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One Day in Milan – A Self Guided Milan Walking Tour

by Violeta Matei

Last Updated on: 5th March 2024, 09:23 pm

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• Historic Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line Last Supper Ticket
• -> Small group walking tour of historic Milan
• -> Skip-the-line ticket to see The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
• -> Local guide, expert historian
• -> Headsets provided for groups of more than 6 people
• -> Duration: 3 hours
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Main Topics of One Day in Milan – A Self Guided Milan Walking Tour

The Wrong Italian Train on the Right Track

Ask for mercy and directions, 1. the milan cathedral – duomo di milano, 2. galleria vittorio emanuele ii, 3. piazza della scala, 4. sforza castle, 5. parco sempione, 6. santa maria delle grazie, 7. porta ticinese, 8. columns of san lorenzo, 9. shopping time, is milan worth visiting, the best place to start your milan walking tour, what if i want a guided tour.

This is a Milan itinerary I’ve created myself during one of my trips to Italy, when I only had one day to spend in Milan.

It is the perfect step-by-step tour that covers all major tourist landmarks in the city and also allows you to do some shopping by the end of your day. It is the only self-guided walking tour of Milan you’ll ever need.

This Milan walking tour requires one full day to complete. It covers Il Duomo di Milano, Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza della Scala, Sforzesco Castle, Parco Sempione, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Porta Ticinese, the Columns of San Lorenzo and the main shopping street in Milan.

Find and book Milan tours and activities on Viator.com. Book ahead to save time and money!

My Self-Guided Tour of Milan

My day tour of Milan actually started in Bergamo, where I was living at that time. I took a train from Bergamo to Milano Centrale early morning.

I learned how useful it is to know how to say thank you in Italian when I accidentally took the wrong train that was heading over to Brescia instead of Milan

Next time, I’ll pick one of the good neighborhoods of Milan to stay for at least three days. I want to explore the city and maybe to attend a show at Scala di Milano.

Although I thought everything was clear, I managed to make a mistake. I took the train going the opposite direction. I had noticed that the train arrived about ten minutes earlier than scheduled, but I didn’t have any worry. I imagined it just arrived in advance. Little did I know I was going to waste about one hour of my day in Milan jumping from one train to the other.

As I was watching the mountains out the window, I was struck by a dark insight: the mountains were on the wrong side of the railway. I realized my mistake before arriving to Brescia, so I was able to jump off the train as soon as it hit the station. It only took a few seconds to notice a train that was heading to Milan.

After asking a few people for confirmation, I jumped on that train. It didn’t even cross my mind that my ticket I had bought the previous day wasn’t good for this fancier train.

As the control team came, I showed them my ticket. The Italian guy smiled and explained in Italian that I should have taken another type of train. At the same time, he realized that my journey had started in Bergamo, so he understood I had taken the wrong train. He smiled, and allowed me to travel without having to pay anything extra (although I was pretty sure the new train was more expensive, as it was better looking and much faster than the other one). Anyway, my advice to you is to watch carefully what type of train you want to take, and buy your tickets accordingly.

Beware that in Italy trains heading to opposite directions may share the same rails.

Bergamo is one of the stations where this happens. You always need to make sure you take the train you were intended to. If you see it arriving earlier than expected, ask someone where it goes.

Milano Centrale is very close to the Duomo, so here’s where you should start your tour from.

If you want to visit the cathedral, take into consideration you’re going to need between one and two hours. The tickets start from around $25-$30 for a self guided audio tour, and they may go up to over $40 for skip-the-line access and the visiting of the Crypt. If time allows, you should go for the full tour. The Duomo is one of the Milan must see things. It is fabulous.

Buy your Milan Cathedral and Rooftop ticket here today.

Keep in mind that some of the tourist objectives included in the tour are closed on Wednesdays.

Always do your own research before booking any tour, just to make sure that you’re going to see all monuments and attractions on your Milan bucket list. Read reviews and check out forums such as Reddit and Quora.

Here’s the Duomo di Milano on the map .

The striking Gothic design of the Duomo is worth the money and the effort. Besides, climbing to the top of the cathedral will grant you an excellent photo opportunity. If you don’t want to take the stairs to the top, you can pay a few dollars more to choose the elevator ride.

Even if you decide to skip the visit, you should still assign about 30 minutes for taking photos of the exterior of the cathedral. This impressive construction took about 600 years to complete, and it is a marvelous work of art.

You have to see it to understand why everyone considers it a must while visiting Milan.

Do you want to see the world’s oldest shopping mall? This is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a four-story covered passage which is considered one of the major landmarks of Milan, Italy.

As you stand in front of the Duomo di Milano, facing the building, the Galleria is on your left hand side. If you can’t spot it, just ask anyone around you for directions.

Most probably you won’t be doing any shopping inside the gallery, as those luxury shops have crazy prices. Expect to spend a few good minutes inside, though, because the mosaics on the ground are amazing, as well as the arching glass and cast iron roof.

One of the four mosaics depicts a bull which is very hard to miss, as there are always crowds of people around it. The legend says that spinning around with one heel on the bull’s balls will bring you good luck. Unfortunately, this legend has helped creating a big hole in the said area of the Turin Bull .

As you exit the Vittorio Emanuele II gallery, you’ll reach Piazza della Scala. Here you can find the statue of Leonardo da Vinci, and a few museums worth vising.

However, remember that you are supposed to spend only one day in Milan, so you may want to skip all these museums. Save them for another time, and head to the next stop, Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco).

Sforza Castle, also known as Castello Sforzesco, was one of the largest citadels in Europe, during the 16th and 17th centuries. You’ll get to Sforza Castle right after you leave the Scala Square  (Piazza della Scala). The castle is hard to miss, as it is literally huge. Here’s where it is in Milan.

The castle hosts the Museums of the Castello, where you can see one of the last works of Michelangelo and many other masterpieces of great Italian artists. If you plan to visit the museum, make sure you schedule one full hour for that.

Behind the Sforza Castle you’ll find the Sempione Park. This is a lovely place, an oasis of peace and relaxation.

I would have loved to spend my full day in Milan in Parco Sempione, watching the people passing by, the leaves falling off the trees, and the lovers holding hands and kissing on the wooden benches.

The admission to Park Sempione is free of charge. During winter months, the park is open from Monday to Sunday,. from 7 am to 6 pm. During summer months, it closes at 7 pm.

Anyway, if you make it part of your Milan one day itinerary, you’ll find it open regardless the season, as you’ll get here by 2 pm (give or take one hour).

Exit Sempione Park through the gate nearby the Triennale di Milano, take the Viale Moliere street, then Viale Pietro e Maria Curie , Via G. Leopardi , Via Aurelio Saffi , and then Via Fratelli Ruffini.

Buy your half-day Milan history tour and The Last Supper here . If you only want a Last Supper guided tour, click here .

This terracotta Renaissance church with Gothic interior is home to Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

The church is very beautiful, and it makes a cool contrast with the surrounding buildings. It is a very nice place to sit and enjoy the afternoon sun. I didn’t visit it, but I spend quite a while taking photos and enjoying the view.

This is a landmark neoclassical pink granite gate with pillars, erecting right in the middle of modern constructions, roads and railways. It marks Napoleon’s victory in Marengo.

You’ll only need a few minutes to catch your breath and take a few photos. If you’ve got enough of walking for your day in Milan, you can skip it, and go straight to the Columns of San Lorenzo.

This is an archeological site consisting from of 16 Roman marble columns, next to remains of an amphitheater and baths. It is amazing to see the new and the old together.

I love how Italians preserved their ancient remains without compromising on the development of the city.

People in Milan can go on with their lives, while tourists and history fans can stop to appreciate the beauty of ancient constructions.

If you look on a map of Milan, you’ll see that you are already close to the Duomo and to Milano Centrale. Depending on the amount of time you have left, you can either stop for some food, get on your train, or go for some shopping.

Via Montenapoleone is the place to go for luxury shopping in Milan.

For more down to earth shops (and ready-to-wear brands you can find all over Europe), head over to Corso Buenos Aires, or Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.

For unique clothing items and nice food choices, try the Corso Venezia Avenue and Corso di Porta Ticinese.

You can see enough of Milan in one day, provided that you stick to the center of the city and to the main tourist attractions. This article on my blog describes a self guided Milan walking tour you can try if you have one day to spare.

You can also do this as part of a bigger Northern Italy itinerary . If you were to do the same in Rome, for instance, you’d need several days of Rome walking tours self guided or with a guide to get to see the city.

Milan is one of the must-see places in Italy . Although famous for being The European Capital of Fashion, Milan boasts a few tourist attractions worth seeing, either in a self-guided walking tour or by booking a guided tour like this one, here .

Besides, there are some cool day trips you can take from Milan , so you can make it your base camp for one week, to see the beautiful Lombardy. As Milano Airports are important nodes for flights to and from exotic destinations all over the world, you might end up having one day Milan layovers. Beware, though, you’ll need more than six hours layover to be able to visit Milan without missing your flight.

Even though it isn’t as overwhelming as Rome or Florence, Milan is worth at least a short walking tour.

Here’s a brief video walking tour of Milan that includes many of the above listed landmarks:

Wherever you may be coming from, chances are you’ll have an easy time getting to Milano Centrale , the main train station in Milan. This is one of the main railway stations in Europe, and it is conveniently located in the center of the city. This makes it the perfect spot to start your one day in Milan from.

When taking a train in Italy, always make sure it is the one you’ve been waiting for. If your train is supposed to arrive at line 1 at a certain time, don’t jump on any train arriving several minutes earlier. I did this mistake and I found myself on a train to Brescia instead of Milan. Fortunately I noticed that I had the mountains on the wrong side, so I jumped off the train and took another one back to Milan.

Even if your self guided Milan walking tour won’t end in the same spot, you’ll find lots of transportation options to get to Milano Centrale once you’re done walking and shopping.

Just make sure you check how much time you need to get back to the train station. If time allows, take the vintage tram to Milano Centrale. It has a very long itinerary and it is slow, but it lets you see a lot of this elegant city. I found public transportation in Milan to be better organized and more reliable than in Rome.

When planning your day, you should consider leaving the shopping for the end of your walk, in order to avoid carrying all those bags with you through museums, cathedrals and parks. Once you’re done with your sightseeing, you can head over to some shops and spoil yourself with a few nice outfits or an elegant pair of shoes.

Speaking of this, make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes like these ones , as you have a long day ahead. If you want, feel free to see my own top of the best walking shoes for travel .

These are only a few things to do in Milan. The whole itinerary may be a bit too much for one day, though.You may want to get on a hop-on hop-off bus to see everything in one go without that much walking. Check out this link to see the price of this tour as of today.

For slow travel and relaxed sightseeing, you should schedule an overnight stay in one of the Milan hotels. You can find a pretty good list here . This would enable you to visit all the museums and take your time to admire all those stunning works of art and architecture.

In terms of what to wear in Italy , make sure you check out the weather forecast before you pack. Also, dress in layers and don’t forget that burglars and pickpockets are waiting for distracted tourists.

Do you want to pin this Milan self-guided tour for later? Here you are!

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Free tours in Milan

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Art and culture in Milan

Milan is a vibrant and buzzing metropolis in Italy’s northern region of Lombardy, most recently known for hosting the World Expo 2015. The local guides of free walking tours from Freetour.com will help you familiarize yourself with the top sights of the city. The best way to get to know Milan is to start at the top of Duomo for panoramic views. The gothic cathedral itself is also breathtaking inside and out with its marble spires and Madonnina (little Madonna).

Milan is very accessible for everyone, so art lovers can see Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting in the dining hall of Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie or enjoy contemporary and modern art at Museo del Novecento. Opera fanatics will enjoy a night at Teatro all Scala after they shop for the perfect outfit on Corso Buenos Aires, or in Brera’s chic boutiques. Football is a religion in Italy and the best way to experience the game is at San Siro Stadium or in a bar filled with crazy fans.

Eating a delicious meal like risotto all Milanese is a must as well as indulge in gelato along the canal Navigli on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the weekly flea market. And don’t forget to participate in an old and odd tradition of spinning your heel into the bull’s testicles in the heart of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest mall in the world.

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The 10 best tours in Milan

From culinary extravaganzas and walking tours of the Duomo to jaunts out to gorgeous Lake Como

Stunning cathedrals, snazzy boutiques, must-see  attractions , and canalside restaurants : there’s a tremendous breadth of things to do , see and sample in Milan . But if you’re struggling to work out where to start with this jewel of northern Italy (and, honestly, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling a little over-faced), we’d suggest joining one of the best Milan tours, as curated by in-the-know locals.

Whether you’re looking to dive deep into the crypt of the city’s cathedral, jet across the waters of beautiful lakes or get up to speed in the home kitchen of a genuine Italian cook, there are plenty of ways that the best tours in Milan can give you a fascinating insight into this remarkable city. Here are the best ways to get an insider’s take on marvellous Milan.

RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Milan 🛍 The best places for shopping in Milan 🍴 The best restaurants in Milan 🚃 The best day trips from Milan

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Best Milan tours

1.  Milan hop-on hop-off bus tour

For those who want to explore Milan at their own pace, and with an element of flexibility, the Hop-On Hop-Off approach is a great choice. The company’s open-top double-decker takes you past sights including the Duomo, the La Scala opera house and Il Cenacolo Vinciano. Simply climb on and alight as you wish.

2.  Skip-the-line Duomo and rooftop guided tour

Not one for queuing? This two-part guided tour takes you to around Milan’s magnificent cathedral, up to its summit, and down into its subterranean crypt – without having to wait in line with all the other sightseers. Great for the impatient.

3.  Skip-the-line Leonardo da Vinci walking tour

Another queue-jumper tour, this one takes you into the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a Unesco-listed site that contains the ‘Last Supper’ mural by Leonardo da Vinci, who lived in Milan for some time. There’s also his ‘Atlantic Codex’ to see: a frankly mind-boggling compedium of some of the Renaissance man’s scientific drawings and writings. Disclaimer: you’ll probably come out feeling like a real under-achiever.

4.  La Scala theatre and museum tour

This tour takes you around one of the most famous opera houses in the world, the Teatro alla Scala, and its adjoining museum. This is a chance to wander around a sumptuous eighteenth-century institution, and look over a rich collection of costumes, painted portraits and musical instruments. 

5.  Lake Como day trip

Beautiful, sweeping and set against a backdrop of mountains, Lake Como is one of the true great natural wonders of Italy, and a popular tourist area. This tour takes you through the streets of Como city, out on the waters over to Bellagio Island and up the funicular to the town of Brunate.

6.  Walking tour of Brera

An essential tour if you’ve got Italian cucina on your mind. This one sends you on a journey through the district of Brera and to six different locations where you can sample traditional Milanese dishes, artisanal beer and other delicious victuals. Best loosen your belt before you embark!

7.  Evening cooking lesson with dinner

Or maybe you want to have a crack at making your own Italian grub? This tour takes you into a genuine Milanese home – in her kitchen, Aurora will teach you how to make handmade pasta, regional meat dishes and desserts including canoli, tiramisu and pannacotta. Naturally, you get to try your efforts. 

8.  Lake Maggiore day trip

Another water-based tour, this time out to the beautiful Maggiore, in what the organisers describe as ‘Italy’s Lake District’. (We can’t help thinking the weather will be a lot more hospitable here.) You’ll also get the chance to explore the quaint lakeside village of Stresa and the Borromean Islands. 

9.  Skyscrapers guided walking tour

Not just a centre of gorgeous Renaissance buildings, Milan is also home to some astounding contemporary architecture. This three-hour tour focuses on the city’s dazzling skyscrapers, from the award-winning twin Bosco Verticale buildings to the UniCredit Tower in Piazza Gae Aulenti.

10.  Milan in one day: Last Supper, Milan Duomo and walking tour

If you’re only in the city for a short while, then this tour is a good choice – it sends you on a whistlestop route through various key sites including the cathedral, Leonardo’s masterpiece in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and popular shopping destination Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

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Articles , Milan , What To See And Do In Italy

The Perfect Walking Tour In Milan

This article has been written,  reviewed, and fact-checked  by Rick and I.  We live in Italy  and travel throughout the country to help you make the best choices for your trip. We wrote this piece  to help you have the best trip possible on your next trip to Italy.  Portions of this article have been written using assistive AI tools to help with tasks like research, spell-checking, grammar, and translation.

In this article, you'll learn how:

• Milan's iconic attractions like the Duomo, Galleria, and La Scala make great stops on a walking tour.
• Fashion is a huge part of Milan's identity - don't miss the Quadrilatero d'Oro district.
• Leonardo da Vinci left his mark on Milan, as seen at The Last Supper and the Leonardo Museum.

