Published: 2/23/2024

What To Do in Milan in Three Days

This 3 Day Milan itinerary whisks you through all the best attractions and experiences in the stately northern Italian city of Milan.

From world-renowned artwork (i.e. Da Vinci’s The Last Supper), one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, and a celebrated fashion and design scene, you’ll soon see why so many Europeans move to Milan. As Italy’s business center, you can also expect great public transportation and user-friendly systems. 

While there’s plenty of debate about whether Milan is even worth visiting, I can assure you from the very busy three days I spent in Milan in November 2023, you don’t want to miss Milan’s unique charm and culture. 

Many people try to cram all of Milan’s highlights into a 24-hour visit. But personally, I think three days is the perfect amount of time in Milan. However, if you only have 1 day in Milan, you can see all the highlights in 24 hours by following the first day of this three day itinerary. 

My 3 Day Milan itinerary gets you to all of Milan’s famous landmarks like the Duomo and La Scala Opera House. I’ve also included hidden gems (some hiding in plain sight!), favorite aperitivo spots, as well as some downtime so you can truly create the Milan trip of your dreams.

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What My Three Days in Milan Itinerary includes:

Day One: Milan Highlights

• Espresso
• Duomo Rooftop Tour
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Brera Design District
• Pinacoteca di Brera
• Brera Orto Botanica
• Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa
• Aperitivo at Ravizza
• La Scala Opera House

Day Two: Milan Beyond the City Center

• The Last Supper
• Starbucks Reserve Roastery
• Parco Sempione
• Arco della Pace
• Sforzesco Castle
• Navigli Canals

Day Three: Day Trip or Experience

• Day Trip to the Italian Lake District
  or
• Book a spa day
  or
• Explore some of Milan’s lesser known galleries and museums

What To Know About This Milan Itinerary

First, a bit of a disclaimer.

If you’ve happened on this itinerary when you’re already in Milan, you might feel frustrated. Milan doesn’t really lend itself to spontaneity; I think that’s a huge factor when folks don’t have a great experience in Milan.

So let me be crystal clear: to have the best time in Milan, you need to plan ahead. Most Milan attractions have limited access and some Milan must-see spots like The Last Supper have notoriously hard to get tickets.

If you have the luxury of several months to plan your Milan trip, here’s how to use that time to your advantage:

4.5 months in advance: Book La Scala tickets

3 months in advance: Start looking at the official website of The Last Supper Museum to see when tickets will go on sale for your travel dates. I booked our guided tour about two months ahead of our trip.

2 months in advance: Book lodging and other tours, like a Milan rooftop tour.

4-6 weeks in advance: Make dinner reservations if desired. Since we visited during the off-season, we didn’t make any restaurant reservations. With Milan’s ample aperitivo offerings, this worked out fine. However, we didn’t find mind-blowingly good food in Milan. That probably boils down to not planning ahead.

Things you don’t need to worry about booking in advance in Milan:
• Tickets for the Malpensa Express to get you from the airport to Milan’s centre
• Public transportation tickets, i.e. metro, tram

The Best 3 Day Milan Itinerary 

Day One in Milan: Milan Highlights

If you only have one day in Milan, you can follow this first day of my 3 Day itinerary for a perfect 24 hours in Milan. I packed all of the city’s best known highlights into today.

Here’s what’s on the docket for Day One in Milan: 

• Espresso
• Duomo Rooftop Tour
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Brera Design District
• Pinacoteca di Brera
• Brera Orto Botanica
• Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa
• Aperitivo at Ravizza
• La Scala Opera House

Espresso and cornetto

First things first: We have a busy day of Milan sightseeing ahead of us, so it’s important to caffeinate!

You’re only ever about a half block away from an espresso bar in Milan. I firmly believe every morning in Italy should start with an espresso or a cappuccino, so pop into the nearest shop and treat yourself. I recommend pairing with cream-filled cornetto.

