21 Unforgettable Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Milan

Milan is the capital of Lombardy administrative region of Italy. It is one of the most significant cities in Europe in terms of culture. Some of the best things to do in Milan include exploring history, art, culture, food, fashion and so on. The city is most known for housing some of the finest works of art in the world. Some of the best places to visit in Milan include churches, art museums, art collections and palaces.

You will get to see wonderful frescos, paintings and statues while exploring Milan tourist attractions. These buildings have been adorned by some of the greatest artists of all time. Even the architecture and design elements of these buildings are beautiful things to see in Milan. In the world of art, the city is best known for housing some of the finest works of the great Leonardo da Vinci including The Last Supper Fresco and many of his notebooks. These usually go right at the top of Milan itinerary.

Milan is also a world renowned fashion and design center. It hosts several fashion and design events. There is also a museum dedicated to fashion brand Armani to include in Milan sightseeing. In the sections below you will get to know the most happening shopping streets in the city where you will find a wide variety of choices. The city is so deeply associated with fashion that shopping is considered a must do in Milan.

In terms of cultural experiences the city has a lot to offer in form of workshops and events. One of the most fun activities to do in Milan includes making your own pizza or pastry. Many people come here to learn how paint and sculpt as well. As you explore Milan sights, you will feel transported to the renaissance period, enjoying the very best aspects of it.

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The Top 21 Tourist Places to Visit in Milan in 3 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Ambrosian Library (Biblioteca Ambrosiana)

This grand library is among the best places to visit in Milan for its exhaustive collection of historical books and rare manuscripts. Some of the landmark works exhibited in this library include manuscripts from Monastery of Bobbio, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Illiad’s copy from 5th century, Muratorian Canon, Da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus and many more. For those interested in history and culture, this is among the best things to do in Milan. You will need about 2 hours to explore this library and its treasures.

2. Church of Saint Mary near Saint Satyrus (Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro)

This 9th century church is one of the finest Milan tourist attractions and is well known for its Gothic frescos, wooden statues and paintings. You will need about an hour to explore this church.

3. Royal Palace of Milan (Palazzo Reale di Milano)

Also known as Palazzo Reale, this amazing work of architecture is one of top Milan sights. It is one of the most important cultural and exhibition center for a variety of fields. The palace also houses 2 of the best things to see in Milan, namely Contemporary Art Museum and Duomo Cathedral Museum. You will need 2 hours or so to explore this palace.

4. Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano)

Also known as Duomo di Milano, this cathedral is among the most popular Milan attractions. The cathedral is renowned for its breathtaking architecture and interior design elements. It is a major highlight of Milan sightseeing for its vast collection of statues, paintings and other artworks as well. You would need an hour or two to explore this cathedral when you visit Milan.

5. Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo)

This historical square is surrounded by some of the most well known places to see in Milan. It was walked by some of the most renowned names in the history of the city since it was under Roman rule. You will need about half an hour for this square during Milan travel.

6. Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II

If you are looking for cool things to do in Milan at night or during the day, this happening venue is the place to be. It is a renowned shopping venue featuring some of the most desirable brands in the world. You can easily spend a couple of hours roaming this shopping arcade.

7. Teatro alla Scala

This iconic opera house is among the top places to go in Milan for a unique experience. This opera houses has been graced by some of the greatest performers of all time. You would need at least an hour to experience this opera house.

8. Poldi Pezzoli Museum (Museo Poldi-Pezzoli)

This house museum belonged to revered 19th century art collector Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli. It features highlights of his grand collection of paintings, statues, jewellery, design items and more. It is easily among Milan top attractions. You will need about 2 hours to explore this collection.

9. Via Manzoni (Via Alessandro Manzoni)

If shopping is on your Milan itinerary, this street will come as a delight during your tour. It is lined with top brands and amazing stores alongside historical buildings. You would need an hour or so for this street, consider it a must do in Milan for shopaholics.

Day 2

1. Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale)

This cemetery is included among tourist places in Milan for intricately designed sculptures and headstones. It is also the final resting places of renowned personalities such as Pirelli, Toscanini, Campari, Luca Beltrami, Salvatore Quasimodo and several others. You will need an hour for this cemetery.

2. Brera Art Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera)

This 17th century palace is among top places to visit in Milano by itself. But it’s the collection of Italian art from 14th to 20th century which attracts numerous visitors to be here during Milan travel. It also houses Institute of Science, Botanical Gardens and Astronomical Observatory. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore various Milan attractions in this palace.

3. Sempione Park (Parco Sempione)

This beautiful park is among Milan tourists spots people would visit for some leisure. But even a park is not devoid of amazing works of art in form monuments and sculptures. You can easily spend an hour or so at this park.

4. Sforza’s Castle (Castello Sforzesco)

Exploring this castle is one of the top activities in Milan as it is deeply connected with the history and culture of Milan. It is also associated with the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this castle.

5. Church of Saint Maurice al Monastero Maggiore (Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore)

This church is among the most beautiful things to see in Milan from inside as well as outside. It is adorned with intricate architectural and design features. Inside this church is adorned by numerous frescoes created by different artists. This is one of Milan tourist attractions which can be considered a museum of history and culture by itself. You will need an hour or so for this church.