Are you visiting Milan for a couple of days? It may not seem like a long time, but there is plenty to see and do in Milan for a two-day private tour. 

Milan is located in northern Italy and is the second most populated city after Rome. The city is located near such places as Lake Como , Manarola, Lugano, Tirano, Brunate, and Bellagio. A day trip here, especially if you’re going on a wine tour, may not be enough to cover all that you need to see, so we suggest you allow two days for your trip. Milan private tours from local guides can cost a little, so here’s a list of the best sights for walking tours so that you can experience Milan on your own. 

Now let’s get to it!

The Milano Centrale Train Station — the starting point of your Milan tour

Unless you arrive by plane, the first leg of your Milan tour will likely start here. The great thing about the city is that even the train station is a tourist attraction. Milano Centrale is a massive station, second only to Romana Termini for the biggest station in Italy. The arched roof is lined with glass windows that let natural light stream into the station to highlight its gorgeous mix of contemporary Art Deco and Liberty-style architecture.

There are a lot of shops and restaurants here, almost like a microcosm of the city itself, and you can easily spend an hour or two enjoying the sights.

You can find the green and yellow lines of the subway system right outside Milano Centrale, as well as taxis and the Malpensa Express, which will take you straight to Malpensa Airport in under an hour. 

The subway system is your friend during your Milan walking tour

Getting around for your city tours will be a breeze with the city’s subway system. You just need to figure out which line your destination is. You can get a MilanoCard 3-day pass to visit all the sights along the subway lines. The easy access to transportation gives you more free time to explore the best attractions in the city. 

Duomo di Milano

No day tour is complete without seeing the Duomo. The Milan Cathedral is one of the most magnificent and famous churches in all of Italy. It took almost 600 years to complete the cathedral, starting in 1386 and having the finishing touches done in 1965. It’s the largest cathedral in Italy and the third-largest in the world. Tourists can purchase tickets for a rooftop tour, where you can have an amazing view of the city and its intricate stonework. 

The place can be crowded — the cathedral alone can house thousands of tourists on any given day — so we suggest you get advanced tickets.  

Also, security is tight here. Glass objects, large luggage, helmets, drones, or anything that can be constituted as a security risk are not allowed, so keep that in mind. Our bags were searched thoroughly when we visited, but thankfully we didn’t bring anything that could be confiscated.

The star in Milan’s sky

Aside from that, you can check out the Duomo’s beautiful rooftop, with the world-famous Madonnina, or Little Virgin Mary, capping the Cathedral. The Madonnina is a golden polychrome statue of the Virgin Mary, built and designed by Giuseppe Perego in 1774.

Some people describe it as “the star in Milan’s sky.” It was the highest point in the city until 1950 when the Pirelli building was constructed. A smaller version of the Madonnina was placed on the structure as a respectful nod to the original. This tradition has been repeated every time a construction exceeds the previously highest point in the city. They do it this way so that the Little Virgin Mary always watches over Milan. 

Saint Bartholomew Flayed

“Saint Bartholomew Flayed” is one of the most famous statues in Duomo di Milano. This statue depicts St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles, in a grisly testament to his martyrdom. Marco d’Agrate built the statue in 1562.

Legend has it that St. Bartholomew was skinned alive for converting King Polimius and twelve cities in Armenia to Christianity. The sculpture is noted for the almost-precise anatomical details on the saint’s skinless flesh, with clear lines between musculature, including blood vessels, and how his flayed skin wraps around his body like a robe. 

Beneath the Duomo Cathedral

You can also access the ancient subterranean spaces beneath the Milan Cathedral. You’ll get to see a series of snapshots of the city’s past, from its days as Mediolanum, an ancient Roman capital, to weathered frescoes, crypts, and ruins of old churches. Get your fill of ancient history before heading back to Milan. 

Tour strategy 

Guided tours usually help you out with skip-the-line access and day visiting, but here’s a pro tip for those wanting the Milan experience on their own: the tour is going to take you an hour and some change, so we suggest you schedule it before lunch, or any time after. You wouldn’t want your hunger distracting you from the beautiful sights in the Duomo. 

The second tip is for people with mobility issues. They don’t usually tell you this, but the guides offer an elevator ride to the top of the cathedral. However, you will be directed to a set of stairs going down. You’ll need to let the elevator personnel know that you have mobility issues and must get a ride up and down the cathedral. 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — the perfect shopping stop during your Milan walking tour

The best tours in Milan are incomplete without stepping into Italy’s oldest shopping center, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. First opened to the public in 1877, the affectionately nicknamed il salotto di Milano (Milan’s drawing room) is named after the first king of Italy and is the prime shopping destination in the city.

The structure is shaped like a cross, with all four passages converging beneath a magnificent iron and glass dome. Each storefront is built in a Neo-classical, almost Baroque style, with gold-and-black themes that invoke a sense of opulence and majesty.

You’ll find many stores and boutiques in the Galleria, including high-fashion brands such as Chanel, Prada, Dior, Gucci, Armani, and coffee shops and restaurants so you can try out Milan foods. We particularly like Pasticceria Marchesi. They make amazing desserts, and you can stay for lunch, but just know that the portions may be smaller than what you’re used to, and it is a bit expensive due to the location. You must also make reservations, but it will all be worth it once you’ve tasted their pastries. 

The Milan Bull

Many Italians are superstitious — it comes with their massive respect for their country’s history and traditions. You’ll find an example of this in the Galleria, where on the floor, among the countless murals, there is a mosaic of Turin’s coat of arms, the great bull.

You don’t need to look closely to know there is a worn-out hole where the bull’s genitals should go. This is because people believe that placing your right heel on the bull’s sensitive bits and spinning brings you good luck. Tour guides often tell this story to tourists during their Milan excursions. Even if you don’t believe in superstitions, it’s still fun to experience. 

Leonardo Museum

At the end of the Galleria, you will find the Leonardo3 Museum, one of Milan’s proudest legacies, where you can see replicas of Da Vinci’s machines as they were sketched in his notes. You’ll find the likes of the Mechanical Lion, the Mechanical Submarine, the Rapid-fire Crossbow, and other inventions directly taken from Leonardo’s notes and sketches.

You might be wondering why Milan would host such a museum. That’s because Leonardo Da Vinci spent some time in the city in the service of the Duke of Milan, designing art and architecture. This is also where he painted The Last Supper, one of his most famous works. 

La Scala Opera House 

Teatro alla Scala and the adjacent Piazza della Scala are absolute must-sees in Milan, as it is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It was built in the late 1700s by Giuseppe Piermarini for the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Famous composers, singers, and conductors like Giuseppe Verdi, Arturo Toscanini, and more recent talents like Lucianno Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo have performed within its majestic hall. The place is hallowed ground for opera singers and composers, and performing in La Scala is considered to be a crowning career achievement. The theater can seat up to 1,800 people across all six levels.

La Prima della Scala — one of Italy’s premier cultural events

One more thing you should know about Teatro La Scala is the La Prima, or “Opening Night,” held on December 7 of every year, and it is one of Italy’s largest parties. This cultural event marks the start of La Scalla’s performance season. You’ll get the chance to rub elbows with anyone from Italian celebrities to the Prime Minister of Italy or the king of some country. Be warned that tickets for such occasions sell out fast and are very expensive. They also enforce strict punctuality and stringent dress codes. 

Milan’s Fashion District

You can also visit the city’s premier fashion district, known as the Quadrilatero d’Oro or the Golden Rectangle. Four main streets surround this fashion capital district, and it is the home of countless houses of fashion where you can see the best Italy has to offer. Like in the Galleria, you’ll find boutiques for Armani, Gucci, Versace, and much more. There are also affordable shops here, some offering significant discounts for world-renowned fashion brands. There are also stores like the Gap or Urban Outfitters, so there is always something for everyone. 

Still, if you’re looking to do some damage on your credit card and get great clothes in the bargain, this is the place for you. But if you haven’t had your fill of all things fashion, consider dropping by this next location on your Milan walking tour.

The Brera District

Near La Scala is the entrance to the Brera District , one of the city’s most chic and elegant places. The small neighborhood has the usual tourist attractions like restaurants and other sights, but what sets it apart from everywhere else is it’s home to Italy’s smaller boutiques and up-and-coming fashion designers. This is also the home of Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Europe’s most important art galleries. You will find works from such masters as Carravagio, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Andrea Mantegna, dating back from the 14th century all the way to the 20th. 

The Grand Hotel et de Milan

The Grand Hotel is one of the most famous lodgings in the city. This is where Maestro Giuseppe Verdi, a beloved Italian composer, died in 1901. The story goes that the Milanese loved Verdi so much that, during the last few days of the composer’s life, they littered the streets outside the hotel with straws to minimize traffic noises and help preserve peace and quiet for the dying composer. 

The hotel is known to preserve the look and feel of a classic Milan household, and Verdi’s aforementioned rooms are kept just as it was when the composer died. The hotel has undergone renovations, such as adding modern utilities, and suffered some damage during World War II. But if you want to get a taste of Milan, this is a great place to stay in . 

A Milan tour is incomplete without seeing Castello Sforzesco

Sforza Castle, or Castello Sforzesco, is one of the must-see destinations when you explore Milan. Duke Francisco Sforza built this magnificent fortress over the ruins of an earlier 14th-century castle. It houses several sections showcasing ancient art collections, musical instruments, furniture, and archeological artifacts. 

Sforzesco also houses Parco Sempione. The park was built at the tail end of the 1800s and is quite spectacular. You can see the magnificent bulk of the Arco de la Pache, or the Arch of Peace, from its verdant grounds. The arch was built in 1815 to mark the success of the Congress of Vienna, a series of meetings between various European countries and powers to establish international peace after the end of the Napoleonic wars. 

The castle entrance is free to the public from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm, but the entrance to some museum sections and exhibitions cost three to five euro. Make sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid lines and inconvenience. 

The most beautiful Starbucks in the world — and the very first in Italy

The first Starbucks location in Italy is in Piazza Cordusio. The store was built in 2018. The structure has an imposing, almost Gothic facade, but the inside is completely reminiscent of ornate Art Deco. It’s a famous landmark, not only in Milan but in the rest of the country. Many vloggers and other content creators have dubbed this place ‘the most beautiful Starbucks store in the world.’ With those kinds of promotions, the location has gotten a lot of traction, and you can expect long queues and lots of tourists at any time of the day, most especially during rush hour.

Porta Garibaldi

One of the city’s most famous city gates is Porta Garibaldi. From here, you can see more modern, avant-garde architecture like the Bosco Verticale or the Vertical Forest. The title refers to two towers that were completed in 2014. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more distinctive modern building in Milan; as the name suggests, the Vertical Forest is two towers with balconies filled with plants and trees.

Upon its inauguration, the structure received wide acclaim and is celebrated as a symbol of nature conservation. Any local tour guide in Milan would be remiss not to showcase this architectural wonder.

Santa Maria delle Grazie and one of the most famous paintings in the world

Santa Maria delle Grazie belongs to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, or Holy Mary of Grace, is one of the most beautiful churches in the world. It is one of the city’s top attractions and home to Da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper . The painting has been seen in countless museums as replicas and in other forms of media. Robert Langdon, intrepid scholar and protagonist of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, frequently references the painting. 

Filming the painting is not allowed, but you can take photos. Only a few people at a time are allowed to view The Last Supper due to its age and state of deterioration. As such, tickets to see it can be sold out months in advance, so it’s better to ensure you get your tickets a long way ahead of time. 

The Navigli District

Milan was once a city of canals, much like Venice . Today most of them are gone, but their pathways can still be seen. However, some channels still exist and can be seen in the beautiful Navigli District. The waterways here were built in medieval times to help supply goods to the city of Milan. Seeing these relics from the past against the backdrop of the city’s more metropolitan skyline gives the place a magical, almost disconnected atmosphere. Like in Venice, you can get gondola rides in the Navigli district. 

Bonus destination: Chiuse Vinciane

Da Vinci’s lock is one of the most notable parts of that canal system. This revolutionary piece of science and craftsmanship is made of wooden planks, braces, and iron sheathing and works by sealing off water from the nearby rivers. The famous inventor’s method uses the water’s own force on two gates, pushing them to self-seal whenever the current hits it and giving the city an efficient way to regulate its waterways. These types of locks are used in various parts of the world, like Venice and the Panama Canal. And to think that the concept was invented more than 500 years ago! You can find the lock at the end of Via San Marco.

Frequently Asked Questions

The city’s weather can be temperamental — it can be sunny one moment, cloudy the next. Make sure to prepare suitable clothes for any weather so you can experience the best of Milan. 

A few mountain resorts are nearby, and you can also cruise Lake Como. The lakeside near the city of Como offers a stunning panoramic view of the Alps. 

Closing thoughts

So that’s it for our tour of Milan. We hope you enjoy your day trip! Feel free to drop any comments or questions; we’ll see you in our next article.

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Milan Walking Tours: Unveil the City

Table of Contents

Exploring Milan by foot is an engaging way to immerse oneself in the rich tapestry of its history, culture, and architectural wonders . Our Milan walking tours provide a window into the soul of the city, from marveling at the Gothic grandeur of the Milan Duomo to standing in the presence of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ . As we wander through the bustling streets and tranquil piazzas, we discover the narratives that shaped Milan, weaving together stories of emperors and artists, saints and innovators.

Our walking tours unveil the essence of Milan, not just through its monuments but also through its vibrant fashion and design scene. Imagine stepping onto the hallowed runways of Milan’s fashion district or exploring the innovative designs that have kept Milan at the forefront of modernity. We tailor each walking tour to include a blend of iconic sights and hidden gems , ensuring an experience that is as educational as it is exhilarating. With each cobbled street and storied building , we delve deep into what makes this city a hub for not just fashion enthusiasts , but also for those who seek art, history, and unique experiences .

Milan walking tour

Key takeaways.

• Our tours connect you to Milan’s historic and cultural heart .
• We offer in-depth experiences of famous artworks and architectural masterpieces.
• Milan’s vibrant fashion and design scenes are integral parts of our exploration.

History and Culture of Milan

Milan, a city steeped in rich heritage, proffers a tapestry of historical and cultural narratives. We embark on a journey through time, exploring Milan’s past and delving into the city’s vibrant cultural tapestry .

Unveiling Milan’s Past

Milan’s history is deeply entwined with the grandeur of the Sforza Castle ( Castello Sforzesco ) , a fortress that once housed the dukes of Milan. The Sforza Castle , with its formidable structure, has been a witness to power struggles, art patronage, and the city’s transformation over centuries. Its museums today offer a glimpse into that storied heritage.

Adjacent to historical prowess, the Milan Duomo , officially named the Duomo di Milano , stands as a monumental testament to Gothic architecture . It took nearly six centuries to complete and signifies not only religious devotion but also the artistic and cultural ambition of Milan.

Milanese Cultural Tapestry

Milanese culture is synonymous with influential figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo , whose masterpieces have marked the city as an art historical epicenter. Da Vinci’s Last Supper , housed within Santa Maria delle Grazie , is a world-renowned fresco that continues to draw crowds with its intricate portrayal of a pivotal Biblical moment and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Contrastingly, Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini is a moving sculpture embodying the Renaissance spirit, found in the Sforza Castle . These art pieces, alongside other cultural artifacts, orchestrate a rich narrative, showcasing Milan as a canvas of historical and cultural significance.

Iconic Landmarks and Architectural Wonders

We invite you to explore the pinnacle of Milan’s culture through its iconic landmarks and architectural wonders , each narrating a chapter of the city’s rich history.

Milan’s Architectural Highlights

Milan is home to some of the most exquisite architectural feats in the world. The Milan Duomo , officially known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, is the beating heart of the city. Its intricate Gothic facade and the spires that pierce the sky make it one of Italy’s largest and most captivating churches. Nearby, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II stands as a testament to Milan’s luxurious side, with an array of high-end shops under its magnificent glass dome.

• Milan Duomo : A breathtaking example of Gothic architecture .
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II : Shops and elegance under a grand glass canopy.

For an immersive experience, a walking tour through these landmarks is essential, as it allows us to behold their grandeur up close, detailed in the Milan: City Highlights Walking Tour With the Last Supper .

Engineering Marvels

In addition to its architectural highlights, Milan boasts engineering marvels that are a must-see. At the forefront is La Scala Theatre (Teatro alla Scala), not just an architectural masterpiece, but also an acoustic wonder. Renowned globally, La Scala has hosted some of the most prestigious operatic and ballet performances .

• La Scala Theatre : An operatic and balletic center with unmatched acoustical design.

For those intrigued by the interplay of engineering, art, and history, these sites are enveloped in stories and secrets revealed in depth during the Milan: Highlights and Secret Treasures walking tour .

