How To Spend A Good Day In Milan: Itinerary For First-Time Guests

Planning to spend a day in Milan and unsure easy methods to benefit from it? This at some point Milan itinerary will present you probably the most environment friendly option to see town, plus some helpful journey tricks to make this your greatest metropolis break but!

Milan, situated in North Lombardy, is Italy’s capital of vogue and enterprise. It makes for a implausible metropolis break vacation spot. Milan has stunning structure, scrumptious meals, superior day journey alternatives to locations like Lake Como and Bergamo and rather more. 

And since there are such a lot of low cost flights going into Milan, taking a visit there has by no means been extra tempting. Whereas at some point in Milan might not sound like lots of time, you’ll be able to simply see the principle highlights. Plus, this offers you some extra time to discover locations close to Milan, that are 100% value your time.

However first, let’s take a look at my at some point Milan itinerary.

Can Milan be Performed in a Day?

Sure, you’ll be able to simply see most of Milan’s highlights in at some point so long as you intend it correctly. Whereas I actually loved visiting town, I like to recommend happening a day journey to Lake Como while you’re in Milan (even when you’re solely there for a weekend!).

The easiest way to do that is by taking the prepare from Milan Central to Varenna. This is among the hottest cities close to Lake Como, and you too can take the ferry to different close by cities from there.

You’ll be able to try the perfect issues to do in Varenna and Bellagio in my separate guides.

One Day in Milan Map

Right here’s a map of my at some point Milan itinerary – you could find extra details about every spot under:

Methods to Spend One Day in Milan

Right here is my excellent at some point Milan itinerary:

1. Have Espresso and Brioche

As a lot as pizza, pasta and gelato are a part of Italy’s well-known delicacies, so is espresso. Italians love their espresso, and a typical breakfast in Milan consists of a espresso and pastry (referred to as “brioche” or “cornetto”, to not be confused with the French brioche!).

In Italy, it’s additionally fairly uncommon to drink a espresso with milk every other time of day, so the morning is the right time to get your cappuccino in.

Fortunately, there are tons of bakeries and cafes to select from in Milan. So, you could wish to decide out of the lodge breakfast and begin the day like an area as a substitute.

2. Go to Piazza del Duomo & Duomo di Milano

After a espresso and a light-weight breakfast, head straight in the direction of Piazza del Duomo. Right here, you could find Duomo di Milano, the biggest Gothic cathedral on this planet. Regardless of how a lot time you might have when visiting Milan, these actually ought to be in your itinerary.

Other than being one of many essential highlights of Milan and an amazing photograph alternative, the Duomo additionally has a few of the greatest views within the metropolis. Relying on what ticket you purchase, you need to use the steps or the elevate to get to the Duomo terraces.

Reserving Tickets for Duomo

Whereas it’s doable to purchase tickets on the Duomo to go to the cathedral and its gorgeous rooftops, traces get very lengthy. It’s, in spite of everything, one in every of Milan’s most well-known vacationer points of interest. To avoid wasting your self plenty of time (which you actually don’t have while you solely have at some point to see Milan!), it’s greatest to pre-book skip-the-line tickets prematurely.

They don’t price greater than your common ticket, however pre-booking them saves lots of time while you’re in Milan. When reserving the rooftop tickets, you’ll be able to select between the stairs (the cheaper choice) or the elevate (barely costlier).

Understand that this ticket doesn’t embrace a guided tour, however you’ll be able to choose an audio tour when reserving the ticket.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to e-book a totally guided tour by means of Milan, which incorporates skip-the-line tickets for each Duomo di Milano and Da Vinci’s “The Final Supper”.

3. (Window) Store in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

One other sight you’ll be able to go to from Piazza del Duomo is the well-known Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The title is sort of a mouthful, however this fantastically embellished purchasing centre is the oldest mall within the nation.

Other than all of the well-known model shops, corresponding to Gucci, Dior and Prada, the gallery has a surprising glass dome as a part of its roof in the course of the gallery. Though these retailers could also be out of your funds vary (they certainly are for me!), it’s nonetheless value strolling by means of the gallery. The structure and delightful decorations are an actual deal with!

