Milan is Italy’s style capital and a city of many lives—Roman Mediolanum, Renaissance powerhouse, industrial hub, and today a global center for fashion, design, and contemporary culture. In three days you can trace that arc from Gothic spires to cutting-edge galleries, pause for an aperitivo along Leonardo’s canals, and slip away for a glittering day on Lake Como.

Expect superlative art (Leonardo’s The Last Supper), soaring architecture (the Duomo’s marble forest and rooftop), and grand shopping arcades where cafés have poured espresso for a century. Neighborhoods like Brera and Navigli entice with cobbled lanes, independent boutiques, and evenings that start with spritzes and continue with convivial trattorie.

Practical notes: book Last Supper tickets well ahead and dress modestly for churches (shoulders/knees covered). Milan’s metro and trams are reliable, tap-to-pay friendly, and a single ride is about €2.20. Watch for pickpockets in busy areas around the Duomo and Centrale. Museums often close on Mondays; many restaurants close Sunday night or Monday.

Milan

Milan is a dazzling mix of Gothic drama, haute couture, and modern Italian life. It rewards curiosity—peek into courtyards off Via Montenapoleone, detour for a pastry that locals actually eat (hint: at Pavé or Marchesi), and let late afternoons unspool into leisurely aperitivo along the Navigli canals.

Top highlights include the Duomo and its rooftop, the 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala opera house, Sforza Castle with green Parco Sempione, the Brera district’s Pinacoteca, and contemporary hot spots like Fondazione Prada. Food-wise, try risotto alla milanese, ossobuco, cotoletta, panzerotti, and a Negroni Sbagliato where it was popularized—Bar Basso.

Getting to Milan (bookings):

• Flights within or to/from Europe: search and compare on Omio. Many routes land at Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), or Bergamo (BGY). From MXP, the Malpensa Express to Cadorna or Centrale takes ~50 minutes; from LIN, Metro M4 reaches Duomo in ~20 minutes.
• Trains in Europe: high-speed Frecciarossa and Italo link Milan with major cities—Rome (~3 hours), Florence (~1h55), Venice (~2h15), Zurich (~3h30). Check schedules and fares on Omio Trains. Buses are a budget alternative via Omio Buses.

Where to stay (handpicked options + search):

• Hotel Principe di Savoia (classic grand hotel, spa, easy for Centrale/Cadorna): Check availability.
• Room Mate Giulia (design-forward steps from the Duomo and Galleria): Check availability.
• UNAHOTELS Cusani Milano (between the Duomo and Sforza Castle; great tram/metro links): Check availability.
• Ostello Bello (beloved social hub near the Duomo; private rooms and dorms): Check availability.
• Browse more hotels: Milan on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.

Day 1: Duomo, Galleria, Brera art, and Navigli aperitivo

Morning: Travel to Milan and drop bags at your hotel. Kickstart with a proper Milanese breakfast: try Pavé (buttery croissants, seasonal pastries) or Marchesi 1824 (elegant pasticceria with perfect espresso). Wander into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to admire mosaics and soaring glass; look up at the ironwork and peek at historic cafés under the arcade.

Afternoon: Dive into Milan’s icons with this efficient small-group experience that pairs the cathedral and Leonardo:

• Milan Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour — skip queues at both sites with a guide who unpacks centuries of history and symbolism.

  

After the tour, ascend to the Duomo rooftop (part of many guided options) to walk among spires and spot the golden Madonnina. Lunch on the go: snag hot, just-fried panzerotti at Luini by the Duomo or grab a crispy slice from Pizzeria Spontini.

Evening: Stroll Brera’s cobbled streets and art galleries; if time allows, the Pinacoteca di Brera houses masterpieces by Caravaggio and Mantegna. Head to Navigli for aperitivo along the canals—try MAG Café (inventive cocktails), Rita (seasonal spritzes), or Backdoor43 (tiny, theatrical). Dinner ideas: Nerino Dieci (lively trattoria; book ahead), Trippa (market-driven Milanese—tough reservation, worth trying), or Ratanà (modern takes on risotto and cotoletta in a historic railway house). Cap the night with gelato at Il Massimo del Gelato or Cioccolatitaliani.