Art and Masterpieces

In Milan, the confluence of historical periods and some of the world’s most renowned artists have left behind a treasure trove of masterpieces. We will guide you through the city’s artistic heritage and bring you face-to-face with works that have captivated audiences for centuries.

Milan’s Artistic Heritage

Milan’s art scene is deeply rooted in its history, emanating a rich cultural legacy defined by iconic figures and their timeless works. Among the luminaries, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo stand out as titanic influences whose masterpieces continue to draw countless visitors. A prime example is da Vinci’s Last Supper , a world-renowned mural that encapsulates the genius of the Renaissance.

Exploring Masterpieces

To truly experience the masterpieces of Milan, one must witness them firsthand. Obtaining a Last Supper ticket is essential for those eager to immerse themselves in the aura of da Vinci’s Last Supper . This pivotal work captures a momentous biblical scene with a mastery that has left onlookers in awe for generations. Additionally, Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà , housed within the venerable walls of Sforza Castle , is a profound display of Michelangelo’s work toward the end of his life. It stands as a powerful example of unfinished beauty, capturing Michelangelo’s introspection on mortality and divine grace. An insightful way to deepen one’s appreciation for these works is through a Michelangelo’s Pietà tour , where the poignant narratives behind the sculptures are eloquently unveiled.

Milan’s Walking Tours

Experiencing Milan by foot opens up a world of historical architecture and cultural richness . We’ll guide you through two main avenues for exploring this vibrant city: with the expertise of a local guide or at your own pace on a self-guided journey .

Guided Exploration

Embark on a guided tour where expert guides unveil Milan’s best-kept secrets . A Milan Walking Tour offers a memorable experience with small group dynamics, assuring personalized attention as you navigate through iconic landmarks like the majestic Duomo di Milano .

Self-Guided Journeys

Prefer to discover Milan at your own tempo? Opt for a self-guided walking tour . Armed with a well-researched itinerary, such as the one detailed by Violeta Matei’s blog , we can explore historic sites , including the renowned Last Supper , at our leisure. This method provides us the flexibility to linger at spots that pique our interest or to take a moment for a gelato on a bustling Milanese piazza.

Fashion and Design

As we explore Milan’s walking tours , fashion and design stand at the forefront of this vibrant city. Milan is recognized worldwide for its high-end fashion scene and innovative design landscape.

Sartorial Milano

In Milan, sartorial expertise is not just about clothing, it’s an art form. We witness this in the Fashion District , home to haute couture and ready-to-wear boutiques. On a Milan Fashion Tour , we revel in the craftsmanship of local tailors who have been shaping global fashion trends for decades. It’s an area ringing with the clatter of sewing machines and swishing of premium fabrics.

Innovations in Design

Innovation fuels Milan’s status as a design capital. Our visit to design studios on the Milano Design Tour showcases the latest trends in everything from furniture to industrial design. We delve into how historical context and cutting-edge technology coalesce, birthing new design languages and thought-provoking concepts that resonate on a global scale.

Unique Experiences and Tours

Milan offers a variety of tours that allow visitors to explore the city beyond the standard itinerary. From skip-the-line privileges to discovering Italy’s hidden experiences , we’ll guide you through some of Milan’s unique offerings.

Beyond the Traditional

When you think of Milan tours , the iconic landmarks like the Duomo may come to mind. But we can elevate our experience by seeking out rooftop tours that present us with breathtaking views of Milan’s skyline , especially enchanting by night. Navigli District evening walks can lead us through the heart of Milan’s famous canal system, a perfect example of how a museum tour doesn’t necessarily involve walls or ceilings.

Hidden Gems of Milan

In search of Milan’s less-trodden paths, we discover tours that highlight the Brera District , an area rich in artistic heritage and home to the Brera Art Gallery. Embrace the allure of Italy’s hidden experiences with intimate walking tours through picturesque streets. With skip-the-line access, we can also immerse ourselves seamlessly in the vibrant history and culture, bypassing the bustling crowds at popular spots.

Sport and Recreation

In Milan, sport and recreation are deeply woven into the local culture , with the city hosting a vibrant array of activities. We’re particularly enthused about football matches and the outdoor life that surrounds this bustling metropolis.

Cheering for AC Milan at San Siro

Watching a football match at the San Siro Stadium , officially known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, is an electrifying experience. We feel the pulse of the city when we cheer for AC Milan, one of the most successful football clubs in the world. The stadium boasts a rich history and an impressive capacity that can host up to 80,000 fans, making it one of Italy’s most iconic sports venues.

• Address: Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 Milano MI, Italy
• Capacity: 80,018

Outdoor Adventures

When we seek a reprieve from urban life, a day trip to Lake Como offers a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Just a short train ride away from Milan, Lake Como is a playground for various recreational activities, from hiking and cycling to sailing and windsurfing. The breathtaking scenery and crisp air are an ideal setting for recharging and enjoying nature’s splendor.

• Distance from Milan: Approx. 50 kilometers (31 miles)
• Main Activities: Hiking, cycling, sailing, windsurfing

In our exploration of Milan’s rich history and vibrant streets, we’ve come across various walking tours that cater to a range of interests and budgets. Whether you are intrigued by the artworks of Leonardo da Vinci or the architectural marvel that is the Duomo , there’s a walking tour designed to offer you an immersive experience. For those wishing to witness the Last Supper , securing a spot in advance for a Milan Walking Tour And Last Supper is indispensable due to its popularity.

For the budget-conscious explorer, you might consider the Free Milan Self-guided Audio Tour , an insightful and cost-effective way to enjoy Milan at your own pace. However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive package that includes skip-the-line access to iconic sites, consider a guided option like the Historic Milan Tour with a knowledgeable local guide.

No visit to Milan is complete without experiencing its art , culture , and history on foot. Regardless of the path you choose, we are confident you will find Milan as enchanting as the tales that thread through its cobbled lanes and majestic squares . Remember to book tours in advance, as they can sell out quickly, particularly those including – the much revered – Last Supper viewings.

Our advice is to wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and let the allure of Milan captivate our senses as we stroll through this extraordinary Italian metropolis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Exploring Milan by foot is an immersive way to experience the city’s rich culture, history, and architecture. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most commonly asked questions to help guide your walking tour experience in Milan.

What are the highlights of a Milan walking tour itinerary?

Setting out on foot in Milan, tourists often find themselves awe-struck by the magnificent Duomo di Milano , a prime example of Gothic architecture , and the historic Sforza Castle . Not to forget the iconic La Scala Opera House and the picturesque Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for its luxury shopping experience.

Which company offers the best guided walking tours in Milan?

While several companies offer remarkable walking tours , Milan Walking Tours comes highly recommended for their knowledgeable guides and comprehensive itineraries that encompass the quintessential Milanese landmarks .

How can I find a free walking tour in Milan?

Free walking tours are available and provide an excellent introduction to the city. These can be found through local tourist information or by searching for Milan’s free walking tour groups online, some of which operate on a pay-what-you-wish basis.

Are there any maps available for self-guided walking tours of Milan?

Yes, visitors can obtain maps specifically designed for self-guided walking tours . These are available at local tourist offices or can be downloaded from various online platforms showcasing detailed routes and information on key attractions in Milan.

What options are there for walking tours in Milan with English-speaking guides?

Many tour operators provide English-speaking guides to cater to international visitors. These guides offer valuable insights and the historical context of Milan’s landmarks , ensuring an engaging and informative experience.

What are some popular routes to explore Milan on foot?

Popular walking routes in Milan often include the fashion district of Quadrilatero d’Oro , the bohemian Brera district , and the vibrant Navigli canal area , known for its bars and cafes. Each route offers a unique perspective of Milan’s diverse character.

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Free Walking Tour Milan

Enjoy milan with a licenced local tour guide. authentic. informal. top rated., free  milan walking tour.

Hi! Welcome to Milan! Frog Free Walking Tour is the first, original and independent Milan Free tour since 2013 . Based on the reviews on Tripadvisor, our tour company is rated #1 out of almost 400 in Milan. We are a small group of local licenced tour guides full of enthusiasm and ready to share hidden gems, local stories and insider tips with travellers to make them fully enjoy the city. 

When you choose Frog Walking Tour you will not experience a standard historical tour of the city, but an authentic full immersion in the culture, lifestyle and society of Milan . The tour is a great introduction to Milan. It covers the main landmarks and the most famous monuments (such as the Cathedral, La Scala Theatre…) but it includes also some places only locals know about. Our aim is to make you feel and live the city like a local for a few hours. Therefore, an unmissable part of the tour is the much appreciated “insider tips moment” when we share with travellers advices about local activities, events and…where to enjoy real Italian food and how to avoid “tourists’ traps”

We love our city and we really care about our guests’ experience while visiting it. Thanks to our approach Frog Free Walking Tour Milan is in the Tripadvisor Hall of Fame for winning five years in a row the certificate of excellence and it is Best of the Best traveller’s choice 2020. 

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Frequently asked questions about the tour

How much does your tour cost, is the tour wheelchair/stroller accessible, is the tour animal friendly, is the reservation compulsory, are your tours eco friendly, get inspired by the free tour community blog.

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Immerse yourself in the art, history, and culture of Milan with our expertly guided walking tours. I...

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Best of Milan: The Last Supper Tickets, Duomo & City Tour

Skip the Line Sforza Castle Tour with Last Supper Tickets

What to know about milan from our local guides.

Milan offers something for everyone, whether you’re into fashion, art, history, or just about anything else. Here are a few things to do in Milan that are worth checking out.

• Visit the Duomo , Milan’s iconic Gothic masterpiece and the largest cathedral in Italy, and climb to the rooftop for breathtaking city views.
• Feast your eyes on Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, housed in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
• Explore Sforza Castle , an imposing medieval fortress-turned-museum that houses various art collections, including Michelangelo's unfinished masterpiece, the Pietà Rondanini.
• Shop your way around Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an elegant gallery known for its stunning architecture in addition to its impressive collection of luxury fashion brands.
• Discover an impressive collection of Italian Renaissance art, including works by Caravaggio, Raphael, and Mantegna, at the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery.
• Stroll along the picturesque Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals, lined with trendy bars, cafes, boutiques, and art galleries.

While it is possible to book Last Supper tickets online, the official website isn’t very user-friendly and offers little to no flexibility in case your plans change. Your best bet is to go with a guided tour to guarantee a hassle-free experience and ensure you get in. Both our Best of Milan Tour and our Sforza Castle Tour with Last Supper offer skip-the-line, pre-reserved access to the famous (and rapidly deteriorating!) masterpiece, along with the context you need to fully appreciate da Vinci’s genius.

Milan is a fantastic city for families and many of its top attractions, including the Duomo and the Last Supper, are easy to visit with little ones. Parco Sempione is a sprawling green space in the heart of Milan with plenty of space for kids to run free, and nearby Sforza Castle is a fascinating visit for travelers of all ages. Kids will love exploring the castle on our Milan walking tour !

Milan might not be as famous as Naples or Bologna when it comes to gastronomy, but there are still plenty of delicious typical foods from Milan that are worth a try.

First things first: risotto. Rice is more common than pasta here in the north of Italy, and risotto alla Milanese is arguably its best iteration. It’s creamy, saffron-infused, and a true culinary masterpiece.

Plenty of other staple dishes of Milanese cuisine are similarly hearty and filling—perfect for the chilly winter months. Ossobuco (braised veal shanks cooked with vegetables, wine, and broth), cassoeula (a pork and cabbage stew), and the famous minestrone soup are all commonly found on menus and family tables throughout Milan.

Craving something sweet? Crumbly and buttery sbrisolona cake is one of Milan’s best-known desserts. If you’re visiting around Christmastime, be sure to try the famous panettone—though it’s now enjoyed throughout Italy and beyond, it has its roots here in Milan!

There’s really no bad time of year to visit Milan. It all depends on your personal travel style, budget, and the kinds of experiences you’re looking to have.

As with much of Italy, the spring and fall “shoulder seasons” offer beautiful weather and a pleasant atmosphere in the city without the crowds. While summer is easily hotter and more crowded, it also offers dozens of festivals and events, including outdoor concerts at Sforza Castle. It’s also a lovely time of year to enjoy a day trip to picturesque Lake Como, just two and a half hours away by train.

Winter is the quietest time of year to visit Milan, as well as the most budget friendly. While temperatures can be quite chilly and snow is a possibility (this is northern Italy, after all!), the city won’t be nearly as crowded with tourists and offers a more relaxed atmosphere.

Milan offers a modern and efficient public transportation system. With five metro lines and dozens of buses and trams, there are plenty of options to get you wherever you need to go. Tickets start at just €1.60 for a single journey and can be purchased at self-service kiosks, newsstands, and ATM (Azienda Transporti Milanesi) service centers throughout the city.

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15 Mega Epic Walking Tours in Milan for 2024

By: Author Girl with the Passport

Posted on Last updated: December 3, 2023

Categories Europe

Wanna see Milan like a REAL local? Then check out this next-level awesome list of the best walking tours in Milan .

Because while you can 100% go it alone, it’s easy to get lost, lose precious time, and miss hidden gems that only true locals know about.

So, if you wanna make the most of your time in one of my fave cities in Italy, then I implore you to book one. the best walking tours Milan has to offer.

At least, that’s what I did the first time I visited. And it was a great way to see all that the city has to offer super fast.

Plus, you get to listen to expert commentary that adds to the experience and helps you understand what you’re actually looking at.

Also, because I was visiting the city solo, the tour really helped me feel less alone, especially while eating my faces off at epic restaurants.

So, deffo take some time to read this post and consider booking one of the best walking tours in Milan.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

In a rush? ⏰ Then this Milan Historical Walking Tour and Last Supper Ticket is my pick for the best tour in Milan. It’s a super fun tour that will quickly introduce you to all of the city’s major highlights. 😀

Best Walking Tours in Milan for Sights and History

1. milan historical walking tour and the last supper ticket.

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (2518 Reviews) Price: $82.45 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie Operator: Wander Italy Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

If you only have time for one activity in Milan, make it this historical walking tour.

Because this 3-hour tour is absolutely amazing and takes you to all of the major tourist attractions that this city has to offer.

I mean, you don’t want to leave Milan without seeing the Duomo, La Scala Theater, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and Sforza Castle, do you? Especially if you only have 24 hours in Milan .

However, this tour actually starts at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. FYI, this is THE humble terracotta church that houses The Last Supper.

“First off, easy to find the meeting point and guide which is always a huge plus. We mainly booked this tour to see the Last Supper and get a quick overview of Milan. Our tour guide was AMAZING. Very knowledgeable in the history of Milan. This tour is the perfect snapshot of the city of Milan in the perfect amount of time. We particularly enjoyed his knowledge on The Last Supper and enjoyed learning from him about it. Would highly recommend.” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

And, this epic tour covers you with skip-the-line access. Now, as per the rules, you’ll have 15 minutes to pore over the details and scrutinize Da Vinci’s brushstrokes.

Once your time elapses, you’ll hit the road for the main body of the walking tour, which is focused on Milan’s Renaissance history.

Therefore, you’ll visit the historical spots listed above and get a snapshot of the city’s iconic past.

Pro Tip: If you do not book this tour and want to see Davinci’s Last Supper you MUST book your tickets months in advance or you will NOT get in.

You can also do a fun day trip to Lake Como from Milan if you have the time.

2. The Last Supper and St. Maria delle Grazie Church Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5.0 (55 Reviews) Price: $64.86 per person Duration: 75 minutes 📍 Meeting Point: Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie n° 2 Operator: YourNexTour Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Now, this is one of the best walking tours in Milan that allows you to hone in on Da Vinci’s masterpiece.

After all, the painting is the crown jewel of Milan for most first-time visitors.

See, this Last Supper and St. Maria delle Grazie Church tour kicks off with a viewing of this immortal fresco.

Then, after the allotted 15 minutes are up, the remaining hour is spent roaming the area outside the church.

So, do be prepared for the use of props as your guide tells you all there is to know about the mural.

They’ll even zoom in on the finer details, usually naked to the untrained eye, and reveal secrets that few people know.

Well, at least those outside the world of art history anyway.

Plus, in addition to discussing the content of the painting, your guide will talk about the innovative techniques Da Vinci used.

“The tour was wonderful. Our guide, Sisi, was amazing from start to finish, always detailing every step of the way and as friendly as I’ve rarely seen her. I highly recommend it, especially if you go with Sisi!!” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

Heck, you’ll even hear all the juicy details about the church itself that many people often skip over.

3. Milan Duomo, Archaeological Area, and Rooftops Private Fast-Track Guided Tour

⭐️ Rating: 5.0/5.0 (75 Reviews) Price: $71.54 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: P.za del Duomo, 14 Details: Read more on Viator Now!

