More about: Milan Tours
Milan is a fashion capital, industrial and economic center and cosmopolitan city. Its location makes it a perfect base camp for exploring other nearby areas, from magical Venice or Verona, to Cinque Terre or beautiful Lake Como. Here are the best options to see Milan and its surroundings:
1. Guided group tour of Milan's major points of interest
With these guided group tours of Milan's major points of interest: you will take a walk through the city accompanied by a guide who will explain its history and all the details of its main points of interest, such as Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral, Piazza della Scala and its theater or the dynamic neighborhood of Porta Garibaldi. In addition, this group will be limited to a maximum of 14 people.
What is included in this tour
- 1 hour and a half tour of Milan (without entrance fees to the attractions)
- English and Spanish speaking guide
What you will see on this tour
- Chiusa Leonardesca, Leonardo da Vinci's great hydraulic work to connect the city by means of "i navigli": the locks of the canals.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the first 'shopping mall' in the history of Italy and one of the oldest in the world of utmost elegance.
- Castello Sforzesco, this fortress is one of the most important buildings in Milan, full of curious museums inside.
2. Group night tour of Milan by night
Beautiful cities shine even more at night and Milan is no exception. With this night tour of Milan, you will see another side of the city while enjoying places like Piazza del Duomo or La Scala masterfully illuminated.
In addition, your guide will reveal the hidden history of Milan, such as that of the noble families and their ghosts, which are said to roam the courtyards of the Castello Sforzesco every night. Maximum 20 people in the group.
What is included in this tour
- 2 hours night tour of Milan (without entrance tickets to the attractions)
- Guide in English and 4 other languages
What you will see on this tour
- Castello Sforzesco, the impressive fortress castle of Milan.
- Teatro Alla Scala, Milan's opera house and one of the most famous in the world for having served as a stage during its 200 years of life for works by the greatest composers in history.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a historic shopping center that today still houses some of the most exclusive stores in the city.
- Piazza del Duomo, where you will find the Duomo, Milan's marvelous Gothic cathedral and its most representative building.
3. Private and customizable tour of Milan
If a group tour is not your thing, but you want to soak up all the history of the city, this private and customizable tour of Milan offers a private guide for you and your group. Also, if you wish, they will prepare a personalized day or night tour according to your interests (to be specified at the time of booking) without leaving out essential places such as the Duomo, the Teatro alla Scala or the Sforzesco Castle.
What is included in this tour
- Customizable day or night tour of Milan (3 hours)
- Private guide in your language, available in English and 4 other languages.
What you will see on this tour
- Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery
- Duomo di Milano
- Alla Scala Theater
- Castello Sforzesco
4. Guided tour inside the Duomo di Milano
Visiting the Duomo of Milan is an unmissable experience in the city that is greatly enhanced if you do it with a fast-track ticket to skip the long queues and accompanied by a guide who will reveal all the history and secrets of this imposing Gothic cathedral. I recommend you to book online your guided tour inside the Duomo of Milan.
Please note, however, that this tour takes place inside the Duomo, but does not include a visit to its roof.
What is included in this tour
inside the Duomo
- Fast-track entrance to the interior of the Duomo for one hour (rooftop visit not included)
- Professional guide in English and Spanish
- Possibility to take the tour on weekdays or weekends
- Groups of 25 people maximum
- Possibility of free cancellation if made 24 hours in advance
5. Guided tour of the Teatro alla Scala Milan
Whether you like opera or not, a visit to Milan's historic Scala is one of the must-do's in this city.
With this guided tour of Milan's Teatro alla Scala, you will learn about the history of opera and this theater, as well as admire its beautiful 18th century auditorium, which has hosted the works of composers such as Verdi and Toscanini, and its museum, which exhibits costumes, instruments played by famous musicians and props used in famous performances.
What is included in this tour
of the interior of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
- Guided tour of the Teatro alla Scala and its museum (1 hour)
- Professional guide in English and 5 other languages
- Possibility of cancellation 24 hours in advance
6. Day trip to the Swiss Alps from Milan on the Bernina Express train
While you're in Milan, if you have time and you like natural scenery, don't miss a visit to the Swiss Alps, located 127 kilometers from the city. The best thing about the day trip to the Swiss Alps from Milan is the means of transport: the curious mountain train that has been crossing for centuries one of the most beautiful railway routes in the world, the Bernina Express, declared a World Heritage Site and with spectacular views of the Alpine landscape and its glaciers.
This train will take you from Tirano to St. Moritz, an elegant enclave popular for winter sports and located at the foot of the Alps.
What is included in this excursion
- Day excursion to the Swiss Alps aboard the Bernina Epxress (13 hours total).
