Last Updated on: 19th June 2023, 07:13 pm
I just adore Milan. Before I arrived, I didn’t understand how fabulous the city is, but it’s immediately apparent when you start to exploring.
From its quirky churches to its great nightlife, there’s so much to explore in the city. Here are the best things to do in Milan, plus some essential Milan travel tips!
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My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023
These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.
Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing
Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viator.
Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com.
For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.
For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars.
Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.
For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon.
Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).
For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.
The Top 6 Most Popular Milan Tours & Attractions
Before you dig into all the city has to offer, you should know that these are the most popular guided tours, attractions, day trips, and skip-the-line tickets in Milan.
Milan Cathedral and Rooftop Ticket or Skip-the-Line Version
Milan Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: 72, 48-Hour or 1 Day Ticket
Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna: Full-Day Tour from Milan
Leonardo3 – The World of Leonardo Museum Entrance Ticket
The Best Things to Do in Milan
In no particular order…
Visit the imposing Cathedral, the Duomo
Milan’s Cathedral is the most visited landmark in the city. Considered one of the most imposing masterpieces of Gothic art in the world, this forest of never-ending spires, mythological creatures, terrifying gargoyles, and saints took over five centuries to be completed.
To get a fantastic view of the city, but also to admire the work of dozens of architects and builders who worked on the project over the centuries, the best thing to do is to climb to the top, ether walking up the endless stairs or jumping on the elevator.
Once at the top, you will be able to admire the gilt copper of the Madonnina, a small statue of the virgin that shines on top of the building and which was the highest point in town until 1958. The building is located on the famous Piazza del Duomo, Milan’s most important square.
You can go on a guided tour of the cathedral and the rooftop or you can get a skip-the-line ticket and explore on your own.
Piazza Duomo
Hours: Cathedral Mon-Sun 7 am – 6:40 pm; Terrace Mon-Sun 9 am – 6:30 pm
Subway stop: Duomo
Tour Options: Guided Tour or Skip-The-Line
Walk Through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Known as the gathering place of Milan, the fantastic Galleria joins through its main passage the Duomo Square and the Scala Square. Inside the gallery, high-end stores share the space with historic Italian shops and restaurants.
At the intersection point, an octagonal floor is surmounted by a remarkable come made of glass and iron, rich in heraldic emblems and mosaics.
You can visit on your own or as part of a Milan walking tour.
Piazza Duomo
Hours: The gallery is open twenty-four hours a day. Individual businesses set their own hours.
Subway Stop: Duomo
Tour Options: Milan Walking Tour
Walk and shop along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
The pedestrian road that joins Milan’s Cathedral and Saint Babila Square is a long pedestrian road with traditional cafés, important bookstores, and dozens of boutiques where you can buy anything from stylish bags to a pair of jeans.
Along the way, make some time to discover the small Church of San Carlo al Corso, with an elegant colonnade and a gorgeous circular dome inspired by the world-famous Pantheon in Rome.
If you want to really dig into Milan’s shopping and fashion culture, you can go on a Private Fashion & Shopping Walking Tour.
Subway Stop: Duomo
Tour Options: Private Fashion & Shopping Walking Tour
Get lost in La Rinascente Department Store
Many times described as one of the most elegant and beautiful department stores in Italy, La Rinascente was in fact awarded the title of “Best Department Store in the World.”
If you are looking to discover exclusive brands all inside one place, try on Italian fashion, or simply peruse exquisite designer kitchenware, La Rinascente is the place to go. It’s located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, just a few steps away from the Duomo.
After your shopping spree, reach the rooftop terrace on the 7th floor for a cup of cappuccino and a completely different view of Milano’s skyline.
Hours: 10 am until 9 pm daily
Subway Stop: Duomo
Discover the world-famous Teatro Alla Scala
As you exit the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, you will be facing the magnificent Scala Square, with the imposing statue of Leonardo Da Vinci and its four disciples. Right opposite the square stands the most prestigious opera houses in the world, Teatro Alla Scala.
You can either book a guided visit, buy a ticket to enjoy a night of ballet, or even admire the pieces exhibited in its Museo Teatrale, the theater’s museum. Right next to the theater, there is also a souvenir shop selling beautiful opera-themed objects, CD collections of classical music, and even the musical scores of your favorite composer.
