2 Days in Milan: The Perfect Itinerary for First Timers

Two days in Milan is just enough to see the top sigths without sprinting: climb onto the Duomo’s marble roof, stand in front of Leonardo’s Last Supper, wander the Galleria and Brera, and eat a proper saffron risotto.

Milan has a reputation as a business city you pass through on the way to Lake Como, but give it a long weekend and it surprises you. It was my second visit to Milano, the first time was years ago on my solo trip around Europe (it was my first ever solo trip). That time, I did not manage to enjoy the Duomo terrace, nor see the Last Supper. So this autumn, I decided to prioritise these two activities and build the rest of my 2 days in Milan around it.

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Is it worth spending only 2 days in Milan?

Yes, I believe it is. In only two days, I though it’s best to enjoy the city rather than run and tick off everything possible. This itinerary keeps everything walkable from a base near the Duomo, which is where I stayed. It covers what to see each day, where to stay and the best restaurants for typical Milanese food to really feel the city.

Of course, like everywhere, you can spend a little time or much longer than most depending on what you are there for.

Your 2 days in Milan at a glance

On day 1, start early at the Duomo and climb to the rooftop before the crowds arrive. Then walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to La Scala, and finish the afternoon at the Ambrosiana if you still have energy. In the evening, join the Milanese for aperitivo before dinner near the Duomo.

On day 2, see Leonardo’s Last Supper in the morning, then walk to Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione. Spend the afternoon in Brera, with time for the Pinacoteca and the beautiful Braidense library, and end your trip with sunset drinks along the Navigli canals.

Day 1: the Duomo, the Galleria and La Scala

Morning: the Duomo and its rooftop

Start at the Duomo, Milan’s enormous white marble cathedral, and go early before the tour groups arrive. The inside is vast and dim, but the real highlight is the roof: you walk among the spires and statues with the whole city below you, and on a clear day you can see the Alps.

There is a lot of stairs to take to the vert top and the passage can be narrow. It is also very crowded, so you can expect to walk slowly and not always have enough time or space to take pictures wherever you want. So it is best if you have the camera handy for quick snaps, othrwise you’ll be bclosking the way for others and get some angry stares.

Which ticket to buy. For most people, the Duomo Pass Combo Stairs (about €22) is the best value: cathedral, rooftop by stairs, the archaeological area and the Duomo Museum. The lift version is about €26, and rooftop only tickets start around €16 by stairs. Passes are valid for several days, so you can split the visit. Book a time slot on the official Duomo site or with skip the line entry with Duomo and rooftop ticket through different providers. I booked mine through GetYourGuide.

Dress code. Since you enter a church, shoulders and knees covered. Sleeveless tops, shorts, miniskirts and hats aren’t allowed inside the cathedral, and security does check. There are no lockers, so travel light.

Allow 2 to 3 hours for the cathedral and roof together.

Best views of the Duomo

The rooftop shows you the city from the cathedral, but to see the Duomo itself in all its glory you need to step back and go up somewhere else. All of these are within a few minutes’ walk of the piazza:

• Highline Galleria. A walkway on the roof of the Galleria, reopened in February 2026 after a long restoration, with the spires right in front of you. From about €15, Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. Highline Milano ticket is what you want to get.
• La Rinascente rooftop. Take the escalators to the 7th floor of the department store on the north side of the piazza, where the food hall and bars look straight onto the spires. It’s free to go up; you only pay for what you order.
• Terrazza Aperol. A spritz bar on the piazza itself with a head on view of the facade. It’s walk in only, so arrive before sunset to get a table.
• Museo del Novecento. The 20th century art museum next to the Palazzo Reale has huge floor to ceiling windows framing the cathedral, and Giacomo Arengario, the restaurant at the top, has the same view over a saffron risotto.
• The piazza after dark. Free and often the most magical: come back at night when the facade is lit and the crowds have thinned.

Midday: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Walk straight out of the piazza into the Galleria, Milan’s glass roofed 19th century shopping arcade. Look up at the iron and glass dome, then look down: find the mosaic bull in the floor and spin on your heel three times for good luck, like everyone else.

The cafes and restaurants inside are pricey, but eating here once is part of the experience.

Afternoon: La Scala and the Ambrosiana

At the far end of the Galleria is Teatro alla Scala, the world’s most famous opera house. Even if you don’t see a show, the Museo Teatrale alla Scala (around €12) usually lets you look into the auditorium from a box, unless there’s a rehearsal on. Allow about an hour.

If you still have energy, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is five minutes from the Duomo. It holds Caravaggio’s famous Basket of Fruit and pages from Leonardo’s Codex Atlanticus. The Duomo also sells a combined ticket that includes it.

Evening: aperitivo and dinner

Do as the Milanese do and stop for aperitivo around 7pm: a Campari spritz or Negroni with snacks. Camparino in Galleria, at the Duomo end of the arcade, is the classic spot. Then head to dinner (see the restaurant list below).

