The 18 Best Experiences in Milan, Italy

Take home more than just a suitcase full of souvenirs and a phone full of travel snaps: this experience gets you a diploma in Italian cooking so you can recreate your favourite dishes wherever you are. Start the morning at the market, where Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and certified sommelier Clara will help you pick the best local, organic ingredients. Back in her charming kitchen, you’ll cook four different traditional recipes (and get to eat it all at the end too). Elsewhere we have outstanding experiences with local farmers, bakers and cheese producers!

Learn how to make fresh pasta in this fun group class. Get your hands in the dough and discover how to create four different pasta shapes: tagliolini, cavati, ravioli and tortelli. With easy-to-follow instructions and close guidance along the way, you’ll also make accompanying sauces. At the end, you get to sample your finished creations with a glass or two of wine. Dessert is served courtesy of the chef.

Re-enact your own Mille Miglia race by getting behind the wheel of the Italian brand Ferrari supercar. After a driving theory lesson and full training on how to operate one of the fastest sports cars in the world, you’ll get to hit the road for what promises to be a breathtaking 30 minutes. Travel along the legendary superhighway between Milan and the Swiss Alps for 10km (6mi) with an expert co-driver at your side the whole time.

Don your helmet and make like a true Italian by zipping around town on a scooter. This popular mode of transport is not just a convenient way of dodging traffic and nabbing a parking spot; it also lets you experience the sights in an exhilarating way. Speed around historical landmarks such as the Arco della Pace city gate, the Duomo cathedral and the Teatro alla Scala opera house, or go all the way to Lake Como for a bit of fresh air.

Follow in the footsteps of Italy’s Baroque and Renaissance painters and create your own original painting to remind you of your trip. In Bergamo, a medieval city north of Milan, you’ll join a local artist and other art enthusiasts within the walls of the ancient city centre to learn the tricks of the trade. From creating a pleasing composition to learning the rule of thirds, you’ll get to spend an insightful and creative afternoon en plein aire (outdoors) unleashing your inner artist.

Enjoy an evening like no other at this elegant venue housed in a former early-1900s post office. You’ll be served a four-course meal of local fare in chic surroundings. And with a rotating roster of burlesque performances, DJs and live music acts, your evening is bound to be entertaining.

Discover the secret to Milanese style at the Merchant of Venice, a luxury Italian perfume atelier in the trendy Brera district. Learn about the history of perfume before creating your own custom scent with the help of a dedicated guide. Discover a world of different ingredients before mixing your own personalised perfume. You’ll get to take your beautiful bottle home with you at the end.

Immerse yourself in the world of opera and art with a guided tour of La Scala Theatre and Museum. Explore the iconic venue’s opulent interiors, including the auditorium and stage, while learning about its rich history and legendary performances. Discover fascinating exhibits in the museum, from costumes to memorabilia of famous artists. Perfect for culture enthusiasts, this experience celebrates the grandeur of one of the world’s most renowned opera houses.

Step into the glamorous world of fashion with this unique experience in Milan. Receive a professional photoshoot complete with styling, makeup, and personalized direction. Walk iconic streets and pose at stunning locations as a model for a day. Perfect for fashion lovers or those looking to create unforgettable memories, this experience offers a taste of Milan’s fashion scene and a collection of incredible photos.

Elevate your personal style with a one-day fashion styling course designed exclusively for women. Learn from a professional stylist how to enhance your wardrobe, choose flattering outfits, and express your individuality through fashion. This immersive session covers essential tips on colors, trends, and accessorizing, leaving you with the confidence to create looks that reflect your unique personality. Ideal for those seeking a fresh perspective on their style.

Located next to the National Museum of Science and Technology (where most of Leonardo Da Vinci’s inventions are housed) in the quiet and affluent Sant Ambrogio neighbourhood, San Vittore al Corpo is a basilica is a secret gem. Unlike il Duomo, you’re unlikely to find tourist queues here. The facade of the Late Renaissance structure is totally unassuming but the interior is breathtaking. It has an incredibly ornate panelled arch in its main nave with illustrations of those saints whose remains are supposed to be housed here. Its magnificent dome is covered in gilded stucco and frescoes by celebrated Milanese artist, Daniele Crespi. Climb the bell tower and enjoy a mesmerizing view over the city. Recommended by Raphaele Varley.

