Milan, Italy’s style capital, is a city of bold contrasts—Gothic pinnacles and glass towers, Renaissance genius and contemporary design. Founded by Celts and later the Roman Mediolanum, Milan blossomed under the Visconti and Sforza families; today it’s a global hub where art, fashion, finance, and food collide.

Beyond the glittering shop windows, Milan rewards the curious with intimate churches, hidden courtyards, sculptural cemeteries, and canals first engineered with input from Leonardo da Vinci. Classic Milanese flavors—risotto allo zafferano, cotoletta, ossobuco, and the city’s beloved panettone—anchor a dining scene that ranges from century-old cafés to headline-making trattorie.

Practical notes: book Da Vinci’s Last Supper weeks in advance (or secure a guided tour), expect contactless payments on the metro and trams, and remember Milan operates strict ZTL zones for drivers. Spring and fall are ideal; summers are lively, winters crisp. Tap water is safe, and aperitivo—an early evening ritual of a drink with snacks—is a local art form.

Milan

Milan is both museum and runway. Start in the marble forest of the Duomo, wander the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, then pivot to Brera’s cobblestones and contemporary galleries. North, Porta Nuova’s Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) rises above a plaza culture of cafés and cyclists, while west, CityLife’s skyline folds Zaha Hadid, Isozaki, and Libeskind into one sculptural neighborhood.

Top sights include the Duomo rooftop, Santa Maria delle Grazie (home to The Last Supper), Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione, the Brera Pinacoteca, Cimitero Monumentale, the Triennale Design Museum, and canalside Navigli for golden-hour aperitivi. Fashion lovers browse the Quadrilatero d’Oro; food lovers plan around long lunches and memorable trattorie.

• Where to stay (Hotels.com/VRBO): Browse stays on Hotels.com Milan and VRBO Milan.
• Specific picks: Classic glam at Hotel Principe di Savoia (pool/spa, near Porta Nuova); design-forward Room Mate Giulia steps from the Duomo; refined value at UNAHOTELS Cusani Milano between the castle and Brera; social, central hostel vibes at Ostello Bello.
• Getting in/around: For flights within Europe and train/bus tickets, use Omio Flights (Europe) and Omio Trains (Europe) or Omio Buses (Europe). Flying from outside Europe? Search fares on Trip.com Flights. Malpensa Express to central stations runs about 35–52 minutes; Linate’s M4 metro connects to the center in under 20 minutes. A 24-hour transit pass is roughly €8.

Day 1: Arrival, Duomo First Look, and Galleria Grandeur

Morning: Fly or train into Milan. If you arrive early, drop bags at your hotel and stretch your legs with an espresso at Marchesi 1824 (Galleria location), a historic pastry temple for fragrant cornetti and tiny fruit tarts.

Afternoon: Stroll Piazza del Duomo, then step into the soaring nave of the cathedral. If time allows, ride the lift to the Terrazze for a skyline of marble spires and the Alps on clear days. Cross into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II—19th‑century iron-and-glass elegance—to window-shop Prada and spin on the bull mosaic for good luck.

Evening: Aperitivo at Camparino in Galleria, the 1915 icon of bitter-orange glamour. Dinner at Trattoria Milanese (Via Santa Marta) for saffron risotto, ossobuco, and mondeghili meatballs, or book Trippa for modern, nose-to-tail Milanese plates in a lively room. Nightcap at Bar Basso, birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato—served in a goblet the size of your enthusiasm.

Day 2: The Last Supper, Brera Art, and Castle Greens

Morning: Join a small-group tour to see both Leonardo’s masterpiece and the city center without the ticket scramble:

Recommended tour: Milan Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour

Tickets for The Last Supper often sell out weeks ahead; guided entry secures your 15-minute viewing slot and adds rich context.

Afternoon: Lunch at Panzerotti Luini (near the Duomo) for the city’s cult stuffed pastries, then wander to Brera. Pop into the Pinacoteca di Brera for Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro power and Hayez’s romantic canvases. Coffee at Orsonero (quiet, specialty roaster) or Cafezal for a perfect flat white.

Evening: Walk through Sforza Castle and into Parco Sempione at golden hour. Dinner at Ratanà (Porta Nuova) for a superb risotto alla Milanese and seasonal Lombard dishes in a restored 19th‑century building; or Latteria San Marco for a tiny, old-school Milanese experience—cash only, simple, sublime.

Day 3: Design Districts, Navigli Canals, and a Cooking Class

Morning: Breakfast at Pavé, where buttery brioche and seasonal tarts meet impeccable espresso. Head to Porta Nuova for Bosco Verticale’s green balconies and Piazza Gae Aulenti’s fountains; architecture lovers can detour to CityLife to admire Hadid’s curvilinear tower and the surrounding park.