Day 2: the Last Supper, Sforza Castle and Brera

Morning: Leonardo’s Last Supper

The Last Supper is the one sight in Milan you can’t just turn up for. Tickets are released months ahead, sell out fast, and every visitor gets exactly 15 minutes with the painting. Book an early slot so the rest of your day flows. My full guide covers how to get tickets, even when it’s sold out.

No ticket? A guided tour with entry is the backup and this is waht I did, beacuse all the normal tickets were sold out. However, while it is significantly more expensive, you get a guide for stories and information.

I did my visit at 5pm, because this was the only available slot weeks in advance and it even was through a provider. So my recommendation would be to book it as soon as you get your flights to Italy. If you can, book a morning slot, so you can get on with your sighseeing following my itinerary in a way that makes more sense. My afternoon slot somehow interrupted my plans, but since seeing the Last Supper with my own eyes was my priority, I had to be flexible with everything else.

Late morning: Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione

From Santa Maria delle Grazie it’s about a 15 minute walk to Castello Sforzesco, the huge brick fortress of the dukes who ruled Milan. The courtyards are free. The castle museums cost about €10 and are worth it for one room in particular: Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini, the sculpture he was still working on in the days before he died. Leonardo fans should also look for the Sala delle Asse, with its painted ceiling of intertwined trees attributed to him.

Walk out the back of the castle into Parco Sempione for a break on the grass, with the Arco della Pace at the far end. Be mindful that this is probably the most intense place when it comes to people approchaing you to sell you soemthing. Some guys got even annoyed that I didnt want to buy something from them as if it was my abligation. Watch out for women (and some men too, but mostly women) offering you”free” gifts. It is never free and they will chase you to apy them.

Afternoon: Brera and the Braidense library

Brera is Milan’s prettiest neighbourhood: cobbled lanes, ivy covered buildings, little galleries and cafes. Its heart is the Palazzo di Brera, which holds two treasures under one roof. This was my first time visiting this neighbourhood- I have no idea how did it happen that I didn’t know about it last time.

The Pinacoteca di Brera is Milan’s great art gallery, with Mantegna’s Dead Christ, Raphael’s Marriage of the Virgin and Hayez’s The Kiss. A full ticket is €15, or €20 with the new Palazzo Citterio extension. It’s closed on Mondays. It was one of my favourite places to visit in Milan- it is really stunning. While technically you can get a ticket at the door, the have limit of entries per each slot, so I got mine for later that day. I walked around and came back for my slot time. To avoid this, you can prebook your Pinacoteca di Brera ticket.

You are allowed to take some photos there, but you cannot take photos of the books up close. There is also a section with special books collection and historical texts archives, but you can only enter after making an appointment (and it is a very strick scholarly visit).

Then don’t miss the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense, the library founded in 1770 by Empress Maria Theresa. Its Sala Maria Teresa is a small but stunning reading hall lined floor to ceiling with elegant wooden shelves designed by Piermarini, the architect of La Scala, holding around 24,000 volumes. Entry is free. It’s open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 18:15 and Saturday mornings until 13:30, and closed on Sundays.

Evening: the Navigli canals

End your two days on the Navigli, the old canals south of the centre. The Naviglio Grande is lined with bars and restaurants, and at aperitivo time the whole canal fills with locals. It’s livelier and cheaper than the centre, and lovely at sunset. Take metro line M2 to Porta Genova.

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Where to stay in Milan for 2 days

Where you stay in Milan matters for such a short trip. With only two days, the main thing is to cut travel time, so stay central or close to a metro line. Milan’s neighbourhoods have very different personalities, from the grand historic centre to arty Brera and the lively canals. Here’s how they compare, with the top hotels in each.

I stayed in BB Smarthotel Duomo just less than 5-minute walk from Duomo (no views from the hotel though). It’s a great option for one of the prime locations in comparison to the price. The room was small, but modern and comfortable. On top of that, they offer free Ferragamo toiletries, which was a treat.

Duomo: best for first time visitors

The historic centre around the cathedral is the easiest base for a short trip. The Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala and the Ambrosiana are all on your doorstep, Brera and Sforza Castle are a short walk away, and two metro lines meet under the piazza.

Top hotels near the Duomo

• Park Hyatt Milano (luxury). A five star hotel between the Duomo and the Galleria, consistently rated one of the best in the centre.
• Hotel Spadari al Duomo (mid range). A four star design hotel a short walk from the piazza, a good option for staying central without five star prices.
• BB Smarthotel Duomo (mid range). A few-minute walk from Duomo and great price for the quality they offer.

Brera: best for charm and evenings out

Brera is Milan’s artistic quarter and the neighbourhood most visitors fall for: cobbled lanes, ivy covered buildings, small galleries, boutiques and cafes. The Pinacoteca di Brera and the Braidense library are here, and the Duomo is about a 10 minute walk away.

Top hotels in Brera

• Casa Brera, a Luxury Collection Hotel (luxury). A five star hotel in the heart of the district, with a rooftop pool and restaurant.
• Antica Locanda dei Mercanti (mid range). A well reviewed four star hotel on the edge of Brera, a short walk from both Brera and the Duomo.

