Milan Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 6 November 2025

Milan, renowned for its fashion, art, and culinary delights, attracts millions of tourists annually.

How many people visit Milan each year?

Over 9 million tourists have visited Milan in recent years.¹

• In 2024, Milan welcomed approximately 9.07 million visitors, marking an approximately 7% increase over 2023 and representing 122% of pre-pandemic levels.

• Annual visitor numbers reached 8.49 million in 2023, surpassing the pre-pandemic record by 14%.

• Before the pandemic, 7.46 million visitors explored Milan in 2019, which dropped to 1.9 million in 2020 and partially recovered to 3.0 million in 2021.

How many tourists visited Milan in 2024?

Milan welcomed 9.07 million overall visitors in 2024.

• Domestic tourists made up approximately 30% (2.72 million), while international visitors accounted for 70% (6.35 million) of total arrivals in 2024.

How many tourists visited Milan in 2023?

• Milan welcomed 8.49 million overall visitors in 2023.Domestic tourists accounted for approximately 34% (2.89 million), while international visitors comprised 66% (5.60 million) of total arrivals in Milan in 2023.

How much do tourists spend in Milan?

• Tourists spend close to €13 billion in Milan in recent years.

• In 2023, total tourist spending reached approximately €12.5 billion, marking a 34% increase from 2022 when spending was approximately €9.3 billion.

• Before the pandemic, tourists spent approximately €12.5 billion in Milan in 2019, which dropped to €2.7 billion in 2020 and partially recovered to €5.5 billion in 2021.

Note: Milan tourism expenditure is not yet updated and 2024 tourism spending is not available online.

Milan Tourism Revenue in 2023

Approximately €12.5 billion in revenue was generated by Milan tourism in 2023.

• Milan generated €2.1 billion from domestic tourism revenue (17%) and €10.4 billion from international tourism revenue (83%) of total tourism revenue in 2023.

Which country visits Milan the most?

The United States is Milan’s largest source of international tourists, and France is the second-largest international market in 2024.

Top International Source Countries by Visitors (2024)

1. United States: 350,000 visitors
2. France: 270,000 visitors
3. China: 250,000 visitors
4. Germany: 220,000 visitors
5. United Kingdom: 200,000 visitors

Where do tourists spend their money in Milan?

• The majority of visitors to Milan spend the most on catering and dining, accounting for 72% of Milan’s tourism revenue. International visitors enjoy culinary experiences in Milan’s renowned restaurants and cafes.²

• Retail and shopping constitute 17% of the total, reflecting Milan’s status as a fashion and shopping capital with luxury boutiques and designer outlets.

• Travel and Transportation make up 6% of tourists’ expenditures supporting mobility during their stay.

• Accommodation: The smallest portion of spending, at 5%, is on accommodations, indicating that while essential, lodging costs are relatively less compared to dining and shopping experiences.

How long do visitors stay in Milan?

Visitors stay an average of approximately 2 to 3 nights in Milan.

• Domestic visitors: Stay approximately 1.8 nights on average in 2024, typically for weekend trips or business meetings.

• International visitors: Stay around 2.4 to 2.5 nights on average in 2024, with 77% staying between 2-5 nights.

When is the best time to visit Milan?

The best time to visit Milan depends on personal preferences and interests.

• Winter (January-February): Cool 5-10°C, fewest crowds, Men’s Fashion Week in January, lower accommodation prices.

• Spring (March-May): Mild 15-25°C, pleasant sightseeing weather, May records 840,000 visitors.

• Summer (June-August): Hot 25-30°C, peak crowds, summer sales, all attractions open.

• Autumn (September-October): Pleasant 15-20°C, peak season with Fashion Week and Formula 1 Grand Prix in September, October busiest month.

• Holiday season (November-December): Cool 5-15°C, moderate crowds, Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Christmas market, La Scala opera season opening on December 7.

What are the peak tourist months in Milan?

October was the peak month in Milan in 2024.

• October was the busiest month with 910,000 visitors in 2024, followed by July with 890,000 visitors, September with 880,000 visitors, and May with 840,000 visitors.

Note: Only the peak months (October, July, September, and May) for Milan in 2024 were available, the remaining monthly figures were estimated based on the observed trend from 2021’s monthly visitor distribution

How popular is Milan as a tourist destination?

