via Zubiani, near the municipal nursery: rows of Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree)
– via Trenno/via Ippodromo: Quercus palustris (marsh oak)
– via Santa Sofia: row of Liriodendron tulipifera
– via Borsieri and via Alberto da Giussano: rows of Liquidambar styraciflua
– via Maratta: row of Gleditschia triacanthos
– via Piccinni: row of Ginkgo biloba.