Milan is Italy’s engine room—Roman roots, Renaissance brilliance, and an ever-forward stride into design and fashion. Its Gothic cathedral spikes the sky, while sleek glass towers rise over 19th-century arcades. You’ll sip a Negroni Sbagliato where it was born and stand before Leonardo’s most enigmatic masterpiece.

Beyond the headlines, Milan rewards lingerers: hushed cloisters, intimate courtyards, artisan bakeries, and small museums brimming with Old Master canvases. Evenings belong to aperitivo, when canals glow and conversation hums from Navigli to Brera.

Practical notes: Milan works on foot, metro, and vintage trams; contactless cards tap you through. Book Duomo rooftops and The Last Supper well ahead. Expect refined Lombard cuisine—risotti, ossobuco, and silky vitello tonnato—balanced by excellent espresso and gelato on every corner.

Milan

Milan pairs headline sights with everyday pleasures. Start at the Duomo and its marble rooftop; step beneath the iron-and-glass vaults of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Wander to La Scala, the elegant Brera lanes, the red-brick ramparts of Sforza Castle, and the leafy Parco Sempione.

Modern Milan shines around Porta Nuova with the vertiginous Bosco Verticale and the Biblioteca degli Alberi park. South, contemporary art and cinema meet at Fondazione Prada and pastel-toned Bar Luce.

• Why visit: The Last Supper, Duomo rooftop vistas, world-class shopping, opera, design, and day trips to Lake Como.
• What to eat: Saffron risotto, cotoletta alla milanese, mondeghili meatballs, and fruity nebbiolo from Lombardy’s hills.
• Fun fact: The classic Negroni Sbagliato—a “mistaken” Negroni with prosecco—was popularized at Milan’s Bar Basso.

Getting to Milan

• Flights (within Europe): Many direct options to MXP (Malpensa), LIN (Linate), and BGY (Bergamo). Compare and book on Omio. Sample times/prices: Paris 1h30 from ~$50–$150; London 2h from ~$60–$180 (seasonal).
• Flights (long-haul): For routes from North America or Asia, search flexible itineraries on Kiwi.com or Trip.com.
• Trains (Italy/Europe): High-speed lines make arrivals easy. Book on Omio. Examples: Rome→Milan 2h55 ($40–$100); Venice→Milan 2h25 ($25–$60); Zurich→Milan ~3h15 ($45–$110).
• Airport to city: Malpensa Express 50 min (~€13) to Cadorna/Centrale; Linate M4 metro ~15 min to San Babila; Bergamo shuttle 50–60 min (~€10) to Centrale.

Where to stay (Milan)

• Search all stays: VRBO Milan | Hotels.com Milan
• Hotel Principe di Savoia (classic glamour near Porta Nuova): Book on Hotels.com
• Room Mate Giulia (design-forward steps from the Duomo): Book on Hotels.com
• UNAHOTELS Cusani Milano (between Brera and Castello Sforzesco): Book on Hotels.com
• Ostello Bello (top-rated social hostel; private rooms too): Book on Hotels.com

Day 1: Arrival, Duomo First Glance, Brera Aperitivo

Morning: Travel to Milan. If arriving via train, Milano Centrale puts you minutes from the metro and taxis. Pick up a 90-minute ATM ticket (around €2.20) or a day pass if you’ll be hopping around.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs with an orientation walk: Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral’s intricate facade, and the arcades of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Pause for an espresso at Marchesi 1824 under the Galleria’s frescoed ceilings, or sample a warm panzerotto at Luini (a Milanese street-food classic since the 1940s).

Evening: Aperitivo in Brera—try N’Ombra de Vin (deep wine list in a historic cellar) or Rita’s Tiki Room by the canal for something playful. Dinner ideas: Trippa (cult trattoria; book well ahead for seasonal offal and perfect saffron risotto), Ratanà (modern Lombard cooking in a restored 19th-century building), or Osteria del Binari (romantic courtyard near Navigli). For gelato, seek Il Massimo del Gelato’s bold chocolate lineup.

Day 2: Duomo Rooftop, The Last Supper, Sforza Castle

Morning: Climb the Duomo terraces early for flying-buttress views and spiky marble close-ups; budget €15–€30 depending on lift/stairs and combos. Then join a small-group experience that covers the Duomo and Leonardo’s mural with timed-entry access.

Milan Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour: Maximize time and secure hard-to-get slots for Santa Maria delle Grazie. Guides decode symbolism and restoration, adding context you’d otherwise miss.

Afternoon: Cross to the red-brick Castello Sforzesco to browse the courtyards and museums (Michelangelo’s unfinished Rondanini Pietà is here), then stroll Parco Sempione to the Arco della Pace. For lunch, try Panificio Pattini for focacce and tarts, or Casa Tua Osteria in Brera for a light pasta and a glass of Franciacorta.

Evening: If you’re a music lover, deepen the theme with a guided look inside the temple of opera.

La Scala Theatre and Museum guided experience: See the gilded boxes, learn the house’s lore, and peek at historic costumes and scores. Dinner nearby at Da Giacomo (old-school atmosphere, superb seafood) or Giacomo Bistrot (retro-chic). Nightcap at Bar Basso—the Negroni Sbagliato original.

Day 3: Fashion, Brera Art, and a Hands-On Cooking Class

Morning: Coffee at Pavé (buttery croissants, excellent cappuccino) before browsing the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga). Pop into the Museo Poldi Pezzoli for jewel-like Renaissance paintings and arms, or the Pinacoteca di Brera for Bellini, Mantegna, and Caravaggio.

