In my experience, Milan tends to be either overlooked or underlooked when it comes to Italy travel planning. Most visitors skip over Milan without a second thought, while at the other end of the spectrum I find that some people budget far too much time in their Italian itinerary for this sprawling Northern Italian capital. In my opinion, there are just enough things to do in Milan, Italy to make it the perfect day trip or weekend getaway.
Personally, I’ve visited Milan three times. I’ve visited in the spring, summer and autumn, and both as a backpacker on a budget and as a travel with a more comfortable budget. Based on my three visits to the city, what follows are my recommendations for the very best things to do in Milan, Italy… for any and every traveler!
Things to Do in Milan in 1 Day
If you have one day in Milan, you absolutely have to hit the highlights: The Last Supper, The Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II. These are iconic Milan attractions that rival their counterparts in Rome and Florence.
See The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
The most memorable part of my first visit to Milan was seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. I’ve seen a lot of world-class art so it takes a lot to take my breath away… and the memory of seeing The Last Supper is still taking my breath away all these years later. I don’t believe in miracles, but if something was going to change my mind it’s the remarkable story of this huge painting surviving 500 years and so many near-misses.
It is 100% essential to book your tickets to see The Last Supper in advance, as access is extremely limited. A visit lasts exactly 15 minutes, and only 33 people are allowed in the room at the same time (they say the limit is in place to control the humidity and air quality in the room).
The Last Supper tickets are released every three months. For example, in mid-January tickets were released for February, March and April visits. Don’t leave your tickets to the last minute!
At the time of my visit there was an audio guide (additional cost) that I found very informative. It is not currently available, but there is also an official free app and PDF guide that you can download in advance, then access once you arrive. As an alternative, consider booking a guided tour to really learn more about this unforgettable work.
Ascend the Cathedral of Milan
Another activity I’ve enjoyed doing on several trips to Milan is visiting the insanely ornate Cathedral of Milan. To me, it feels like the heart of the city, and I always feel a little frisson of excitement when I come up the escalator from the Duomo metro station and the facade of the cathedral comes into view in front of me.
The most memorable part of a visit to the Duomo is the time you spend on the rooftops. The view is spectacular, and it’s also really special to be immersed in the facade that you had seen from below. Although you can buy a ticket just the rooftops (prices start around €10 if you’re willing to climb up the stairs) I think it’s a bit silly to not buy the combo ticket including access to the rooftops the Duomo itself and the Duomo museum.
Wander Through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Outside the cathedral, on the north side of the piazza, you’ll find of Italy’s most-Instagrammed locations – the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This covered shopping arcade, sparkling with glass and tile, is synonymous with luxury.
On the floor of the arcade you’ll find colorful mosaics representing Italy’s most important cities. The mosaic for Torino, or “little bull”, looks a little worse for wear. This is because local legend says that if you stand on that special spot and spin around on your heels three times then you’ll have good luck.
On my first visit to Milan, back in 2005, I thought I would stop for a cappuccino at one of the luxurious cafes inside the galleria. I knew that table service sometimes cost a bit more in Italy, but I was very shocked when I received my bill for €7! I can only imagine how much a coffee at one of those cafes costs today, fifteen years later. You can always politely excuse yourself before you order, but to avoid your own sticker shock incident make sure you’ve checked the menu prices (including any service charges that may be added to your bill) before placing an order with your server.
Explore Around the Duomo
The activities above will take the better part of your day, especially if you stop for lunch. However, you should still have time to explore the area around the Duomo on foot. You might want to visit:
- Corso Vittorio Emanuele II – A popular shopping street with affordable and designer brands.
- Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa – A medieval church with an ossuary, or small chapel decorated with human bones.
- Piazza dei Mercanti – A historic piazza that served as the heart of the city during the Middle Ages.
- The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) – Immediately beside the Duomo, the palace now features visiting exhibitions. Past exhibits have included Claude Monet, “magic realism” and highlights from the Guggenheim’s collections.
- Chiesa di Santa Maria Presso San Satiro – A Renaissance church with a trompe d’oeil design inside.
