All citiesMilan Things to do and walking itinerary
Italy Milan travel guide
30 things to do in Milan, where to stay, airport transfers, 7 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Milan
- Milan Cathedral — cathedral church of Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 35 min)
- La Scala — opera house in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Santa Maria delle Grazie — church in Milan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Sforza Castle — castle in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Pinacoteca di Brera — art museum in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio — Romanesque church in Milan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Piazzale Loreto — square in Milan (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Mediolanum — ancient Milan, an Insubrian, later Roman city (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Museo Poldi Pezzoli — art museum in Milan (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Royal Palace of Milan — art museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of San Lorenzo — church building in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano — Milan Natural History Museum, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Santa Maria presso San Satiro — church in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Museo del Novecento — museum of twentieth-century art in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Torre Velasca — skyscraper in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Parco Sempione — urban park in Milan (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Triennale di Milano — cultural organization and museum in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio — basilica in Milan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Gallerie d'Italia – Milano — art museum in Palazzo della Banca Commerciale Italiana, Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- San Bernardino alle Ossa — church (visit ≈ 30 min)
- San Nazaro in Brolo — basilica in Milan, Lombardy, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Santa Maria presso San Celso Church — church in Milan (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Archaeological Museum of Milan — museum in Milan (visit ≈ 120 min)
- San Carlo al Corso — church in Milan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Basilica of San Simpliciano — minor basilica (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Teatro dal Verme — concert venue in Milan, Italy, formerly an opera house and cinema (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Santa Maria della Passione Church — church in Milan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Galleria d'arte moderna di Milano — Modern Art Museum in Milan (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Bagatti Valsecchi Museum — art museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco — art museum in Milan, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
2-day Milan walking itinerary
Starting point: Duomo / Centre. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.3 km · 12,510 steps · 2 h 3 min on the way): Milan Cathedral → La Scala → Piazzale Loreto → Pinacoteca di Brera
- Day 2 (≈ 4.9 km · 6,570 steps · 1 h 4 min on the way): Sforza Castle → Santa Maria delle Grazie → Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio → Mediolanum
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Milan
- Bosco Verticale — Twin 'vertical forest' towers with hundreds of trees growing on their balconies, in Porta Nuova. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Brera Botanical Garden — Small, peaceful 18th-century botanical garden tucked behind the Pinacoteca. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Monumental Cemetery — Vast historic cemetery whose sculpted tombs make it feel like an open-air museum. (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Isola — Neighbourhood behind Porta Nuova with street-art side streets and local bars. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Mudec – Museum of Cultures — Museum of world cultures and major exhibitions in a former industrial area. (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Piazza Gae Aulenti — Modern raised square with fountains at the foot of the UniCredit tower; Milan's new skyline. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Leonardo da Vinci Science Museum — Italy's largest science museum in a former monastery: Leonardo machine models, trains, ships and a submarine. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Torre Branca — Steel tower in Parco Sempione built in 1933; a lift takes you up for views of the Duomo and the Alps. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Pirelli HangarBicocca — Free contemporary art in a former industrial hangar, home to Kiefer's giant Seven Heavenly Palaces towers. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Fondazione Prada — Contemporary art centre in a former distillery, noted for its gold-leaf-clad Haunted House building. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Arco della Pace — 19th-century neoclassical triumphal arch at the north end of Parco Sempione; lively in the evenings. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Villa Invernizzi Flamingos — Pink flamingos living in a private villa garden in Porta Venezia, watched through the railings. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Via Lincoln — Hidden street of small pastel workers' cottages with a village feel in the middle of the city. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Villa Necchi Campiglio — 1930s art deco villa with garden, pool and period furnishings, visited on guided tours. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Piazza dei Mercanti — Small medieval square steps from the Duomo, with the arcaded Palazzo della Ragione. (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Via Paolo Sarpi — Pedestrianised main street of the city's Chinatown, with dumpling shops and Asian groceries. (visit ≈ 45 min)
Where to stay in Milan
- Duomo / Centre: The cathedral, the Galleria and La Scala are a walk away; very central.
