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Milan Cathedral and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on Piazza del Duomo in early morning light
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One Day in Milan: What to Do and See

What to see in Milan in one day: a 7-stop route from the Duomo to aperitivo on the Navigli, with a map, walking times and directions.

  • Milan, Italy
  • 1 day · 7 stops
  • Updated
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The 7 stops

  • 3 min walk

  • 3 min walk

  • 12 min walk

  • 9 min walk

  • 22 min by metro (33 min walk)

  • 37 min by metro (50 min walk)

What to do in Milan in one day? Start at the Duomo, walk through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to La Scala, have lunch in Brera, then see Sforzesco Castle, the CityLife towers and end the day with aperitivo on the Navigli canals.

The first five stops are all within about 2.5 km of each other in the historic centre. The whole route is about 8 km and 1 hour 50 minutes of walking, plus time at each stop. To save your legs, take the metro for the last leg from CityLife to the Navigli.

Is one day in Milan enough? It is enough to see the main sights on this list. With a second day, add The Last Supper (booked ahead), the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Isola district.

Milan's top sights in one day

From the Duomo to the Navigli. About 8 km on foot in total, so wear comfortable shoes.

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  1. Start here · Attraction · Cathedral

    Terraces daily 9:00 to 19:00 (last entry 18:00)

    Milan Cathedral is the city's number one sight, a white marble Gothic church begun in 1386 with 135 spires. Arrive at 8:00 for photos of the façade before the square fills up. The cathedral and the rooftop terraces open at 9:00. Go up by stairs or lift to walk among the spires and see the gold Madonnina statue up close.

    Tip: Buy a timed rooftop ticket online the day before. Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the cathedral.

    1.5 hours
    Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milano
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  2. Stop 2 · Attraction · Shopping arcade

    Next to the Duomo, this glass-roofed arcade from the 1860s and 1870s is one of the oldest shopping galleries in the world. Walk under the central dome, look at the mosaic floor and window shop the luxury brands. Entry is free and it is open around the clock.

    Tip: Find the bull mosaic under the dome. Spinning on your heel on it is said to bring good luck.

    45 minutes
    Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milano
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  3. Stop 3 · Attraction · Opera house

    Museum daily 9:30 to 17:30 (last entry 17:00)

    Walk out the other end of the Galleria to Teatro alla Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world, opened in 1778. The museum shows costumes, instruments and portraits of composers like Verdi, and your ticket usually includes a look into the theatre hall from one of the boxes.

    Tip: The view into the hall is only possible when there is no rehearsal. Check the museum's theatre visibility page before you go.

    45 minutes
    Largo Antonio Ghiringhelli 1, 20121 Milano
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  4. Stop 4 · Area · Neighbourhood

    Brera is Milan's prettiest neighbourhood, with cobbled streets like Via Fiori Chiari, small galleries and cafés. Wander until lunch at 13:30 and order a Milanese classic: risotto alla milanese with saffron or cotoletta alla milanese, a breaded veal cutlet. The Pinacoteca di Brera, the city's main art gallery, is here too.

    Tip: The Pinacoteca di Brera is closed on Mondays.

    3 hours with lunch
    Via Fiori Chiari, 20121 Milano
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  5. Stop 5 · Attraction · Castle

    The 15th century castle of the Sforza dukes is a 10 minute walk from Brera. The courtyards are free to walk around. Inside, the civic museums include Michelangelo's last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà. Behind the castle, Parco Sempione is a good place for a break.

    Tip: The castle museums are closed on Mondays. The courtyards stay open.

    1 hour
    Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano
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    Take the metro: M1 metro from Cairoli to Amendola (5 stops), about 22 min.

    Walking takes 33 min (2.4 km).

    Public transport directions Taxi with Uber

  6. Stop 6 · Area · Modern architecture

    See the modern side of Milan at CityLife, where three skyscrapers by Arata Isozaki, Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind stand around Piazza Tre Torri. Locals call them Il Dritto (the straight one), Lo Storto (the twisted one) and Il Curvo (the curved one). There is a park and a shopping centre at their base.

    Tip: It's about a 35 minute walk from the castle. Tre Torri metro station (M5) is right under the towers.

    1 hour
    Piazza Tre Torri, 20145 Milano
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    Take the metro: M5 metro from Tre Torri to Garibaldi FS, then M2 to Porta Genova, about 37 min.

    Walking takes 50 min (3.7 km).

    Public transport directions Taxi with Uber

  7. Stop 7 · Area · Canals and aperitivo

    End the day at the Darsena, where the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals meet. From around 18:00 the canal-side bars fill up for aperitivo, Milan's early evening drink served with snacks. Walk along the Naviglio Grande and stop at Vicolo dei Lavandai, an old washhouse lane.

    Tip: Walking from CityLife takes about 50 minutes. The metro is faster: M5 to Garibaldi FS, then M2 to Porta Genova.

    Evening
    Darsena, 20143 Milano
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Recommended hotels

Where to stay in Milan

Park Hyatt Milan

Next to the Galleria

€€€€

Best for: Luxury

Five-star hotel steps from the Duomo and La Scala, so you can start the route without travel time.

Check prices

Room Mate Giulia

Duomo

€€€

Best for: Location

Design hotel on Via Silvio Pellico, a one minute walk from Piazza del Duomo.

Check prices

Ostello Bello Milano Duomo

Near the Duomo

€

Best for: Budget

Popular hostel with private rooms and dorms, about 10 minutes on foot from the cathedral.

Check prices

Recommended activities

Things to do in Milan

1.5 hours

Duomo rooftop and cathedral tour

Skip the line with a guide and walk among the spires on the terraces.

Book

1 hour

The Last Supper guided visit

See Leonardo da Vinci's mural at Santa Maria delle Grazie. Tickets are limited, so book early.

Book

3 hours

Navigli aperitivo and food tour

Taste Milanese food and drinks along the canals with a local guide.

Book

Before you go

Good to know

Wear comfortable shoes
The full route is about 8 km on foot, much of it on cobblestones.
Best time to visit Milan
April to June and September to October have mild weather and fewer crowds than summer.
Avoid Mondays for museums
The Pinacoteca di Brera and the Sforzesco Castle museums are closed on Mondays.
Book The Last Supper early
If you want to add Leonardo's Last Supper, it is a 15 minute walk from Sforzesco Castle, but tickets sell out weeks ahead.

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