Milan, Italy – City Guide & Visit Recommendations

Milan, Italy’s second largest city and the capital city of the Lombardy region, was one of the last major places in Italy that I properly explored. When I finally gave myself enough time to understand it, I realised that Milan is far more than a business hub or fashion destination. This is an ancient city with deep Roman roots, major artistic treasures, world-class cultural institutions, and a distinct energy that sets it apart from other more-traditionally visited cities in Italy.

There is no single best answer as to where to stay in Milan, because it depends on your priorities and travel preferences. Some visitors want to be in the buzzing city centre near Piazza del Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Others may prefer a more local atmosphere in one neighbourhood slightly away from the busiest streets.

Other areas worth considering in my experience include the Navigli district and Brera neighborhood, but it might be that your trip to Milan would be improved by staying outside of the city altogether.

For a detailed overview of where to stay in Milan, featuring rundowns of the top parts of the city and options nearby the Lombard capital, take a look at my detailed guide here:

Milan is a big city, but the city centre and historic center are very manageable on foot. Many of the main sights in central Milano are within a short walk of one another (a maximum of 10-15 minutes apart), especially around Piazza del Duomo, the Royal Palace, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Teatro alla Scala, and the shopping streets around Corso Vittorio Emanuele II.

That said, other key locations, such as Milan Centrale train station in the north of the city, and the bar-lined canals in the south (pictured above), are between 30-45 minutes from the historic heart of the city making it necessary to utilise public transport or taxi.

Milan has one of the best urban transport systems in Italy. The metro lines are extensive, the trams reliable (and historic), and buses cover the wider metropolitan area. Together, they make public transportation in Milan relatively straightforward for visitors.

The metro is especially useful if you are travelling from one side of the city to the other, heading to Linate Airport, visiting San Siro Stadium, or reaching neighbourhoods further from the historic centre.

Tickets in Milan are integrated across the entire public transport network and are managed by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi). A standard ticket allows you to use the metro, trams and buses within the central zone for 90 minutes, making it easy to combine different forms of transport during a single journey.

Visitors staying longer can also purchase 24-hour, 48-hour or multi-day passes, which often offer better value if you expect to move around the city frequently.

Taxis are available but can be more useful for airport connections, late-night trips, or cross-city journeys that are less convenient by public transportation.

You’ll find taxi ranks at all the major points of interest in Milan, and Uber is active and reliable here. Personally I will generally take a taxi to get between my accommodation and Milano Centrale when visiting Milan. It makes the journey more comfortable and convenient than public transport after a day of travel. For a route between the Duomo/city center area and Milan centrale you can expect to pay between 15€-20€.

Many visitors underestimate Milan. It may not attract the same numbers as Rome, Florence or Naples, but that does not mean it lacks major attractions. In fact, Milan combines some of Italy’s most important artistic treasures with some of its strongest shopping, dining and contemporary culture.

If you only have limited time in Milan, I would focus on the city’s most important historic sights and cultural institutions first. Here are my top three sights to get you started:

Milan’s cathedral is the city’s defining monument. Set on Piazza del Duomo, it dominates the heart of the city and is one of the most impressive Gothic churches in Europe. Even those who have seen many churches in Italy often stop in their tracks here, including myself the first time I saw it.

Of course, you can admire this incredible structure and Italian architectural icon at any time of day and night by simply making your way to Piazza del Duomo.

However, anyone interested in history, architecture and/or religion, should take the time to visit the interior of the church as well as the Duomo’s terraces. That’s right, you can visit the roof of the Duomo and explore walkways designed to let you get up close and personal with Milan’s cathedral like few other monuments allow.

Back on the ground, and inside the Duomo, you’ll find architectural designs and elements just as intricate as the famous exterior, including huge stained glass windows – a rare feature in Italian cathedrals, and a legacy of this structures’ influence from French and northern European architects.

Beyond the terraces, my personal highlight of any visit to Milan’s Duomo is exploring the archeological area under the church, which contains the structure remains of the churches that stood on this site prior to the duomo’s construction, as well as a paleochristian baptismal font dating back to Milan’s Roman period.

To comfortably visit the Duomo interior fully, including the underground archeological site, and the breathtaking terraces you should allow 2-3 hours.

One practical note regarding the terraces; there is a lift/elevator part of the way up, but the upper levels are accessible only via stairs and ramps, which can make parts of the terraces inaccessible to those with mobility challenges.