4. Go to Piazza della Scala

For those who stroll from Piazza del Duomo by means of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, you’ll attain a beautiful little sq. referred to as Piazza della Scala – the following cease on our itinerary. On this sq., you could find the legendary opera home, the sq. is called after; La Scala. With the crimson velvet containers, closely embellished partitions and a ravishing chandelier, this opera home is a real masterpiece.

It’s doable to go and see a efficiency at La Scala, however tickets aren’t all the time the most affordable. Plus, when you’re on a good schedule, it might not be the most suitable choice to take action. 

For those who’re not too bothered to see an precise efficiency in La Scala, however you’d nonetheless wish to take a peek into the attractive corridor, you’ll be able to e-book a tour of La Scala. As soon as once more, it’s greatest to pre-book tickets to keep away from lengthy queues.

Other than the opera home, Piazza della Scala homes two extra vital landmarks. Palazzo della Banca Commerciale is among the nation’s oldest banks and Palazzo Marino is town corridor.

A simple, time-efficient and budget-friendly option to discover Milan is by reserving a free strolling tour. There are a number of obtainable in Milan however most take round 2 hours and present you all the perfect bits of town, together with plenty of tales and data you could not be capable of discover in any other case!

5. Stroll By way of Brera District

Our subsequent spotlight of the day is Castello Sforzesco. And whereas you will get a metro to the citadel from close to Piazza della Scala, I like to recommend strolling. The stroll will take you thru the Brera district and can solely take round quarter-hour.

This boho-chic a part of Milan is crammed with cobbled streets, small courtyards, designer boutiques, artwork galleries and numerous eating places. It’s the right spot for a fast lunch earlier than persevering with together with your day in Milan.

And ensure to have somewhat stroll across the space after lunch – there are some actual hidden gems right here!

Surprise if you are able to do Milan on a funds? I’ve damaged down my actual spending on my weekend journey to Milan in a separate article.

6. Discover Castello Sforzesco

Within the afternoon, it’s time to discover Milan’s citadel. It’s the former residence of Francesco Sforza, the Duke of Milan within the fifteenth century.

Elements of the citadel are free to go to, together with the courtyard. The street from the entrance of the citadel partitions to Sempione Park can be free and provides you a beautiful first impression of the citadel, good for doing Milan on a funds!

There’s a museum within the citadel too, however you do need to pay to enter it. You’ll be able to pre-book tickets and get an audioguide with them.

7. Wander By way of Sempione Park & Arco della Tempo

Whether or not you resolve to go to the citadel museum or not, make certain to stroll to the tip of the citadel throughout your go to to get to Sempione Park. That is the biggest park in Milan and is totally free to go to. Particularly on sunny days, it’s an amazing spot to sit down down and calm down somewhat.

On the finish of the park, you too can discover Arco della Tempo (Arch of Peace) – a triumphal arch constructed within the nineteenth century. As you’ll be able to see, it is similar to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe – however both means, it’s a ravishing landmark in Milan that deserves a fast go to.

8. See Da Vinci’s “The Final Supper”

 ​Milan is understood for a lot of issues, however Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Final Supper” must be one of many prime issues to do within the metropolis. Yow will discover this stunning piece of artwork within the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. However, as you’ll be able to think about, it tends to get fairly busy.

Pre-booking tickets for “The Final Supper” is important. You’ll be able to’t merely present up and purchase a ticket on the door, as tickets are normally bought out weeks (if not months) prematurely. For those who’re set on visiting the mural, e-book as quickly as doable to keep away from disappointment. Alternatively, you’ll be able to e-book a totally guided tour by means of Milan, which incorporates skip-the-line tickets to each the Duomo and “The Final Supper”.

Methods to Get Round Milan

Milan is sort of a big metropolis, and when you’re on a good schedule, you gained’t have time to stroll from A to B consistently. Fortunately, Milan’s public transport could be very straightforward to make use of.

I like to recommend utilizing the metro to get round Milan, because the stops are all situated close to the highlights on this itinerary. Plus, you need to use your financial institution card to pay contactless as a substitute of getting to purchase particular person tickets consistently.

One Day in Milan – Conclusion

And that concludes my Milan itinerary. Whereas I actually loved my day in Milan, I do assume it’s value taking a visit to Lake Como while you’re within the metropolis. That’s why I’ve put this itinerary collectively – it provides you greater than sufficient time to see Milan’s highlights whereas additionally having the ability to take a while to see all the opposite stunning locations close to town.