5 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

      Go up to the terraces in the late afternoon for softer light, and on clear days look north for the Alps. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

      Walk through after dark, when the arcade is lit and much quieter than in the daytime. (30 minutes, free).

   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

      For a performance on a budget, look for gallery seats or same-day tickets sold at the box office. (1 hour for the museum, low cost).

   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. (15 minutes inside, 45 minutes total, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

      Visit on 7 December, the feast of Sant'Ambrogio, when a traditional Christmas market fills the surrounding streets. (45 minutes, free).

   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. (30 minutes, 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

      If time is short, buy a ticket just for the Rondanini Pietà museum and walk the free courtyards. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Pinacoteca di Brera

      After your visit, walk through the palazzo's courtyard to the small Brera Botanical Garden behind it. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ossobuco

      Traditional restaurants, often paired with saffron risotto.

   4. Afternoon

      Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace

      Combine a castle visit with a picnic in the park and a look at the Triennale's design collection. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Corso Como and Garibaldi

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Lake Como

   About 40 minutes to 1 hour by train each way. Getting there: Train to Como or Varenna, then ferries.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Lake Como

      About 40 minutes to 1 hour by train (Train to Como or Varenna, then ferries); about 50 km.

   2. Day

      Lake Como

      Steep green mountains frame Lake Como's villas and villages. Best for couples, first-timers and luxury.

   3. Evening

      Back in Milan

      Dinner: try Mondeghili.

5. Day 5: Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana and Santa Maria presso San Satiro

   Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Santa Maria presso San Satiro and Museo del Novecento, then Porta Venezia in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana

      Look for the room with the Raphael cartoon; its scale is hard to appreciate from reproductions. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Santa Maria presso San Satiro

      Look at the apse from the entrance first, then walk to the side to see how the illusion works. (20 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mondeghili

      Osterie and wine bars with traditional menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Museo del Novecento

      Finish at the top floor, where floor-to-ceiling windows look straight onto the Duomo. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Porta Venezia

      Relaxed bars around Via Lazzaretto and the centre of Milan's LGBTQ+ nightlife.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces, The Last Supper and Teatro alla Scala before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 15–17 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Milan
• 4 days in Milan

Questions travellers ask