Tickets can be purchased online via the official site and there are various combinations/packages available that also offer access to additional sites and museums (beyond the Duomo) such as the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, home to works by Raphael, Caravaggio and other famous artists.

Note that because this Milan’s main church and one of Italy’s most important religious locations, opening hours and access to the Duomo can vary around major holidays and for special events. Refer to the official website here for the latest information about opening hours.

Review the ticket options thoroughly to understand which option is best for you, or alternatively, booking a guided tour to learn about Milan’s Duomo from a local expert:

After the Duomo, Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the most important churches in Milan, but for many visitors it is primarily associated with Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Last Supper. Housed in the former refectory, this mural is one of the most famous works of art in the world.

The work was commissioned by Ludovico ‘The Bull’ Sforza at the end of the 1400s as part of renovations to the church and its refectory, and completed around 1498. Due to the experimental and innovative techniques used by Leonardo da Vinci to create this painting, it quickly started degrading, exacerbated by environmental conditions which were not optimal for the hosting of a delicate mural like the Last Supper.

Over the centuries, alterations to the art work have been made, as well as numerous restorations, the most recent completed in 1999. Unfortunately the mural continues to degrade, and it is only a matter of time before before it is lost forever. With this in mind, if you are on the fence about seeing the Last Supper, I recommend committing to a visit while it is still possible.

First and foremost, visit numbers are strictly controlled to preserve the art work, and booking in advance is essential. If seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper matters to you, you should plan ahead well before your trip. Tickets are released every two months for the coming two month period, via the official website.

On my most recent visit to Milan I failed to book when the official tickets became available, and instead had to get a last-minute tour via GetYourGuide – this is another option at any point, but is generally much more expensive than a regular entrance ticket.

Viewings of the Last Supper are limited to 15 minutes, so allowing time to visit the rest of the refectory and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie itself you should allow between 1 and 1.5 hours total.

Sforza Castle is one of the most important landmarks of Milan and a permanent, historical reminder of the city’s political power in the late medieval and Renaissance period when Milan really solidified its position as one of Italy’s key cities.

The current castle was built in the 15th century by the ruling Sforza family who expanded on an earlier fortification in the same location. Over the centuries the castle was expanded and at one time it was one of the largest citadels in Europe, a testament to the sometimes turbulent history of Milan.

The castle complex today contains several museums and large open areas, making it a flexible sight for different types of visitors from history lovers to families.

If you are short on time, you may simply want to see the exterior and combine it with a stroll through the adjoining Parco Sempione. If you have more time, the museums inside are worth visiting to better understand’s Milan’s fascinating history where you’ll find art collections, antiquity galleries and armouries.

Housing several museums, it would be easy to spend a whole day here, and possibly not see everything. However, none of the individual museums are particularly big, so depending on your interests, you should allow around an hour per museum that you visit. For a complete list of the museums and current exhibitions, as well to book tickets, visit the official website here.

If you are looking just to see the castle’s impressive structure from the outside you should allow around 30 minutes to an hour to walk around the walls and through the main courtyards. There is no cost to do this (or need to reserve access), making it a great a activity option for anyone visiting Milan on a budget.

To understand Milan completely, you need to recognise that the city’s identity is not limited to churches, history and art. This is also a design capital, a fashion capital, and a place where retail, architecture and lifestyle combine to make this city truely unique when compared to other major Italian cities.

Milan Fashion Week and Salone del Mobile reinforce that reputation internationally, but even outside those events the city projects a polished, design-aware image. If you enjoy fashion, architecture (modern as well as classic and historical) or simply observing city life, Milan rewards slow wandering through areas such as the Brera and Porta Nuova neighbourhoods.

For shopping specifically, Piazza del Duomo is the perfect starting place where you’ll find along its northern edge the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, home to stores of some of Italy’s most iconic brands, and just a few steps away, the Rinascente department store with its array of high-end clothing, homeware and food and drink produce.

Beyond the historic center you’ll find the city is crammed with boutique stores everywhere you go; Milan’s legacy as a center of commerce makes it Italy’s ultimate shoppers paradise, best explored on foot, punctuated with stops for coffee, spritzes and/or gelato.

Beyond the city, you’ll find two large designer outlets with top fashion and homeware brands which further boost this part of Italy’s appeal to shoppers; Scalo Milano Outlet (around 30 minutes drive from the center of Milan) and Designer Outlet Serravalle (around an hour’s drive). These outlets are best reached by car or booked as an experience.