Now, the Duomo di Milano sits at the very heart of Zone 1, aka the center of the city.

Also located in Piazza del Duomo, this gigantic cathedral is one of the largest in the world.

And, it took a whopping six centuries – AKA, 600 years – to build.

So, architects and builders chiseled away from 1386 until 1965 when the church was finally deemed ready.

“Victor’s really amazing. He’s an expert about everything related to the Duomo. My boys asked him a lot of questions and he was ready with all answers. My husband and sons cannot thank me enough for booking this tour for us. Everything was perfect.” Lerma ( read more reviews now )

Showcasing a Gothic style with typical Lombardy features, the windows depict Bible scenes. And, yes, there is a fee to enter the church.

Now, seeing as it’s a popular spot, it’s best to secure admission in advance.

Yeah, trust me on this. You will wait in line forever (like me) and are not allowed to bring “big bags” inside with you.

So, this guided tour of the Milan Duomo is your best bet if you want to get inside quickly and actually understand the archaeological significance/beauty of what you’re looking at.

Plus, it includes skip-the-line access and fast-track entry to the roof terraces too.

It’s also one of the best walking tours in Milan that is fully private. So, you’ll have 90 minutes to enjoy the epic wisdom of your expert guide.

Otherwise, you’ll miss out on so many teeny details you simply can’t learn from a casual visit (or consulting Wiki/Google). And with six centuries of history to cover those 90 minutes fly by.

4. Sforza Castle and Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4.9/5.0 (130 Reviews) Price: $54.85 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Clock Tower (Torre Filarete) Operator: Italy Hidden Experiences Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

As it happens, the grounds of Sforza Castle are totally free to visit. But, this complex is ginormous and hides the Renaissance heritage of Milan inside.

That’s right, Florence may have birthed the Renaissance but traces of the movement exist in other Italian cities too.

Now, this incredible tour of Sforza Castle and Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini lasts around 1.5 hours.

And, it includes admission to the castle’s Pietà Rondanini Museum. Because that part of the fort does carry a fee if you wanna visit and see all the touristy goodness inside.

Once there, you’ll see the final sculpture that Michelangelo worked on in the days right before his death.

Honestly, it boggles the mind when you think about what he was able to create at the ripe old age of 89. Yup, it’s pure madness I tell you!

“Simon was our tour guide he was so good and helpful, well oriented. Good accent and make everything clear and understandable. Me and my wife enjoyed the tour and we highly recommended. Thank you so much Simon.” Anas ( read more reviews now )

In general, tour commentary focuses on the castle, the powerful families of Milan’s past, and the work of both Da Vinci and Michelangelo.

And, it’s great to really focus on one specific monument during one of the best walking tours in Milan.

Then, once your time’s up, you can remain on the castle grounds and continue exploring before stopping for some of the best gelato in Milan .

5. Highlights and Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Milan Private Walking Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5.0 (169 Reviews) Price: $112.90 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: P.za del Duomo, 1 Operator: The Ultimate Italy Details: Read more on Viator Now!

Now, assuming you’re all up to scratch with the principal sights of Milan, where to next?

Well, why not embark on a highlights and hidden gems with locals tour that will cover all bases first?

Because you’ll 110% love that this is one of the best walking tours in Milan that includes a “hidden gems” segment where you visit lesser-known landmarks too.

So, what spots are we talking about here?

Well, that’s a secret – so you’ll just have to book this tour and put yourself in the safe hands of your local guide!

Also, just be aware that this itinerary does tend to differ somewhat based on the guide you’re assigned.

“Our guide had tremendous knowledge. She told several interesting stories. We had a excellent view of one of the world’s most famous paintings.” Jeff ( read more reviews now )

Plus, you can always pipe up about your specific interests since this is a private tour with an itinerary that is definitely somewhat customizable.

Therefore, this really is one of the best walking tours in Milan from a local perspective.

And because it’s private, it’s great for couples and families in particular.

Then, when the 3 hours are over, you’ll be an expert in historic and contemporary Milan. Plus, afterward, be sure to ask your guide for restaurant recommendations.

Pro Tip: Try not to book the tour for Sunday since some places will be closed.

Best Walking Tours in Milan for Culture and Lifestyle

6. private milan fashion tour.

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (43 Reviews) Price: $92.34 per person Duration: 3 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Via Croce Rossa, 2, 20121 Milano Operator: Withlocals Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Move over Paris because all know that Milan is the place for designer fashion in Europe.

In fact, the sole purpose of your visit might be to invest your retirement fund in high-end clothing.

But, with literally thousands of stores in and beyond the quadrilatero della moda, where the heck do you start?

Well, with this totally stylish and awesome fashion tour of Milan , obviously.

See, this epic 3-hour private walking tour will steer you toward the coolest concept stores and most exclusive boutiques that the city has to offer.

And a true highlight is hearing about the city’s fashion history in an actual designer’s studio.

Plus, you’ll call in at vintage ateliers and an incredible Japanese jewelry store too.

“Sara was an excellent guide providing interesting insight, out of the way spots and broad exploration of the canal and historic regions. She was flexible and rapidly adapted to my interests. The tour was unique and worthwhile.” Christian ( read more reviews now )

Truly, this is one of the best walking tours in Milan for fashionistas. Especially those with a thirst that goes beyond Prada, Versace, and other main stream deisgners.

Because, rather than sticking to the main fashion districts, it hones in on the lesser-known and independent stores of Navigli.

Just be prepared for a moderate amount of walking on this tour (duh), so be sure to wear flats.

7. San Siro Stadium and Museum Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4.3/5.0 (156 Reviews) Price: $33.53 per person Duration: Valid 1 Day 📍Meeting Point: Gate 8 at the Piazzale Angelo Moratti. Operator: Timonfaya Travel Lanzarote Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Prefer soccer to fashion? If so then we’ve got a tour for that.

Now, the San Siro Stadium stands just a hop, a skip, and a jump west of the center of the city.

And as the home turf of A.C. Milan and Inter Milan, this is one of the best walking tours in Milan for sports nuts.

Obviously, catching a game IRL is the “goal.”

But, if that’s not an option, you can “score” tickets to the stadium and check out areas that are usually closed to the public.

So, this San Siro Stadium and Museum Tour gives you access to the sidelines, stands, changing rooms, and the tunnel.

Plus, the museum showcases jerseys worn by some of the team’s top players.

And, it’s led by a real person rather than an audio guide so you’ll hear lots of fun anecdotes.

“A very nice visit to this mythical stadium! First, we visited the museum and then in a small group we went to visit the stadium. A superb professional team explaining in detail the iconic history of this stadium as well as these two teams. Highly recommend for football fans!” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

Actually, even if soccer makes you sleepy, the gossip justifies going on this tour – especially since tours depart every 20 minutes or so.

Therefore, all you need to do is order your ticket for the day you want to go. Then, just show up and wait for your tour guide to summon you.

8. La Scala Museum and Theatre Experience

⭐️ Rating: 4.8/5.0 (310 Reviews) Price: $51.67 per person Duration: 1.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Front of La Scala Theatre Museum Operator: Italy Hidden Experiences Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

One for the theatergoers and musically inclined, Teatro alla Scala is one of the most beautiful buildings in Milan.

Utterly splendid inside and out, this opera house has been putting out all the stops since the late 18th century.

And that makes sense since the theater hosts opera, ballet, and symphony orchestra performances.

Again, if your Milan itinerary permits, you might want to investigate getting your paws on some tickets.

However, this La Scala Museum and Theatre Experience is the perfect accompaniment to any visit to this magical building.

Over the course of 1.5 hours, you’ll get a guided tour of the auditorium, stage, and sneek peak behind the scenes.

“A wonderful trip, a wonderful guide, with great passion and fondness telling about the history of the theater and people associated with it. We highly recommend it, we were happy to participate in this event, unforgettable impressions – we are enchanted by this famous place. Thank you very much. Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

In fact, you’ll stand exactly where such greats as Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti have stood during their careers.

Plus, the museum showcases costumes and set designs from centuries-worth of productions at La Scala.

9. Brera District and Pinacoteca Guided Experience

⭐️ Rating: 4.9/5.0 (76 Reviews) Price: $65.85 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Varies by tour Operator: Italy Hidden Experiences Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Wedged between Sforzesco Castle and the Duomo, you’ll find the gorgeous district of Brera.

See, this is the setting of the Pinacoteca di Pinacoteca – which is only one of the premier art galleries in Italy.

Therefore, this Brera district and Pinacoteca guided experience starts off with a walk through the galleries.

Then, once inside you’ll feast your eyes on works by Raffaello, Caravaggio, Hayez, and more.

And, with a wise local guide by your side, you’ll learn all about the significance of these amazing masterpieces.

“It was a wonderful experience! Laura is the best guide ever!! She is very passionate and explained everything about the paintings and also she had a lot of fun/odd facts about the artists or the meaning behind the masterpieces. Would highly recommend to take the guided tour.” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

But, the tour also includes a wander around the Brera neighborhood too since this area is utterly gorgeous. So, expect to fill your phone up with tons of unique photos.

And once the 2 hours is at an end, your friendly guide will point you in the right direction when it comes to where to eat and where to shop in Brera.

FYI, this part of Milan is a great place to pick up artisanal gifts and perfumes.

10. Guided Street Food Walking Tour with Food Tasting

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5.0 (47 Reviews) Price: $38.47 per person Duration: 2.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Church of San Maurizio Operator: Pink Umbrella Tours Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

See, if you travel to any city in Italy and neglect to take a food tour – you’ve made a major error.

Because there’s so much more to Italian cuisine than pizza and pasta. And this guided street food walking tour with food tastings will prove just that.

After all, this 2.5-hour food tour will take you through the heart of the city – from north to south.

Therefore, you’ll see a bunch of sights including Piazza Mercanti and the L.O.V.E. statue.

But, most importantly, you’ll eat where Milan locals eat. So, we’re talking authentic little delis and historic markets teeming with fresh regional produce.

“We tried a lot. The portions were a bit big. We would have liked to have had a drink in between. E.g. an Italian coffee or other drink. Our tour guide was very nice and accommodating. It was an all-round successful tour! THANKS!” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

And, the emphasis of one of the best walking tours in Milan is very much on street food.

Which, in Milan, means piles of cheeses, cured meats, carbolicious breads, and flaky pastries.

And what makes this one of the top walking tours Milan has to offer is the fact that you will learn about local culinary traditions.

Plus, you’ll get insight into typical recipes. So, bring a notebook to jot down some expert cooking tips.

11. Aperitivo Tour with Street Food

⭐️ Rating: 4.4/5.0 (69 Reviews) Price: $97.26 per person Duration: 3.5 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio Operator: Do Eat Better Experience Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

See, the only way to improve a Milan food tour is with free-flowing aperitivos.

So, enter this 3.5-hour aperitivo tour with street food .

Focused on the happening Navigli district, you’ll find out how to approach the art of the aperitivo, Milanese style.

Therefore, in addition to sampling wines and cocktails, you’ll gain insight into how to craft your own Milan-inspired aperitivos once you get back home.

“Very much enjoyed the experience. We did it on our first evening in Milan, which I highly recommend. Terrific way to see this part of the city. Georgia was a wealth of knowledge. She answered all of our questions. Nice selection of food and drinks. Liked having the Orion to make a personal selection among the categories.” US Travler ( read more reviews now )

But, as we all know, you should never drink on an empty stomach. And that’s why this tour is inclusive of snacks.

So, you’ll nibble away at Italian cheeses, cold cuts, gourmet stuffed potatoes, and gelato.

Although, the pizza does sort of steal the limelight.

Note, this is a social eating experience. Therefore, come prepared to swap stories with your lovely co-participants.

You’ll also love that solo travelers, couples, groups, and families are equally welcome. Salute!

12. Gourmet Food Tour of Milan

⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5.0 (27 Reviews) Price: $109.28 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Piazza Cordusio Operator: Do Eat Better Experience Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!

Now, if the above tours whetted your appetite but you’re still looking to experience more upscale restaurants in Milan then this tour is the perfect solution.

See, this gourmet food tour of Milan hand-picks some of the most refined eateries in the city.

And, ordinarily, the 4-hour tour includes 4-5 stops where you’ll sample charcuterie and wine, handmade pizza and pasta, Milanese risotto, and gourmet potatoes.

Afterward, you’ll satisfy your sweet tooth with artisanal pastries and cannoncini, stuffed right before your eyes.

“It was just my friend and I on the tour. Felt very intimate and our guide, Elise, was phenomenal! We had exquisite treats from pastry shops, great pizza, risotto, as well as meat/cheese spread. She also taught us about the history of Milan while walking from shop to shop. Great way to see the city as well.” Anonymous ( read more reviews now )

Then, at the end, you’ll digest everything with a rich and delicious espresso – the perfect way to end any meal.

So, 0verall, this is one of the best walking tours in Milan for the bon vivant traveler.

Plus, while you explore all these epic foodie hot spots, your guide will give you the full lowdown on points of interest and Milanese cooking tips.

Best Walking Tour in Milan at Night

13. milan by night walking experience.

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5.0 (15 Reviews) Price: $48.92 per person Duration: 2 hours 📍 Meeting Point: Piazza Castello Details: Read more on Viator Now!

See, many of the best walking tours in Milan listed above offer a variety of start times to suit your travel agenda.

However, this Milan by night walking experience is a strictly nocturnal affair.

Departing at 6:30 pm daily, this 2-hour tour introduces you to the dark side of Milan.

So, after meeting your guide and group at Piazza Castello you’ll dive straight in with the most iconic city sights.

Therefore, highlights include the courtyards of Sforza Castle, La Scala Theater, and the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery.

Plus, you’ll wrap up at Cathedral Square where Duomo di Milano will be aglow beneath the moonlight.

“Our tour guide was Giorgio. He was a very nice person and knowledgeable guide. He has his PhD in architectural history. His tour was extremely informative. He speaks Italian, English, and German. I highly recommend him if you take this tour.” Arthur ( read more reviews now )

All the while, your guide will dish the dirt on all the most epic happenings from Milan’s historic past.

And, seeing as it’s twilight, they’ll throw in a couple of spookier tales for fun.

Overall, this is an epic walking tour if you want to orient yourself to the center of the city and find your feet in a new place.

Then, you can revisit some of the most interesting sights in daylight and explore the museums/fashion boutiques that caught your eye.

Best Free Walking Tours in Milan

14. citywalkers free walking tour of milan.

Now, if you’re traveling on a shoestring, the price of some of the best walking tours in Milan might be beyond reach.

And that’s where this free tour comes in mighty handy.

See, this free walking tour of Milan departs daily (whatever the weather) at 10:00 am sharp from Duomo Square.

Delivered in English by a local guide, you’ll spend 2+ hours pounding the streets of this uber-trendy city.

So, sights covered by the tour are the Milan Duomo, the Church Of San Nazaro In Brolo, Statale University, Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, and Merchants Square.

Overall, you’ll see around 8 points of interest and hear all the deets when it comes to the significance of the building or plaza.

And while the tour is free to join, you really should tip your guide at the end for their hard work.

Now, in general, participants tip around €5 – €15 ($5.50 – $16.50) per person.

But, really it’s up to you. Therefore, make sure you have a stash of euros in your wallet that you can give to your guide before you leave.

15. Free Milan Self-guided Audio Tour

Here’s an alternative free option for the best walking tours in Milan on a budget.

See, Rick Steves (only one of the most informed European travel experts on the planet) has put together this nifty podcast.

Plus, the audio tour is totally free to access. Therefore, you’ll just need to pack a pair of trusty headphones.

Now, your first option: download the app and subsequently add the Milan tour to your library.

Otherwise, you can just stream it directly provided you have data on your phone.

In fact, a pro tip is to listen to this audio tour as you go about your business of seeing Milan’s major attractions.

But, seeing as it’s totally free – as in, no tip to think about – you could absolutely get your history fix from this tour.

Then, treat yourself to whichever of the other previous tours caught your eye. Because, as they say, when in Rome Milan.

Best Walking Tours in Milan FAQ

Where can i walk in milan.

Some of the best places to walk in Milan include:

• Brera District
• Fashion Quadrilateral
• Tree Library Park
• Piazza Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
• Sempione Park
• Corso Garibaldi and Corso Como
• Abbey of Chiaravalle
• Navigli and New Dock

Can you walk around Milan?

Yes! You can definitely walk around Milan. Not only is it safe but many of the city’s top attractions are clustered around the city center.

Therefore, it’s easy to explore this city on foot and admire all of the major landmarks here.

Is Milan Easy to Walk Around?