Birrificio Lambrate is a pioneer of the craft beer movement in Italy. Since 1996 this brewpub has been producing non-pasteurized and non-filtered beer for all of Milan to enjoy. The classics crafted all year long include the Ortiga, a golden style ale, and a smokey stout called the Ghisa. Other beers are only available seasonally or on a special basis. It is located in between Città Studi and the newly hip, Lambrate district of East Milan, so it maintains a very friendly, neighbourly atmosphere and there’s no risk of having to pick between Peroni or Carlsberg. Recommended by Raphaele Varley.

Equine meat as a delicacy can be a divisive conversation in many parts of the world, but for many people in Italy (especially the South) its equivalent to cooking with bovine meat. Of course, public opinion varies greatly and is always evolving. In the past, it would have been a cheaper cut of meat than pork or beef, but today the market has declined and it is more of a speciality product. Should you be inclined to sample an equine dish there is a trusted and long-established equine macelleria in the unremarkable Lorenteggio neighbourhood (just beyond Zona Tortona) that also functions as a small restaurant. You select a cut of meat at the butcher counter and then the chefs will prepare it for you on the spot. It is located inside a covered market that has been running since 1954 and the set-up is simple and sweet (a few metal tables) and the prices are incredibly reasonable: Donkey Carpaccio, 5 Euros; Foal Steak with baked potatoes, 7 Euros; glass of wine, 2 Euros. It serves lunch Monday to Friday and also dinner on Thursday and Friday evenings. Its very popular with locals so you will need to book ahead. Recommended by Raphaele Varley.

Located in a Bovisa, periphery neighbourhood / subarb of north Milan, this venue is far from the tourist trail of the historic centre. Spirit de Milan opened in 2015 inside a a vast 1920s former industrial building, with the aim of creating an environment that would recapture the social spirit of old 1950s Milan, but in a contemporary way and without nostalgia. The space combines a restaurant, Fabbrica de la Sgagnosa, which serves classic Milanese trattoria dishes, with live music and a real dance hall. So, its dinner and dancing, but there is also a bar if you want to join later in the evening. They regularly host ‘Holy Swing Night’ an evening dedicated to Swing music of the 1940s and ‘Barbera & Champagne’, a night to rediscover Milan ‘tavern’ singing and music. Be mesmerised by the experienced dancers but rest assured that there are lots of novice folk on the dance floor too. Nightly, it opens at 19.30 but the concerts and performances typically start at 10 pm. It is a very mixed crowd of Bovisa locals and Milan hipsters, young and old. Recommended by Raphaele Varley.

Villa Invernizzi is an Art Nouveau (Stile Liberty) palace that overlooks Corso Venezia in the Porta Venezia neighbourhood. What makes this beautiful villa special is not the architecture but the garden, which is home to flocks of pink flamingos and peacocks.The Villa is not currently open to the public but you are free to roam the gardens as a peaceful and quirky alternative to Parco Sempione, the famous central park of Milan. Recommended by Raphaele Varley.

This one remained closed for 70 years and finally re-opened in 2010. It’s a public garden amid what looks like a private house, nestled through an unassuming gateway in Milan. On the gate there are no signs, so this humble park can be a little tricky to find if you don’t know exactly where you’re heading. It is ideal to relax in on a sunny day and unwind in after contending with the city heat. Recommended by Luca Pinelli.

Palazzo Dal Verme, which draws its name from the nearby Theatre, is a hidden gem of the Renaissance embedded between surrounding modern buildings. The inner courtyard is something anyone can enjoy, with an architectural harmony that is hard to find in the structures of today. This building survived the bombings which Milan was subjected to during the World War II in 1943. This makes it a rare piece of history between the city’s streets. Recommended by Luca Pinelli.

Via Lincoln is possibly the best-kept secret in Milan. It is a street which is dotted with colorful terraced houses, something which stands out as atypical in an industrial, business-oriented city like this. It was designed and realized around the end of the 19th century, in order to house the workers of a nearby area at affordable prices. Needless to say, these houses are now very pricey. Strolling up and down the street is free of charge and is sure to delight any architecture lovers hitting town. Recommended by Luca Pinelli.

Planning to take your holidays in Italy? We have an incredible collection of multi-day tour packages all over the country, including a number of Milan itineraries, ranging in length and cost. Check those out, as well as trips to Tuscany, the Dolomites and so much more, by clicking the button below.