Top 20 Milan Attractions – What to do in Milan Italy

Milan, the largest city in northern Italy, dates back to 590 BC. Unsurprisingly then, it is full of attractions and things to do. From some of the most famous pieces of artwork in the world, to food that is so perfect it is a craft in and of itself, from rooftops to crypts, and from brand new designer items to vintage throwbacks, there is a lot you won’t want to miss on your trip to Milan.

Here are 20 things to do in Milan and all of the tips and tricks you need to navigate these attractions smoothly. 

If you’d like more help putting together you Milan itinerary, reach out, let’s work on it together! 

Top Things to do in Milan

Visit the Duomo

The Duomo is Milan’s iconic cathedral. There is absolutely no visit to Milan that would be complete without a visit to the Duomo.

From the exterior — completed with pink marble and with a total of 135 spires — to the grand chapel interior which has 40 marble columns, each eight stories high, the Duomo is a sight to behold.

I have a complete post on all of my tips and tricks for a smooth visit to the Duomo Milan.

I definitely recommend going inside and also heading up to the rooftop. You can also visit the Duomo museum, the crypt, as well as an archaeological area. 

Go Shopping

Milan is considered to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, and it is the absolute fashion capital of Italy. So needless to say there are few better places to go shopping. And even if you don’t intend to buy anything, window shopping, or even just cruising the shopping streets and admiring the well-dressed high spenders can be a great way to spend a day in Milan.

Quadrilatero della Moda for luxury

Believe you me, I couldn’t afford to go home with a single item from this neighborhood, I’m not even sure I could afford to step foot into any of the shops here. But I can, and I did, do plenty of window shopping. 

From Tiffany to Valentino to Celine, the luxury designer names just keep coming. Each of them has a sparkling window display every day of the year. They are almost all manned by a doorman who may or may not allow access without an appointment. 

Parked outside are plenty of porsches and ferraris and walking the street are perfectly coiffed Milanese and foreigners alike. 

This is the Milan of magazines. 

All over for vintage

Milan is dotted with some of the most amazing vintage shops. Of course, all of the high rollers have to get rid of their designer finds eventually. This means that second hand in Milan can be very pricey. Some of the vintage shops around the city are more like fashion galleries, with archive designer pieces priced in the hundreds, if not thousands. But you can also find more down to earth shops with prices more befitting of the average tourist.

Here are a few of the best vintage shops around Milan:

• Foto Veneta Ottica – Via Torino, 57 – for vintage eyeglasses
• Humana – various locations – a charity shop chain all around Europe
• negozio dell’usato jieyiju Italy – Viale Montello, 18 – good for antiquing
• Cavalli e Nastri Brera – Via Brera, 2 – in case you’re looking for archive Valentino

I have a few other great vintage shops listed in my itinerary for what to do in Milan for two days.

Peck for food souvenirs

Via Spadari, 9

As I get older I find myself more and more wanting to take home food as souvenirs. This could be tea, a fancy honey, or a delicious olive oil. Since I live in the EU, from Italy I can also bring back cured meats, or even cheese if I get the travel timing right.

If you feel similarly, you can’t miss Peck. They have everything from teas and coffees to fresh pastas. They make customized gift baskets, or you can pick something up just to enjoy during your two or three days in Milan. 

Explore Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Even if you completely skipped over my last suggestion because you’re totally uninterested in shopping, you still need to stop by the most beautiful mall in Milan. The experience here is less about shopping and much more about the gorgeous architecture, light, and design of these covered galleries. 

Simply walk through, take a moment to look around and look up. Watch the sunlight bounce around the mosaiced floor and along the lamp lit store fronts.

Two places worth scoping out are the bar Camparino in Galleria which is where Campari was invented. And the Prada store — the one in the gallery was the first ever opened (it was inaugurated in 1913).

Walk around Brera

Just to the north of the center of Milan, and everything we’ve explored so far on this list of 21 things to do in Milan, is the Brera district. While the city center is very touristy and commercial, this area is a bit more artsy and cute. 