6. Holy Mary of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie)

This church is home to several frescoes, but is most known for Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. This fresco alone is enough to warrant its place on Milan itinerary. There is much more to explore in terms of art and architecture in this church beside Da Vinci’s famous work. You would need an hour and a half for this church before you move on to fun things to do in Milan at night.

Day 3

1. National Museum of Science & Technology (Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci)

This museum is dedicated to several inventions which contributed to advancement of science and technology in the world. You will find several interesting things to see in Milan at this museum. It will take you at least 2 hours to explore it.

2. Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio

This church was first built in 386 A.D. and is dedicated to the Milan’s patron saint. The church exhibits Lombard Romanesque architecture with a stucco canopy and an interior decorated with Tiepolo frescoes. You will need an hour from Milan travel for this church.

3. Civic Archaeological Museum (Civico Museo Archeologico)

This museum focuses on archaeological history of the city. It is one of the most important historical places to see in Milan. You will see several exhibits concerning ancient civilization of the region. It also tells the story of evolution of the city. You would need an hour or two for this museum.

4. Ambrosiana Palace (Palazzo dell’Ambrosiana / Pinacoteca Ambrosiana)

This beautiful palace houses one of the oldest museums of the city. It is dedicated to a variety of artworks and historical artifacts. It is among major highlights of Milan sightseeing owing to its collection of Flemish art, Italian art and Da Vinci sketches. You will need about 2 hours to explore this palace.

5. Merchants Square (Piazza Mercanti)

This square has been significant to the city since medieval times. It is surrounded by some of the top tourist places in Milan. You would need 30 to 45 minutes for this square.

6. Via Torino

As shopping is among the top activities to do in Milan, you should not miss out on this street. It is also one of the oldest streets of the city and a major commercial center. You will need an hour or so to explore it.

If you are looking for more Milan top attractions, check out the sections below. We have prepared an exhaustive list of of places and experiences which are must do in Milan for you to enjoy.

Things to do in Milan

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Milan

1. Duomo di Milano
2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
3. Sforzesco Castle
4. Teatro alla Scala
5. Pinacoteca de Brera
6. Santa Maria della Grazie
7. Triennale di Milano
8. Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
9. Royal Palace
10. Monumental Cemetery
11. Ambrosian Library
12. Museo Nazionale della Science e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
13. Fondazione Prada
14. Pirelli Hangar Bicocca
15. Poldi Pezzoli Museum
16. Arco della Pace
17. Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
18. Mudec Cultural Museum
19. Modern Art Gallery
20. Bagatti Valsecchi Museum
21. Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore
22. Leonardo da Vinci’s Vineyard
23. Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro
24. Galleria di Italia
25. Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa
26. Milan Natural History Museum
27. Columns of St. Lawrence
28. Civic Archeological Museum
29. PAC – Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea
30. Armani Silos Fashion Museum
31. Casa Museo Boschi di Stefano
32. Villa Reale di Monza
33. Museum of the Milan Cathedral
34. Musee le Monde de Leonardo
35. Palazzo dell’Arengario
36. Alfa Romeo Museum
37. Basilica de Sant’Eustorgio
38. Palazzo Morando
39. Museum of Ancient Art
40. Chiaravalle Abbey
41. Museo Diocesano
42. Manzoni House
43. Museo del Risorgimento
44. Museo della Permanente
45. Villa Reale
46. Mediolanum Forum
47. Leonardo’s Horse
48. Muba Children’s Museum
49. Il Dito Statue
50. Studio Museo Francesco Messina
51. Leonardo da Vinci Statue
52. ADI Design Museum
53. Ca’ Granda
54. Braidense National Library
55. Civico Planetario Ulrico Hoepli
56. Rondanini Pieta Museum
57. Monza Cathedral
58. Palazzo Marino
59. Eglise San Fedele
60. Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro
61. Italian Stock Exchange
62. Casa Atellani
63. Palazzo della Ragione
64. WOW Spazio Fumetto Comic books Museum
65. Eglise San Marco de Milan
66. Museum of Musical Instruments

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Milan

1. Idroscalo Lake

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Milan

1. Sempione Park
2. Jardin Publico Indro Montanelli
3. Civic Aquarium of Milan
4. Jardin Botanica de Brera
5. A Fabrica do Vapor
6. QC Termemilano
7. Darsena di Milano
8. Acquatica Park

Shopping in Italy

1. Designer Outlet Serravalle
2. Cormano Flea Market
3. Via Della Spiga
4. Firdenza Village
5. Corso Bueno Aires
6. Franciacorta Outlet Village
7. Corso Vittorio Emnuele II
8. FoxTown Factory
9. Via Dante
10. Vicolungo The Style Outlets
11. Via Torino
12. Corso di Porta Ticinese
13. Scalo Milano Outlet
14. Via Brera
15. Corso Como
16. Via Monte Napoleone
17. DMAG Outlet
18. Fiera di Sinigaglia