- Brera: A chic, bohemian quarter of galleries and cafés.
- Navigli: Canal-side bars and aperitivo; lively in the evening.
- Isola / Porta Nuova: A lively area with local bars beside modern towers.
- Centrale Station: Airport trains and buses leave from here; many business hotels.
Getting from the airport to Milan
- Milan Malpensa (MXP): Malpensa Express train ≈ 50 min
- Milan Linate (LIN): M4 metro line ≈ 15 min
- Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY): Airport bus ≈ 1 h
Getting around
The metro is fast and extensive; trams cover the centre well. You can tap a contactless card at the gates.
Classic places to eat
- Luini: Fried panzerotti behind the Duomo since 1949.
- Antica Trattoria della Pesa: Milanese cooking since 1880; try the cotoletta and risotto.
- Trattoria Milanese: A classic address for ossobuco and saffron risotto.
- Camparino in Galleria: At the entrance of the Galleria since 1915; famous for Campari.
- Bar Basso: The bar where the Negroni Sbagliato was born.
- Pasticceria Marchesi: A historic pastry shop since 1824.
- Cova: Since 1817; an elegant café and pastry shop on Via Montenapoleone.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Enrico Bartolini al Mudec — 3 MICHELIN stars, Creative
- Seta — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative
- Andrea Aprea — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative, Neapolitan touches
- Berton — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Italian
- Cracco — 1 MICHELIN star, Creative Italian
- Joia — 1 MICHELIN star, Vegetarian
- Iyo — 1 MICHELIN star, Japanese
Romantic views
- Duomo Rooftop (Sunset): City views among the spires on the cathedral’s marble roof.
- Naviglio Grande (Evening): Bars along the canal and lights reflected on the water.
- Parco Sempione (Afternoon): A large park behind Sforza Castle, stretching to the Arch of Peace.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Evening): The glass-domed historic arcade; lovely when lit at night.
Football stadiums in Milan
- Giuseppe Meazza Stadium: Home of AC Milan, Inter Milan
Good to know before visiting Milan
- Fine: Carving or damaging monuments can bring heavy fines and prosecution.
- Fine: Buying counterfeit goods from street sellers can get the buyer fined too.
- Fine: Taking sand, pebbles or shells from beaches is banned, notably in Sardinia.
- Fine: Validate bus and tram tickets as soon as you board; unvalidated tickets are fined.
- Fine: Driving into historic-centre ZTL zones without a permit is caught on camera and fined.
- Warning: Validate paper regional train tickets at the platform machines; digital tickets are time-bound.
Extra rules for Milan
- Fine: Since 2025 smoking outdoors within 10 metres of other people is banned.
- You can tap in and out of the metro with a contactless bank card.
- Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115)
- Plugs: C/F/L, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe; in Rome you can refill at the "nasoni" street fountains.
- Tipping: Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Italy, Turismo Roma — Trevi Fountain entry, Wikivoyage — Italy, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Milan travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Milan?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Milan?
- Highlights: Milan Cathedral, La Scala, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Sforza Castle and Pinacoteca di Brera. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Milan?
- Duomo / Centre: The cathedral, the Galleria and La Scala are a walk away; very central. Other options: Brera, Navigli, Isola / Porta Nuova and Centrale Station.
- How do you get from the airport to Milan city centre?
- Milan Malpensa (MXP): Malpensa Express train ≈ 50 min · Milan Linate (LIN): M4 metro line ≈ 15 min · Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY): Airport bus ≈ 1 h
- How do you get around Milan?
- The metro is fast and extensive; trams cover the centre well. You can tap a contactless card at the gates.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Milan?
- According to the last known data there are 7 starred restaurants: Enrico Bartolini al Mudec (3 stars), Seta (2 stars), Andrea Aprea (2 stars), Berton (1 star), Cracco (1 star) and 2 more. Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Milan?
- Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115).
- Do you tip in Milan?
- Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.
Nearby cities
Turin · Verona · Vaduz · Lucerne · Bologna · Bern · Pisa · Zurich
Italy travel guide: all cities · All cities