Things to do in Milan

The essential things to do in Milan

Our pick of the experiences worth building a trip around.

1. 

   1. Duomo di Milano and the Rooftop Terraces.

   Go early or close to the end of the visiting day, and check the official Duomo site before you commit, since terrace access can change with weather, maintenance, and cathedral events. The roof is the better part of the visit. You get close to the spires, the Madonnina, and the marble thicket that makes the cathedral feel less like a church and more like a dare.

2. 

   2. Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper.

   This is the rare famous artwork that still justifies the booking trouble. Visits are timed, short, and tightly controlled for conservation, with advance reservation usually essential through the official Cenacolo Vinciano channels. Do not plan on a lazy museum morning. Plan on a brief, slightly tense appointment that is still worth it.

3. 

   3. Pinacoteca di Brera.

   Brera is Milan at its best: serious art without the dead air of a trophy museum. Mantegna, Hayez, Raphael, Bellini, Caravaggio, and Piero della Francesca give the collection weight, while the surrounding streets make it easy to recover afterward with a drink you will probably overpay for. Free first-Sunday entry has been offered with reservation, but check the museum site before building a plan around it.

4. 

   4. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

   Yes, it is full of people taking the same photo, but the glass roof and mosaic floors still have swagger. Do not hang around unless you are shopping. Use it as a grand passage between the Duomo and La Scala, then keep moving.

5. 

   5. Teatro alla Scala.

   A performance is the real prize, but the museum is a decent fallback if your timing or budget says no. Museum hours and closures shift around holidays and theater needs, so check the official La Scala museum page. The building looks almost plain from outside, which is very Milan: the money and drama are behind the door.

6. 

   6. Fondazione Prada.

   This is the best argument for leaving the old center. The OMA-designed campus occupies a former distillery in Largo Isarco, and the exhibition spaces are generally closed on Tuesdays, so check the current calendar. Even when a show misses, the architecture and Bar Luce make the trip worthwhile.

7. 

   7. Navigli at Aperitivo Hour.

   Navigli is touristy, loud, and sometimes tacky, but it works if you accept it on those terms. Come for one drink along the canals, then move a few streets away before dinner if you want better food and fewer selfie sticks.

8. 

   8. Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione.

   The castle is not Milan's prettiest object, but it gives the city some needed muscle and space. Pair it with Parco Sempione and Triennale Milano rather than treating it as a stand-alone box to tick.

Landmark guides for Milan

In-depth guides to the major sights: what to see, how to visit, and whether they are worth it.

• Landmark guide Duomo di Milano
• Landmark guide Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
• Landmark guide Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano
• Landmark guide Castello Sforzesco
• Landmark guide Pinacoteca di Brera
• Landmark guide Teatro alla Scala
• Landmark guide Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
• Landmark guide Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
• Landmark guide Cimitero Monumentale di Milano
• Landmark guide Fondazione Prada