Theater: Via Filodrammatici 2, Museum: Largo Ghirighelli 1
Hours: Mon-Sun 9.30-12.30 and 1.30-5.30
Subway Stop: Duomo
Tour Options: La Scala Theatre and Museum Guided Tour
Step into Milan’s Medieval past strolling around the Piazza Mercanti
A Medieval corner built back in 1228, the area was the heart of Milan’s commercial life for centuries.
Check the ground floor for the Loggia dei Mercanti, the open space surrounded by columns where fairs and markets used to be hosted. In the center of the square, there’s a famous well that stands on top of the so-called Pietra Dei Falliti (which roughly translates into the rock of the bankrupts). The infamous place is where bankrupt merchants were exposed to ridicule.
Given the place’s role during the Middle Ages, it would be fitting to explore the piazza in an elegant medieval dress. For an even more immersive experience, try participating in historical reenactments in Milan and nearby towns.
You can visit on your own or as a part of the Milan Segway Tour or the Milan Off-the-Beaten-Path tour.
Subway Stop: Cordusio
Tour Options: Milan Segway Tour & Milan Off-the-Beaten-Path tour.
Pay a Visit to the Gallerie d’Italia
An interesting museum area in Milan is this complex of spectacular buildings, including the Palazzo della Banca Commerciale, and the Palazzo Traversi. The first structure houses one of the most important local exhibitions of modern art, the Cantiere del Novecento Italiano.
The area is dedicated to different art tendencies ranging from the late 50s until the 90s. The unique setting of this museums highlights the former bank status of the building in which the works of art are portrayed within the frame of former cashier’s windows.
Piazza della Scala 6
Hours: Tue. Wed & Fri 9.30 am – 7:30 pm, Thu 9.30 am – 10:30 pm
Subway Stop: Duomo
Explore the Italian Renaissance in Santa Maria presso San Satiro
This small church dating back to 1482 was specially built to treasure a 13th-century icon of the Virgin thought to work miracles. The icon remains until now placed above the main altar and can be easily admired by visitors.
The magnificent illusionary paintings crafted by the talented Donato Bramante confuse the eye creating a magnificent apse in a space that actually does not exist. This is a true can’t-miss in Milan and one of the city’s most beautiful churches.
The site is included on this Milan private walking tour.
Via Torino 17
Hours: Tue-Sat 9.30 am – 5:30 pm, Sun 2 pm – 5:30 pm
Subway Stop: Duomo
Tour Options: Milan Private Walking Tour
Check Milan’s Best Selfie Spot in Piazza Degli Affari
Milan’s market stock (La Borsa di Milano, in Italian) is an elegant building made in Travertine marble which dates back to 1932. It was one of the first buildings in the city to have air-conditioning and a state-of-the-art lighted board that featured the stock-market quotations.
Right opposite the imposing columns of La Borsa snap a selfie at one of the most thought-provoking works of art in town. Maurizio Cattelan was the artist behind Milan’s monumental hand with an 11-meter-high middle finger raised at the stock market. The work of art is known as L.O.V.E (the acronym for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità, in English freedom, hatred, revenge, and eternity).
You can stop by on your own or you can see it as part of this Milan bike tour.
Subway Stop: Cordusio
Tour Options: Milan Bike Tour.
Admire unique masterpieces at Pinacoteca de Brera
Medieval art and Renaissance masterpieces populate the 38 rooms of one of the most important museums in Italy.
The collection is housed in the old monastery of the Umiliati, which is part of a cultural complex including an Astronomic Observatory, a Botanical Garden, a Library, and the Lombardy Academy of Science and Letters.
The Pinacoteca is accessed by means of a monumental stairway adorned with spectacular sculptures that leads to the first floor of the building.
Via Brera 28
Hours: Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 8.30 am – 7 pm, Fri 8.30 am – 9 pm
Subway Stop: Lanza or Montenapoleone
Spend an Afternoon in Brera, the Art District of Milan
The area around the Brera Academy has gained fame for being the most bohemian district of Milan, once the home of poets and artists, but also prostitutes and criminals.
Home to important literary movements during the 19th and 20th centuries, today, the alleys of this trendy neighborhood are populated by vintage stores and antique shops where Milan’s past still lives one.
Every 3rd Sunday of each month, don’t miss the flea market in Via Fiori Chiari.
Subway Stop: Lanza or Montenapoleone
Tour Options: Milan Cathedral, La Scala Theatre, & Sforza Castle Tour
Visit Milan’s unique Cimitero Monumentale
Milan’s most important cemetery extends on over 25 hectares of lands displaying a spectacular collection of funerary art, unique graves, and tombs belonging to the most remarkable characters in Italy and Milan’s upper-class families.
