Are you planning on visiting Milan for a day and wondering what to see and do in one day in Milan?
This itinerary will help you make the absolute most of your short visit to this Italian city!
About Milan
Milan is the wealthiest, most stylish Italian city where old-world romance meets urban steel.
Even though it may not be your first choice as a destination in Italy, you can visit this charming city for fashion, food, architecture, and art.
As the Italian capital of fashion and design, Milan never fails when setting trends. The streets of this northern Italian city boast beauty and offer a unique mix of historical and contemporary architecture, with the imposing Duomo Cathedral at the center of it. Wide avenues, picturesque cobblestone alleys, canal promenades, and high-tech developments intersect. You would need at least a week to explore the city’s incredible sights and hidden gems properly, but if you plan it right, one day in Milan could be a great start.
Please read our guide Why visit Milano, Itlay for ten reasons to visit Milan.
Getting to Milan
Whether arriving and departing the city by train or plane, you’ll likely be going through Milano Centrale Station. It’s one of the most beautiful train stations in the world!
If you’re flying, shuttle buses to Bergamo and Malpensa airports run every half hour from Milano Centrale, and several companies offer the service.
Pro tip: Buy your ticket on-site to avoid waiting for that specific company bus.
How to get around Milan
Even though Milan is a big city, most attractions are within walking distance (the best way to explore any city!).
However, you can quickly get public transport if you want to walk only a little.
Milan has an excellent public transport system. You can get an overground tram or bus for short distances and the underground train for longer distances, and it’s also very affordable at €2 per ride.
There are also plenty of taxis all over Milan, especially in the city center. They tend to be a bit pricey but will quickly take you everywhere you need to go.
You can also use e-scooters and e-bikes parked all over the city. Just download the app, grab a scooter, go wherever you need to and then drop it off at a designated location!
One more accessible way to get around the city and see all the main attractions is with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus. They also give you an audio guide to share interesting facts about Milan.
Best time to visit
The best months to visit Milan are May and September.
Milan has a continental climate, which means cold and grey winters and hot and humid summers. Sunshine is rare from October to February, so better pick the warmer months. Given the city’s location in the Po Valley, summers can be unbearably hot with no wind at all. Therefore, skip July and August if you cannot stand intense heat. Summers are also the most crowded with tourists.
Guided tours
If you are visiting Milan for just one day and want to make the most of your visit, consider a guided walking tour. GetYourGuide has plenty of options covering Milan’s must-see attractions.
Milan is one of the busiest tourist destinations in Italy, so try to book your tours and tickets in advance.
One day in Milan: the ultimate itinerary
If you prefer exploring new places on your own, follow this itinerary and have a tremendous one-day visit to Milan, Italy.
Milan is a city in northern Italy and the second-most populous city in the country. It is recognized as the world’s fashion and design capital, hosting Milan Fashion Week and Milan Furniture Fair. Besides that, it is an influential art, commerce, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media, research, and tourism center and one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. Milan houses many museums and art galleries that boast some of the most important artworks in history, including the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The two famous Italian football teams, A.C. Milan and Inter Milan compete at San Siro stadium.
Most Milan attractions are within walking distance and can be covered in one day, although you may not be able to tour each site.
Get coffee at Starbucks Reserve Roastery
The best way to start your day is with good coffee.
If you love coffee, it’s hard to beat a visit to a Starbucks Roastery. As soon as you step inside, you are overwhelmed by the smell of warm coffee.
Starbucks Roastery allows you to see the coffee be processed from a bag of raw beans to a cup. It’s a neat experience, especially if you are a coffee lover like us, and it is almost like a mini coffee amusement park.
The Milan Starbucks Roastery is gorgeous (the first one in Europe!) that is worth the stop if you are in Milan.
The Milan Roastery opens at 07:30 in the morning. It’s a perfect way to start your “One day in Milan” sightseeing.
Walk to the Piazza della Scala
The Piazza Della Scala is a short 7 min walk from the Starbucks Roastery. Here you can see the statue of Leonardo Da Vinci and also glance at Milan’s famous opera house, Teatro alla Scala.
Amongst all the beauty and luxury of Italy, the exterior of the opera is a bit plain. But the interior is exquisite! It first opened in 1778 and includes a museum where you can learn about the history of the building and countless famous artists who have performed there.
Visiting the Museum and The Theatre on a one-day Milan itinerary is impossible. However, check the details here on opening times and tickets.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
From the Piazza Della Scala, take the northern entrance to walk through Italy’s oldest shopping gallery, a breathtaking four-story arcade building with a cast iron and arched glass roof.
Take the time to explore and snap the beautiful building’s arched walkways. In the morning, you’ll have the whole gallery to yourself!
The gallery was built in 1877 and named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy.