Yes!!! Milan is a very walkable city. Plus, many of the top sights are well-located near one another. Therefore, you can quickly and easily enjoy all that the city has to offer.

How Many Days do you Need for Milan?

Generally, you can see all of the city’s major attractions in about a day.

However, if you spend between two and three days in this gorgeous metropolis then you can better understand the culture of this incredible place.

Additional Resources You’ll Love

• Best Boutique Hotels in Milan
• Big Mistakes to Avoid in Italy
• Italy Solo Guide
• Renting a Car in Lake Como

There you have it! That wraps up this guide to the best walking tours in Milan.

Tell me, did your picks for the best walking tours milan has to offer make the list if not then let me know in the comments below., and if you found this post useful, be sure to join our email list before pinning this post now so that you can read it again later..

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What to do in Milan at the weekend

Walking tours of milan: here are the 10 best routes, 23 may 2021.

Why are walking tours of Milan the ideal solution to get to know every aspect of the capital of Lombardy?

Everyone knows that Milan is famous for its underground that every day shortens distances for thousands of passengers in the large city. But Milan is a city to discover on foot, walking through its different parts which are so different , to get to know its different faces.

It is the capital of haute couture par excellence, the city of the Madonnina that from the high spires of the Duomo watches over the fine square where there is also the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. But Milan can also offer much more .

From the very modern profile of the skyscrapers of Porta Nuova, to the old art nouveau buildings, from the Renaissance courtyards of the Castello Sforzesco to the unusual routes of the most secret Milan and of urban street art…

Walking tours in Milan: here are the ten best routes!

1. THE CIMITERO MONUMENTALE

A real walking tour of Milan in an open-air museum! The majestic entrance of the Cimitero Monumentale is a splendid architectonic scene when you arrive, often on board the iconic tram, from Via Carlo Farini.

The cemetery symbolizes the bond with the past , right in the middle of a part of the city which is becoming increasingly contemporary and avant-garde.

A walk along the paths of the Cimitero Monumentale offers the occasion for a tour not to be missed: plunged into a mystic aura, going past the Famedio – which also holds the remains of the very famous Manzoni – we encounter mausoleums and sculptures of great artistic value.

2. FROM THE CASTELLO SFORZESCO TO THE PARCO SEMPIONE

A pleasant stroll to be immersed in one of the lasgest green areas of Milan , the Parco Sempione, after having made a journey back into the past, into the times of the Renaissance courts, visiting the impressive Castello Sforzesco.

The castle, which belonged to the Sforza family, is today home to the Civic Museums and houses works by artists of the calibre of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci , a marvellous art gallery and many masterpieces of applied art, including the splendid Tapestries of the Months by Bramantino, on display in the Ballroom.

Outside the walls of the fortress there is the large Parco Sempione, where the Milanese spend the finest days, having picnics and doing sport. Majestic and proud, the Arco della Pace stands at the entrance and is one of the symbols of Milan. A treat? In Piazza Sempione you can enjoy a Milanese aperitif the way it should be!

3. PORTA VENEZIA AND THE ART NOUVEAU SIDE OF MILAN

The city of Milan blossomed in the early years of the 20 th century: the city today flaunts the floral patterns, the organic and sinuous decorations of the art nouveau style of then, especially in the area of Porta Venezia.

From Casa Donizelli to Casa Galimberti , with its marvellous ceramics, you will be fascinated by the wrought iron and the floral decorations, like those of the monumental Palazzo Castiglioni .

After having been enchanted by the luxury of the Hotel Diana Sheraton , you have to sharpen your sight because the route becomes even more fairy tale-like when we stop in Via dei Cappuccini, where you have to stop and admire the pink flamingos of Villa Invernizzi .

4. PORTA NUOVA AND ITS DIZZYING SKYLINE

Milan is said to be the most European city in Italy, alluding to its avant-garde nature, including in architecture: its skyline is now an icon and it is due above all to the Expo in 2015.

A stroll through the area leads you to discover dizzyingly high skyscrapers, like the Unicredit Tower by César Pelli which dominates the beautiful raised Piazza Gae Aulenti , an essential stop for shopping or for a Spritz in one of the many venues with outside tables.

Further on, the very new Biblioteca degli Alberi (Library of Trees) a green space in the centre of this triumph of “contemporary cathedrals”. But Milan shows off its green side in the work by Stefano Boeri as well, the famous Bosco Verticale (Vertical Wood): two residential blocks which will conquer the heart of anyone with green fingers!

5. CITYLIFE AND ITS SHOPPING DISTRICT

Famous for having been chosen as a love nest by one of the best-loved couples on the social networks, CityLife lets you again discover t he most futuristic face of Milan.

Amongst the new “Giants”, strolling through the paths of CityLife, you will notice the Isozaki Tower , called ”the Straight one”, “ the twisted one ” designed by the great Zaha Hadid and the skyscraper by Libeskind , known as the “Curved one” due to its sinuous shape. Are you a shopaholic ? There’s also a shopping  centre!

6. STREET ART BETWEEN TICINESE AREA AND NAVIGLI

MUDEC (Museum of Cultures) also celebrated street art with an exclusive exhibition dedicated to the mysterious Banksy: murals and graffiti in Milan are found in abundance, especially walking through the streets of the Ticinese part of the city and the Navigli .

From the puzzles on the walls of the Strada dell’Ironia to the murals that portray well known faces such as Alda Merini and Jannacci, a stroll in the streets and on the bridges of the Navigli reveals a real explosion of colour and art, often imbued with an important political and social message.

7. ORTICA – THE MUSEUM DISTRICT

Here is one of the walking tours of Milan you cannot miss: Ortica is another landmark in Milanese street art. Since 2017 the streets of Ortica have been coloured with twenty murals thanks to the project Arte di Strada which saw the duo Orticonodles at work, with the support of Milan City Council.

An artistic project that redevelops the area and also opens into the social and collective memory, portraying women of the Resistance and other historical figures of the city, like the partisan Morandi.

8. PARCO SEMPIONE BETWEEN FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE

We have already spoken about the Parco Sempione but a walk along its paths can also be experienced from another perspective, on a real botanical tour : on the paths we can admire elms, horse chestnuts, cedars, ashes and many other trees that in the autumn have very colourful foliage.

In the spring, hydrangeas, rhododendrons and snapdragons come into  bloom. Are you ready to recognize every plant guided by our botanist, on a route with a green soul?

9. MILANESE LEGENDS AT BREAKFAST

A very particular tour that promises to illustrate the best known and most mysterious legends linked to the city, in front of typically Milanese street food.

Cakes and pastries for every season, symbols and traditions of Milan on a guided tour through the city centre, from the Castello Sforzesco to the Duomo of Milan.

You don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, any street you take you are on the right one to enjoy Milan (and more) all round.

10. THE PARK OF THE MONZA PALACE BY MINIATURE TRAIN

The walking tours are not only in Milan! We go just outside the city to reach another splendid city: we board a picturesque miniature train to go round the green part of the Monza Royal Palace ! The rose garden in the park boasts of more than 4,000 roses, but not only the flora is very rich…

The 18 th century architecture of the Palace and the many farmsteads in the park are truly worth a visit.

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Free Independent Walking Tour of Milan Italy (with Map)

We arrived in Milan on a very hot July evening as we started our Northern Italy tour with our family. The following day we took on this very busy and large Italian city. Milan is the industrial and financial capital of Northern Italy and as such it is a city full of life. For the tourist, however, Milan is not very exciting. Except for a few extraordinary tourist attractions, Milan is mostly an uninteresting European city. Come along with me on a free walking tour of Milan, Italy .

What to Expect on Your Walking Tour of Milan?

In this article:

While Milan is a very old city, it is neither a small nor a quaint Italian town. Milan, or Milano in Italian, is a large, busy, thriving city, full of traffic and tourists especially in the summer months. If you want to enjoy your visit to Milan you must know why you want to visit it. Come along with me on a walking tour of Milan, Italy as we explore the extraordinary tourist attractions in this place.

You will like Milan if you are looking for historical attractions, some high scale shopping and of course good Italian food. We loved walking the streets of Milan where we had our first encounter with the amazingly fresh and yummy Italian Gelato. This was an awesome experience, especially for our kids. Gelato has remained their favorite memory about Italy .

My Favorite Things to See in Milan Italy

After lots of research prior to coming to Milan, I had a short list of things to see. I have a very efficient system for planning my trips which makes sure our expectations match what our destination can offer. After visiting the city our experience has been pretty close to our expectations which made for a pleasant and enjoyable trip to Milan.

• The Dome in Milan is absolutely impressive and it makes coming to Milan worthwhile even if this is the only attraction in Milan you get to see. Plan to spend time outside, inside and definitely buy the ticket to explore the room of the Dome
• Walk on Via Dante and enjoy the shops and restaurants. Plenty of choice.
• Castello Szforsesco and Parco Sempione are very nice attractions as well, even though they are not very exciting when compared to the Dome.
• Visit Santa Maria delle Grazie church where the “Last Supper” painting by Da Vinci is. You must reserve your spot many months in advance, especially in the summer months. Otherwise you will be like us and miss out if you don’t plan in advance. You can search for Milan activities and reserve a local Milan tour (which includes a skip-the-line ticket to Santa Maria delle Grazie church).

Here is my quick map of my favorite tourist attractions along my walking tour of Milan, Italy. This map follows pretty much the trip we took to Milan and the route we followed walking through the city.

With the list of tourist attractions and a map in our hands we started exploring Milan. Come along with me on a free walking tour of Milan, Italy.

1. Il Duomo di Milano

We started our walking tour of Milan by taking the subway from our hotel to Il Duomo subway station which dropped us off right in front of the Dome. To put it mildly, we were awestruck when we came out from the underground subway station right in front of Il Duomo di Milano. The Dome is one of the world’s largest places of worship and it is truly magnificent. I really can’t find enough words to express what an impressive site the Dome is.

2. Milan Shopping Galleries

We continue our walking tour of Milan, by stepping into the fancy shopping area at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. These stores are Italy’s oldest shopping mall and the building is simply beautiful having lots of glass around and on the roof. It is delightful to walk through this area even though the stores are prohibitively expensive.

3. Scala di Milano

4. Via Dante

From Scala di Milano, we turned back a little bit and continued our walking tour of Milano, on Via Dante. This is the touristy street with lots of shops and restaurants. Yes, Via Dante is touristy but this is where everyone goes, so it’s a lot of fun to walk around and eat yummy gelato.

5. Castello Sforzesco

We’re continuing our walking tour of Milan by strolling leisurely up on touristy Via Dante. Castello Sforzesco is located in the middle of the old center of Milan, only about 10 minutes walk from the Dome. There is a rounds plaza right in front of the castle and many roads meet up in front of the castle. There are several ways to go to see the castle from the Dome. We took the road from Scala Theater, but you can also go straight up via Dante.

6. Parco Sempione

7. Visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper

Santa Maria della Grazzie is the most famous attraction in Milan because it houses the Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Last Supper painting. Especially in the summer months you must buy tickets way in advance if you want to see it. In addition, even if you have tickets, you have to allocate enough time because visiting this masterpiece take time as all tourists must sit in a colder ante chamber so that your bodies cool off a bit before entering the room with the very old and precious work of art.

If you want to visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper you must get skip-the-line tickets to see Da Vinci’s Last Supper way before your visit. This is especially true during the summer months when everything is sold out weeks in advance.

8. Saint Ambrogio Basilica

We continue our walking tour of Milan, by going to the near by Saint Ambrogio church complex, on our way back to the Il Duomo area. Saint Ambrogio is a very old church complex dating from the 1100s. Its courtyard is surrounded by beautiful columns and arches.

Plan Your Trip to Milan

Milan is a very large city with lots of transportation options. Milan is a great starting point for exploring Northern Italy.

• Stay in Milan.  You can stay at Milan San Siro Idea Hotel where we stayed. It is close to the subway and it has free breakfast and parking. It’s a great value in a good location. You can also find more budget hotels in Milan .
• Rent a car in Italy . Save up to 30% on your Italy rental car by comparing all rental car companies and picking the best price for you.
• Take the subway . Milan has a large subway system that can take you anywhere very fast. Download the Milan subway map to plan your day in this large city.
• Take the train . If you want to reach Milan by train, you can check the train schedules and buy tickets here .
• Take a day trip . If you have a few extra days in this area, read my 5 beautiful day trips from Milan for some gorgeous places to visit from Milan.

Is Milan Worth Visiting?

We spent one full day in Milan, Italy and we definitely loved the experience and what we were able to see. However, after reading a lot about Milan and visiting the city for one entire day, I can’t really say that it’s worth spending more than one day in Milan, especially if your time in Italy is limited.

Except for the Dome and Leonardo Da Vinci’s work, Milan, Italy has little else to offer for the tourist especially if compared with other tourist attractions in Northern Italy. However, just these two attractions are well worth your effort to come visit Milano, Italy.

• Charming Northern Italy Itinerary
• Walking tour of Milan
• Charming walking tour of Verona
• Venice Main Island walking tour
• Walking tour of Murano Island
• A colorful walking tour of Burano Island
• In the Dolomites at Barcis
• Treviso is a surprising destination
• In-depth walking tour of Padua
• Short tour of quaint Soave
• In-depth walking tour of Sirmione
• In-depth walking tour of Genoa

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Thank you for such type of a thorough list! I’m preparing to visit Milan for the first period next end of the week. With one totally free day I now have various choices to find my day getaway from Milan.

Rasel…great to hear my list of Milan attractions is helpful to you. My favorite day trips from Milan are Verona , Sirmione and Lake Como.

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Wonders of milan - free walking tour.

CITYWALKERS arose from the initiative of a group of young people and enthusiasts of the city in which they live every day, to share the enormous cultural heritage with tourists from all over the world. Being accompanied by happiness, spontaneity and professionalism when looking for the most important monuments, such as those less visited but still fascinating corners, with someone who knows all the secrets is the best way to visit and, above all, fall in love .

• No minimum number of attendees No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
• Free booking and cancellation Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

With this free walking tour, you will explore Milan as a local. Regardless of your travel budget, our guides will do everything possible to make sure you discover all the secrets and beauty of this city. From the Duomo to the Castello Sforzesco, from the Statale University to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II ... and many more! You will discover the most symbolic places in the history of the capital of Lombardy, and you will experience the spirit of Milan through different eras. What are we going to visit? 

• San Nazaro in Brolo church 
• Statale University 
• Castello Sforzesco 
• Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery 
• Theater y Piazza Della Scala 
• Merchants Square 
• Business Square 

Note: The tour plan can change, according to our guide preferences. In the case of groups larger than 6 persons, please contact us for a private tour. Groups with more than 6 persons will be refused.

What will we visit on this tour?

In front of Novecento Museum (Duomo metro station), look for the guide with the Yellow Umbrella.

• 1 Outside visit Duomo di Milano
• 2 Outside visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• 3 Outside visit Piazza dei Mercanti Show 3 more stops
• 4 Outside visit Piazza della Scala
• 5 Outside visit Piazza Affari
• 6 Outside visit Università degli Studi di Milano

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price , instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

Tour opinions (2617)

Muy bien tour

The Guide Marcos made the tour interesting and insightful. Best walking tour in Italy so far, highly recommended!

This was by far the best walking tour we've had, mainly because Marco was the best tour guide we've had. He was so friendly and funny! He made all of the history he covered that much more interesting to us. He had an extremely large group of 50+ people, and he managed us all seamlessly. He made sure we were not in the road and that we could hear him. Lastly, he remembered everyone by their face and name. AMAZING.

Who is this tour for?

What should you know, others tours from this guru, others cities to visit after milan, where are you traveling to.

HIGH QUALITY PRIVATE TOURS

Guided by expert art historians, discover our private guided tours, complete leonardo & last supper tour.

6 hours Private tour

Welcome to Milan tour

4 hours Private tour

History & Art Milan tour

Leonardo & last supper tour, duomo cathedral tour.

3 hours Private tour

Customize your tour

Ask us for special needs or private chauffeured vehicles

Your Private Guide in Milan

Sara Cerri, the founder of Walking Tour Milan, is an experienced and passionate licensed Milan City tourguide and is reccomended by Rick Steves. Walking Tour Milan is a cultural tours company, specialising in the history of art and architecture of Milan.

HIGH QUALITY

Our goal is to provide the highest quality of service in our fascinating tour packages. Our aim is to provide a friendly atmosphere to give you a thoroughly enjoyable cultural tour. Visit Milan with us and make your stay unforgettable!

ART HISTORY EXPERT GUIDES

Sara Cerri and her qualified staff of licensed and professional tour guides are Milan’s finest. Expert of Art, History and Architecture of Milan we can bring history to life. An art history cultural tour will make your experience memorable and enjoyable.

