Must See~£15
Milan Cathedral (Duomo)
Duomo
A vast Gothic cathedral of white marble, with a rooftop walk among the spires.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily, roughly 9:00–19:00
Milan
Fashion, design and a Gothic cathedral, with Lake Como on the doorstep.
Overview
Why go to Milan
Milan is Italy’s style capital, with an extraordinary cathedral, a grand shopping arcade and Leonardo’s Last Supper. It is stylish and efficient, and a good springboard for the northern lakes.
- Where
- Lombardy, Italy
- Recommended stay
- 2–3 nights
- Best time to go
- March–June and September–November; August is quiet as locals holiday.
- Approx. daily budget
- £80–160 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Milan cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£70–105a day
- Mid-range traveller£145–210a day
- Luxury traveller£290+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 13 Top picks in Milan
Must SeeFree
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Duomo
A glass-domed shopping arcade of mosaics, cafés and luxury boutiques.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air arcade; shops open daily
Must See~£15
The Last Supper
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Leonardo da Vinci’s famous mural, viewed in small timed groups.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday, timed entry
Culture~£12
La Scala Opera House
Centro
The famous opera house, with a museum and tours when performances allow.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Couples · Culture lovers
Museum daily, roughly 9:30–17:30
Hidden Gems
See all 3 Beyond the checklist
Culture~£5
Sforza Castle
Sforza
A large brick fortress with museums, courtyards and Michelangelo’s last sculpture.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Culture lovers
Tuesday–Sunday; courtyards open daily
Hidden GemsFree
Brera District
Brera
A village-like quarter of cobbled lanes, galleries and wine bars, home to an art academy.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; shops open daily
ViewpointsFree
Porta Nuova and Bosco Verticale
Porta Nuova
A futuristic district of tree-covered towers, plazas and modern architecture.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open-air; always accessible
Food & Restaurants
See all 6 Where to eat
Panzerotti Luini
A tiny takeaway near the Duomo selling panzerotti, fried pockets of mozzarella and tomato, since 1949.
Known for: Panzerotti
Under about £16 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Trattoria Milanese
A traditional trattoria that has served risotto alla milanese and cotoletta for generations.
Known for: Cotoletta alla milanese, risotto
About £16–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Trattoria Masuelli San Marco
A long-established trattoria specialising in Lombard dishes and cured meats.
Known for: Risotto, cured meats
About £16–30 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Pasticceria Marchesi 1824
One of Milan’s oldest and most elegant pastry houses, with cakes and panettone.
Known for: Pastries, panettone
About £16–30 per person
Special occasion Good for Couples · Groups
A suggested Milan itinerary
3 nights Couple
Milan · Highlights
Milan in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Milan picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Milan Cathedral (Duomo), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala Opera House, Navigli Canals Aperitivo
- Day 2 · Lake Como Day Trip, Porta Nuova and Bosco Verticale
- Day 3 · The Last Supper, Brera District, Sforza Castle
Plan Milan your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.