19 best things to do in Milan

Milan (Milano) is known worldwide for fashion, but there’s more to the city than designer shops. It’s where you’ll find Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and La Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Milan is also Italy’s main business hub, specializing in media, advertising, and design. If you’re planning a trip, here are some of the best things to do in Milan to help you get a real feel for the city.

1. Bike around the city

Milan is one of the easiest cities in Italy to see on two wheels. The ground is mostly flat, the center is compact, and BikeMi’s sharing system makes it simple to grab a bike when you need one.

A morning ride through Brera is a relaxed way to see its cobblestone lanes before the crowds arrive, while in the evening you can pedal down Corso Buenos Aires and watch people spilling out for aperitivo. Biking is a good pace for the city. You can get between landmarks quickly, but still slow down to notice details like quiet courtyards or neighborhood cafés.

2. Visit the Navigli canals

The Navigli district is built around two canals, the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese, which were once used for trade and partly designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

Today the area is home to art studios, vintage shops, and casual restaurants lined up along the water. In the evenings, people fill the canal-side bars for drinks, and in summer there are often concerts and art events.

December brings Christmas markets, while the last Sunday of each month sees the Mercatone dell’Antiquariato, a mile-long (2 km) antiques market. The mix of street art, old warehouses, and creative spaces gives the Navigli a very different feel from Milan’s fashion district and makes for a great stop on any Italy itinerary.
 

3. Have an aperitivo

Aperitivo started in Milan in the 19th century and is still part of daily life. Early in the evening, bars serve drinks with snacks. Sometimes it is just chips and olives, sometimes a full buffet with focaccia, pasta salads, and cheeses.

A Negroni or Campari Spritz is the classic order, but you can go with whatever cocktail you prefer. Brera has plenty of modern places that serve creative versions, while Porta Ticinese has bars that keep things more traditional. Aperitivo is about pausing at the end of the day and catching up with friends.

4. See the Duomo

The Duomo is the heart of Milan and one of those places you can’t miss. It took nearly six hundred years to finish, which explains why its design pulls from different periods.

The facade is covered with spires and statues, and the pale pink marble changes with the light, especially around sunset. Inside, the stained-glass windows are massive, filling the space with shifting colors. Down in the crypt you can see the tomb of Saint Charles Borromeo.

The real highlight, though, is going up to the rooftop. Walking between the carvings gives you a close look at details you would never notice from below, and you get wide views of the city. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Milan.

Look out for the Madonnina, the golden statue of the Virgin Mary on the highest spire, which has been a symbol of Milan since the 1700s. For a long time, no building in the city was allowed to be taller than her.
 

5. The Last Supper

Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper covers a wall in the old dining hall of Santa Maria delle Grazie. He painted it in an unusual way, on dry plaster instead of wet, which gave him more freedom but made the work fragile.

What you see today is the result of years of restoration, and visiting feels like part art, part history of conservation. Only small groups are let in every 15 minutes, so the room stays quiet and the painting is protected.

The scene captures the exact moment Christ tells the apostles that one of them will betray him, and their reactions are what make it so striking. Over the centuries the work has survived floods, bombings, and even a period when the room was used as a stable. 

If you want to see it, you need to book tickets well in advance. See our guide to how to plan a trip to Italy for more tips.
 

6. Walk Parco Sempione

Parco Sempione stretches out behind Castello Sforzesco and is one of the best things to do in Milan to slow down. You’ll see joggers, kids running around, couples on benches, and groups picnicking, all sharing the same space.

The park was designed in the English style, with winding paths, shaded corners, and a lake. From inside the park you get a good view of the Arco della Pace, the triumphal arch commissioned by Napoleon. The Triennale Design Museum is also nearby.

In summer, there are outdoor film screenings and concerts, and in autumn, the tree-lined paths are especially nice. Torre Branca, a tall viewing tower, gives a good perspective of the city, though many people just stay on the ground to enjoy the atmosphere or pick up a pastry from the park’s much-loved cannoli truck. This is a great thing to do if you're in Italy with kids.
 

7. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Known as "Milan's living room," this 19th-century arcade is just as much about people-watching as it is about shopping.

The glass and iron roof arches above designer boutiques, historic cafés, and the first Prada store. Even if you’re not buying anything, it’s worth walking through to take in the details.