Estimated time: 10 – 20 minutes

Duomo Rooftop Tour

Every Milan visitor wants to see is the Duomo, or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary.

Carvings and statues cover the massive church’s intricate façade and roof. From ground level, the cathedral is an impressive, imposing sight. But to truly appreciate its detail and scope, you need to get up on the Duomo’s rooftop.

Rooftop tours of the Duomo are so popular that some Milan visitors don’t even go inside. While the experience on the roof, with its forest of statues and great views, is truly unforgettable, it’s well worth a peek inside the cathedral. Interior highlights include stained-glass windows, a statue of St. Bartholomew wearing his own skin, and a zodiac calendar inlayed in the marble floor.

For the best experience, take a guided tour of both the rooftop and the cathedral interior.

While the Duomo rooftop is an extremely popular sunset destination, I recommend taking this tour earlier in the day. You’ll both avoid crowds and probably retain a few more of the tour guide’s facts while your brain is fresh! If photos are important, return to the rooftop independently at the end of the day.

Estimated time: 2 hours

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Located right next door to the Duomo, another must-see Milan attraction is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This two-level 19th century shopping arcade includes shops and restaurants. We didn’t spend much time here as it’s always crowded. Because of its central location, you’ll probably end up passing beneath the galleria’s decorative glass roof many times.

But on your first day in Milan pause in the Galleria center to take in the mosaics. You’ll find a mosaic representing each of the four continents near the roofline in Galleria’s center. Fair warning, the North America mosaic is good and racist.

The main attraction in the Galleria for non-shoppers is the bull mosaic in the floor just off the arcade’s center. It’s said that spinning around three times on the bull’s balls on your heel will bring you good luck and prosperity.

Time needed: 10 – 30 minutes

Brera Design District

Known as the artists’ district, you’ll find art schools, fashion boutiques, and high-end shopping in Brera. This picture-perfect neighborhood sits right behind the Duomo and Galleria.

Small and walkable, you can spend a pleasant hour strolling the sidewalks and popping into shops in Brera. It’s also a great place to grab some lunch.

Whatever you decide to get up to in Brera, I definitely recommend a stop at Palazzo Brera. This Baroque-era building is the heart of the neighborhood. Originally a school for monks, the large building now houses Brera Library, the Astronomic Observatory, the Lombard Institute for Science and Art, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the Pinacoteca di Brera.

Aside from snapping some photos of the almost comical Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker statue in the Palazzo courtyard, don’t miss the Pinacoteca di Brera, or Art Gallery of Brera, which is located on the Palazzo’s first floor.

Pinacoteca di Brera

The Pinacoteca di Brera is a small collection of 37 galleries. In them, you’ll find some of Europe’s best paintings, sculptures, and religious artwork from the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael, and Hayez. When it comes to Italian art galleries, the Pinacoteca di Brera often ranks third, just behind the Vatican and Florence’s Uffizi.

Orto Botanico di Brera

After you’ve spent an hour gazing at artwork, clear your mind in the Botanical Garden behind the Palazzo. This peaceful green space dates back to the 1700s. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a bag lunch or just soak up some sunshine and quiet before returning to bustle of central Milan.

Time needed: 1 -2 hours

Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa

A hidden gem tucked right in central Milan, the Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa might not make everyone’s first day Milan itinerary. However it’s so close to the Duomo and Brera, that I think now is the best time to visit during three days in Milan.

You might remain unconvinced when you arrive. On the outside, this just looks like another nondescript Italian church.

But the main reason folks swing by San Bernardino alle Ossa is tucked inside in a side chapel. Since the 13th century, this has been an ossuary, or bone chapel. Countless human bones and skulls decorate the chapel from floor to ceiling. The chapel we visit today was rebuilt after a fire in the 1700s.

Granted, this stop isn’t for everyone. But if you’re interested in Catholicism and find the practice of memento mori (“Remember your death”) contemplative rather than morbid, this is a Milan stop you won’t forget.