PERSONAL APPROACH

We offer carefully planned and specially arranged visits to suit your personal needs. We ensure individual attention for you. Our clients value our personal commitment, enthusiasm and attention to detail, and most come back for more.

What to see in Milan

Milan is planty of good places to see. To enjoy your visit in Milan walking with us to discover the very best part of the city. From the city center till the hidden parts!

The most interesting buildings, main monuments, churches, historical places, the castle: discover the many things to see in and around Milan by our walking tours!

Brera, Museo del Novecento and Gallerie d'Italia which preserve masterpieces by artists known all over the world, give Milan the dignity of 'big city' of art.

Contact Us We'd love to hear from you

About sara cerri.

I’m an Art Historian specialized in Medieval Art History at University of Pavia. As an expert in art and tourism I co-wrote the 2012 Red guides for Touring Club Italiano and Italy 2014 by Rick Steves. I work with students, lovers of art and history and with foreigners visiting Italy. I love my job because it gives me the opportunity to share the knowledge of history, art which I considers necessary basis for building a strong civil society.

I offer private guided tours of Milan, the city I love. Come with me, you will enjoy a beautiful experience!

Book now your private tour

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Total Milan Experience

€ 115 / person

360 minutes

Tour description

Our full-day walking tour of Milan (6 hours approx.) covers all the must-see sights including direct access to Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’, the impressive Duomo Cathedral and Michelangelo’s “Rondanini Pietà”, his last unfinished marble masterpiece. Our knowledgeable local English-speaking guides will share their passion for Milan and make you feel engaged all day long. With Skip-the-Line Access and guaranteed small group sizes you will not waste precious time waiting in line and live an immersive experience!

What you can expect

Start your Total Milan Experience in Piazzale Cadorna, one of the main squares close to the top attractions of the city. Meet your expert local guide next to the huge “Needle,Thread and Knot” monument and get fascinated by this contemporary art piece. Then stroll through Milan city center, wandering around a few of the numerous picturesque streets and squares and reach the most iconic symbol of Milan, the Duomo . Skip the long lines and get into the Gothic cathedral, the biggest church in Italy, and admire the statues, the decorations, the stained-glass windows that tireless craftsmen designed along the centuries. Be truly amazed by all that you see while hearing about the stories of the “Holy Nail” from Jesus’ True Cross and the Sundial Trail and its zodiac signs. Leave the Cathedral and become a milanese ‘fashion addict’ while walking along the chic and trendy Galleria Vittorio Emanuele , a 19th-century innovative architectural piece, now the most exclusive and elegant shopping gallery in Milan full of boutiques and fashion brands. The tour continues onto Piazza della Scala , home to the worldwide known milanese Opera House. Here, from outside, the guide will share curious facts and anecdotes about this remarkable temple of classical music. Conclude the morning with the ironic L.O.V.E. monument set in front of the Italian Stock Exchange , designed by the provocative contemporary artist Maurizio Cattelan and find out why Milan is considered the most ‘open minded’ Italian city!

It’s time for a break! Have your lunch in the historic city centre, full of places to sit and rest and taste the local Milanese dishes.

Ready to go? Along the afternoon you will dive into the Renaissance side of Milan. Enter the UNESCO- World Heritage church of Santa Maria delle Grazie , a true architectural masterpiece, and visit the Dominican convent where the world-renowned “The Last Supper” is displayed. Skip the lines and be impressed of this iconic mural painting designed by the Italian genius of Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci. While revealing curiosities about the Florentine artist our guide leads you to a hidden pearl of Milan, the 16th-century church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore , the “Sistine Chapel” of Milan, where disciples of Leonardo left paintings of uncomparable beauty! Proceed to the huge Castello Sforzesco, a majestic Renaissance court surrounded by the amazing Sempione Park. Cross the Clock Tower, walk through the Army Courtyard and learn more about the Sforza Family and the reasons why the dukes of Milan hired Leonardo who lived here as a guest for decades. End this exciting full-day tour by reaching the museum dedicated to another top Renaissance artist, Michelangelo. Marvel at the stunning view of the moving “Pietà Rondanini” sculpture and hear the guide pointing out the secrets of this Michelangelo ’s unfinished marble masterpiece!

Still not tired? Feel free to extend at your pleasure the Milan discovery visiting the Duomo Museum by using your Free Pass (valid for 3 days).

English speaking

Legally licensed, small group, skip the line, audio headsets, access and pass.

• Legally licensed, English-speaking tour guide
• Small Groups|Skip-the-line ticket to the Last Supper Museum
• Skip-the-line ticket and visit to the Duomo Cathedral (inside)
• Access to the Museum of Michelangelo’s "Pietà Rondanini"
• Priority access at the church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
• Pass for the Duomo Museum (valid for 3 days)
• Audio Headsets (if more than 5 people)

Sites visited

• The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci – skip the line
• Duomo, the majestic gothic Cathedral, true symbol of the city (inside – skip-the-line)
• Sforza Castle, the medieval fortress of Milan's Lords (inner courtyards)
• The Sempione Park, the largest in Milan
• The ‘Pietà Rondanini’, the last unfinished masterpiece of Michelangelo (*)
• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a UNESCO Word Heritage site (if open)
• Piazza dei Mercanti, the medieval heart of the city
• Piazza della Scala and its celebrated Theatre (outside)
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, an amazing treasure of XIXth century engineering
• Church of San Maurizio, a Renaissance jewel in the city, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Milan’
• The “LOVE” statue in Piazza Affari, a provocative Contemporary Art piece

Details and notes

• All participants must also bring a valid form of ID (e.g. passport, driver’s license, identity card, student card, etc).
• For the Last Supper visit, children up to the age of 1 do not need a reservation if they are carried by a parent and enter without a stroller.
• Please wear comfortable shoes. During hot days, wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered by both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
• Due to increased security measures at many attractions, strict rules apply to enter the venues (no knives, no scissors, no glass bottles, etc.).
• Due to new security measures, large bags are not allowed inside the Last Supper Museum. If necessary, your guide will escort you to security lockers to leave them during check-in.
• No food or drinks are allowed inside the Last Supper Museum.
• On this tour, some of the venues or parts of them, could be subject to last-minute, unpredictable closures. If this occurs, we offer the customers an extended visit of the outside and/or of other attractions according to the advertised total length of the tour.

Product description

Full-Day walking tour including Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’, Duomo tour inside and Michelangelo’s “Pietà Rondanini”

Our cancellation policy allows for a full refund for cancellations made with at least 24 hours' notice prior to the scheduled start of the tour. This policy helps us maintain efficient operations and ensures fairness to both our customers and our business.

Additionally, we require the name of each participant for ticket retrieval purposes, ensuring a streamlined and efficient check-in process for all attendees.

Around you in this tour

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Tour Reviews

Around you in this experience, last supper by leonardo da vinci, the “love” statue -piazza affari, milan, the sempione park – milano, vittorio emanuele gallery, the pietà rondanini.

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• Email: [email protected]
• © 2024 Copyright Wander Italy S.r.l.
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Milan in 1 day – Itinerary of my self-guided walking tour + map

To visit Milan in 1 day, here is my self-guided walking tour with route map to discover the most beautiful places in Milan in one day!

Indeed, my walking route allows you to have a general overview of the city of Milan by touring the city's must-see sites. All you have to do is follow the route on the Google maps that I share with you in this article.

Why visit Milan?

Capital of Lombardy, Milan is located on the Bassa Padana in northern Italy. As Paris , London ou New York , Milan is known to be a Mecca for Fashion and creation. But, this city is much more than that! Indeed, Milan has preserved monuments and historical masterpieces with, among others, the Brera Art Gallery, Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, the old Sforzesco castle, the Duomo and of course the magnificent Teatro alla Scala.

How to visit Milan in 1 day?

And, although it is recommended to allow 2 days to visit Milan, it is possible to discover the emblematic sites of the city in just one day.

To visit Milan in 1 day you can:

• Take the Milan tourist bus which offers 4 itineraries:
• Book a guided tour of the main sites:
• Either do my tourist circuit on foot following the route for which you will find the map below.

I let you discover below how to organize this walking tour of Milan and how to make the most of it in 1 day.

Visit Milan on foot

All of the tourist attractions listed above are all close to each other. Thus, the small tourist circuit of Milan to do on foot represents approximately 4 km of walking spread over the entire day. You can therefore walk 2 km for morning visits and 2 km walk for afternoon visits.

In addition, visiting Milan on foot is very pleasant. This allows you to soak up the atmosphere of the streets, to enjoy gourmet breaks and to mingle with the Milanese who know how to welcome tourists so well!

What to see in Milan in 1 day?

1 day to visit Milan is of course not enough to do the complete visits and all the museums. But with good organization and an optimized itinerary, it is possible to complete a walking tour  of the most beautiful places in Milan. Indeed, Milan is not a very large city and its historic center can therefore be discovered by walking!

Here are the steps to follow to visit Milan in 1 day following my self-guided walking tour:

• Piazza Duomo + Duomo Cathedral + Royal Palace of Milan
• Piazza San Babila + Basilica of San Babila

Quadrangle of Fashion

La scala theater, leonardo's world museum, galleria vittorio emanuele ii.

• Piazza Mercanti + Piazza Cordusio
• Sforza Castle + Sempione Park
• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci)

Itinerary of my self-guided tour to visit Milan

Download the Google Mpas map below to your phone in advance. In fact, you can use it offline to follow the route of my self-guided tour on foot to visit Milan in 1 day.

Self-guided walking tour to visit Milan in 1 day

To make the most of this circuit and to do it entirely, it will have to be started very early in the morning. Here are the visits in the order of my itinerary:

Piazza Duomo

To start my walking tour, you have to go to the Duomo Square (Piazza Duomo). It is the historic center and the main square of Milan where major events and other events are celebrated. All around this square you will find the Palazzo Carminati , Palais Royal and Duomo cathedral with its terrace.

Piazza San Babila

After having visited the Cathedral and climbed on its terrace, you will take the direction of Piazza San Babila for about 800 meters of walking. You can discover the Basilica di San Babila which is a Romanesque Catholic church once considered the 3rd most important in Milan.

300 meters further west, you will arrive in one of the most beautiful districts of milan : at Quadrangle of Fashion .

In fact, it is an area bounded by 4 streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via Alessandro Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia. This is where the boutiques of the great Italian and international fashion designers and stylists are concentrated.

By taking Via Pietro Verri, after 500 meters of walking, you will arrive at La Scala square (Piazza della Scala) where the statue of Leonardo da Vinci is enthroned. There you can start by visiting the magnificent Teatro de la Scala which is in fact one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Book the visit to La Scala in Milan

The Vittorio Emanuele II gallery, called “Il salotto di Milano” is a must-see in Milan. This is a magnificent 19th century shopping arcade. It is a covered walkway that connects the Duomo and the La Scala theatre. Metal structure 32 meters high, entirely glazed, you will discover in the middle of the gallery an octagonal place with a superb dome where at the 4 corners the paintings representing the 4 continents.

This museum is also located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This is an interactive museum, with audio guide and projections that allow you to discover all of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions.

Sforza Castle

To reach the mythical castle of Milan on foot, you will pass through two squares that Milanese very much appreciate: Piazza Mercanti and Piazza Cordusio.

Following my route, you will arrive in less than 15 minutes on foot at Piazza Castello. There, you can visit the Sforza Castle and take a short walk to the Sempione Park just behind it.

Santa Maria delle Grazie

Here is the last visit of my Milan tour in 1 day: The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is in this church that the famous painting of "  The Lord's Supper  by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Last Supper is located in the original refectory of the former Dominican convent in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Guided tours allow you to discover all its secrets.

Where to stay to visit Milan on foot?

For a short weekend in milan , it is obvious that we must avoid certain districts of milan and choose a hotel well located in the historic center to do everything on foot!

I have 2 addresses to recommend to you according to your budget:

• For those looking for luxury, here is a magnificent hotel in one of the most beautiful areas of Milan. It is ideally located for visiting the city   : Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club Milan 
• For those looking for good value for money, here is a good accommodation just 1 minute from the Cathedral: Cheap accommodation in Milan

Another city tour in Italy? Why not one visit to florence , a day in Rome or a romantic weekend in Venice

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5 thoughts on “Milan in 1 day – Itinerary of my self-guided walking tour + map”

Thanks for all the information. All of this has been very helpful to me.

Geweldig dat je je dagje Milaan met ons deelt. Wij plannen een reis naar Italië en stoppen net 1 dag in Milaan! Dankjewel voor de tip! Greetings Ingrid

Bedankt Ingrid voor je commentaar en Geniet van je neis naar Italy!

thank you!!!!! only good ideas to prepare our holidays 😀

And thank you for this comment! I wish you a good trip to Italy.

BEST of Milan in One Day (Most Complete Itinerary & Map)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 18, 2023

Are you thinking of visiting Milan for a day and wondering if it’s worth it and what to see and do in Milan in one day ? This guide and suggested 1-day itinerary will help you make the absolute most of your short visit to the city. Find out!

We have been to Italy so many times and visited so many amazing Italian cities . Yet somehow it took me years to finally get to Milan, and it surprised me beyond expectations! Milan is full of some amazing treasures, but you have to make some effort to escape the main tourist routes in order to truly appreciate it…

I have to admit that it wasn’t love at first sight, but if you take the time to look deeper, you will discover that Milan has so much more to offer than it looks on the surface!

Just like many first-time visitors, we only had one day in Milan. But because we visited the city by invitation of in LOMBARDIA regional tourism board and went with amazing local guides, we discovered so much more than just the ‘must-see’ places.

So in this post, I share the best tips and experience-based suggestions on what to see and do in Milan in one day , including all the top sights and tourist attractions, but also a few hidden gems and local areas that will make your visit so much more special. Find out!

Visiting Milan for a day? These are the top experiences you have to book in advance:

• Duomo Cathedral + Rooftops (must-do).
• Da Vinci’s The Last Supper (highly recommended).
• Lake Como Day Trip (if you have an extra day outside the city).

Yes, there are many amazing museums in Milan, nice parks to visit, and lots of stores where you can admire all the latest fashion trends… But unless you have more than one day in Milan, you will probably not want to waste half of your time queuing at a museum or shopping at some of the world’s most expensive boutiques…

So this is my no-nonsense guide to the best things you can see and do in Milan in one day. It’s definitely not a complete guide to Milan – there is no way to see it all in such a short time. However, if it’s your first trip and you want to see the best of Milan in a day , then look no further.

This is the most complete guide that will bring you to some of the nicest places in Milan, not just the main landmarks, but also some modern and trendy areas, as well as some quirky hidden gems. Keep in mind that if you want to do everything from this itinerary in one day, it will be a long busy day, but it’s definitely doable.

Good to know: At the bottom of the post, you can find an overview of this 1-day itinerary , a map featuring all the places mentioned here, as well as the suggested walking route . We also share some practical tips to help you make the best out of your day in Milan.

TIP: If you are visiting Milan for just a day and want to make the most of your visit, you may want to consider taking a walking tour with a local guide. This is one of the most complete and best-rated city tours that covers the main, must-see attractions in about 3 hours.

Based on our experience, here’s what I recommend to see and do in Milan in one day:

Piazza del Duomo & Duomo Terraces

No trip to Milan would be complete without seeing the Cathedral, Duomo di Milano , an impressive gothic masterpiece that took several centuries to complete. To many, seeing the Duomo is the main and only reason to visit Milan.

As you will see in this post, there is so much more to Milan than just its famous cathedral. But yes, it’s the main landmark of the city. So no matter how much (or little) time you have in Milan, Piazza del Duomo is one place you don’t want to miss.

If you are visiting in high season, it will likely be very busy inside the cathedral. Its exterior is just as impressive as the interior, so if you have just one day in Milan, in the past I would have told you to skip it. However, now that they introduced ticketed entry, you can book timed slots for a visit. So if you plan well, you can see both – the interior of the Duomo as well as its rooftops.

No matter which option you choose – the cathedral and/or the terraces , then be sure to get your tickets in advance . Alternatively, you can also opt for this highly-rated tour that includes skip-the-line tickets . Yes, it costs a bit more, but if you want to get the most out of your day in Milan, then it’s definitely worth it.

Must-see! Whether you visit the cathedral itself or not, make sure not to miss  Duomo’s Terraces . With its 135 towers and spires and over 2000 decorative marble statues, the rooftops of Duomo are a sight to behold.

The views from the top are amazing: not only do you have Piazza del Duomo and the whole of Milan under your feet, but you can even see the mountains in the distance. But the most impressive sight is the close-up of the towers of the cathedral that you can explore via a system of interconnecting stairways on the roof.