The cemetery is, indeed, a marvelous outdoor museum made of private chapels and monuments, sculptures, and mausoleums. The Pantheon of Illustrious Men (also known as the Famedio), features a beautiful octagonal cupola and it’s the place of the final rest of many important artists of the Milanese scene.
You can go on a guided tour of the cemetery or visit on your own.
Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale
Hours: Tue-Sun 8 am – 6 pm
Subway Stop: Monumentale
Tour Options: The Monumental Cemetery of Milan Guided Experience
Explore the Fantastic Isola Neighborhood
Once a working-class district, L’Isola has been transformed into a cool quarter with design studios, art lofts, and the award-winning twin towers of Bosco Verticale, two buildings covered with over 1000 different plant and trees varieties.
In the area, pay a visit to Piazza Gae Aulenti, a circular space built in front of the imposing Unicredit Tower, featuring a huge and original circular fountain and a series of modern sculptures. There are also several brand stores that make the area a good spot for shopping too.
You can explore on your own or see it as part of this Milan architecture tour.
Subway Stop: Garibaldi F.S.
Tour Options: Milan History and Architecture Private Guided Tour
Marvel at Milan’s Medieval Past inside Castello Sforzesco and the Civic Museums
The imposing square structure with medieval origins, each facade measuring a solid wall 200 meters long, features four imposing towers in each corner, two of them cylindrical and the other two of them square.
On the main side, the Filarete Tower faces the city of Milan and gives access to the ducal court which, among other pieces of art, features ancient frescoes painted by Leonardo.
The castle has three different courtyards, Piazza d’Armi, the Cortile della Rocchetta, and the Ducal Courtyard
Inside the castle, there are several libraries and museums dedicated to the visual arts. The most remarkable piece is the well-known Pietà Rondanini, one of Leonardo’s unfinished works of art.
Among the museums open to the public, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Furniture Museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Applied Arts Collection.
Piazza Castello 1
Hours: Mon-Sun, 7 am – 6 pm (winter) 7 am – 7 pm (summer).
Subway Stop: Cairoli
Tour Options: Milan Cathedral, La Scala Theatre, & Sforza Castle Tour
Book a visit to Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church and discover Leonardo’s Last Supper
One of the finest examples of Renaissance in the Lombardy region, features a magnificent 16-sided lantern, a bright brick facade, and a beautiful portal supported by Corinthian columns.
Although the church alone is worth a visit, the main reason to visit is certainly to admire Leonardo’s fresco The Last Supper, which covers one wall of the refectory. The whole complex has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Getting tickets can be a complicated process since tickets sell out early. I have an entire guide to how to get tickets to the Last Supper here.
Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2
Hours: Church Mon-Sat 7-12 am and 3-7:30 pm (Sundays and holidays open until 9 pm); Cenacolo Vinciano Tue-Sun 8:15 am — 6:45 pm (You must have a ticket to enter).
Subway Stop: Conciliazione
Tour Options: Skip-the-Line Ticket
Shop (or dream about shopping) at the Fashion Quadrangle
Behind San Babila Square, four streets, Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Corso Venezia, and Via Manzoni, shape the fashion district of Milan, featuring brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Etro, Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, and Just Cavalli among others.
The area, now the home of the top Made in Italy fashion industry, was once upon a time one of the most exclusive residential areas in town where Milan’s nobility and upper classes had their luxurious mansions.
Via Della Spiga, the most exclusive of the four streets, is a small and intimate pedestrian area while the most famous road remains Via Montenapoleone. The latter has been included in the list of the most prestigious streets in the world, together with New York’s Fifth Avenue and the Avenue des Champs Èlysées in Paris.
Subway Stop: San Babila or Montenapoleone
Tour Options: Private Fashion & Shopping Walking Tour
Rediscover Industrial Values at Hangar Bicocca
Hangar Bicocca is a great example of post-industrial conversion, art, and alternative trends. Considered among the largest exhibition areas in Europe, Hangar Bicocca was born from the remains of an old industrial plant.
Today, the area seasonal exhibitions of international prestige and recognition, but also houses two permanent art collections, The Sequence, and The Seven Celestial Palaces, which represents the symbolic journey of mankind between a nostalgic past and the ruins of the present.
