3 days in Milan

Day by day

1. Day 1: Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

   Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala, then Navigli canals in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces

      Begun in 1386 and finished only in the 20th century, Milan's cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world, with 135 spires and thousands of statues in pink-veined Candoglia marble.

   2. Late morning

      Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

      Walk through after dark, when the arcade is lit and much quieter than in the daytime.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Saffron risotto

      Traditional trattorias across the city; ask whether it is made with meat stock if you are vegetarian.

   4. Afternoon

      Teatro alla Scala

      Opened in 1778, La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses, where Verdi and Puccini premiered major works.

   5. Evening

      Navigli canals

      Arrive around 7pm for aperitivo, then walk the Naviglio Grande towards the Vicolo dei Lavandai as the lights come on.

2. Day 2: The Last Supper and Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

   The Last Supper, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, then Navigli and Darsena in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Last Supper

      Spend the first minutes standing at the back of the room to take in the perspective before moving closer.

   2. Late morning

      Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

      Founded by Milan's patron saint Ambrose in the 4th century and rebuilt in Romanesque style, this basilica has a colonnaded atrium, a golden altar decorated by Carolingian craftsmen and the saint's remains in the crypt.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Breaded veal cutlet

      Classic Milanese trattorias and osterie.

   4. Afternoon

      San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

      Combine it with The Last Supper, a five-minute walk away; entry is free.

   5. Evening

      Navigli and Darsena

      Canal-side bars and crowds spilling onto the towpaths, busy every night in summer.

3. Day 3: Sforza Castle and Pinacoteca di Brera

   Sforza Castle, Pinacoteca di Brera and Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace, then Corso Como and Garibaldi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sforza Castle

      The red-brick fortress of the Sforza dukes, rebuilt in the 15th century, now houses several civic museums.

   2. Late morning

      Pinacoteca di Brera

      After your visit, walk through the palazzo's courtyard to the small Brera Botanical Garden behind it.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ossobuco

      Traditional restaurants, often paired with saffron risotto.

   4. Afternoon

      Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace

      Milan's central park stretches from the Sforza Castle to the Napoleonic Arco della Pace, with lawns, a lake and playgrounds.

   5. Evening

      Corso Como and Garibaldi

      Upmarket bars and clubs with a dressy crowd near Porta Nuova.

Before you go

• Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces: Buy combined cathedral and rooftop tickets online to skip the ticket queue, especially at weekends.
• The Last Supper: Tickets are released in batches and sell out weeks or months ahead; book on the official site as early as possible or join a guided tour.
• Teatro alla Scala: Opera and ballet seats sell out early; book on the official site when the season goes on sale.

If it rains

• Swap in Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana (Centro Storico): Look for the room with the Raphael cartoon; its scale is hard to appreciate from reproductions.
• Swap in Fondazione Prada (Porta Romana): Stop at Bar Luce for coffee even if you only have time for one exhibition.
• Swap in Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology (Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio): Book the submarine tour on arrival; places are limited and children love it.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Centro Storico keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Brera ($$$$) suits couples, culture, first-timers and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 12–14 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Milan
• 2 days in Milan
• 4 days in Milan
• 5 days in Milan

Questions travellers ask