There are two ways to get to the rooftops of Duomo – by staircase or by elevator. You can get the tickets for either of the two options here . The price difference isn’t big and the elevator will save you some time and energy. We took the elevator.

TIP:   Beat the crowds and visit Piazza del Duomo first thing in the morning . It’s also the only time to get some pictures of the cathedral without the crowds. The terraces are open from 9 AM every day. In November, we could just go in without any queue. However, it is much busier in the high season, so make sure to book your tickets in advance and arrive really early . I’d say no later than 7.30-8 AM so that you also have some time to walk around the Duomo square as well as Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II before the groups flood the place.

Insider tip: One of the nicest views of the Duomo can be found on the 7th floor of La Rinascente shopping center. There are several restaurants and cafes here, and you can enjoy a meal or a quick coffee with Duomo rooftops as the most magnificent backdrop.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II , Italy’s oldest and probably the most exquisite shopping mall, is a major landmark you have to tick off your list when visiting Milan. The impressive 19th-century glass-topped gallery has always been a place to see and to be seen, the meeting point for the Milanese bourgeoisie.

Inside you’ll find several cafes and restaurants, some as old as the gallery itself. As you drink your morning coffee at Biffi or Savini, try to let it sink in that these restaurants have been here since 1867 – more than 150 years. Who knows, maybe you’re sitting at the same table as Verdi, Puccini, Charlie Chaplin or Frank Sinatra…

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a busy shopping arcade where you’ll also find some of the most expensive fashion boutiques of the world. Brands like Louis Vuitton or Prada have their flagship stores here, all with the same elegant black billboards and golden letters – obligatory uniform standard for any business in this gallery.

However, unless you just won the lottery, I’d leave the pleasures of shopping for another time. Also, you don’t want to waste too much time if you have just a day in Milan. Instead, admire the beautiful building, stunning detailed mosaics on the floors, and maybe have some tea or coffee – just to be able to see one of the historic restaurants.

TIP: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is just next to the Duomo and doesn’t require more than 5-10min of your time. So if you can try to visit the gallery before you head to the Duomo and the Terraces. In the morning you can have the whole gallery to yourself, whereas during the day you’ll have to squeeze your way between the tour guides with their umbrellas, inevitable selfie sticks, and impatient locals trying to make their way through the crowds…

Insider tip: Since recently, it’s also possible to visit the rooftops of Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle. However, based on the reviews, I think it’s ok to skip it if you only have one day in Milan.

La Scala Opera

As you walk from Piazza del Duomo all the way to the northern end of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, you’ll arrive at the smaller town square, Piazza della Scala . This square with the statue of Leonardo da Vinci in the middle is a bit underwhelming, especially compared to the beautiful places you just came from. The main reason to be here is Teatro all Scala.

Dating back to 1778, Teatro alla Scala , aka the ‘Temple of Opera’, is one of the most famous theatres in the world. It may not look like much on the outside, but its interior is very impressive; its history – even more. Some of the most famous operas and composers are linked to La Scala, including Gioachino Rossini and Giuseppe Verdi to name just a few.

I’m not really sure what to recommend to you in terms of visiting La Scala, especially if you only have a day in Milan. There were rehearsals on the day when we visited, so we could only see a part of the theatre, watch the stage from a small balcony through a glass window, and visit the tiny La Scala museum.

Due to rehearsals, no pictures were allowed inside the theatre. It was interesting and another box ticked, but at the same time, it was a bit disappointing not to be able to visit the theatre properly and see it in all its glory.

There are official guided tours of the theatre and the museum on some afternoons. By that time there are no rehearsals and you can actually admire the theatre. So if La Scala is on your bucket list, you may have to plan your day in Milan differently and make sure it works for your itinerary (more information and tickets here ). In that case, make sure to book in advance as La Scala is one of the most popular places to visit in Milan.

It is also possible to visit La Scala with an organized tour with a local guide: at 1 pm or at 2.30 pm . There are also tours that visit several landmarks in Milan including the theater, e.g. this tour visits the Duomo and La Scala .

Insider tip:  If you have just one day and don’t want to adjust your whole Milan itinerary just to be able to see La Scala, you can also try to get tickets for the opera itself (you can find the opera calendar here ). Seeing an opera at La Scala must be one of the most amazing experiences you can have in Milan!

Brera & Braidense National Library

One of the nicest neighborhoods in central Milan, Brera used to be an artsy, bohemian district. Nowadays it’s a more upscale part of town with a good mix of history, modern design, fashion, countless shopping, and dining options.

With lively cafes and restaurants, Brera comes to life in the evening. But if you want to see and do everything I recommend in this one day Milan itinerary, you’ll likely find yourself in Brera around noon.

With a variety of restaurants, you will have no difficulties finding a good place for lunch in Brera. Alternatively, wait just a bit longer – I have a really nice recommendation for lunch a bit further down the road.

Not to be missed is the Brera Academy which shares the same building with Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan’s largest museum of art, astronomical observatory, and  Braidense National Library .

Insider tip:  If you have just one day in Milan, you won’t have much time for the museum, observatory, or the adjacent botanical gardens, however a visit to Braidense library doesn’t require more than a few minutes, so don’t miss it. This 18th-century library is one of the most beautiful libraries in Italy, a real hidden gem in Milan.

The library is open daily except on Sundays (more info here ) and the entrance is free. Keep in mind that as a visitor you can only see the main room and you are not allowed to take close-up pictures of the books.

After visiting the library, stroll the streets of Brera in the direction of Sempione Park, your next destination not to be missed in Milan. On the way, pass Piazza Carmine with the 15th century Santa Maria del Carmine Church.

Sforzesco Castle & Sempione Park

Castello Sforzesco is a huge castle built on the remains of a 14th-century fortification. To tell you the truth, I never even heard of this castle before my visit to Milan, yet it’s a very impressive citadel, and definitely worth a visit.

Sforzesco castle now houses several art museums and another beautiful library. However, you would need at least half a day to visit even a small part of it. If you want to visit inside, you can find more information and book your ticket here .

Even if you only have one day in Milan, you can stroll through the grounds of the castle, admire the beautiful fountain, Fontana di Piazza Castello , and maybe even venture to the adjacent Sempione park.

One of the main landmarks of the park is Arco della Pace, Arch of Peace. It looks very much like Arc de Triomphe in Paris. So if you have the time, you can walk to it. Alternatively, take your time to explore the grounds of the castle a bit more.

Insider tip: Have lunch with a view at  Triennale Design Cafe . It’s located on the top floor of the modern Italian design museum  La Triennale di Milano . You won’t find many tourists here, the food is really good, and the views are well worth a short walk from Castello Sforzesco.

The Last Supper or…

At this point, you have seen the main highlights of the old city, so it’s  time to decide where you want to spend the remaining half a day in Milan!

If you rather stick to the traditional landmarks of Milan, you could now head to Cenacolo Vinciano, where you can see one of the most famous paintings in the world, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci . However, don’t expect to just arrive there and see the painting – the tickets are sold out months and months in advance. You can check availability for your travel dates here .

Alternatively, book one of the guided tours that include skip-the-line tickets for Leonardo’s The Last Supper . The organizing companies pre-book tickets in advance and therefore have much more availability even on short notice.

TIP: Take a look if there is any availability for this great and highly-rated 3-hr Milan walking tour with a local . It includes the Duomo Rooftop visit and the Last Supper tickets. If you have just one day in Milan, this tour is a great way to get to learn more about the city with a local guide. We love tours with TakeWalks and try to do at least one in every city we visit. They are always amazing and always offer something unique. The only problem is that their Last Supper tour only runs a few times a week, so it might not always fit into your itinerary… In that case, see if you can do one of their tours in other cities in Italy – highly recommended!

Afterwards, you can continue with the last step of my suggested Milan one day itinerary and visit Milan Canals (see below). If you still rather stick to the old town, you can visit one more museum (pick one from all the places mentioned above) or visit a really special church.

In that case, I recommend San Bernardino alle Ossa , best known for its bone chapel. In fact, if you want to visit this chapel, you should probably go there right after you visit the Duomo – it’s in the same area and will save you quite some walking.

… or Porta Nuova District

If you want to get to know different facets of Milan, I recommend that you spend the afternoon far from the main tourist areas. I loved seeing this other side of Milan! It was such an eye-opening experience that made me realize how little I knew of this fascinating city and how diverse it actually is. There is so much more to Milan than the Duomo and the old town. Read on!

Porta Nuova district is a brand new upcoming area in Milan. If you feel fit enough you can get there on foot, walking via Sempione Park (1,5-2km, 20-30min walk from Sforzesco Castle). Alternatively, take a metro to Garibaldi FS station.

If you walk, you’ll pass Porta Garibaldi and walk Corso Como – a nice fashionable area with shops, bars, and restaurants. 10 Corso Como Café is apparently one of the most sought-after restaurants in Milan, but based on the reviews and the prices I’m not sure I’d recommend eating there. Maybe just stop for a drink or a quick look inside. It’s a really nice place, one of those tiny hidden gems of Milan that you would just pass without noticing, so take a look inside the hidden passage leading towards the restaurant.

Just a few blocks further you’ll come to Piazza Gae Aulenti . It’s a new modern area surrounded by glass skyscrapers and some stunning samples of modern architecture.

It’s really hard to believe that this is the same Milan you visited just an hour ago! It feels as if you’re in some huge city in Asia or in the Middle East… In fact, Milan Unicredit Tower was designed by César Pelli, the same architect who built the famous Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and many other famous skyscrapers all over the world.

Take a walk through this new modern district of Milan. There are so many fine pieces of modern architecture!

One of the new landmarks of Milan, Stefano Boeri’s Bosco Verticale , won several awards including the  International Highrise Award (2014) and the Best Tall Building Worldwide (2015). The so-called Vertical Forest is a very innovative type of sustainable residential buildings that will impress even if you know nothing about modern architecture.

The whole Porta Nuova district is really unique and well worth seeing, even if you only have one day in Milan. This is a very different part of the city than the old center. But it gives you a much better image of what Milan is truly about.

City Life Area

Another brand new place to be in Milan is the City Life  residential area. With a new shopping center, cinema, restaurants, kids’ playgrounds, and lots of residential buildings this is probably more a place for the locals or those who are staying in Milan for a few days.

We managed to squeeze a short visit here during our day in Milan, but if you are running out of time, you can probably skip this area. On the other hand, it’s here that you find local modern Milan at its best…

The main highlight for me was the colorful modern sculpture by Pascale Marthine Tayou. It’s called Coloris and is located just near the Tre Torri area. If you like modern art and unusual places, then you may want to check it out.

To get here, you have to take a metro to Tre Torri station.

Navigli – Canals of Milan

Did you know that Milan has canals?! I had no idea!

The Navigli neighborhood, famous for the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals is one of the areas you really have to see in Milan, even if visiting for just a day. It has such a nice vibe and is probably my favorite of all the places that we visited in Milan.

We kept the best for last and visited Milan Canals in the evening. With picturesque canals surrounded by colorful buildings, lots of restaurants and bars, as well as small boutiques and art stores, Navigli is bound to become one of the main attractions in Milan. The whole area has a very cozy local feel and it’s a great lively place to be no matter the season.

Stroll along the canals, explore them by boat, get a drink at one of the many outdoor terraces, or have dinner at one of the local restaurants… Dinner suggestion – try risotto alla Milanese con midollo – a traditional local dish in Lombardy region.

Navigli is a wonderful place to end your day in Milan and fall in love with the city. It will leave you wondering why you came to Milan for just one day and planning another trip very soon…

READ ALSO: Traditional Food of Lombardy

One day in Milan – itinerary

Here is my suggested one day Milan itinerary in a nutshell . The times are just for your reference, based on our experience. We visited in November so it was much less busy than in summer. On the other hand, the days are much longer in summer, so long waiting times are offset by more daylight hours, allowing you to see and do just as much.

Here’s our suggested Milan one day itinerary:

• 7 am. Start with a cup of coffee and a croissant at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery or one of the local cafes in central Milan.
• From there it’s just a short walk to Plazza del Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – explore both before the crowds come in.
• 9 am. Visit Duomo Terraces and potentially also the Cathedral itself (get the tickets for the terraces or for the Cathedral + terraces in advance and note that in high season you may need to stand in line well before it opens).
• Time for another coffee – try one of the historic cafés in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
• 10.30 am. A quick visit to La Scala .
• Brera & Braidense National Library .
• Stroll through the grounds of Sforzesco castle .
• 12.30 pm. Lunch at Triennale Design Cafe (alternatively have lunch in Brera before heading to Sforzesco castle).
• 2 pm. Head to Porta Nuova district OR go and see Leonardo’s The Last Supper ( pre-booking is mandatory!). We took a metro to Porta Nuova, but the walk isn’t far either.
• City Life area (not a must if you are short on time).
• 4-5 pm.  Navigli – Canals of Milan. You’ll need to take a metro to get here. This is a nice area to have dinner as well.

Below, you can find a map of this 1-day Milan itinerary and practical tips for your visit. Read on!

Walking map

The old city center of Milan is not very big, so you can see and do quite a lot in one day. On the other hand, some great neighborhoods are a bit further away, off the beaten tourist tracks.

The good news is that Milan’s public transport network is cheap, easy, and efficient, so it makes it possible to venture out a bit outside the main tourist areas and see different facets of the city, even if you only have one day in Milan.

To help you plan your day in Milan, I created this map with a suggested walking route to give you a better idea of where all these places are located and how to best plan your time.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Where to stay

If you can, stay close to the city center , but more importantly close to a metro station. I recommend staying for at least 2 nights, so you have one full day to see the best of Milan.

Keep in mind that accommodation in Milan is very expensive (and not just by Italy’s standards). So the sooner you book, the more choice you have, and the better the price you pay.

Here are some of the most popular hotels in the center for different budgets:

• €€€€€+ NH Collection Milano President
• €€€€€ Room Mate Giulia
• €€€€ The Corner Duomo
• €€€ Worldhotel Cristoforo Colombo
• €€ WorldHotel Casati 18
• € Hotel Nettuno

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and accommodations in Milan. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!

Practical tips for visiting Milan

• Use public transport . The 24hr ticket cost us just 5 EUR and made it possible to explore so many different areas of Milan in a day.
• If you are arriving in Milan by plane, you should know that the airports are located quite far from the city center. Here you can book airport transfers from Malpensa airport , and here – Linate airport transfers .
• Milan is one of the busiest tourist destinations in Italy, so try to book all your tours and tickets in advance . It will save you lots of time and frustration. We personally use and recommend the Get Your Guide website for ticket/tour bookings because they have the best customer service and the most flexible cancelation policy.
• Pack  comfortable walking shoes  – you will be walking a lot.
• If you can, visit Milan in the lower season . It was lovely and not busy at all when we visited in November – perfect for sightseeing. Here you can find more information on what it’s like to visit Italy in November .
• Don’t just go to Milan for a day and leave without exploring the nearby lakes – you’d be missing so much. Lake Como is less than an hour by train and is a perfect day trip from Milan . Don’t miss Bellagio , Varenna , and Como town ! Also Lake Garda is less than 2hrs away from Milan. The lakes are well worth it to be included in any Italian itinerary; also charming and quiet if traveling off-season.

READ ALSO: Lake Como Travel Tips & Useful Info & Best Things to Do in Lake Como

One day in Milan is just enough to scratch the surface and get a taste of the city. I am confident that this suggested itinerary will help you get a good idea of what Milan is all about and will make you want to come back for a longer stay next time. We’re definitely going back for more!

As I’m updating this article, I have to add that we did in fact return to Milan to explore it further. Below, you can find our guide to all the top spots in the city. Check it out!

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Milan

Disclosure: I visited Milan with the Lombardy tourism board, but as always all opinions are my own. This is the most complete one day Milano itinerary you can find. It is 100% based on my personal experience visiting all the best places in Milan in one day, following the best recommendations by the locals.

More tips for your trip to Italy:

• Where to go: Best Places to See in Italy
• What to eat & where: Authentic Italian Food by Region
• Rome: Best Things to Do in Rome &  Tips for Visiting Rome & Where to Stay in Rome
• Venice: Best Things to Do in Venice & Tips for Venice Gondola & 1 Day Venice Itinerary
• Verona: Best Things to Do in Verona
• Tuscany:  Best Towns in Tuscany  &  Tuscany Itinerary
• Florence: Best Things to Do in Florence & Florence 1-day Itinerary
• Siena: Best Things to Do in Siena & Siena Cathedral
• Amalfi Coast:   Capri Island  &  Amalfi Coast Itinerary & Where to Stay on Amalfi Coast
• Naples: Best Things to Do in Naples & Best Day Trips from Naples & 1 Day in Naples
• Cinque Terre: One Day in Cinque Terre & Cinque Terre Travel Tips
• Off the beaten path:  Emilia Romagna & Trentino
• Bucket list: San Marino & Best Places in the Dolomites
• Hiking:   Best Hikes in the Dolomites & Val di Fumo
• … for more destinations and detailed guides, please see our Italy travel guide .

