Top 22 Things to Do in Milan, Italy, for an Incredible Trip

The spectacular Milan Cathedral is arguably the city’s most impressive landmark. Dedicated to Saint Mary, construction on Italy’s largest church began in 1386 and took almost six centuries to complete. Right in the centre of Milan, the elaborate Gothic cathedral is swathed in luscious white and pink marble, and features more sculptures than any other building in the world – 3,159 in total. After marvelling at the façade, explore the interior and then head up to the roof for an up-close experience among the ornate spires and gargoyles (and one of the best views of the city).

Take some time to study one of the world’s most famous artworks, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, in person. Located in the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the painting was completed around 1498, and portrays the reactions of the 12 apostles from the Bible after Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. Perhaps no other work of art has caused as much speculation and theorising about hidden messages left by the artist. Make sure to book well in advance, as tickets have been known to sell out up to three months ahead of time.

Even if you’re not a fan of opera, you won’t regret buying a ticket to see a show at Teatro La Scala. Commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, the extravagant theatre was constructed in the 1770s, but also underwent major renovations after being bombed during WWII. The opulent interior is a sea of red velvet, silk brocade and gold stucco, and in the centre of the performance hall sits a magnificent chandelier made up of nearly 400 lights. With regular performances by world-class musicians, singers, dancers and actors, a trip to Milan wouldn’t be complete without stepping inside the famed opera house.

Renowned as Italy’s most stylish city, it’s not surprising that Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is not your typical shopping mall. One of the world’s oldest, the grand building consists of a four-storey double arcade (covered passageway) with a glass-vaulted roof. In the 1860s, the city held competitions to modernise Piazza del Duomo and connect it with Piazza della Scala. Architect Giuseppe Mengoni won, and construction was completed in 1877. Today, the Galleria is often referred to as il salotto di Milano, or Milan’s living room, due to its regular use by locals as a meeting spot. Window-shop at Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton, or savour a decadent cake at the Milanese institution, Pasticceria Marchesi 1824.

For centuries, the people of Milan considered Sforza Castle a symbol of tyranny and foreign domination. It wasn’t until the unification of Italy in the 19th century that this huge fortress became a revered cultural centre. The vast complex includes numerous museums and an impressive collection of art, with paintings by Andrea Mantegna, Titian, Tintoretto, and Michelangelo’s last sculpture. And it doesn’t stop there – in 2012, historians even discovered lost drawings and paintings by Caravaggio on-site.

With its elegant canals and vibrant bars, the Navigli district is one of Milan’s most charming neighbourhoods. In the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci initiated the complicated system of dams. Construction of the waterways lasted seven centuries, ultimately connecting Lakes Maggiore and Como with the Ticino and Po Rivers. Start your evening with a passeggiata (a traditional early evening stroll), before grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants lining the canals. After dinner, make like the locals, grab a cheap Aperol Spritz (or two!) from the waterside vendors and set up camp on the edge of the canal to people-watch.

Spend a day immersed in art at the Fondazione Prada. Open since 2015, the striking site designed by Rem Koolhaas is comprised of 10 buildings, including a tower covered in shimmering gold leaf. With imposing large-scale installations by 20th- and 21st-century artists including Dan Flavin, Jeff Koons and Louise Bourgeois as well as temporary exhibitions by international artists, there’s no better place in Milan to get your culture fix. Afterwards, rest your weary feet with a drink and snack at Bar Luce, a quirky an Instagram-worthy café inside the museum, designed by film director Wes Anderson.

More like an open-air museum than a cemetery, Cimitero Monumentale is where Milan’s leading figures and families have been buried since 1866. Get lost amongst the rows of sculpture-adorned tombstones and magnificent mausoleums while keeping an eye out for some famous names. Milanese legends including novelist Alessandro Manzoni, footballer Giuseppe Meazza and Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, the founder of the Futurist movement, all of whom have their final resting places here.

Aperitivo is the Italian version of happy hour – only better. A tradition that started out as a pre-dinner drink served with a few simple snacks has developed over the years into a veritable feast. Depending on how ritzy the bar is, between about 6pm and 8pm, if you order a cocktail, beer or glass of wine, you’ll be offered some form of food. It could be a few nuts and olives, or you could end up with a generous complimentary buffet spread, with dishes such as pizza, cured meats and cheeses.

It’s a well-known fact that many Italians love their football, so don’t miss out on this vital part of Milanese culture. You can catch a cheap game between smaller local clubs or splash out to see the heavyweights – Cristiano Ronaldo has often played here for his team Juventus, as well as the highly competitive local derby between Milan’s oldest teams: FC Internazionale Milano (Inter) and AC Milan. With seating for more than 80,000 fanatic supporters, the atmosphere during a game is electric.

Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy is entwined with the history of Milan. The multifaceted polymath lived there for much of his life, leaving behind masterpieces like ‘The Last Supper’ as part of the city’s heritage. Celebrating the life and creativity of its eponymous subject, the interactive museum presents working models of da Vinci’s designs for flying machines, submersibles, as well as digital renditions of his most famous artworks so visitors can delve into the secrets behind his genius. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Torre Branca, the Branca Tower, isn’t the largest or oldest structure in Milan, but a walk along its perimeter allows you to journey through Italy’s recent history. Located in the Parco Sempione, the tower is a prime example of the design sensibilities of Gio Ponti, who dominated the Italian architecture scene during the time of Benito Mussolini’s fascist government. You can take an elevator to the top for unsurpassed panoramic views of Milan and the Lombardy countryside. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

As one of the wealthiest cities in Italy’s history, Milan has been home to numerous influential art patrons throughout the centuries. One of the most important was Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who, in 1618, used his personal art collection as the seed of an art gallery and design school (the school is still running today out of the Brera). The collection at Pinacoteca Ambrosiana & da Vinci Codex Exhibition includes numerous Flemish and Italian masters, including works by the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael and the Venetian artist Titian. Renaissance art enthusiasts will particularly enjoy this attraction as it also showcases original drawings by da Vinci. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

An elegant district, the Brera is where travellers go to get a sense of what’s fashionable today. Boutiques, shoe shops, trendy tea houses and jewellers line the streets offering endless shopping options. The vendors and storekeepers welcome visitors and revel at the chance to describe why their wares are so special. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and a reusable tote to get your shopping haul back to the hotel, not to mention a credit card. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Located inside the Palazzo dell’Arengario in Piazza del Duomo, this museum hosts a comprehensive collection of over four thousand works that highlight the development of 20th-century Italian art. Here you can find some of the artwork that is at the core of the Italian cultural and artistic heritage of that century, such as Il Quarto Stato (The Fourth Estate) by Pellizza da Volpedo, and The Neon by Lucio Fontana, the International acclaimed Milanese artist.

In operation since Napoleon Bonaparte helped establish it in 1809, the institution is an art lover’s dream gallery of pan-Italian painting stretching back to the Renaissance. All the big players are present, from Caravaggio to Raphael, and it houses many important paintings, such as Lamentation Over the Dead Christ, by Andrea Mantegna. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Near the Castello Sforzesco, with its aquarium, the Torre Branca and other attractions, the expansive Parco Sempione packs multiple sights into a single destination. Before becoming a park in the early 19th century, the area was a forest preserve that the Sforza family stocked with exotic wild animals. That wild spirit still permeates the area and helps make any time spent here worthwhile. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Located roughly halfway between the Duomo and the Parco Sempione, San Maurizio church could be just the attraction to turn a trip around the Milan city centre into a day of jam-packed touring. This church stands out from so many others in Milan for its series of paintings that depict the life of Saint Maurice. The paintings cover almost every square inch of wall space turning the interior into a Technicolor maelstrom. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Located near the Duomo, this architectural wonder incorporates medieval Italian aesthetics from a midcentury perspective that have resulted in a historic landmark. Milan led postwar Italy in determining an architectural aesthetic that left the fascist past behind. The 330ft (101m) Velasca Tower looks over the city centre skyline and – when compared with the Duomo – exemplifies Milan’s position as Italy’s city of past and present, ancient and modern. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Milan’s trams are the Italian version of San Francisco’s trolleys, London’s double-decker buses and New York’s taxis. The tram system has been around for more than 100 years and, while commuters use it daily, riding remains a must for every visitor to Milan. Besides being fun, it is also hyper-efficient and runs late, in case you’re planning on staying out. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Just outside the city centre, Corso Como is an area geared towards pedestrians who want to stroll around, eat well and take in the more luxurious side of Milan. It isn’t unusual to spot celebrities here, in the same way, that it isn’t unusual to spot shoes with a four-figure price tag. Deep-pocketed tourists may not care about the high costs, but most of us will have to remain content with window shopping. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.

Opened in 1883, Peck is a high-end grocery store that caters to the kind of crowd that want the very best without compromise or delay. From the wide array of chocolate to the large selection of wine, this historic landmark has something for everyone. From cured meat packed with flavour to readymade meals using the finest ingredients, each item in this store is chosen with the kind of care and passion that translates into any language. Recommended by Clayton Mory Schuster.