- Bus from Milan to Tirano for train transfer
- Professional guide on the way in English and 2 other languages
- Free time in St. Moritz, where you will visit an exclusive resort and the best chocolate shop in Switzerland.
- Free time in Tirano, where you can see the church of the Madonna of Tirano, one of the most beautiful churches in the Valtellina region.
Milan is a city you can tour in a weekend, but if you can, travel more days and take the opportunity to visit nearby wonders such as Venice, Verona, Cinque Terre or Lake Como.
7. Day trip to Lake Como from Milan
Como is probably one of the most famous lakes in the world. And one of the most beautiful, no doubt. It is an hour and a half drive from Milan so, if you have time in your trip, this day trip to Lake Como from Milan is well worth it. It includes a walking tour of the elegant town of Como and its historic center and a cruise on its beautiful lake, amidst a landscape of snow-capped mountains and luxurious villas.
Depending on the time of year you travel, summer or winter, you will visit the charming village of Bellagio or take a ride on the funicular to Brunate for spectacular views of the lake.
What's included in this getaway
- Day trip to Lake Como from Milan (9 hours in total)
- English speaking guide and 2 other languages
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Boat trip on Lake Como
- Cable car to Brunate (from November to March)
- Visit to Bellagio (from April to October)
8. Day trip to Venice from Milan
Northern Italy is home to some of the country's most famous and beautiful cities. Traveling to Milan can be your great opportunity to see some of those treasures, such as the incomparable Venice, about a 3-hour drive away.
With this day trip to Venice from Milan you will have that opportunity as you will walk through the most important sites of 'La Serenissima', such as St. Mark's Square and Basilica, the Rialto Bridge and the Doge's Palace. In addition, you will participate in a glass making workshop and you will have the chance to include a mythical gondola ride through the maze of canals of this dream city.
What is included in this excursion
- One-day excursion to Venice from Milan with walking tour of the city (14 hours total duration)
- English and Spanish speaking guide
What places you will discover on this tour
- St. Mark's Basilica, the most important religious temple in Venice and one of the most beautiful and famous in the world houses authentic jewels of art inside.
- Doge's Palace, this magnificent Gothic style building located in St. Mark's Square has been from the residence of the Doges of Venice to a prison during the Republic being one of the symbols of the glory and power of the city.
- Rialto Bridge, the oldest and most famous bridge in Venice was for years the economic center of the city and is today one of its most visited sites.
- Possibility of a 30-minute gondola ride (not included in the price).
9. One day sightseeing tour to Cinque Terre from Milan
Another of the wonders that northern Italy has to offer is the Cinque Terre region, a World Heritage Site made up of five charming villages of colorful houses perched on cliffs.
Cinque Terre is about 3 hours from Milan so this day trip to Cinque Terre is ideal to immerse yourself in some of the villages of this fairytale region. You will visit the fishing village of Manarola and its vineyards, as well as Monterosso al Mare, its largest village and where you will take a pleasant boat ride.
What is included in this excursion
- Day trip to Cinque Terre from Milan (12 hours in total)
- English and Spanish speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Train ride from Manarola to Monterosso
- Boat trip from Monterosso to La Spezia
10. Day trip to Verona and Lake Garda from Milan
It has always been and will always be the setting that saw the birth and death of the love between the two most famous lovers in history. Verona is a charming city in northern Italy that is possible to visit from Milan in a day. With this guided day tour of Verona and Lake Garda, you will take a walking tour of the city passing through places such as the Piazza delle Erbe, the Roman Arena and, of course, the house of Shakespeare's famous Juliet.
In addition, you will get to know the natural landscape of the area at Lake Garda, an ancient summer resort for the Romans and where you will have the opportunity to board a cruise to tour it or take a walk through the ruins of a Roman villa in the area. You will also discover the medieval village that sits on its banks, Sirmione, with its famous castle with moat of Rocca Scaligera.
What is included in this excursion
- Guided day trip to Verona and Lake Garda from Milan (12 hours in total)
- 2-hour guided walking tour of Verona and visit to Lake Garda
- Professional guide
You will discover places such as
- Roman Arena, the popular amphitheater where concerts and operas are still organized in summer.
- Juliet's House, where you can look out onto the balcony from which Juliet called her Romeo. This house is the place where Shakespeare set the beginning of the greatest love story of all time, 'Romeo and Juliet'.
- Rocca Scaligera, the impressive castle with medieval moat preserved in the peaceful village of Sirmione, next to the beautiful Lake Garda.
11. Other interesting activities in Milan
If you liked this post about the 10 best excursions to discover Milan and its surroundings, you may also find very useful other articles about the city such as Last Supper by Da Vinci in Milan Tickets and Tours y Milan Cathedral Tickets and Tours.