Afternoon: Explore the canals of Navigli Grande and Pavese—once part of Milan’s trade lifeline. Browse art studios and vintage shops, then linger over a long lunch at Osteria del Binari (warm wooden interiors, classic Milanese plates) or Al Pont de Ferr (inventive, canalside).

Evening: Learn to cook like a local with a hands-on class—fresh pasta and tiramisù, paired with wine.

Recommended class: Milan: Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine

After class, join aperitivo on the canal at Mag Cafè (craft cocktails) or Rita (inventive signatures), then grab a late pizza at Gino Sorbillo Navigli—Naples by way of Milan, with blistered crusts and San Marzano brightness.

Day 4: Day Trip — Lake Como & Bellagio by Boat

Let the Alps frame a day of villas, promenades, and sparkling water. This is a full-day experience; the tour includes transport and a private boat cruise, so lean back and enjoy the scenery.

Recommended tour: Lake Como & Bellagio Day Trip with Private Boat Cruise

Expect a guided walk in Como, a scenic cruise to Bellagio, and time to wander cobbled lanes lined with silk boutiques and gelaterie. DIY alternative: frequent trains from Milano Cadorna or Centrale to Como S. Giovanni (about 40–60 minutes) via Omio Trains (Europe), then ferries up-lake.

Dinner back in Milan near your hotel: Da Giacomo (old-world seafood and veal), or Langosteria (contemporary seafood temple) if you prefer a glamorous night out.

Day 5: Hidden Art, Fashion Streets, and La Scala

Morning: Coffee and a slice of classic panettone at Pasticceria Cova (1817 heritage). Visit San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore—the “Sistine Chapel of Milan”—for breathtaking Renaissance frescoes. Walk the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Via Montenapoleone, della Spiga) for window-shopping as performance art.

Afternoon: Tour Teatro alla Scala’s museum for opera lore and costumes, then meander to the Museo del Novecento for 20th‑century Italian masters (Boccioni, Morandi, Fontana). Lunch at Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone in a cloistered courtyard—tagliolini with truffles if in season.

Evening: Aperitivo at Nottingham Forest (playful, molecular cocktails) or the elegant backroom at Camparino. Dinner at Osteria del Treno (near Centrale) for risotti and braises, or Joia for a creative Michelin‑starred vegetarian tasting menu that still feels distinctly Italian.

Day 6: Day Trip — Bernina Express to the Swiss Alps

Trade city streets for glaciers and high viaducts on one of the world’s great rail journeys. This full-day excursion pairs a coach transfer with the panoramic Bernina Express to St. Moritz.

Recommended tour: Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St.Moritz Tour from Milan

Expect glacier views, spiral viaducts, and a stylish pause in St. Moritz before returning to Milan in the evening. If you want an alternative date or slightly different routing, consider the similar Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan.

Back in town, keep it simple: late snack at Panificio Davide Longoni (naturally leavened breads, focaccia) or a comforting cotoletta at Osteria Brunello.

Day 7: Monumental Sculptures, Modern Art, and Farewell

Morning: Breakfast at Hodeidah Torrefazione (old-school roaster aroma heaven) before a contemplative walk through Cimitero Monumentale—an open-air museum of marble angels, Art Deco mausoleums, and the Famedio memorial hall.

Afternoon: If time permits, stop by Fondazione Prada (contemporary art inside a golden tower) or Armani/Silos for fashion-as-architecture. Grab a last lunch at Piz (cheerful, quick Neapolitan pies) or Paper Moon (refined pastas near the fashion district). Pick up edible souvenirs: hazelnut gianduja, aged Parmigiano, or a tin of panettone if in season.

Evening: Departure day. If your flight or train leaves late, squeeze in one last coffee at Nowhere Café (specialty beans, minimalist vibe) and a stroll under the Galleria’s glass vaults. Head to your station or airport—book your route on Omio Trains (Europe) or Omio Flights (Europe); long-haul flyers can compare fares on Trip.com Flights.

Extra foodie experiences (optional)

• Taste Milan after dark: Milan Gourmet Tour with Starry Dinner and Exclusive Tastings for a curated progression from traditional to contemporary dishes.

Where to book your stay again: Hotels.com Milan and VRBO Milan have excellent coverage of central neighborhoods like Brera, Duomo, and Navigli.

This 7‑day Milan itinerary pairs the city’s greatest hits—Duomo rooftop, Last Supper, Brera lanes—with the lakes and Alps that crown Lombardy. Between design-forward neighborhoods and age-old trattorie, you’ll taste, see, and feel why Milan sets the tempo for modern Italy.