Estimated time: 10 – 15 minutes

Aperitivo at Ravizza

I definitely recommend you hit up as many aperitivo spots in Milan as possible. After all that sightseeing, you’ve probably worked up an appetite.

Many restaurants in central Milan are maligned because of their inflated pricing that preys upon hungry tourists. However, we had good luck enjoying an affordable aperitivo at Ravizza 1871.

For the price of a drink, we got two trips to the aperitivo buffet as well as a platter of freshly baked buns delivered to our table. It’s the perfect spot to close out the day with a satisfying and economical dinner. And nothing makes an Aperol spritz taste better than a full day on your feet.

Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour

La Scala Opera House

La Scala Opera House is an absolute Milan icon, but to really understand Teatro alla Scala’s cultural significance, you need to get past the opera house’s nondescript exterior and go inside.

While there is a small museum at La Scala, it seems tailored to opera enthusiasts. Since I had little to no desire to see a lock of Mozart’s hair, I decided the best way to get inside La Scala was to attend a performance.

If you want to follow suit, I recommend cruising the Teatro alla Scala website about five months in advance of your Milan visit. I’m not a huge opera fan, so I chose a ballet. It was truly one of my favorite experiences in Milan. If you can work it into your schedule and budget, definitely do. 

We learned from one of our tour guides that it’s a bit of a Milanese tradition (at least for her family) to get hot chocolate before going to a La Scala performance. While we didn’t have time to take part in this charming practice, Marchesi on the second level of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a great place to grab a pre-opera hot chocolate or pastry.

Time required: 3-4 hours

Day Two in Milan: Milan Attractions Further Afield

• The Last Supper
• Starbucks Reserve Roastery
• Parco Sempione
• Arco della Pace
• Sforzesco Castle
• Navigli Canals

The Last Supper

Hopefully you were able to snag tickets to Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The painting is found just west of central Milan in a refectory attached to Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Because of the masterpiece’s sensitive nature, no more than 35 people are allowed inside the refectory at a time. Each group of up to 35 can stay a maximum of 15 minutes.

To get the most out of your limited time, I highly recommend taking one of the guided tours offered by The Last Supper Museum. Honestly, I could have listened to our passionate tour guide talk about The Last Supper and Da Vinci for hours. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, including your time inside with the painting.

Security getting in to the masterpiece is no joke. You’ll need to present your passport, stow your bag, and also pass through a metal detector, so arrive 30 minutes before your entrance time. If you want to buy anything from the gift shop, remember to take your credit card or cash out of your bag before putting it in a locker.

Time needed: 1 – 1.25 hours

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

I tend to seek out independent coffee shops, but I’m in no way opposed to a Starbies every now and then. Still, I never thought I’d be recommending a visit to Starbucks on my Milan itinerary, yet here we are.

As soon as you walk through the front doors of the 1901 former post office building that houses the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Milano, it feels like you’ve been whisked into the Ministry of Magic or Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. There are only six reserve roasteries in the world and Starbucks has gone over the top to make the Milan roastery a memorable experience.

As the name implies, coffee is roasted on site here. In addition, the roastery offers guided tours, coffee tastings, and three different coffee bars, including an aperitivo bar.  

We came with the sole purpose of having an affogato. It took us a minute to figure out which bar serves affogato – let the records show, it is the main bar – but we did eventually get our hands on the most ice cream forward affogato in the world.

All the Starbucks merch here is exclusive. If you’re looking for a specific item, like the “You Are Here” mugs, you’ll need to go to a regular Starbucks in Milan.

Be prepared for a crowded experience. The lines at all the bars are really long, so you may prefer to just poke your head in to observe the spectacle. We arrived just before 11 a.m. on a Friday and stayed about an hour. By the time we left, there was a line forming outside.

Time needed: 45 minutes – 1 hour

Parco Sempione

One of the chief complaints about Milan is that it’s just so urban. Wherever you look in Milan, it’s a sprawl of pavement and beige buildings. After all, this Italian city has more banks than churches. It can seem like aesthetics play second fiddle in this business forward metropolis.