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from here, but if you fancy a pizza while you’re in the area, check out Da Zero. 

Notable spots in the neighborhood include Chiesa del Carmine, a 15th-century Catholic church, Pinacoteca di Brera — once a palace used by Napoleon, now an art gallery, and the Brera Botanical Garden. 

Pop into Theatre La Scala

I was lucky enough to receive a free ticket to a dress rehearsal of a ballet at La Scala theater — if you want to know how, I told the story in my post on the perfect two day Milan itinerary. But I am so glad that I got the opportunity. The show was phenomenal — rehearsal though it may have been, and the inside of the theater is breathtaking. I can’t recommend going inside strongly enough.

Tickets are available to purchase through the theater website, the farther in advance you can buy them, the more affordable they will be. There are often last minute seats available, but they are almost always the more expensive ones. There are ballets as well as operas, symphonies, events for kids, and more. 

I sat in the front row of the top balcony and it was a great spot. While you are far from the stage, you get the full experience of being able to see the entirety of the theatre along with the amazing performers. 

If you’re not interested in a show, or if the timing or pricing doesn’t work out, you can also get access to the inside of the theatre on a guided tour. 

Try some Milanese dishes

Can you know a place without knowing its food? I think not. Food is history and culture, it is past and present, it is family and friends, it is the life blood of a place — and perhaps that is true nowhere more than in Italy. 

While there are the Italian classics we all think of — pasta, pizza, gelato — and those are certainly great dishes to enjoy during your time in Milan, the Milanese also have their own regional specialties. Here are a few to try.

Risotto alla Milanese

I am such a fan of risotto, and this dish is certainly no different. The base is made with white wine but the star of the dish is the saffron. There is much lore around the invention of the dish — all having to do with a 16th-century wedding and a painter who liked to add saffron to his paints to brighten them. Ask a local Milanese about their theory on how the dish came to be. Typically, this is a side dish, or even a starter. Since it does not have meat, this is a great option for vegetarians to enjoy Milanese cuisine. 

Where to try it: Nerino Dieci Trattoria, Via Nerino, 10

Cotoletta alla Milanese

Also known as Veal Milanese — this dish is a veal rib chop, breaded and fried in butter. While many other countries have taken the dish and substituted the meat out for chicken, this is absolutely not the traditional way. If you want the true Cotoletta alla Milanese it must be with that veal rib chop.

Where to try it: Al Cantinone, Via Agnello, 19

Minestrone Milanese

This is another great option of a Milanese dish suitable for vegetarians. Minestrone Milanese is chock full of vegetables, herbs, beans, and rice. What sets the Milanese version apart from traditional minestrone is its lack of tomatoes. It is also common that other versions use pasta, while this one uses rice. 

While you might think of this as a hot dish, and therefore more suitable to winter meals, it can also be eaten at room temperature during summer. 

Where to try it: Trattoria Milanese dal 1997| Famiglia Mita, Via Carlo Ilarione Petitti, 11

Admire the Last Supper

Speaking of food, you can find one of the most famous meals of all time, suspended for eternity, here in Milan. One of da Vinci’s most famous pieces — the Last Supper — can be seen at Cenacolo Vinciano Museum and getting a chance to see it with your own eyes is certainly one of the top things to do in Milan. 

Tickets are not easy to come by though, and you need to plan your visit out well in advance. Tickets go on sale quarterly. For example, as I write this, the next set of tickets will go on sale in March for all entries in May, June, and July. However, in addition to these advance sales, a group of tickets go on sale each Wednesday for the following week. It’s important to note that all entries need a ticket. Kids under 18 have free access, but their free ticket must still be booked (and they only get free access if they visit with a full fare adult — which is €15). All tickets can be booked online.

There are a total of 215 admissions per day and all of them are timed. You must arrive at the museum at least 30 minutes before your entry time. If you are late you will likely be refused access. 

You can also opt for a visit to the museum with a guided tour — this can also be booked online. 

