13 Best Things To Do in Milan

Milan combines all the advantages of a big city with the comfort of a small historic center. The Duomo, the Scala, the Castle and The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci, are some of its great attractions. I tell you what you can see and do in Milan below:

It is the must-see in this city. Without the Duomo, Milan would not be Milan. This impressive Gothic cathedral, the fifth largest in the world, is located in the square of the same name, the Piazza del Duomo, in the heart of the city.

It took almost six centuries to build and stands out for the beauty of its pinkish-white marble facade, its pinnacles and towers crowned by statues, a splendid rooftop that offers the best views of the city and a Renaissance-style altar that apparently houses one of the nails of the Cross of Christ.

The Duomo is the most visited place in Milan. It is open from 8 am to 7 pm every day. Of course you can't leave without going up to the Milan Duomo Terrace which is open from 9 am and see in detail the interior of the Duomo of Milan The best options to see the Duomo are:

• Getting a ticket to the Duomo of Milan to avoid the long lines.
• Booking a guided tour of the Duomo of Milan will enrich your visit.

Visiting Da Vinci's Last Supper is one of the top plans in Milan. On the wall of the dining room of a former Dominican convent, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, you will be able to admire closely a masterpiece: 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo Da Vinci.

This fresco, which has stood for centuries after defying bombardments and inclement weather, is key in the history of art for its mastery and original representation of one of the most dramatic moments of the New Testament.

To visit the work it is necessary to book a ticket well in advance or hire a guided tour of The Last Supper Santa Maria delle Grazie is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 6:45 pm. And if you want to delve deeper into the artist's work, be sure to visit the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Milan.

This is another major point of interest, so add the plan to visit the Milan Castle to your list.

In 1801 it was demolished by Napoleon, but it was rebuilt a century later with the appearance it had during the time of the Sforza, the family that had long ago fought to make it one of the most majestic courts in Italy and to whom it owes its name.

You can visit it on your own and book tickets to the Sforza Castle, go aboard a tourist bus or on one of the tours that run through the city. Today, the Sforzesco Castle houses dozens of museums, some of them very interesting such as:

• The Pinacoteca di Milano, with more than 1,500 works.
• The Egyptian Museum.
• The Museum of Furniture.

It is the first shopping center in Italy and one of the first in the world and one of the things to do in Milan at night. Built in the nineteenth century, stands out for the mosaics that decorate its floors and walls and a large glass dome that connects Piazza La Scala with Piazza del Duomo.

Today remains a commercial passage where some of the most luxurious boutiques in the city, historic cafes, such as the Biffi, and restaurants with lively terraces are concentrated. It is free to enter, but you can visit it by booking a guided tour of Milan.

This gallery is illuminated in a special way for Christmas, so it is one of the essential plans if you visit Milan at Christmas time. Although the illumination is maintained during the months of December or January.

The Teatro alla Scala is one of the most famous and oldest opera houses in the world, a must-see whether or not you are an enthusiast of the genre. Its interiors date back to the 18th century and have an antique beauty that permeates its foyer, its auditorium and its interesting museum.

I recommend you to book a visit to the Teatro alla Scala in Milan to see the props and instruments of composers such as Chopin, Verdi, Puccini or Mozart. But also because it is the most complete way to learn about its rich history and anecdotes.

And is that, for its tables have passed some of the greatest works of history, as *Otello * or *Madame Butterfly *, and singers like Maria Callas, Pavarotti or Placido Domingo.

To get to know a city you should not only visit its monuments. A walk through some of its most characteristic neighborhoods is the best way to discover its culture and way of life.

In Milan, one of these neighborhoods is Brera. Brera is in the historic center, on cobblestone streets and between cafes and original stores that live with eighteenth-century buildings, such as the Pinacoteca de Brera, one of the most renowned museums in the world and I recommend you book a guided tour of the Pinacoteca de Brera.

There you will also see up to 4 important churches: the Basilica San Simpliciano, the Chiesa di San Marco, the Chiesa di Sant'Angelo and the Chiesa Santa Maria del Carmine. But also the Botanical Garden and the Astronomical Observatory.

Milan is one of those cities that you feel like walking and touring without haste to discover each of its corners. But getting on one of the best tourist buses in Milan is undoubtedly a great option to move comfortably between the main points of interest.