Via Chiese 2
Hours: Thu-Sun 11 am – 11 pm
Subway Stop: Ponale
Spend a Few Moments Discovering the Beautiful Church of Saint Ambrogio
Together with Milan’s Duomo, Sant’Ambrogio Basilica is one of the highest examples of religious architecture in town, as well as one of the most beloved monuments by locals.
The Romanesque Basilica was erected between 379 and 386 and it’s dedicated to the Patron Saint of Milan who rests in a silver urn below the altar.
The more characteristic feature of the church is the two bell towers connected by means of a portico. Once inside, don’t miss the spectacular frescoes with opulent use of materials such as gold, enamel, and precious gemstones.
Piazza Sant’Ambrogio 15
Hours: Church Mon-Sat 10 – 12 am and 2.30 – 6 pm, Sun 3 pm – 5 pm; Museum Mon-Sun 10 – 12 am and 2:30 – 5:30 pm
Subway Stop: Sant’Ambrogio
Tour Options: 2-Hour Rickshaw Sightseeing Tour
Check the remarkable National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo Da Vinci
Over 100.000 different pieces are featured in at the Museo Nazionale Della Scienza e Della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci making it the most important science museum in the country.
Once inside, check the gigantic steam turbine at the entrance and the basement replica of a metallurgical plant. However, the most remarkable pieces in the Museum are the ones belonging to the Leonardo Da Vinci Gallery, on the first floor, with models of primitive machines built following the drawings of the artist.
Also, visit the aeronautical and naval pavilion, and if you’re visiting with kids, discover the myriad of scientific workshops where it’s possible to build a robot or experiment in child-friendly labs.
The outdoor section features the Enrico Toti submarine which can be experienced in a guided tour upon reservation at the entrance of the museum.
You can get your tickets ahead of time and even book a private tour.
Via San Vittore 21
Hours: Museum Tue-Fri 9.30 a – 5 pm. Sat and holidays 9.30 am – 6:30 pm; Enrico Toti submarine and virtually simulated helicopter flight: upon reservation.
Subway Stop: Sant’Ambrogio
Tour Options: Museum Entry & 1.5-Hour Leonardo da Vinci Gallery Tour
Check Milans’ Aperitivo Scene at the Naviglio Grande
When it’s too late for coffee but still to early for dinner, nothing beats the magic experience of the Aperitivo Milanese. A kind of local happy hour when friends and co-workers gather to enjoy a drink and small complimentary bites.
One of Milan’s top places for this happy moment is the area known as the Navigli, full of cool bars, alternative restaurants, and magnificent art spaces that stand along the old canals of the city. The oldest of them all, the Naviglio Grande is a medieval engineering work built specially to transport to the city the marbles used to build the Duomo.
Subway Stop: Porta Genova
Tour Options: Private Navigli Walking Tour
Indulge in Local Pastries at Pasticceria Marchesi
No Milan trip should lack a visit to Marchesi 1924, the most historic pastry shop in Milan where you can taste the authentic flavor of Italy’s espresso as well as some of the most iconic pastries that Marchesi has been baking for almost a century.
They are also known for the varied tea list of flavors, while legendary Marchesi bites include Sacher Torte, gianduiotto and cremini chocolates, and the authentic Panettone Milanese, the most traditional Christmas sweet all over Italy.
There are shops in different spots in town, among the best-known ones, the one in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the one in Via Santa Maria Alla Porta, 11.
Largo Isarco, 2
Hours: Every day from 9 am – 7 pm
Subway Stop: Lodi TIBB or Brenta
Check the Alternative Space at Fondazione Prada
A distillery from the late 1920s is now home to a modern exhibition center with different distinct spaces dedicated to different branches of art, including a modern cinema and the Milano Osservatorio, a space dedicated to photography and visual arts.
On the sixth floor, the Fondazione features the Torre restaurant, a unique design space featuring works of art and design furniture. From the large window of the venue, the views of Milan are spectacular. It’s also worth noting that the menu features authentic Italian dishes, with a particularly rich section devoted to sweets and pastries as well as Italian and international wines.
Largo Isarco, 2
Hours: Every day from 9 am – 7 pm
Subway Stop: Lodi TIBB or Brenta
Have fun in Milan’s Chinatown
Italy’s oldest Chinese District is Milan’s Chinatown (locally known as Quartiere Cinese). This multi-ethnic district grows around the most important, pedestrian road Paolo Sarpi, featuring unique food markets and shops specializing in silk and other oriental products.
The Chinese lanterns on the streets add a special atmosphere to the small quarter. Over here, it is possible to choose between Asian street food stands, dim sum restaurants, and traditional tea shops.