Milan remains one of the world’s most admired travel destinations, consistently earning international awards and top rankings in 2024 and 2025 for its culture, fashion, and visitor experience.

• In 2025, Milan ranked among the Top 20 Most Visited Cities Worldwide and retained its position as #5 in Europe, reaffirming its global tourism strength.

• It continues to be recognized as Italy’s second-most visited city, following Rome, attracting millions of domestic and international travelers each year.

• Milan achieved a traveler sentiment score of 85/100 in 2024, which improved further in 2025, reflecting high visitor satisfaction and world-class hospitality.

• Via Monte Napoleone held its title as the world’s most expensive shopping street in 2025, emphasizing Milan’s dominance in luxury retail and high-end tourism.

• The city earned praise for its successful hosting of international events such as Milan Fashion Week 2025 and Salone del Mobile 2025, solidifying its reputation as a global center for art, design, and creativity.

These recognitions confirm Milan’s status in 2024 and 2025 as a top-tier global tourist destination, celebrated for its blend of historic charm, modern innovation, and luxury travel appeal.

• Milan, with over 8.5 million visitors in 2023, ranks as Italy’s second most popular city for tourists.

• Along with Rome and Jesolo, Milan topped the list of the most searched Italian cities on the Jetcost website for 2023.³

• Milan’s prominence will be further highlighted as it, along with Cortina d’Ampezzo, will host the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the second time in two decades that Italy has welcomed the Winter Games.⁴
  

Italy Travel Resources

Milan Tourism Statistics – Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Milan, like many countries worldwide, witnessed a decline in tourist arrivals in 2020 and 2021.

• In 2020, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist visits fell to a record low of 1.9 million, a 74% decrease from 2019’s 7.46 million visitors. International tourist spending also dropped from €8.9 billion in 2019 to just €2.19 billion in 2020, an 87% decline.

• Around 3.0 million visits were recorded in 2021, a 60% drop from 2019 levels. The domestic share temporarily increased to approximately 50% of visitors as international travel remained restricted.

• Recovery accelerated in 2022 with 5.45 million visitors (still 27% below 2019), followed by full recovery in 2023 with 8.49 million visitors (114% of 2019 levels) and continued growth to 9.07 million in 2024 (122% of 2019 levels).

Economic Impact – Milan Tourism Statistics

• Milan tourism contributes over €14.5 billion annually to the city’s economy. It supports over 100,000 jobs directly or indirectly, with the MICE sector alone supporting approximately 80,000 jobs and generating €2.5 billion annually.

Best Attractions to Visit in Milan

Milan is one of the most popular cities in Italy known for its fashion, design, and historic landmarks. Some of the top tourist spots in Milan include:

• Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), with 3.5 million visitors in 2023, is Milan’s most popular tourist attraction with its stunning architecture and views from the rooftop terraces.

• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world’s oldest and most famous shopping malls with 2 million annual visitors.

• Teatro Alla Scala is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world with 1 million annual visitors.

• Castello Sforzesco houses several museums and art galleries, including the Museo d’Arte Antica. It attracts over 1 million visitors every year.
  
• Santa Maria delle Grazie ( 445,000 annual visitors) is a church that is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s mural The Last Supper, one of the most famous artworks in the world.

Italy Travel Statistics Resources

• Italy Statistics
  • Florence Statistics
  • Rome Statistics
  • Venice Statistics

Europe Travel Statistics Resources

• Austria Statistics
• Belgium Statistics
• Croatia Statistics
• Denmark Statistics
• France Statistics (incl. Paris, Disneyland Paris, Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame)
• Georgia Statistics
• Germany Statistics (incl. Berlin)
• Greece Statistics (incl. Parthenon)
• Iceland Statistics
• Netherlands Statistics (incl. Amsterdam)
• Norway Statistics
• Portugal Statistics (incl. Lisbon)
• Spain Statistics (incl. Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca)
• Sweden Statistics
• Switzerland Statistics
• UK Statistics (incl. Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Oxford, Scotland)

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References

1. CDM: Tourism Visitors Statistics ↩︎
2. NN: International Visitors Spending Category ↩︎
3. IG: Popularity of Milan Across Italy ↩︎
4. OC: Olympics Game in Milan ↩︎