Da Vinci Museum in Milan: Worth It?

The Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology is a solid pick if you're into engineering, invention, or just want to see his actual drawings up close. Expect a massive former monastery filled with planes, trains, submarines, and interactive exhibits. The real highlight is the Leonardo Gallery: a quiet, well-lit space displaying his codices, anatomical studies, and wooden machine models. The rest of the museum is huge and can feel overwhelming - it's popular with school groups, so it gets loud in the main halls. Plan on 2-3 hours if you want to see everything properly.

Best time to visit is weekday mornings, especially in spring or late fall when crowds are thinner. Summer is busier and hotter inside. Expect to pay around €15-25 for a standard ticket, or €30-45 if you add a guided tour of the Leonardo section (worth it for context). Skip the temporary exhibits unless something specific interests you - they can be hit or miss.

Honest tip: buy the combo ticket that includes the Leonardo galleries and go straight there first before the crowds build. Skip most of the ground-floor transport stuff unless you have kids or extra time - it's less special than the Renaissance engineering upstairs.