Subway Stops: Moscova or Monumentale
Cascina Cuccagna, visit an old farmhouse in the heart of Milan
This old farmhouse from the 17th century has been restored and opened to the public back in 2012 as a cultural center with unique cultural projects and special attention to sustainability.
An agricultural center in the heart of the city reconnecting locals to the old farm values of the Lombardy region.
It’s not only possible to try authentic Milanese food in the restaurant, but also to discover projects such as the bicycle workshop, the flower shop corner and to participate in one of the different cooking lessons proposed in this space.
Via Privata Cuccagana 2/4
Subway Stop: Porta Romana
Live the thrill of a football match at San Siro
Check the impressive facilities of Italy’s biggest stadium in the center of Milan. No matter whether you are into sports or not, football (or soccer, as you prefer) is a serious business all over the country.
If you’re not really interested in witnessing a match, book a tour of the Stadium and the Museum which will also allow you to access areas usually restricted to the general public.
Piazzale Angelo Moratti
It’s necessary to book a private tour to access the premises.
Subway Stop: San Siro Stadio
Tour Options: San Siro Stadium and Casa Milan with Sightseeing Bus
Have a beer at Birrificio Lambrate
Check this alternative and yet traditional brewery house in the heart of Milan, famous for its fantastic pub and wonderful restaurant.
Their beer list is divided into classic and seasonal beers, including tastes such as Ales, Bocks, Stouts, Smokey, and many more varieties.
Via Adelchi 5
Hours: 6 pm – 2 am
Subway Stop: Lambrate
End your stay with a relaxing session at QC MilanoTerme
Enjoy the thermal baths in the center of Milan surrounded by eclectic decorations including a traditional Milanese yellow tram now transformed into a sauna.
The spa complex is ideal for a pampering session after walking the streets of the most important European capitals of fashion. Choose among different pools, saunas, and baths, spa treatments, massages and wellness meals. A couple’s spa pass can be the most unexpected romantic date you could ever experience in Italy.
Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro 2
Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, Sat-Sun 8.30 am -12.30 pm
Subway Stop: Porta Romana
5 Things to Bring with You to Milan
The Lonely Planet Italy guidebook or the Rick Steves Italy guidebook for your trip. It can be kind of a pain to find the major guidebooks once you arrive in Italy, or you’ll find them overpriced. I always like to pick mine up ahead of time.
An Unlocked Cell Phone so that you can use an Italian sim card while here to help navigate the trains.
Backup Charging Bank for your cell phone since you’ll be using it as a camera, GPS system, and general travel genie.
A Camera since Milan is super photogenic. I use a mix of my Nikon D810 and my Samsung8 smartphone these days. (Though many of these pics in this post were on my old Nikon D40).
A Great Day Bag so you can carry what you need with you (like your camera, snacks, water, sunscreen, cash, etc). My current favorite is the Pacsafe Citysafe, which is especially great for Italy because it has many anti-theft features.
More Milan Travel Resources
Here are some resources to help you plan your trip to Italy. First, if you’re planning to see DaVinci’s Last Supper, here’s a guide to getting tickets for Santa Maria delle Grazie so you don’t miss it! (Tickets sell out early).
Next, while you’re in Milan, you should make time to see these other beautiful Milan Churches and take advantage of the best things to do in Milan at night!
If you’ll be spending time in Rome, check out my interview with Mike Duncan on the history of The Roman Forum. I also have several episodes of my travel podcast, Rick Steves Over Brunch about Rome and Venice. Plus I have 101 Italy Quotes for Italy Instagram captions.
You can also check out my guide to visiting Ostia Antica from Rome, plus 50 Eternally Beautiful Rome Quotes and 50 Hilarious Rome Puns.
If you’ll be spending time in Venice, check out my favorite Venice quotes and Venice puns.
Finally, check out my list of books to read before your vacation in Italy.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
Before you leave for Italy make sure you have a valid Travel Insurance Policy because accidents happen on the road. I pay for World Nomads, and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’ll be hanging out in cities (like Milan…ahem) where tourists can be the victims of pickpockets. Italy is the only country I’ve been to (out of almost seventy) where I’ve had someone try to pick my pocket…and it was in Milan!
I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for travel insurance for two years, and I happily recommend them. If you get sick, injured, or have your stuff stolen, you’ll be happy to have the ability to pay for your medical bills or replace what’s stolen or broken.
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