Monza is in Lombardy, 15 km north-east of Milan. It is the capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza. It is best known for its racetrack, which is home to the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix every year.
Get in
Monza is well connected with Milan by train (from Garibaldi and Centrale stations) and by ATM bus line 723, 724, 722. Both train and buses arrive very close to city centre.
To come to Monza by car from east or west you should take A4 highway (Turin-Milan-Venice) and exit "Monza", from north the Milan-Lecco expressway (ss36) which ends in the town. From south you'd better take Milan's "tangenziale nord", which starts from "tangenziale est" and then Monza exit.
Get around
TPM operates a small public transportation network. Buy your ticket in advance and validate it once your trip starts. Tickets are urban and inter-urban (for travellers willing to cross city border) and both are valid for 60 min.
The public transportation network is not used so much by "Monzese" people because of the small dimensions of the city. Reaching the centre by foot from the periphery will take you about 30 min.
Bike are heavily used by Monza inhabitants and there's a nice ring of bike-reserved lanes on the banks of Villoresi Canal.
See
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- The city centre is a pedestrian-only shopping zone, with several high-budget shops side-by-side with international brand flagship stores.
- Duomo (Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista). Built in 595 and then modified in 13th and 14th centuries. The frescoed Chapel of Theodelinda houses the Iron Crown of Lombardy, supposed to contain one of the nails used at the Crucifixion.
- Parco di Monza (Monza Park). The fourth largest enclosed park in Europe, established in 1806 is now part of Lambro Valley Natural Reserve.
- Villa Reale (Royal Villa), Viale Brianza, 1, ☏ +39 039 2240024. Tu-Su 10:00-19:00. Built between 1777 and 1780 at the command of Empress Marie-Therese of Austria, it's a country palace very similar to Schoenbrunn in Vienna. Visits are available to the Private Apartments and to the Royal Apartments. Private Apartments: adults €10, youth 18-25 €8, children under 18 €4; Royal Apartments: adults €12, youth 18-25 and adults 65 and over €10, children 6-17 €5, children under 6 and disabled (with one companion) free; combination tickets: adults €19, youth 18-25 and adults 65 and over €16, children 6-17 €5, children under 6 and disabled (with one companion) free.
Do
- Take a walk through the Parco di Monza, and you'll understand why the people of Monza love their park so much. Very crowded on weekends.
- 1 Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is a historic motor-racing circuit that often hosts Formula One and other big events. On non-race days visitors may drive the track. The next F1 races are 1-3 Sep 2023 then 30 Aug - 1 Sept 2024.
- Football: AC Monza were promoted in 2022 so they play soccer in Serie A, Italy's top tier. Their home ground is Stadio Brianteo 2 km east of town centre - its nominal capacity is 18,500 but it's restricted to 10,000.
Buy
Markets are regularly organised in the town's various squares, selling products coming from various Italian regions and European countries.
Eat
- Vitantonio's Pizza Monza, 37, Azzone Visconti St, ☏ +39 039321433. Su-Th 11:00-22:00, F Sa 11:00-23:00.
- Al Puente, 30, Pacinotti St, ☏ +39 039 837021, +39 335 688 0939 (mobile phone Gabriele), gabriele@alpuente.it.
- [dead link] Paprika, 14, Moncenisio St, ☏ +39 039-59-70-925, info@paprikamonza.it. Open daily for lunch and dinner except Monday. The Paprika is a restaurant/pizzeria featuring designer furniture. It is a good place to relax and enjoy a good pizza and other good food.
- Ristorante Pizzeria Amalfi, 3, Enrico Tazzoli, ☏ +39 0392 141167.
- [dead link] Mume, 17, Pesa del Lino, ☏ +39 039 2301949. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays at lunch.
- Speedy, Via Appiani, 22, ☏ +39 039 321663. W-M 11:30-15:30, 19:30-23:30. Very popular with students for lunch, offering mostly panini, this place is very small, meaning service is anything but "speedy" - avoid this if you need to catch a train. A panino starting from €6.
- Il Fantello, Via Achille Mapelli, 7b, ☏ +39 039 323619. Founded in the 17th century, this is the town's oldest restaurant, serving traditional Lombard food at rather high prices.
Drink
Sleep
Connect
As of June 2022, Monza has 4G from Tim and 5G from Iliad, Vodafone and Wind Tre.
Go next
Lissone, Vedano Al Lambro, Muggiò, Cinisello Balsamo, Sesto San Giovanni, Brugherio, Agrate Brianza, Concorezzo, Villasanta, Biassono Seregno