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

European cities – itinerary suggestions for the first visit:

• 1 day in Amsterdam
• 1 day in Barcelona
• 1 day in Paris
• 1 day in Madrid
• 1 day in Lisbon
• 1 day in Edinburgh
• 1 day in Glasgow
• 1 day in Manchester
• 1 day in Liverpool
• 1 day in Reykjavik
• 1 day in Rome
• 1 day in Salzburg
• 2 days in London
• 2 days in Rome
• 2 days in Amsterdam
• 2 days in Barcelona
• 2 days in Salzburg
• 2-3 days in Krakow
• 3 days in Amsterdam
• 4 days in Rome
• 4 days in Paris
• 4 days in Amsterdam
• … for more places, please see our  destinations guide .

READ ALSO: How to Plan a Perfect Trip to Europe

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Thursday 25th of May 2023

Hi Jurga, I'm travelling with a friend and we just found your blog in time for Milan. We decided to pay out for the Duomo, the Terraces, and Museum and were blown away - Excellent suggestion. Nothing else could top that. We followed several other suggestions and were not disappointed. Thanks for sharing your travels. Now I have to check your blog for Lyon and Paris.

Saturday 27th of May 2023

Glad to help, Helen. You can find quite some info about Paris on our blog, indeed, but not Lyon. I especially recommend that you check our 4-day Paris itinerary as it has a lot of useful info about so many amazing sites. Even if you have less (or more) time, you'll find plenty of tips that you can use. Have a great trip!

Sunday 14th of May 2023

Hello Jurga Thank you for all this info. We will be in Milan in late Sept this year we fly in in the afternoon and hope to go to lake como by train the next day. We would also like to travel to Cinque Terre before coming back to Milan for our last night. Very busy end of holiday trip do you think we can manage it in the short time (4 nights). Thanks again

Monday 15th of May 2023

Hi Vicki, I guess it is possible, but you will need to plan really well. Plus, you won't see much of each area, just a few of the highlights at best. Traveling by train from Milan to Lake Como is easy, but then Cinque Terre is completely the other way and - by train - it's 6-7 hours trip between the two. So you'll spend so much time traveling around and not much time sightseeing. Just an idea - if you absolutely want to see both areas. Stay in Milan so that you don't have to pack/unpack and change hotels. Explore some of the city on the day when you arrive and then take a day trip to Lake Como (with a tour or by train+boat) on one day and a day trip to Cinque Terre (with a tour to make the most of your day) on the next day. You'll probably see more that way and it will be a bit more relaxing. Otherwise, skip Cinque Terre and stay in Lake Como longer. Have a great trip!

Gayoung Lee

Thursday 28th of April 2022

Hi, Thank you so much for your information. I am going on the 10th of May. So, it is much help. After visiting here, I will share my experience.

Friday 29th of April 2022

Have a great time in Milan! And yes, feel free to come back to our blog after your trip and share how it went - it can help other readers too.

Monday 11th of January 2021

Thank you, Madam ! Milan - very sophisticated but very romantic too !

Thursday 14th of January 2021

Yes, indeed, Milan is a very unique city in Italy. Truly one of a kind.

Tuesday 28th of January 2020

Hi Jurga, Thanks for the great tips and recommendations. I'll be visitng Milan in March and hoping to go to all mentioned places. Just for clarification, is it better to go around with a guider or just go free and easy on my own?

Hi Asyraf, you don't really need a guide if you follow this itinerary. However, you should get the tickets for Duomo terraces in advance, but you don't need a guided tour if you don't want to. If you are planning to see 'The Last Supper' painting, then it's also essential to book in advance. IF you want a tour guide to show you around the most important places, check out this guided tour. It takes about 3 hours and covers all the main highlights. You can then afterwards explore the city further on your own. It's really up to you how to visit Milan and a lot depends on your interests, time, and budget. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

A first-time guide to Italy

Feb 28, 2024 • 8 min read

One of the best things to do in Italy? Spend time on the water (coast, lake or canal) © Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

With its iconic monuments, timeless landscapes and irresistible food,  Italy is one of Europe’s most alluring destinations. Its historic cities promise thrilling art and architecture at every turn while its varied coastlines and Alpine heights provide a stunning outdoor playground.

In fact, the country is so packed with possibilities that it can seem almost overwhelming. Where should I go? How do I get there? How much will it cost? This planning guide tackles these questions and provides clear practical advice on how to get the most out of your first Italian trip.

When should I go to Italy?

The short answer is anytime. Spring and fall are best for sightseeing , touring and seasonal food. It’s warm without being stifling and nature is in full color. But with the glorious blue-sky weather come crowds and high-season prices in the main cities.

Summer sees cities empty as holidaymakers head to the coast. Prices skyrocket in popular areas, peaking in mid-August when beaches are packed and resorts full. Meanwhile, the festival season swings into gear with high-profile events such as Il Palio di Siena, featuring a wild bareback horse race around Siena 's Piazza del Campo , and Spoleto’s Festival dei Due Mondi , with musicians, artists and actors performing to passionate throngs.

Winter is generally quiet – except in ski resorts – and it can be wet and cold. But low season rates and empty museums make it a decent option for a city break.

How much time do I need to visit Italy?

Realistically, you’ll need at least two or three days in top cities such as Rome , Florence and Venice . That won’t give you enough time to cover everything, but it will allow you to get a feel for the place and explore some of the headline attractions.

If you’re happy to move fast, you could cover Italy’s highlights on a whistle-stop 10-day tour. That would give you a couple of days each in Venice and Florence, a day in Bologna , Pisa and Naples , and three days in Rome. Alternatively, you could focus on a particular area. For example, with a week you could explore southern Tuscany and parts of neighboring Umbria , or cut a swathe through Sicily’s baroque southeast .

Is it easy to get in and around Italy?

Italy is well served by air with flights from across the world. Major airports include Rome Fiumicino (officially Leonardo da Vinci) and Milan Malpensa , the two main intercontinental gateways, Venice Marco Polo , Pisa International (for Florence and Tuscany), Naples International  and Catania (Sicily’s busiest airport). There are also excellent rail and bus links, especially to northern Italy, and ferries to Italian ports from across the Mediterranean.

Once in Italy, you've got transport options . Trains are best between major cities and along the coasts, while buses are better for the mountains and hilly inland areas. For more remote parts you’ll really need your own wheels. Most major cities have decent public transport, though you can often cover their historic centers on foot.

Top things to do in Italy

Tour rome’s greatest hits.

First port of call for many travelers is Rome, Italy’s charismatic capital. You’ll never be able to cover all of its monuments and masterpieces, but there are some you won’t want to miss. The Colosseum and Pantheon are obvious highlights, along with the Roman Forum and Palatino . Then there’s the Vatican where you’ll find St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel (in the Vatican Museums ). And, of course, you’ll want to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure you return to the Eternal City.

For a taste of authentic Roman cuisine, try a slice of pizza from Forno Roscioli or a pasta carbonara at Flavio al Velavevodetto in the Testaccio neighborhood.

Marvel at masterpieces in Florence

One and a half hours north of Rome by train, Florence is the second of Italy’s ‘big three’ (Venice completes the trio). Visitors have been rhapsodizing about the city for centuries and still today it thrills with its Renaissance palazzi (palaces), frescoed churches and artworks such as Michelangelo's David at the Galleria dell'Accademia , Botticelli’s Birth of Venus at the Galleria degli Uffizi , and Brunelleschi’s red dome atop the landmark Duomo . Art apart, there are markets and boutiques to explore and Negroni cocktails to be sampled, including at the historic Caffè Rivoire .

With more time, you could add a day-trip to Siena or a tour of the Chianti wine country .

Get lost in Venice’s backstreets

As soon as you set foot in Venice you know it’s special. And confusing. To get your bearings take vaporetto (water bus) No 1 along the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco where you’ll find several landmark sights. Chief among these are the Basilica di San Marco and the Gothic Palazzo Ducale , former residence of the ruling Doge. Elsewhere, you can catch modern art at the world-class Peggy Guggenheim Collection and browse colorful produce at the centuries-old Rialto Market .

To fuel your wanderings, Venice is famous for its cicchetti (bar snacks). A top spot for these is the canal-side Bracaro ae Bricoe bar in the Cannaregio sestiere (neighborhood).

Feast on pizza, art and street life in Naples

With Mt Vesuvius brooding on the horizon, Naples is sprawling, loud, sometimes edgy and often magnificent. Its Dickensian backstreets are a joy to explore and its regal palaces showcase world-class collections of Greco-Roman antiquities and baroque art – check out the Museo Nazionale Archeologico and Cappella Sansevero for a glimpse. Then, of course, there’s the city’s revered pizza, served at historic pizzerias such as Da Michele .

Beyond the city, Pompeii is an easy day trip and the Amalfi Coast is within striking distance via the sunny resort town of Sorrento .

Cruise the Italian Lakes

Ringed by brooding Alpine summits and steep wooded slopes, the Italian Lakes have been a popular holiday spot since ancient times. At Lake Maggiore , you can explore the Isole Borromee with their ornate palaces and lavish gardens, while further east you can go celeb-spotting on Lake Como , cruising around its exquisite villas and villages.

To reach the lakes you’ll often have to pass through Milan , Italy’s northern powerhouse. A day here would be enough to take in some of its signature sights: Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper , the fairy-tale Duomo , the Quadrilatero d’Oro shopping district.

My favorite thing to do in Italy

Italy’s obvious beauty and blockbuster sights abound, but what I love are its simple pleasures: a leisurely lunch in a favorite trattoria, the sight of pine trees towering over Roman ruins, a glass of prosecco on a Venetian canal-side.

I also love wandering around Rome and seeing how its life plays out against a backdrop of ancient monuments and historic palazzi . There’s always something going on and even without trying I usually come across something special, an amazing baroque fountain or a teeming market in a medieval square. The city’s streets really are an experience in themselves. I mean where else can you wait for a tram just yards from where Julius Caesar was stabbed?

How much money do I need for Italy?

Italy isn’t cheap. Accommodation rates vary enormously between places and seasons but prices are universally high in popular destinations. That said, you can still find deals if you book early and avoid peak periods. Sightseeing can also add up with top sites charging top dollar. On the plus side, eating out doesn’t have to cost the earth, especially if you stick to pizza and gelato.

Some average daily costs:

• Double room in an agriturismo (farm stay) €40-80
• B&B room €60-140
• Coffee (standing at a bar) €1.10
• Midrange meal €25-35
• Glass of wine €5-8
• Museum admission €10-20
• Public transport ticket (Rome) €1.50 for 100 minutes unlimited travel (but only one metro ride)
• High-speed train ticket Rome to Florence €55

Frequently asked questions

This is italy, so do i have to dress up all the time.

In a word, no. When sightseeing go for comfort, especially when it comes to shoes – you’ll be walking a lot and cobbled streets can be murder on the feet. Note also that major religious sights often enforce dress codes, so make sure you can cover your shoulders, torso and thighs. For going out in the evening, smart casual is the way to go.

What’s the score with tipping?

Tipping is not strictly necessary in restaurants as most places add servizio (service) to the bill. If they don’t or if you want to leave something, a few euros is fine in pizzerias and trattorias; 5% to 10% in smarter restaurants.

What’s this about not drinking a cappuccino after 11am?

Italy has a whole (unwritten) rule book on the dos and don’ts of drinking. As a foreign visitor you’ll get a pass if you order the wrong drink at the wrong time, but it helps to know that Italians regard cappuccinos as breakfast drinks, call an espresso un caffè , and drink beer with pizza.

What’s the card vs cash situation?

Businesses are legally obliged to accept digital payments but it’s always best to have some cash on you. You probably won’t have any problems but it’s not unheard of for payment machines to be mysteriously broken in smaller bars, shops, museums or restaurants. Major credit cards are widely accepted (Amex less so).

This article was first published May 24, 2019 and updated Feb 28, 2024.

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Here are some tips on how to manage high temperatures when traveling in a heat zone.

Check government guidance

If a heat wave has been forecast at your destination, check government websites before embarking on your trip to give yourself plenty of time to plan and adapt. In extreme temperatures, governments often issue heat advisories warning people to stay indoors during peak heat hours and provide resources to help residents and visitors stay cool. In the United States, the National Integrated Heat Health Information System has a website with information and tools to help prevent illness and death during excessive heat.

Tourist attractions also provide important updates about the conditions at the sights, including any scheduled closures, as a precaution against high temperatures. Some cities grappling with intensive heat, like Los Angeles, Miami, Athens and Melbourne, have assigned chief heat officers to prepare for the heat waves and lead emergency responses.

Avoid peak sun hours

It may seem obvious, but staying outdoors for prolonged periods of time when the sun is at its peak can put many at risk of heat exhaustion. Even if the temperature does not read exceptionally high, excessive dry heat or humidity can make an environment feel hotter than it is.

Travel advisers are adapting itineraries, putting sightseeing in the cooler early morning and evening hours and prebooking tickets for their clients so they do not have to wait in long lines.

“We tend to do activities and tours in the morning, then stop for lunch, and in the mid- to late afternoon you either go back to the hotel to sit by the pool or go to the beach,” said Gary Portuesi, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe.

Hiking in the middle of the day is also not advised. On June 5, Dr. Michael Mosley, a British medical journalist, died during an afternoon hike in a 104-degree heat wave on the Greek Island of Symi. Four more tourists, including an American man , have recently died in Greece as temperatures have continued to soar.

“I would always recommend going hiking with a certified local guide and under no circumstances alone,” said Franziska Basso, a Milan-based travel adviser for Dreamsteam Exclusive Travel . “Of course, avoid the hottest hours of the day. Go hiking very early in the morning. And always stick to official hiking trails.”

In some European cities, including Paris and London, air conditioning is not a given, so check if it is available before booking a hotel, restaurant or transportation to ensure you have a cool place to find respite from the scorching heat. Visiting a museum or other indoor sightseeing is another good option, but expect crowds at peak hours.

Stay hydrated and take a siesta

Dehydration and heatstroke are among the most common causes of hospitalization during heat waves and can be prevented by staying hydrated and limiting alcohol consumption. During meals, consider eating foods like melons, cucumbers and celery as it can help to sustain hydration throughout the day. Always carry a water bottle with you and consider a parasol and portable fan to help keep you cool and shaded when outdoors.

While your itinerary may be packed with activities and tours, the heat can take a toll on stamina, so consider following the European siesta ritual by breaking up your day with a short nap.

“I’m telling my clients to adapt their itineraries and take advantage of the after-lunch siesta and then push their tours to later in the day when it’s cooler,” said Sarah Johnson, who owns Paper Ink & Passports Travel, a luxury travel company based in Pennsylvania. “There’s a reason they’ve been doing it in Spain and Italy for generations. Walking around in the midday heat and waiting in line could really hurt some people.”

Wear cool clothing

The National Weather Service recommends lightweight, loosefitting, light-colored clothing for outdoor use as it reflects heat and sunlight . Hats and sunscreen are also recommended to protect the face and scalp from harmful UV rays.

Just because it’s hot, doesn’t mean it will be dry. Heat waves can bring torrential rainfall, so be prepared.

“My biggest advice to travelers is to be prepared — for hot or cold, dry or wet weather since one never knows,” said Laurel Brunvoll, the owner of Unforgettable Trips , a Maryland-based travel agency. “Pack layers.”

Book a flexible trip

Even after taking all the right precautions, traveling in a heat wave can be miserable, making it worthwhile to make flexible bookings and purchase “cancel for any reason” travel insurance to have the option to postpone your trip to a cooler time.

Sensible Weather, a Los Angeles-based start-up that provides a weather guarantee for vacations and outdoor experiences, has recently added high heat protection to its coverage. Travelers booking through a Sensible partner in the United States will be able to add daily protection that will allow them to claim reimbursement for a booking if the temperature exceeds a threshold that is usually set between 90 and 100 degrees.

“Our customers can still go on their vacations, but if it’s too hot for some hours of the day and unpleasant to go outside, you can hang out in the air-conditioning and we will reimburse you,” said Nick Cavanaugh, the company’s founder, who was developing the product while caught in a heat wave in Barcelona last year. Those on package tours are reimbursed for the average daily rate of their entire trip for each day that surpassed the heat threshold.

For more travel advice, visit our collection of Travel 101 tips and hacks.

Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu