4 Days in Milan: Itinerary With Map

1. 1

   Start here · Attraction · Cathedral

   Duomo di Milano & rooftops

   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: Book a timed rooftop ticket online. Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the cathedral.

   2 hours

   Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milano

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   110 m · 1 min walk

2. 2

   Stop 2 · Attraction · Shopping arcade

   Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

   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: Walk through the arcade to reach Piazza della Scala.

   45 min

   Piazza del Duomo, 20123 Milano

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   310 m · 4 min walk

3. 3

   Stop 3 · Attraction · Square

   Piazza della Scala

   Walk out the north end of the Galleria into Piazza della Scala. In the middle stands the 1872 statue of Leonardo da Vinci with four of his pupils. On one side is Teatro alla Scala, Milan's world famous opera house, and opposite is Palazzo Marino, the city hall. The La Scala museum lets you see costumes and instruments and, when there is no rehearsal, look into the theatre from a box.

   30 min to 1 hour

   Piazza della Scala, 20121 Milano

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   480 m · 6 min walk

4. 4

   Stop 4 · Area · Shopping street

   Via Montenapoleone

   Milan's most famous luxury shopping street and the heart of the Quadrilatero della Moda fashion district. The flagship stores of the big fashion houses sit inside old palazzi. Window shopping is free, and the historic Pasticceria Cova is a classic stop for coffee and a pastry.

   Tip: Walk on through the fashion district to Via della Spiga.

   1 to 2 hours

   Via Monte Napoleone, 20121 Milano

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   330 m · 5 min walk

5. 5

   Stop 5 · Area · Shopping street

   Via della Spiga

   A quiet, mostly pedestrian street on the north side of the fashion district, lined with designer boutiques and jewellers. It feels calmer than Via Montenapoleone and is a nice place to end the day.

   1 hour

   Via della Spiga, 20121 Milano

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Day 1 total: 1.2 km between stops

1. 6

   Stop 6 · Attraction · Neighbourhood and art museum

   Brera neighbourhood & Pinacoteca di Brera

   Start in Brera, Milan's prettiest neighbourhood, with cobbled streets like Via Fiori Chiari, small galleries and cafés. The Pinacoteca di Brera, in the Brera palace, is the city's top art gallery: see Mantegna's Lamentation over the Dead Christ, Raphael's Marriage of the Virgin and Hayez's The Kiss. Plan about two hours inside, then have lunch in Brera.

   Tip: The Pinacoteca is closed on Mondays.

   Morning and lunch

   Via Brera 28, 20121 Milano

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   620 m · 9 min walk

2. 7

   Stop 7 · Attraction · Castle

   Castello Sforzesco

   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 are free and lead straight into the park.

   1.5 hours

   Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano

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   520 m · 7 min walk

3. 8

   Stop 8 · Park & garden · Park

   Parco Sempione

   Milan's big central park, right behind Sforzesco Castle. Walk across the lawns and past the pond toward the Arco della Pace. Torre Branca, a steel tower designed by Gio Ponti, has a lift to a viewing platform over the city.

   1 hour

   Piazza Sempione, 20154 Milano

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   600 m · 8 min walk

4. 9

   Stop 9 · Attraction · Monument

   Arco della Pace

   A neoclassical triumphal arch begun for Napoleon in 1807 and finished in 1838. It stands at the far end of Parco Sempione, behind Sforzesco Castle. The streets around it are full of bars, which makes it a nice spot for a final aperitivo.

   Tip: The bars on Corso Sempione, right behind the arch, are a good place for drinks.

   Evening

   Piazza Sempione, 20154 Milano

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Day 2 total: 1.7 km between stops

1. 10

   Stop 10 · Attraction · Church and museum

   Santa Maria delle Grazie & The Last Supper

   Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper is painted on the wall of the refectory in the convent next to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and it has its own timed, ticketed entry. Visits last about 15 minutes in small groups and sell out weeks ahead, so book on the official site as soon as your dates are set. The Renaissance church itself, with its dome by Bramante, is free to enter.

   Tip: The Last Supper is closed on Mondays. Arrive 15 minutes before your time slot.

   1 hour

   Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, 20123 Milano

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   980 m · 13 min walk

2. 11

   Stop 11 · Attraction · Church

   Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

   Founded by Saint Ambrose, Milan's patron saint, in the 4th century and rebuilt in Romanesque style, this is one of the city's oldest and most beautiful churches. Look for the arcaded courtyard, the gold altar and the mosaics in the apse. Entry is free.

   45 min

   Piazza Sant'Ambrogio 15, 20123 Milano

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   860 m · 12 min walk

3. 12

   Stop 12 · Attraction · Roman ruins

   Colonne di San Lorenzo

   Sixteen Roman columns stand in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, one of the oldest churches in Milan. They are the most visible piece of Roman Milan left in the city. In the evening the square fills with students and people having a drink.

   Tip: Walk south along Corso di Porta Ticinese, past vintage shops and the medieval Porta Ticinese gate.

   30 min

   Corso di Porta Ticinese, 20123 Milano

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   790 m · 11 min walk

4. 13

   Stop 13 · Area · Old harbour

   Darsena

   The Darsena is Milan's old harbour, where the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals meet. The waterfront was redone for Expo 2015 and is a popular place for an evening walk, with the covered Mercato Comunale on the water's edge.

   30 min

   Darsena, 20143 Milano

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   630 m · 8 min walk

5. 14

   Stop 14 · Area · Canal

   Naviglio Grande

   The oldest of Milan's canals, with bars, restaurants and small shops on both banks. Walk west from the Darsena past Vicolo dei Lavandai, an old washhouse lane, then pick a spot for aperitivo and dinner. On the last Sunday of most months the canal hosts a big antiques market.

   Tip: Aperitivo here usually starts around 18:00.

   Evening

   Vicolo dei Lavandai, 20144 Milano

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Day 3 total: 3.3 km between stops

1. 15

   Stop 15 · Area · Pedestrian street

   Corso Como

   A pedestrian street running from Porta Garibaldi up to the Porta Nuova towers, with bars, restaurants and the 10 Corso Como concept store, gallery and café. Garibaldi FS station (M2 and M5) is at the start of the street.

   Tip: Take the metro (M2 or M5) to Garibaldi FS, at the start of Corso Como.

   45 min

   Corso Como, Milano

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   250 m · 4 min walk

2. 16

   Stop 16 · Attraction · Square

   Piazza Gae Aulenti

   The raised round square at the centre of Porta Nuova, Milan's modern business district. It is ringed by glass towers, with the spire of the UniCredit Tower rising above it, and fountains that children love to run through in summer.

   30 min

   Piazza Gae Aulenti, Milano

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   310 m · 4 min walk

3. 17

   Stop 17 · Park & garden · Park

   BAM / Biblioteca degli Alberi park

   The Library of Trees is a free public park that opened in 2018 between Porta Nuova and Isola. Paths cross lawns, flower beds and groups of different tree species, with the skyscrapers all around. It is the best spot to see the Bosco Verticale.

   Tip: Walk through the park toward the Bosco Verticale.

   45 min

   Via Gaetano de Castillia 28, 20124 Milano

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   280 m · 4 min walk

4. 18

   Stop 18 · Attraction · Architecture

   Bosco Verticale

   The Vertical Forest is a pair of residential towers designed by Stefano Boeri, covered in trees and plants on every balcony. They are private homes, so you see them from outside. Look up from Via Gaetano de Castillia or from BAM park next door.

   Tip: These are private homes. View the towers from outside.

   20 min

   Via Gaetano de Castillia 11, 20124 Milano

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   380 m · 5 min walk

5. 19

   Stop 19 · Area · Neighbourhood

   Isola neighbourhood

   A former working-class neighbourhood just north of Porta Nuova, now known for street art, small bars and good restaurants. Wander around Via Borsieri and Piazza Tito Minniti, then stay for dinner.

   Evening and dinner

   Piazza Tito Minniti, 20159 Milano

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Day 4 total: 1.2 km between stops