How many days · Milan · Italy
How many days do you need in Milan?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paolobon140, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for Milan, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the Duomo and its roof, the Galleria, La Scala, The Last Supper, the Sforza Castle and an evening on the Navigli. A third day adds Brera, Porta Nuova and Fondazione Prada; add a day for Lake Como or Bergamo.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 8.7 h (Dec) to 15.7 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces, The Last Supper, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Sforza Castle |
| 2 days | Good | Sforza Castle, Teatro alla Scala and Pinacoteca di Brera |
| 3 days | Ideal | Navigli canals, Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace and Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Lake Como |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Lake Como and Bergamo |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Milan add up to roughly 14–17 hours of visiting time — about 2 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Navigli canals (2–3 hours), Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces (2 hours) and Sforza Castle (1.5–2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces | 2 hours | Centro Storico |
| The Last Supper | 15 minutes inside, 45 minutes total | Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio |
| Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II | 30 minutes | Centro Storico |
| Sforza Castle | 1.5–2 hours | Brera |
| Teatro alla Scala | 1 hour for the museum | Centro Storico |
| Pinacoteca di Brera | 2 hours | Brera |
| Navigli canals | 2–3 hours | Navigli |
| Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace | 1–2 hours | Brera |
| Pinacoteca and Biblioteca Ambrosiana | 1.5 hours | Centro Storico |
| Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio | 45 minutes | Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio |
| San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore | 30 minutes | Magenta and Sant'Ambrogio |
| Porta Nuova and the Bosco Verticale | 1–1.5 hours | Isola and Porta Nuova |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces and The Last Supper |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Lake Como and Bergamo |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 8.7 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15.7 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Milan with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Verona | About 141 km | 3 days |
| Cinque Terre | About 155 km | 3 days |
| Bologna | About 201 km | 3 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Milan?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the Duomo and its roof, the Galleria, La Scala, The Last Supper, the Sforza Castle and an evening on the Navigli. A third day adds Brera, Porta Nuova and Fondazione Prada; add a day for Lake Como or Bergamo.
+Is a week too long in Milan?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Lake Como and Bergamo.