Adventure through the chic streets of this Italian style haven with this guide of the top things to do in Milan Italy.

From savoring the perfect espresso in a sidestreet cafe to wandering through the timeless beauty of the Duomo di Milano, discover the essence of Milanese charm.

Explore hidden gems and indulge in incredible cuisine in Italy’s fashion and culture capital with the help of this blog post ;).

My husband, Andrew, and I visited this vibrant city in July 2023 during the massive European heatwave. And while the high temps certainly slowed us down a bit, we still loved strolling the artsy streets and exploring all this city has to offer.

Our trip itinerary was planned around attending a Bruce Springsteen concert in Monza with close friends…

If you ever get the chance to attend a superstar’s concert in a Formula 1 racetrack, I would highly recommend it ;)!

The first week and a half of our Italian adventure was spent in Lake Como and the Dolomites.

After those ten days, we ventured down to Milan for three full days with one day being focused on the Springsteen concert and the second exploring this incredible city.

See below for our full itinerary…

In a rush?

But First: The Little Details

How to Get to Milan

Milan has three major airports – Milan Linate (LIN), Milan Malpensa (MXP), and Bergamo (BGY).

Linate is the closest to the centre of the city at right around 4 miles with primarily flights from within Italy.

Malpensa is the largest and handles the most international long haul flights but is 33 miles northwest of the city.

And lastly, Bergamo is 33 miles northeast of the city centre and has flights in and out from other destinations in Europe.

We flew on British Airways from San Diego nonstop to London where we switched flights to continue on to Linate and our return was in reverse but departing from Malpensa ;).

If you are already in mainland Europe, you may want to consider traveling by train to Milan.

We used the train to travel to and from Bolzano in the Dolomites to Milan and loved this scenic journey through the picturesque landscapes of northern Italy.

I purchased our tickets at the Trenitalia website here and highly highly highly recommend if you can swing it to purchase seats in executive class. The extra comfort and service in those train cars is undeniable.

A new to us private car service that we started using with this Italy trip is Blacklane. You can reserve in advance high end cars with courteous chauffeurs that will take you anywhere you need to go.

We have now used their services in Italy, Germany, London, Paris, and San Diego!

How to Get Around Milan

The heart of Milan, Piazza del Duomo, serves as a central point, making it easy to explore the city’s wonders on foot.

However, for a more extensive exploration, Milan’s metro, trams, and buses offer a convenient and reliable way to traverse the urban landscape.

The Uber App is also a viable option for getting from place to place in this large metropolis city.

In addition, trams could be a charming way to soak in the city’s atmosphere, passing through historic neighborhoods and tree-lined avenues.

Best Time of Year to Visit Milan

Choosing the ideal time to visit Milan hinges on personal preferences.

April to June brings Milan to life with blooming gardens, mild temperatures, and outdoor events.

July to August are often quite warm in temperatures and peak tourist season. If we were not tied to Bruce Springsteen’s Monza concert date, we would not have visited at the end of July like we did.

As mentioned earlier, we hit the widespread southern Europe heatwave with temps in the high 90’s and low 100’s. This portable fan was a travel lifesaver for me!

September to November offers a pleasant transition with cooler weather and fewer crowds.

December unveils a festive Milan adorned with Christmas lights and holiday markets. While the weather is cooler, the city’s indoor attractions, world-class shopping, and cultural events provide warmth and excitement.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Milan depends on whether you prefer the lively buzz of summer (and can handle high temperatures), the colorful transformations of spring and fall, or the festive charm of winter.

How Many Days You Need in Milan

With our three full days in the city of Milan, we were able to attend our concert in Monza on the first day (and leisurely make our way to Monza from the city centre), and then spend the next two days also leisurely wandering the streets of the city and seeing the top sights ;).

If you are traveling at a faster pace than us – you can absolutely see everything the city of Milan has to offer in 1-2 days.

If you are hoping to do any days trips to Lake Como, Verona, Monza, or Bergamo, I would put additional days onto your itinerary for these options.

Money and Plug Details in Milan Italy

The country of Italy uses the Euro currency system. In a city as big as Milan, you really do not need to worry about anyplace not taking credit card.

However, I would highly suggest making sure your credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees as those most certainly can add up. Chase, Capital One, and Citibank have some excellent options for cards that will not charge these fees.

In the last couple of years, we rely heavily on ApplePay for the majority of our travels. The one touch ease to pay for most anything nowadays is truly remarkable.

Minus the local Christmas markets we have visited, we carry minimal cash when we travel.

The plugs in Italy are the two pronged type – these adapters are my favorites to bring with me to mainland Europe.

I also never travel without my favorite power strip so that I only have to use one adapter for anything I want to plug in while traveling ;).

Top Things to Do in Milan

Now let’s get to the fun part – shall we?!

With so much to see in this fashion capital, here were our own highlights that we enjoyed seeing…

Duomo di Milano

The Milan Duomo is a Gothic masterpiece, a breathtaking architectural marvel adorned with intricate spires and statues, dominating the city’s skyline with its awe-inspiring beauty and centuries of history.

And it’s the largest cathedral in all of Italy (including the Vatican!), third largest in all of Europe, and fourth largest in the entire world!