But if you look carefully, you’ll find pockets of green space all over Milan. The largest park in central Milan is the Parco Sempione just north of the Sforzesco Castle and Duomo. After all our time on tours and in museums over the last day and a half, I recommend heading to the park now for a literal breath of fresh air.

It’s not really a place to do anything other than wandering the paths and people watch. A fun destination is the Arco della Pace on the park’s north end. The park is also home to a library, aquarium, design museum, and stadium.

Time needed: 20-45 minutes

Sforzesco Castle

At the south end of Parco Sempione, you’ll find the sprawling Castello Sforzeco. This Renaissance-era castle was home to the Sforza family who played an influential role in Milan’s history. The grounds are open to the public so you can wander through the courtyards to your heart’s content. (There are also public restrooms here.) 

If you want to learn more about the Sforzas and see some of their artifacts, check out the castle’s Sforza Rooms.

Time needed: 15 – 30 minutes

Aperitivo at La Hora Feliz

One of the most popular aperitivo spots in Milan, you don’t want to miss the massive aperitivo buffet at La Hora Feliz. Just know that the restaurant will likely be packed and the buffet line moves very slowly. But aperitivo at La Hora Feliz is both delicious and an experience.

Time needed: 45 minutes – 1.5 hours

Navigli Canals

Once upon a time, Milan was a network of canals. Without a central body of water in the city, the canals were built to ease transportation of goods and materials. While most of Milan’s canals are now covered, you can still find canals in the Navigli neighborhood, including the Navigli Grande canal. 

From La Hora Feliz, the Navigli Canals are just a 15-minute walk away. Along the way, you’ll pass Porta Ticinese which was once a city gate. With a lively nightlife, great traditional restaurants, shops, and galleries, Navigli is a popular evening destination. For a traditional Milanese meal, check out L’Altro Luca e Andrea.

Time needed: 1 – 2 hours

Day Three: Day Trip or Experience

In the first 48 hours in Milan, we’ve seen so much of the busy city.  If you’re ready to escape, spend today in the nearby Italian Lakes District.

Lake Como is an extremely popular Milan day trip option. Don’t worry, I’ve crafted the perfect day in Como City. Located less than a hour outside of Milan, Lake Como is the perfect Milan day trip. If you want to venture a little further (and visit another country!) you continue on another half hour to beautiful Lugano, Switzerland.

If you prefer to stay in Milan today, you could shake up the sightseeing by doing an experience like a class or spa day.

We took this pasta making class and had the best time learning how to make two different kinds of pasta as well as tiramisu. And yes, it did feel a little discordant to make pasta in an Italian city better known for its rice and risotto. Interestingly, we were two of only three Americans in our class. I really enjoyed getting to meet some European peers in such a casual, interactive setting. 

If your city sightseeing bandwidth is still going strong, check out some of Milan’s museums and galleries like Ambrosian Library, Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, or Palazzo Reale di Milano.

Best Milan Tours

We did the following tours/experiences and I recommend them all:

Milan Duomo Rooftop and Cathedral Tour

Pasta and Tiramisu Class

Walking Tour of Central Milan

Conclusion: The Best Things To Do in Milan in Three Days

If you’re heard that Milan isn’t a tourist friendly city or that there isn’t much to do in Milan, I hope this 3-Day Milan Itinerary proves that just isn’t true! Like its neighbor to the east, Venice, it’s very common for visitors to spend less than 24 hours in Italy’s second largest city. But for the best experience, you need three days in Milan so you can truly immerse yourself in the city.

This Milan itinerary takes you far beyond the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the other things to do that top every Milan visitor’s list. I hope you’ll follow my prompting to break out  of busy city’s busiest corners to experiences Milan’s beauty green spaces, delicious aperitivo, and world-class museums and art galleries.