CityBuddy
Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) & Porta Nuova district
Best time to visit
Early morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer tourists; spring and early autumn show plants at their most vibrant.
Budget tips
Free to view from street level, no entry fee; occasional paid guided tours run by local operators, book ahead if interested. Save money by combining the visit with a free walking route around Porta Nuova and using a day metro ticket.
Recommended for
Architecture enthusiasts, Photography enthusiasts, Urban nature lovers, City walkers and short-stay visitors
Plan your visit
30-60 minutes
About
Quick facts: Look up and you'll spot more than 900 trees clinging to glass balconies, their foliage cooling the air and muffling city noise like a living air filter. Strolling through the surrounding high-rise district, you'll find gleaming towers, pocket parks, and buzzing cafés where evening aperitivo feels effortlessly modern and communal.
Highlights: Greenery drapes the balconies, with about 900 trees and roughly 2,000 shrubs planted by architect Stefano Boeri, so the towers smell of pine and rosemary after rain and even host bees and small birds between floors. Nearby, a cluster of glass towers punctuated by a glowing spire has spawned a nightly LED light ritual that locals time with aperitivo, a quirky routine where neighbors meet under the lights to trade gossip and swap cuttings from their balcony plants.
Insider tips
- Wear comfortable shoes, cobbled paths and promenades require walking.
- Best photo spots are Piazza Gae Aulenti, the Corso Como pedestrian bridge, and terraces along Via De Castillia.
- Visit on weekday mornings to avoid crowds and capture clean light for photos.
- Respect resident privacy, avoid filming through windows and keep noise low in residential areas.
Where to Stay in Milan
Selected by City Buddy based on guest reviews and proximity to top attractions
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More attractions in Milan
Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Teatro alla Scala (La Scala Opera House)
Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle)
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