Afternoon: Lunch at LuBar (Sicilian-influenced light plates in a winter garden vibe) or at Risoelatte (1960s-themed trattoria, creamy risotti). Explore hidden courtyards off Corso Garibaldi and Corso Como; swing by the Rinascente rooftop food hall for views of the Duomo spires with a mid-afternoon espresso.

Evening: Swap spectating for stirring with a convivial small-group class—fresh pasta, tiramisù, and wine with new friends.

Milan: Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine: Learn classic techniques you’ll bring home. If you prefer to dine out, Dry Milano pairs excellent pizza with craft cocktails; Nottingham Forest is a legend for theatrical mixology.

Day 4: Full-Day Lake Como & Bellagio (from Milan)

Trade city streets for mountain-lake drama on a curated day trip—villas, cypresses, and a private boat cruise gliding between jewel-box towns. It’s a classic Lombardy outing and a feast for photographers.

Lake Como & Bellagio Day Trip with Private Boat Cruise: Expect an early start and an evening return. Pack layers for lake breezes. Back in Milan, celebrate with cotoletta at Al Garghet (country-house feel) or pasta and lambrusco at Miscusi if you’re craving casual.

Day 5: Porta Nuova Skyline, Bosco Verticale, Fondazione Prada

Morning: Espresso at Orsonero Coffee (specialty roasts), then a walking loop through Porta Nuova: Piazza Gae Aulenti’s ringed fountains, the Unicredit Tower, and the tree-draped Bosco Verticale. Continue to the Biblioteca degli Alberi’s geometric lawns.

Afternoon: Head south to Fondazione Prada—contemporary exhibits in a reimagined distillery, plus the Rem Koolhaas–designed Torre. Pause at Bar Luce (Wes Anderson–styled) for a pastel pastry and spritz. Lunch options nearby: Trattoria Torricelli for daily specials or a quick, quality bite at Pizzium (seasonal pizza toppings, friendly prices).

Evening: Dine at Ratanà (if you missed it earlier) for slow-simmered ossobuco and one of the city’s best saffron risotti. For rooftop glamour, Ceresio 7 offers twin pools and a skyline terrace—ideal for a nightcap under the stars.

Day 6: Cimitero Monumentale, Science & Tech, Navigli Night

Morning: Explore Cimitero Monumentale, an open-air sculpture park of marble chapels, Art Nouveau angels, and grand mausoleums—surprising, moving, and deeply Milanese. Ride heritage Tram 1 for a vintage city panorama.

Afternoon: At the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, see models from Leonardo’s notebooks and Italy’s industrial heritage. Grab lunch at Mercato Centrale Milano (top-floor stalls like Trapizzino and fresh pasta counters) and a coffee at Cafezal Roastery near Porta Venezia.

Evening: Stroll the Navigli canals at golden hour for a proper aperitivo crawl. Try Mag Café (mixology temple), then dinner at Osteria del Binari (seasonal Milanese) or Al Pont de Ferr (inventive plates on the canal). Finish with live jazz at Blue Note Milano in Isola if you’re in the mood for music.

Day 7: Hidden Courtyards, Last Bites, Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Pavé Break or Gelsomina (lovely maritozzi and cannoli). Seek out cloistered calm in the courtyards of the Università Cattolica or the Bramante-influenced cloisters near Sant’Ambrogio. If Sunday, Brera’s artisan stands add extra color.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping: 10 Corso Como for fashion and design books, or the food hall at Eataly Smeraldo for edible souvenirs (rice for risotto, candied chestnuts, Piedmontese chocolates). Depart for the airport: Malpensa Express (~50 min), Linate M4 metro (~15 min), or coach to Bergamo as needed.

Evening: If your flight’s late, wrap with a final gelato at Gelateria della Musica and a quick Negroni Sbagliato salute to Milan’s effortless style.

Optional Add-Ons and Alternatives (swap into any day)

• Como, Lugano & Bellagio in one go: Prefer crossing into Switzerland as well? Consider a small-group outing with ferry time and boutique browsing: Italy and Switzerland Day Trip.
• San Siro Stadium Tour: Football fans can tour the storied home of AC Milan and Inter (when schedules permit), including locker rooms and the museum.
• Bergamo or Pavia by train: Both under an hour. Book on Omio. Bergamo’s Città Alta is a walled hill town; Pavia has a magnificent Certosa monastery and a lively university vibe.

Practical Tips

• Reservations: Trippa, Da Giacomo, and popular cocktail bars book out—reserve as early as you can.
• Tickets: The Last Supper releases times months ahead; if sold out, a guided tour with tickets included (see above) is the most reliable path.
• Transport: Contactless cards work on metro/trams; validate on buses/trams. Taxis are easiest hailed at stands or by app; many center streets are pedestrian.

Viator activities featured above (images and links included):

• Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour
• La Scala Theatre and Museum guided experience
• Milan: Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine
• Lake Como & Bellagio Day Trip with Private Boat Cruise

In a week, you’ll have seen Milan from cathedral rooftops to canal-side aperitivi, traced Leonardo’s brushstrokes, cooked with locals, and sailed past villas on Lake Como. It’s a city that reveals itself in layers—historic, creative, and delicious—inviting you back for the next chapter.