It allows you to get on and off whenever you want to walk around a particular area. In addition, it is perfect if you travel to the Italian city in winter, as the cold temperatures can make you have a hard time.

By booking a seat on the Milan tourist bus you can travel three different routes and make sure you don't miss anything. And while you move around the city, you will not have to give up the wonderful views offered by its streets.

Piazza Mercanti is a medieval corner in the center of Milan and one of the most beautiful squares in the city. In fact, it is one of the points of interest included in many of the Italian city tours such as the Milan bike tour.

During the Middle Ages it was the commercial and governmental center of Milan, so it preserves some of its most remarkable and curious buildings. There you will be able to see:

• The Palazzo della Ragione, dating from 1233 and housing the Courts of Justice.
• The Palazzo delle Scuole Palatine, the most prestigious high school in Milan during the Middle Ages.
• The beautiful Casa dei Panigarola, in Gothic style.
• The Loggia degli Osii, decorated with statues and coats of arms and which housed the offices of the judges.

As I have already told you, I recommend you to book a bike tour in Milan, because many of them stop in this piazza or pass through it.

A tour of the San Siro stadium in Milan is a must if you are passionate about soccer. Here you can learn about the history of the two teams of the city: Inter Milan and AC Milan, and admire the most precious relics and objects of these two teams of the Italian league.

To do this, you can book a tour of the San Siro stadium in Milan, which lasts about an hour, and will give you access to the museums of both teams and the temporary exhibition, as well as the locker rooms, the press room and even the Tunnel of Champions, my favorite area!

Milan's location makes it a perfect starting point to explore and take tours and excursions other nearby areas from Milan that are really worthwhile, such as:

• Venice and Verona: two of Italy's most famous cities. The excursions are usually day trips and you will be accompanied by a guide. Even so I leave you a post with all the details of how to go from Milan to Venice.
• Cinque Terre: declared a World Heritage Site, is a beautiful coastal area composed of the towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Here is how to get from Milan to Cinque Terre.
• Lago di Garda: it is the largest lake in Italy and its beauty will leave you with your mouth open.
• City of St. Mortiz: it is at the foot of the Swiss Alps and you can get there on a historic train that crosses the Bernina Strait. You also have the option of taking an excursion from Milan to the Swiss Alps.

If you have two days or even three days on your trip to Milan, don't hesitate. You can organize your own visits or get to know these places in a very practical, comfortable and time-efficient way with one of the many excursions organized from Milan.

Lake Como is one of the excursions that you can not miss. At any time of the year you will enjoy endless plans, even the winter at Lago di Como is spectacular, as you will have the opportunity to enjoy incredible views of the snow-capped Alps.

In case you dare to go on your own I leave you a post to consult how to get from Milan to Lago di Como:, but my recommendation is that you opt for an excursion to Lake Como from Milan

Of course, once there you can't miss the most beautiful villages of Lago di Como and don't forget to book one of the best boat trips on Lago di Como, a plan that will amaze you.

The Cemetery of Milan is one of the most recommended and surprising visits in the city. Far from being gloomy, this 19th century cemetery is a real open-air museum of 250,000 square meters dotted with tombs of great artistic value, sculptures, Greek temples and even a pyramid.

It also has the so-called 'Hall of Fame', which concentrates the tombs of some of the most important personalities of the country. In order not to miss anything in the Monumental Cemetery, purchase a guided tour of this and other major points of interest in Milan.

• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission.

As the big city that Milan is, with so much to see and do, you may need a break to relax during your discovery.

That place is Sempione Park, where you can stroll around a spectacular English-style garden, among nature, an artificial lake and monuments such as the Arco della Pace, commemorating Napoleon's victories. Undoubtedly, one of the essential plans if you travel to Milan with children.

• Visitinghours: daily from 6:30 am to 9 pm.

Once your plane lands at the airport of the Italian city, I recommend that you have planned transfers to the center of Milan.

In addition, it is advisable that you make a planning and so do not leave this beautiful city without knowing most of its essential plans. For this, I am going to leave you some posts about what to see and do depending on the duration of your trip:

• What to see and do in Milan in 2 days.
• What to see and do in Seville in 3 days.
• What to see and do in Seville in 4 days.