Locals still keep up the tradition of spinning on the bull mosaic on the floor for good luck, which has left a clear dent in the tiles. Café Camparino is a classic stop, famous for serving Campari in its original Art Nouveau setting. Since the gallery connects La Scala with the Duomo, you’re likely to pass through a few times.
 

8. Pinacoteca di Brera

Inside a former Jesuit college, the Brera Gallery holds some of Italy’s most important Renaissance works. Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus and Mantegna’s Dead Christ stand out, along with later pieces like Hayez’s The Kiss. A visit here is by far one of the best things to do in Milan.

The collection was largely pulled together under Napoleon, when Milan was his Italian capital, and it now includes modern artists such as Modigliani and Morandi.

The museum’s size makes it easy to see without feeling rushed. Once you step outside, the surrounding Brera district is another great thing to do in Milan. The neighborhood has art students sketching in cafés, antique shops, and a few fortune tellers who set up tables on the street. Not sure how to squeeze it all into one trip? See our guide to how many days you need in Milan.
 

9. See a show at La Scala

Since opening in 1778, La Scala has been at the center of Milan’s cultural life. Many of the great Italian operas were first performed here, and the theater is known for its excellent acoustics.

The building’s outside is modest compared to the inside, which has red velvet seating, and golden decoration. There are six levels of private boxes.

Each year, opening night on December 7th, Saint Ambrose’s Day, is still one of Italy’s biggest cultural events. If you are not ready for a full-length opera, the theater’s museum is worth a visit. It displays costumes, set pieces, and even personal belongings from composers like Verdi. You can also catch ballet and symphony performances, and standing room tickets are an easy way to experience the theater without paying much.
 

10. Tour the Royal Palace

The Palazzo Reale was Milan’s seat of power for centuries, once home to the Visconti rulers, Austrian governors, and Napoleon.

Today it’s one of the city’s main cultural venues, known for temporary exhibitions that range from Renaissance masters to modern photography. A visit here is one of the best things to do in Milan.

The neoclassical interiors were heavily damaged during WWII but carefully restored, and the preserved frescoes and period rooms are still worth a look. Because it’s right next to the Duomo, it’s easy to combine both in the same visit. Recent shows have included everything from Caravaggio to Keith Haring, so what you see will depend on when you go.
 

11. The Leonardo da Vinci Museum

The Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia is dedicated to Italy’s scientific achievements, with a strong focus on Leonardo da Vinci.

His notebooks come to life here as models of flying machines, tanks, and hydraulic systems, showing how far ahead his ideas were.

Beyond Leonardo, you can explore sections on energy, transport, and communications, with highlights like vintage trains, naval equipment, and even space technology. The museum also has interactive areas where you can try simple experiments. It’s housed in a 16th-century monastery, so the building itself is worth seeing. You could easily spend an entire 2-week Italy itinerary in Milan alone.

12. Colonne di San Lorenzo

A row of sixteen Corinthian columns, dating back to Roman times, stands in front of the Basilica di San Lorenzo and has become one of Milan’s most lived-in public spaces.

The columns were moved here in the 4th century, and somehow they’ve survived centuries of upheaval, from medieval battles to modern redevelopment. During the day you’ll see people reading or lounging nearby, while at night it turns into a lively hangout for students and young locals who gather with drinks before heading into bars.

The basilica itself is worth stepping inside for its early Christian mosaics and medieval chapel. Although a contrast to the street life just outside, it’s easily one of the best things to do in Milan.

13. Castello Sforzesco

This red-brick fortress has gone through many lives: first a defensive base for the Visconti family, then a Renaissance court, and later Napoleonic barracks. Today it holds a collection of museums with everything from Egyptian artifacts to Renaissance paintings.

The most moving piece here is Michelangelo’s final, unfinished work, the Pietà Rondanini. Beyond that, you can wander into rooms with Leonardo’s painted ceiling, Mantegna’s Trivulzio Madonna, and collections of instruments and decorative arts.

The courtyards are used year-round, with concerts in summer and Christmas markets in winter (see our guide to the  best time to visit Italy). 

Entry is free after 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and Parco Sempione behind the castle is a good place to relax after your visit.
 

14. Piazza dei Mercanti

Just a few steps from the Duomo, Piazza dei Mercanti feels like stepping back into medieval Milan. . This small square once functioned as the city’s commercial hub. Merchants met here in the 13th-century Palazzo della Ragione to settle disputes.

Its acoustics are surprisingly sharp: a whisper in one corner carries to the opposite side. Around the square you’ll see medieval and Renaissance buildings that stand out in a city mostly rebuilt in later centuries.

Around the square, you’ll see Renaissance and medieval facades, a rare glimpse in a city largely rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. Stone coats of arms mark the influence of old banking families, reminders that Milan’s role as a financial center stretches back centuries.

The 16th-century well in the middle was where bankrupt traders faced public humiliation, a harsh contrast to the modern stock exchange nearby. Today, the square is a quiet place to pause, with a couple of cafes and the occasional street musician.

15. San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

From the outside this church is easy to miss, but step inside and every surface is covered in frescoes. Bernardino Luini, a pupil of Leonardo, painted vivid biblical scenes here in the early 1500s.

The church is divided into two spaces: the main hall for public worship and a choir for the nuns, separated by a wall with small windows.

The detail is extraordinary, from animals marching into Noah’s Ark to the story of Saint Catherine. Restoration work has brought back the intensity of the colors, which feel surprisingly alive. It is usually quiet, and admission is free, so you can take your time and really look.
 

16. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

Consecrated in 386 AD by Milan’s patron saint Ambrose, this church has been central to the city’s religious life for more than 1,600 years. The Romanesque facade with its double arcades influenced church design across Lombardy.

Inside, the golden altar contains the relics of Sant’Ambrogio alongside martyrs Gervasio and Protasio. The adjoining museum displays early Christian pieces and medieval artifacts. Visiting here is one of the best things to do in Milan.

Over the centuries, the church gained layers from different periods: Roman columns, medieval mosaics, and Renaissance chapels. The quiet cloister designed by Bramante gives you a rare sense of calm in the middle of the city. In December, locals line up on the feast day of Sant’Ambrogio to honor their patron saint. It is still very much a working church, with daily services, weddings, and baptisms taking place here.
 

17. San Siro Stadium

San Siro is the shared home of AC Milan and Inter Milan and one of the most recognizable football stadiums in Europe. Its spiral ramps and red girders have been the backdrop for World Cup matches, European finals, and countless Milan derbies.

A stadium tour takes you through the locker rooms once used by players like Maldini and Zanetti, and the museum traces the history of both clubs with trophies, jerseys, and memorabilia.

On match days the area fills with fans, food stands, and vendors selling scarves. Inside, the 80,000 seats create a noise that carries across the city. It's a great addition to any North Italy itinerary.
 

18. Cimitero Monumentale

Cimitero Monumentale isn’t just a cemetery; it’s one of Milan’s most unusual art collections.

Since the late 1800s, Milan’s wealthiest families have commissioned elaborate tombs designed by well-known sculptors and architects. As you walk around, you’ll see everything from delicate Art Nouveau angels to imposing Fascist monuments and minimalist post-war memorials.

The Famedio, or Hall of Fame, is where Milan remembers figures like Verdi, Toscanini, and Manzoni. There are also Jewish and non-Catholic sections, which reflect the city’s diverse past in a country often defined by Catholic traditions.

Compared to more crowded cemeteries in Paris or London, Monumentale feels calm, and it’s easy to spend time wandering among the monuments.

19. Day trip to the lakes

Milan’s central station puts you within an hour of the Italian Lakes, which have long been the city’s escape from summer heat. Each lake has its own character.

Lake Como is known for grand villas and elegant gardens, while Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands mix baroque palaces with landscaped grounds. Lake Garda has a livelier scene with plenty of water sports, and Lake Orta is quieter, with a more intimate feel.

You can travel between lakeside towns by ferry, stopping for risotto made with lake perch or a glass of local wine.

The tradition of leaving the city for the lakes goes back to Roman times, when senators built villas here, and today Milanese families still pass down holiday homes as prized heirlooms. A day trip is easy to arrange, but if you have the time, spending a night or two lets you see the lakes after day-trippers head home. For more ideas, see our list of the best day trips from Milan.