- Museo del Novecento – An art gallery focusing on 20th-century artists, like Picasso, Modigliani, di Chirico and Klee. It’s a nice break from paintings of virgins!
Things to Do in Milan in 2 Days
With two days in Milan, you have more time to visit some of the city’s art galleries and museums. My personal favorites are listed below.
Pinacoteca di Brera / Brera Art Gallery
Start your second day in Milan at this world-class art gallery, the most important in the city. Book your €15 tickets online through their official site before your visit. The gallery’s permanent collection, housed in an 18th-century palazzo, includes works you may already be familiar with:
- Lamentation Over the Dead Christ by Mantegna
- The Marriage of the Virgin by Raphael
- The Last Supper by Rubens (not the da Vinci version!)
- Madonna and Child Blessing by Bellini
Behind the museum, the Orto Botanico di Brera is a pretty botanical garden run by the University of Milan. They have a self-guided walking tour that links the flora in the gardens with works you can see inside the museum, and even better, admission to the gardens is free!
Wander Around the Brera District
Exploring the area around the Brera Museum is one of the best things to do in Milan, Italy in its own right. The streets here are mesmerizing: colorful, narrow, cobblestone lanes where you’re just as likely to find a nonna beating a broom on the sidewalk as you are to find a supermodel dashing into a luxury fashion boutique. There are interesting vintage shops, a number of niche perfumeries and lots of cafes and restaurants with tables spilling onto the streets outside. Leave yourself at least an hour or two to wander around without a specific mission, and then come back and tell me the best hidden gem you discovered on your stroll!
Castello Sforzesco / Sforza Castle
One of the best free things to do in Milan, the Sforza Castle and its pretty gardens are open to the public with no admission fee required. As you approach the red brick castle, dating back to the 1300s, you’ll immediately notice its refreshing fountain and towering… clocktower. Behind the castle, the gardens host a lake, some statues and a few small cafes that you can explore before exiting on the opposite side, at Milan’s Arch of Peace. This is the perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch!
For a reasonable admission fee of €5 you can access the nine museums inside the castle. The entrance fee may be worth it for just one exhibit: an unfinished pieta by Michaelangelo Buonarotti. The artist’s last unfinished work, somehow the unfinished piece is almost more powerful than it’s finished relative in the Vatican City.
Shop and Dine at Eataly Milan
No matter where I am in Italy, I always check to see if there is an Eataly location in the city. This is my favorite place to stock up on special Italian treats to bring home for myself, for friends and for family. In Milan, the Eataly is an easy fifteen-minute walk from Sforezco Castle, towards the Porta Garibaldi train station. With nine restaurants, bars and cafes to choose from, you can stop by for lunch or dinner and then browse the marketplace area for delicious souvenirs. I love buying the almond cream and pistachio cream (both are so good on crepes!) as well as the little candies that taste like Aperol Spritz cocktails.
Take in a Show at Teatro alla Scala
Some consider Milan’s Scala Theatre to be the most eminent opera house in all of Europe. If this piques your interest, you have the option of taking in a ballet or opera performance or joining one of the late-afternoon tours that gives you front-row access to the foyer, the opulent boxes and even the backstage areas, as well as a trip to the theater museum.
I wasn’t particularly interested in the architecture of the theater (for that you’d want to take a guided tour of the opera house), so I opted to attend a performance instead. I bought one of the cheapest tickets for the opera that was showing during my visit (ticket prices currently range from about €15 to €250), put on a pretty dress and spent the evening watching a show I didn’t really understand at all. It was a nice break from backpacking, even if I still couldn’t tell you what happens in Carmen.
Things to Do in Milan in 3 Days
You’ve now seen the most famous and most popular things to do in Milan, Italy. That means that with three days in Milan you can be a bit more free to relax, explore at your own pace and do something that has special meaning just for you. Here are some ideas:
Pamper Yourself at a Historic Spa
Sometimes I find myself in Western Europe saying, “Man, I wish I was in Eastern Europe right now, where there’s a banya or hammam around every corner.” That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to discover QC Termemilano on my most recent trip to Milan. This is an affordable day spa with a charming outdoor thermal pool area, centered around a sauna built right into one of Milan’s historic trams, as well as a subterranean sauna facility with wet and dry saunas, a salt room and other wellness rituals. They also serve an evening aperitivo buffet, where you can nibble on bruschetta and crudites between dips in the pool and sweat sessions in the steam rooms.