Milan’s food and drink scene is just as strong as other parts of Italy more commonly associated with distinctive regional cuisines. Traditional Milanese and Lombard dishes tend to be hearty and indulgent, reflecting the region’s long history of prosperity. Butter, rice, slow-cooked meats and rich sauces feature heavily – quite different from the olive-oil-based cooking more typical of southern Italy.

For an introduction to Milanese and Lombard cuisine, be sure to try these classic dishes:

• Risotto alla Milanese – This famous saffron risotto is one of Milan’s signature dishes. Arborio rice is slowly cooked in broth and finished with butter and Parmesan, creating a creamy texture and distinctive golden colour from saffron.
• Cotoletta alla Milanese – A breaded veal cutlet, fried in butter until crisp on the outside and tender inside. Often compared to schnitzel, it is typically served simply with lemon or a light side.
• Ossobuco – A slow-braised veal shank cooked with vegetables, wine and broth. The dish is traditionally finished with gremolata – a mix of lemon zest, garlic and parsley – and is often served with risotto alla milanese.

Milan sits at the centre of one of Italy’s great wine regions, so finding a good glass or bottle is not difficult in the city centre. If you want a more authentic and local experience, make your way to Enoteca Sorriso DiVino, a small wine war in the Colonne neighbourhood. Booking is highly recommended, as this place is popular with locals, and you will understand why if you visit. The wine selection is excellent, with bottles from the surrounding region, across Italy, and even from further afield. It is not especially common for wine bars in Italy to offer non-Italian wines, aside from some French bottles.

The owner, Michial, also offers small plates designed to complement the wines on offer and, of course, you can always buy a bottle or two to take back to your accommodation.

If you’re limited for time and wanting to try as many things as possible, make your way to Mercato Centrale in Milano Centrale train station. This food hall features almost endless options for eating and drinking, and like the equivilant locations in Turin, Rome and Florence, there is a focus on promoting local specialities.

Building on the information about Milan and Lombard’s delicious cuisine I’d like to wrap up this guide with some further recommendations on where, and what to eat and drink in this city:

Unlike some other parts of Italy, Milan is not particularly known for offering anything especially distinctive for breakfast in traditional terms. The classic combination of pastry – most commonly referred to here as a brioche – coffee and juice is what you will see most locals enjoying in the morning.

Being a large city with many commuters, there are plenty of places everywhere to grab breakfast, and I have never had a bad experience. I would generally recommend simply going to the place closest to your accommodation, or wherever you are first headed in the morning, to keep things easy.

Beyond Osteria Papà Nicola near Milan Centrale which is a great lunch spot if you are transiting through that area. I can also recommended San Maurì near the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. This small but intimate bistro has a curated menu that changes according to the season, balancing traditional dishes with modern infusions. The interior is beautifully designed and makes for the perfect place to recharge on a big day of sightseeing and/or shopping.

I already mentioned Enoteca Sorriso DiVino in the previous section as somewhere away from the crowds where you can enjoy a good glass of wine with thoughtfully paired small dishes at aperitivo.

However, there is another spot in Milan that I would be remiss not to mention, as it is almost as iconic as the city’s architectural landmarks. For a true Milanese aperitivo, make your way to Camparino in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

This historic bar has been purveying Campari here since 1915, the famous bitter liqueur that was invented in Milan. If I am in Milan, there is a strong chance you will find me here enjoying a spritz or Negroni with a view of the Duomo just across from the bar. Admittedly I am biased, as Campari is my all-time favourite alcoholic drink, but given the bar’s history and its connection to Milanese culture, stopping here at least once should be on any visitor’s list.

For an authentic Milanese dinner and cozy setting make your way to the Brera neighbourhood where you’ll find Stendhal. This refined restaurant, just a few minutes from the Pineoteca Brera, offers the highest quality dishes and most extensive wine list I am yet to find in the city. The service is attentive and efficient, and where they are also open for lunch, it’s the perfect location for an indulgent Lombard meal.

Milan’s food and drink scene, while fundamentally Italian, is one of the most diverse in the whole country. In some cities and regions of Italy it can be very difficult to find good non-Italian food, but that is not the case here. The streets are full of international restaurants, and it is easy to find almost any cuisine from around the world in Milan.

Obviously I love Italian cuisine, but from time to time I enjoy something different. If that sounds like you, take a break from Italian food by heading to Bloomy 2 – 金源阁 for far Asian foods and/or Tyche for a taste of Greece and the Aegaen. Both are offer fantastic quality foods in friendly and efficient environments and make a welcome change.