Magenta and Sant’Ambrogio: best for a quiet base near the Last Supper

This elegant residential area west of the centre is home to Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio and the Leonardo science museum. It feels calmer and more local than the centre.

Top hotel near the Last Supper

• Antica Locanda Leonardo (mid range). A small, charming hotel on Corso Magenta set around a quiet courtyard garden, a couple of minutes from Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Porta Nuova and Garibaldi: best for modern hotels and train travel

Milan’s modern face: glass towers, the Bosco Verticale and the Piazza Gae Aulenti, with the trendy Isola district next door. It’s convenient for Centrale and Garibaldi stations and for day trips to Lake Como.

Top hotels in Porta Nuova

• Hotel Viu Milan (upscale). A member of Design Hotels near Porta Garibaldi, popular with leisure and business travellers alike. For longer trips to Milan, I would choose this hotel as it’s really nice.
• NH Collection Milano Porta Nuova (mid range). A modern hotel in the Isola and Porta Nuova area.

Navigli: best for nightlife and a local feel

The canal district south of the centre is where Milan goes for aperitivo. The Naviglio Grande is lined with bars and restaurants, and the nearby Tortona area is full of design studios.

Top hotels in Navigli

• Magna Pars, l’Hotel à Parfum (luxury). A five star all suite hotel in a former perfume factory, part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
• Aethos Milan (upscale). A stylish four star with a social atmosphere, close to the canals.

Tip: Milan hotel prices jump during trade fairs and Fashion Week. Check the fair calendar before you lock in dates, and book early if your trip overlaps.

What to eat in Milan

Milanese food is rich, buttery and northern: more rice and butter than pasta and olive oil. These are the dishes to look for.

• Risotto alla milanese. Golden saffron risotto, the city’s signature dish.
• Ossobuco. Slow braised veal shank, traditionally served with saffron risotto. Scoop out the marrow.
• Cotoletta alla milanese. A thick, bone in veal cutlet fried in butter. Not to be confused with a thin Viennese schnitzel (don’t say that to a Milanese).
• Risotto al salto. Leftover saffron risotto pressed flat and fried until crisp.
• Mondeghili. Milanese meatballs, a classic aperitivo snack.
• Cassoeula. A hearty pork and cabbage stew, mostly served in winter.
• Panettone. Milan’s Christmas bread, found in pastry shops year round.

Best restaurants for Milanese food in and near the centre

I ate at a few good places near the Duomo but, honestly, didn’t keep the names. So instead of guessing, here are five restaurants that Milan food writers consistently name for traditional Milanese cooking, all in or close to the centre. I haven’t eaten at all of them myself, so check opening hours and book ahead, especially for dinner.

1. Trattoria Milanese (Via Santa Marta 11, near Cordusio). An old school family trattoria serving Milanese classics since 1933, a few minutes’ walk from the Duomo. Go for the risotto with ossobuco or the cotoletta.
2. Antico Ristorante Boeucc (Corso Monforte 16, near San Babila). Said to be Milan’s oldest restaurant, dating back to 1696. Formal, classic and the place for a special dinner. Note it moved from its old Piazza Belgioioso address, so older guides may send you to the wrong door.
3. Latteria San Marco (Via San Marco 24, Brera). A tiny, much loved neighbourhood spot in Brera. It closed in 2023 when the original owners retired and reopened under new management in 2024, so expect the same spirit, not necessarily the same cooking. Check its hours, as some listings show weekdays only.
4. Antica Trattoria della Pesa (Viale Pasubio 10, Porta Garibaldi). A traditional dining room with antique furniture, known for ossobuco, cotoletta and a classic risotto al salto. Easy to combine with a Brera or Porta Nuova evening.
5. Ratanà (Via Gaetano de Castillia 28, Isola). For a modern take on Milanese cooking. Chef Cesare Battisti’s risotto alla milanese with ossobuco is a fixture on a seasonal menu.

Quick bite near the Duomo: for lunch on the go, Luini near the Galleria has been selling fried panzerotti since 1949 and the queue moves fast.

Practical tips for 2 days in Milan

• Avoid Mondays for Day 2. The Last Supper, the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Sforza Castle museums all close on Mondays. The Braidense library closes on Sundays, so Tuesday to Saturday works best for Day 2.
• Getting around. The centre is walkable. For longer hops, the metro is fast and you can tap in with a contactless bank card, no ticket needed.
• From the airports. From Linate, metro line M4 runs into the centre. From Malpensa, the Malpensa Express train runs to Cadorna and Centrale. I chose though a private transfer for convenience to the airport (I arrived in Mila by train from Bologna).
• Book ahead. The Last Supper months in advance; the Duomo rooftop and Brera a few days ahead in high season.
• Restaurant bills. Many restaurants add a small coperto (cover charge) per person. It’s normal, not a scam.
• City tax. Hotels charge a nightly tourist tax on top of the room rate.

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