Offbeat Places & Adventure Activities to Do in Milan

1. Tram Tour
2. Bicycle Tour
3. Pizza Cooking Workshops
4. Leonardo da Vinci Tour

Sightseeing in Milan

1. Piazza Duomo
2. Bosco Verticale
3. Via Monte Napoleone
4. Velasca Tower
5. Piazza Mercanti
6. Naviglio Grande
7. Porta Nuova
8. Piazza Gae Aulenti
9. Branca Tower
10. Piazza della Scala
11. Pirelli Tower
12. Corso Buenos Aires
13. Corso Como
14. Generalli Tower
15. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
16. Parco Nord Milano
17. Corso Sempione
18. Piazzale Loreto
19. Porta Venezia
20. Corso Venezia
21. Piazza Cordusio

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Milan

1. Il Vinaccio
2. Berbere
3. La Vineria
4. Ratana
5. Twist on Classic
6. Ribot
7. Panzerotti di Luini
8. Berton
9. El Brellin
10. Cantine Isola
11. La Veranda
12. Ravioeria Sarpi
13. Tipografia Alimentare
14. Osteria del Treno
15. Altatto
16. Il Mannarino
17. Trattoria Mitra
18. Bar Basso
19. Davide Longoni
20. Latteria San Marco

Where to Stay in Milan?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Milan. Here we recommended some of luxurious, mid-range and budget Hotels in Milan.

Luxurious Hotels

1. Hotel Berna
2. NYX Hotel Milan
3. Klima Hotel Milano Fiere
4. NH Collection Milano President
5. Gran Duca di York
6. Hotel The Square Milano Duomo
7. Grand Visconti Palace

Mid-Range Hotels

1. c-hotels Atlantic
2. Hotel Garda
3. Eco Hotel Milano
4. Hotel Bolzano
5. Hotel San Francisco
6. Hotel Ritter
7. Biocity Hotel

Budget Hotels

1. Del Sole
2. Hotel Carlo Goldoni
3. Via Padova
4. Milano Hotel America
5. Camping Village Citta’ di Milano
6. Gambara Hotel
7. Gogol’Ostello

Custom Tours Package in Milan

How to Reach Milan?

By Air

There are 3 primary airports for Milan travel by flight. These are Malpensa Airport, Linate Airport and Bergamo Airport. Between these 3 airports, you can get direct flights to visit Milan from Athens, Dublin, Moscow, Tirana, Algiers, Cairo, Montreal, Toronto, Beijing, Shanghai, Madrid, Paris, Lyon, Delhi, Chisinau, Belgrade, Riga, Palermo, Tokyo, Miami, New York, Istanbul, Vienna, Baku, London, Brussels, Hong Kong, Prague, Luxembourg, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bristol, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Faro, Lisbon, Manchester, Munich, Naples, Tel Aviv, Bilbao, Ibiza, Split, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Helsinki, Bahrain, Seoul, Kuwait, Sao Paulo, Warsaw, Frankfurt, Beirut, Muscat, Doha, Saint Petersburg, Riyadh, Jeddah, Oslo, Zurich, Bangkok and many more. You can basically reach Milan from almost any major city in the world.

You can get bus, cabs, shuttle buses and even day tour buses for Milan sightseeing directly from the airport.

By Road

Milan is connected to Eurorail and several other train networks. It is quite easy to visit Milan from almost any city in Italy and also from several cities of neighboring countries. The bus network is equally widespread, but if you are at quite a distance from Milan, it is advisable to get a train.

If you are planning to explore top things to do in Milan by road, you should head for routes A51, A2, A7, A50 or E64.

By Water

Being a landlocked city, there are no direct water routes for Milan travel.

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Image Reference

• Ambrosian Library (Biblioteca Ambrosiana) – George M. Groutas / Flickr
• Church of Saint Mary near Saint Satyrus (Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro) – Kathryn Blair Moore / Flickr
• Royal Palace of Milan (Palazzo Reale di Milano) – Paolobon140 / Wikimedia Commons
• Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) – Dorinel Nedelcu / PixaBay
• Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo) – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Teatro alla Scala – Fernando Hernandez Morondo / Flickr
• Poldi Pezzoli Museum (Museo Poldi-Pezzoli) – Paolobon140 / Wikimedia Commons
• Via Manzoni (Via Alessandro Manzoni) – Leandro Neumann Ciuffo / Flickr
• Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale) – Shadowgate / Flickr
• Brera Art Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera) – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Sempione Park (Parco Sempione) – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Sforza’s Castle (Castello Sforzesco) – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Church of Saint Maurice al Monastero Maggiore (Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore) – mauro gambini / Flickr
• Holy Mary of Grace (Santa Maria delle Grazie) – Marcin Białek / Wikimedia Commons
• National Museum of Science & Technology (Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci) – Pietrodn / Wikimedia Commons
• Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Civic Archaeological Museum (Civico Museo Archeologico) – Alberto Panzani / Wikimedia Commons
• Ambrosiana Palace (Palazzo dell’Ambrosiana / Pinacoteca Ambrosiana) – Ilnarratario / Wikimedia Commons
• Merchants Square (Piazza Mercanti) – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
• Via Torino – Luca Riva / Flickr