See an Inter Milan or AC Milan Football Game
Even if you’re not a big soccer fan, the excitement of a European football game is simply magical. Both of Milan’s teams play at the San Siro stadium, an easy metro ride from the city center with capacity for up to 80,000 spectators. The stadium’s website has a calendar showing upcoming matches, while truly hardcore football fans have the option of also signing up for a stadium tour.
Visit the Monumental Cemetery
I love exploring historic cemeteries during my travels, and Milan’s Cimitero Monumentale is among the world’s most evocative. Opened in the late 1800s, many of Milan’s most prominent residents were buried here in mausoleums, tombs and graves unlike any others. The most iconic resting place is the cylindrical tomb of Antonio Bernocchi, an Italian industrialist, carved with spiraling fantastical scenes by sculptor Giannino Castiglioni. The cemetery has its own metro station, but it’s also an easy walk from Sforzesco Castle.
Hit the Town (and the Canals) in the I Navigli District
When Milanese hipsters want to eat, drink and dance the night away, they head to the Navigli district, southwest of the city center. Lining the city’s two canals, the streets of Navigli are filled with independent boutiques, aperitivo bars, innovative restaurants and popular nightclubs. They say this is where you’ll find the city’s best gelato, at Gelateria della Musica. Any gelateria that has toasted, salted pistachio flavor and untoasted, unsalted pistachio flavor gets my stamp of approval!
More Than Three Days in Milan?
If you have more than three days in Milan, consider spending the rest of your time somewhere else. My personal recommendation would be to travel to Turin, Italy, which is one hour away by high-speed train. I have a complete guide to Turin, ideal for people visiting for just a few days. The original Italian capital (shown above) has a rich cinema history, world-class culinary scene and several magnificent Savoy palaces that are open to the public.
If you’ve already visited Turin, you might be more interested in a day trip to Lake Como or Lake Garda, the two most upscale destinations in Northern Italy.
Where to Stay in Milan, Italy
Budget Accommodation in Milan, Italy
This one is super-easy! My favorite hostel in Milan is Ostello Bello. I actually first discovered this family of hostels in Bagan, Myanmar, and I had such a great stay there that I didn’t even consider other hostels on the trip to Milan that followed. They have two locations: one within easy walking distance of the Duomo and a second, larger location near Milano Centrale station.
I’ve been to both locations and think the Duomo location is better for multi-day stays, while their location by the train station is perfect for a one-night visit (it’s so easy to get there from the station!). Owned by travelers, they know that it’s the little things that make a hostel stay more comfortable, like a free welcome drink, communal meals (including evening aperitivo!) and regular social events. They don’t just have dorms – the private rooms are great for people looking for a quiet night’s sleep but some friendly banter over breakfast.
Mid-Range Accommodation in Milan, Italy
B&B Hotel Milano City Center is part of a local group of budget-friendly hotels (Rick Steves recommends their Sant’Ambrogio location!). Here, in their city center property, affordable private rooms come with a continental breakfast, city views and access to their rooftop terrace. I like this location, which is on the same street as the luxury property recommended below.
Luxury Accommodation in Milan, Italy
While you could stay in one of the big-name chain hotels (like the Four Seasons), my recommendation for luxury accommodation in Milan is Antica Locanda Dei Mercanti. Here, you’ll be staying in an authentic 18th-century palazzo. Expect fresh flowers, vines hanging beside your window shutters, and a number of rooms with their own private terraces. It is located midway between the Duomo and Sforza Castle, meaning you’ll be able to walk almost anywhere you’d want to explore.
More Hotels in Milan, Italy
Hopefully I’ve managed to convince you that a trip to Milan is worth a few days of your valuable travel time!
Want more Italy tips? I was recently in Sicily, and I can’t stop raving about this Mediterranean paradise.
I also love Puglia, where Baroque architecture meets azure beaches.
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