Check out San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

Nicknamed “The Sistine Chapel of Milan”, some consider this 16th-century Renaissance church to be more beautiful than the nearby Duomo. From outside, that is certainly not true, in fact this church is nothing special to look at on approach, but just wait until you get inside. 

Once over the threshold you will see a spectacular display of color on every surface — mosaics along the walls and ceilings, stained glass windows reflecting light, and a massive organ which dates as far back as the church.

A visit to the Church of San Maurizio is one of the great free things to do in Milan. Entry is monitored though, and only 40 people can be inside at once, so if the space is full you will have to wait a few minutes. 

Tour Castello Sforzesco

The Sforzesco Castle in the middle of Milan is from the 14th century but is has been expanded, renovated, and remodeled over the centuries. 

Entry to the castle and all of the castle museums is €5. While the structure is still very much a castle, the purpose has of course evolved, with such protection no longer necessary. So now you will see the space full with arts and culture in the form of events and several museums. There is an archeological museum, a museum of musical instruments, an art gallery, and an Egyptian museum, just to name a few. 

You can also see restored fresco work by da Vinci. 

I also recommend visiting the castle at night, even if you don’t enter, it’s stunning to see from the outside as its facade is lit up by hundreds of LED lights. 

Chill out in Sempione Park

Located behind the castle, some time in Sempione Park is an excellent break from the city and a great chance to run around if you’re visiting Milan with kids. There are plenty of green spaces and benches to hang out on. There is also a large pond with loads of tortoises, ducks, birds, and more. 

However, the park has unfortunately become a pick pocket hotspot. So be very careful of anyone approaching you. Don’t engage in conversations, don’t let them take your pictures, definitely don’t take our your wallet to buy any little trinkets, etc. Just be wise to anyone around you even as you enjoy the sunshine!

Visit the Museum of Milan and of Modern History

This is one of Milan’s hidden gems — it’s one of the best things to do in Milan totally for free. Tucked away right in the middle of the city, you’ll enter through a gorgeous enclosed courtyard before going up a set of wide stairs. There are numerous rooms showing off artwork, details of the city’s history, frescoed ceilings, and more. 

During my visit to the museum there was hardly anyone else there. This is a great escape from the crowds while still being an opportunity to engage with the culture and history of Milan. 

Freshen up at Art & Parfums Milano

I put this shop separate from my list of places to go shopping because it is almost more of an art gallery than a simple perfume shop. This is true in both that the space is stunning and the products being sold are works of art. 

With vaulted ceilings, marble columns, and frescoes running up the walls, simply stepping into Art & Parfums Milano is worth it. And don’t worry about not buying anything, the shop attendants are very welcoming and happy to have you come in just to look. 

But if you do want to go home with a signature scent, they will help find the perfect one for you, or even craft a unique combination. 

Discover Milan’s secrets

I could go on and on about all of the great things to do in Milan, but the way to really discover a city is to get out there on your own. It’s fine to have the highlights — like reading through this list will give you — and it’s important not to miss out on the top attractions, but once you’ve completed your list of what to do in Milan for a day, it’s time to put it all away. 

Close the maps, stop scrolling through the Instagram hot spots, put this and every other Milan blog post away, go get lost. I have found the most wonderful places by listening to no one except the wind, my intuition, and that golden patch of sunshine that catches my eye. Go discover the secrets that Milan will show only to you. I promise it won’t let you down. 

Take a day trip

Milan is perfectly situated in the center of Northern Italy to act as a jumping off point for day trips. It also has great connections — with buses and trains that will get you to a number of smaller cities or countryside locations. Consider heading over to Bergamo which is an hour’s train ride to the east. There you can wander the old city and ride the funicular for fabulous views. 

Or you could even leave the country on a train ride that’s just over an hour to Lake Lugano in Switzerland. There you can enjoy lunch on the lake and walks around the small villages. 

Another fabulous Italian city is Bologna, which is to the southeast of Milan and can be reached on a one hour train ride. Bologna is full of lovely piazzas and and churches worth visiting.