Day 2: Lake Como & Bellagio day trip (full day)

Today is devoted to Italy’s most glamorous lake—mountains plunging to deep water, elegant villas, and pastel villages. It’s an easy and unforgettable escape from Milan.

• Lake Como & Bellagio Day Trip with Private Boat Cruise — a well-paced excursion with time in Como town, a scenic cruise, and Bellagio’s stepped lanes.

  

Fuel up early near Milano Centrale: Gelsomina (ricotta cakes, maritozzi) or Panificio Davide Longoni (sourdough pastries). On the lake, browse Como’s waterfront piazzas, then cruise past storybook villas. In Bellagio, sample lake fish pasta or a light lunch on Salita Serbelloni; if time remains, visit the gardens at Villa Melzi.

Return to Milan by evening. Celebrate back in the city with an aperitivo at Bar Basso (home of the Sbagliato) or a skyline view at Ceresio 7. Dinner picks: Langosteria (top-tier seafood in Navigli), Da Giacomo (old-school elegance), or Casa Tua Osteria (intimate, homestyle dishes). Reserve ahead for all three.

Day 3: Castles, opera, design, and a hands-on cooking finale

Morning: Walk the grand axis from Sforza Castle into Parco Sempione, ending at Arco della Pace. Coffee stop at Pasticceria Cucchi (classic counter service) or Orsonero Coffee (specialty roaster). Dip into Milan’s design and fashion heritage around the Quadrilatero: window-shop Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, then step inside the Galleria again to see it at a quieter hour.

Afternoon: Explore Italy’s temple of opera with an expert guide—perfect even if you’re not seeing a performance:

• La Scala Theatre and Museum guided experience — history, star singers, and velvet-and-gilt glamour in the heart of the city.

  

Lunch nearby at Peck (gourmet counters and a polished café), or head to Eataly Smeraldo for a fast, flavorful bite. If modern art calls, swap in Fondazione Prada (don’t miss Bar Luce, Wes Anderson’s pastel café) before your evening class.

Evening: End your trip by cooking Italian favorites in a convivial class with wine:

• Milan: Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine — learn hands-on techniques and sit down to your homemade feast.

  

If you’re departing this afternoon, do a shorter loop: coffee near your hotel, a quick stroll through the Brera Botanical Garden, and a final sfogliatella to-go. Otherwise, toast your last night with a craft concoction at Nottingham Forest or a riverside spritz in Navigli.

Cafés, bites, and drinks to bookmark:

• Coffee/pastry: Pavé, Marchesi 1824, Gelsomina, Orsonero Coffee.
• Quick eats: Luini (panzerotti), Pizzeria Spontini (thick, caramelized-edge slices), Mercato Centrale Milano (varied stalls inside Centrale station).
• Sit-down classics: Trippa, Ratanà, Nerino Dieci, Da Giacomo, Osteria del Treno.
• Aperitivo/cocktails: Bar Basso, MAG Café, Rita, Nottingham Forest, Ceresio 7.
• Gelato: Il Massimo del Gelato, Cioccolatitaliani.

Logistics & tips:

• Airport transfers: MXP to Centrale/Cadorna by Malpensa Express (~50 minutes). LIN connects by Metro M4 (~20 minutes to Duomo). BGY has shuttle buses to Centrale (~50 minutes). Buy transport tickets on machines or tap contactless at metro gates.
• Museum timing: The Last Supper has timed entries and often sells out—book early (tours with allocated slots are the most reliable). Many museums close on Monday.
• Dress code: Shoulders and knees covered for church interiors; carry a scarf/light layer.
• Day trip costs: Organized Como/Bellagio tours typically run a full day; self-guided options via Omio Trains can be cost-effective if you plan ahead.

Optional alternatives for Day 2 if you prefer the Alps to Como:

• Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz Tour from Milan — a UNESCO-listed rail route with glacier views.

  

To fine-tune travel times or book arrivals/departures into Milan, compare options on Omio Flights and Omio Trains. For hotels, browse Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO.

In three days, Milan reveals its layers—Gothic stone and Renaissance genius, runway flair and easygoing ritual. You’ll leave with rooftop views etched in memory, the taste of saffron risotto lingering, and a longing to return for one more golden-hour spritz along the canals.