The finest facade details, soaring iron-and-glass dome, and floor mosaics make it an incredible place to walk around. Find the bull mosaic in the center of the gallery to avoid bad luck in life, put your heel in the bull’s groin and turn backward three times.
The iconic Duomo
The path through the Galleria will take you to the Piazza del Duomo, where you can admire the iconic Duomo di Milan, Italy’s largest church.
Coming here early in the morning, you’ll enjoy admiring the cathedral’s imposing facade without massive crowds. The Duomo cathedral is one of the most impressive Gothic-style cathedrals in the world and highlights Milan’s attractions.
The best way to experience this 600-year-old icon is from the inside, specifically from the Duomo Terraces at the top. Reach the Terraces by stairs or elevator for a closeup look at impressive carvings and statues, including the golden ‘Madonnina,’ a symbol of the city that sits at the cathedral’s tallest point — and get spectacular views across Milan.
On a clear day, you’ll be able to see as far as the Alps, and a visit first thing in the morning means you’ll miss the crowds.
There are several visitor areas and different types of ticket options. Check details here. Opt for an audio guide as you explore the rest of the cathedral, discovering 27 halls of stained-glass windows, sculptures, and tapestries.
Museo del Novecento
Stop by the Museo del Novecento, located inside the Palazzo dell’Arengario in Piazza del Duomo. It hosts a collection of over four thousand works that catalyze the development of 20th-century Italian art.
The museum opens at 10:00, and it is closed on Mondays. Tickets are €5, and you can buy them online or at the museum. Check more details here.
Brunch at Terrazza Duomo 21
Take a break and have brunch at Terraza Duomo 21, the refined rooftop lounge, bar, and restaurant overlooking the Duomo.
The location is unique, with an exceptional view of the Duomo cathedral. It’s one of the best bars in Milan, located on the first floor of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, right next to the grand triumphal arch, which one passes through when leaving the Galleria for the cathedral square.
Explore Brera District
Brera is an artsy neighborhood and one of the trendy areas of Milan. It’s famous for its fashionable cafes and restaurants, cobblestone streets, and hip designer stores.
You can find plenty of lunch choices if you skip Terraza Duomo 21. Pick one of the restaurants or trattorias along the street and order one of the traditional Milanese specialties.
After, head to Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan’s well-known painting gallery. Its collection of works includes several of the greatest masterpieces in art history.
Explore Sforza Castle
Castello Sforzesco is the medieval castle that used to be the home of the Sforza family, the Dukes of Milan. Nowadays, the castle houses numerous museums and art collections.
However, since you’re limited by time, you can explore the castle’s grounds, since they are free of charge, and pass through the courtyard to the Parco Sempione, Milan’s biggest and most beautiful park.
Sempione Park and Arco della Pace
A 15-minute stroll brings you to the tranquil Sempione Park, a 100-acre public space perfect for an afternoon recharge. Buy some refreshments from the stalls and take some time to relax. A glance in any direction will give you a view of picturesque landmarks, like the Arch of Peace, the Torre Branca tower, and the Palace of Art. Plus, the entire park has free public WiFi.
Visit La Triennale
One of the most iconic museums in Milan is La Triennale di Milano, a design and art museum housed in Parco Sempione. The extensive permanent collection showcases the history of Italian design, but the museum never fails to impress with its ambitious temporary exhibitions.
Sunset stroll in Navigli
Located around the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals, Navigli is packed with trendy bars, restaurants, and cafes. Whether you’re into restaurant dining or want to eat delicious cheese and salami platter at La Prosciutteria Milano Navigli (this is a must-try!), you’ll find plenty of choices. If you opt for cocktails, there’s no better Italian classic than Aperol Spritz.
Bonus: See the world-famous Last Supper
The Last Supper is an artistic fixture of Milan, and it competes with the Mona Lisa as Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous masterpiece. The mural painting is housed in the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie, and much sought-after general admission tickets are hard to come by, so book a guided tour to ensure you get the chance to see this stunning work in person. The tour grants you 15 minutes to admire the intricacy and scale of the Renaissance artwork, which spans an entire wall in the refectory. After seeing the painting, you can spend some time exploring the 15th-century church, a UNESCO World Heritage Sight since 1980.
If this is a must-see on your one-day in Milan itinerary, plan your trip, as tickets are sold out months in advance.
Best day trips from Milan
Milan’s position in Western Lombardy puts it within easy rich of several tourist destinations.
Lake Como is an hour away, the Alps are so close that you can see them from the roof of the Duomo, and there are a few cities nearby with grand churches and cathedrals.
Because Milano is the rail hub of northern Italy, all of these places are easily accessible. High-speed trains can take you on a day trip to Venice or Cinque Terre.
This makes Milano the perfect base to explore, whether for day trips or continuing your travels.
Here is a list of 10 places for the best day trips from Milan, Italy.