It is the highlight of the city and most certainly a do not skip for visitors to Milan.

We paid extra for the fast track elevator to the rooftop (purchased online here) to skip the long line for the regular lift.

The fast track elevator takes you all the way to the top of the cathedral whereas if you take the regular lift, you will still have 50 steps to climb before you get to the terrace.

Another option is to walk the entire 250 stairs up (you still have to buy an entrance ticket though fyi!).

Visiting the Duomo terraces is absolutely worth any amount of effort – the views from the rooftop are unlike any other in the city.

I must however tell you that if you are visiting in peak tourist season like we did, you will not avoid any crowds on the rooftop ;0.

And as the only way down from the rooftop is a single file staircase, you will be waiting in a line to enter the spiral staircase down. Our line extended the entire length of the rooftop (no fast lane for the descent unfortunately!) – but I would still recommend going up to see everything there is up top!

The staircase will put you out inside the cathedral. Be aware that in order to go into any churches in Italy, you need to have your shoulders covered and if wearing a skirt, it must be knee length.

Paper kimonos are sold at the ticket booth if you need one…

Vittorio Emanuel II Gallery

A covered passage located between the Duomo and the Opera House, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is an iconic 19th-century shopping arcade, known for its elegant architecture.

Be sure to visit at night when all the shops are closed and the arcade is beautifully lit up (and the crowds are gone too!).

Spinning around three times on the bull’s testicles, a mosaic of a bull on the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II’s floor, is a local tradition believed to bring good luck and prosperity to those who partake in this playful ritual in the heart of Milan.

Sforza Castle

Sforza Castle in Milan is a historic fortress and cultural hub, housing museums and art collections within its imposing walls.

While we had every intention of going inside and seeing what this fortress had to offer, a wild storm a few days earlier made a little bit of chaos with the trees surrounding the area which made for an unsafe environment (ie – the entire castle area was closed off to tourists…).

Leonardo’s Last Supper Museum

Full disclosure – we are not huge art museum fanatics ;0. However I do love seeing the highlights of the art world.

And The Last Supper mural is most certainly on that list.

Tickets for this museum however sell out months in advance – go to the official website here to learn when your preferred date will be available.

We visited this museum in 2013 with our 3 children and therefore did not put in the effort to get tickets again for our 2023 Italy trip.

San Bernardino alle Ossa (Bone Church)

A unique find that my husband deserves all the credit for, the chapel of this unassuming church less than a ten minute walk from Duomo Piazza is built with thousands of bones and skulls.

This Catholic church attracts few visitors and is free to enter. Definitely a worthy stop!!

Window Shop in the Golden Quadrangle

With iconic shops including the Gucci Flagship Store, Chanel, and Cartier, this shopping district is the equivalent of walking down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills ;).

Get an Espresso or Aperitivo and People Watch at a Local Cafe

When in Rome…

Find a quaint side street and park it at one of the many local coffee stands or cafes and enjoy the moment!

My personal favorite was LuBarino in Brera (see below for more on this favorite neighborhood of mine!).

Wander the Streets of the Brera Art District

This might actually have been my favorite part of visiting Milan!

We wandered, got lost, had some gelato, wandered some more, and ended our days with some incredible limoncello and pasta ;).

The above Bioesseri Restaurant was an accidental find while we wandered – and is 1000% worthy of a mention here on my Milan Travel Guide!!! I would absolutely go back now that I know about it ;).

What to Wear in Milan in Summer

As I mentioned above, we were in Milan during a massive heatwave. So sweat-wicking shirts and shorts for my husband were a must and thin sun dresses for me were my staple ;).

HOWEVER – I CANNOT RECOMMEND THESE SWEAT WICKING UNDER YOUR DRESS SHORTIES ENOUGH!!!

This portable fan (mentioned above as well) is also a summer travel must have ;).

Our Full Itinerary in a Nutshell

• Day 1: Fly San Diego to Milan via London on British Airways
• Day 2: Arrive Milan and take a private car to Como, Italy
• Day 3: Take a private car to Bellagio, Italy
• Day 4: Explore Lake Como
• Day 5: Private car to Milan then train to Bolzano in the Dolomites where we rented a car and drove to Corvara with a stop in Seiser Alm
• Day 6: Renewed our vows on Passo Gardena for our 30th wedding anniversary, hiked on Seceda, then drove to Santa Magdalena Church
• Day 7: Explore Alta Badia region of the Dolomites
• Day 8: Explore Tre Cime region of the Dolomites
• Day 9: Explore Alta Badia region of the Dolomites
• Day 10: Drove to Karersee then returned car at Bolzano Airport and took train back to Milan
• Day 11: Bruce Springsteen concert in Monza with friends
• Day 12: Explore Milan
• Day 13: Explore Milan
• Day 14: Fly home to San Diego via London on British Airways

I hope you found this post helpful in planning your own adventures in Northern Italy.

Traveling to Milan offers a multifaceted experience blending modern sophistication with timeless charm.

Milan is not only a global business and fashion capital but also a gateway to the picturesque lakes and charming towns of northern Italy, making it an irresistible destination for those seeking a perfect blend of cosmopolitan allure and cultural exploration.

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Life is short, the world is wide.

I want to make some memories.

~Mamma Mia

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