Self-guided itinerary · free
Milan in 2 days: the Duomo, The Last Supper and the Navigli
Milan's historic centre fits into a small area around the Duomo, so the plan rests on two walkable clusters. Day one is Piazza del Duomo: the cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Teatro alla Scala and, in the afternoon, the Pinacoteca in Brera. Day two is the west side: The Last Supper by advance booking in the morning, then the museums and courtyards of Sforza Castle, and the Navigli canals and the Darsena in the evening. You cannot see The Last Supper without a ticket; booking is mandatory for everyone. The Pinacoteca, The Last Supper and the castle museums are closed on Mondays, so the plan is built for Tuesday to Sunday; on a Monday you can still do the Duomo, the Galleria, the castle courtyards and a Navigli walk. With an extra day you could add Lake Como; check train times with Trenord. Hours and fees link to the official source with the date we last checked them.
Prepared by: Kolay Seyahat content teamLast updated 22/10/2026Every fact links to an official source
This is not a package tour. This itinerary is free information. Flights, hotels and experiences are each sold separately, under their own seller’s terms, with separate payment and a separate contract. Prices are never linked to one another.
Day by day
Progress is saved on this device only. Your location is never sent.
Day 1 · The Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala and Brera
The cathedral and its terraces in the morning, then a short walk through the Galleria to La Scala; the Pinacoteca di Brera in the afternoon and the streets of Brera in the evening. The Pinacoteca is closed on Mondays, so this day should not fall on a Monday.
Day 1 · 1 · 09:00–11:30
Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano)
Start the day with the symbol of Milan. Work on the cathedral began in 1386 at the wish of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, and went on for roughly five centuries. The result is the largest and most elaborate Gothic building in Italy: pink-tinged white marble, 157 metres long, with the top of its main spire at 108.5 metres. The gilded statue known as the Madonnina stands at the highest point. The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, which looks after the cathedral, was also founded by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, in 1387, and has cared for the building for more than six centuries. Take your time with the façade from the square before going in; the terraces and the museum are separate parts of the visit, so choose your ticket with that in mind.
Good to know
Construction began in 1386 at the wish of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and lasted roughly five centuries; the largest Gothic building in Italy. 157 m long, top of the main spire 108.5 m, crowned by the gilded Madonnina.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, which preserves the cathedral, was founded by Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1387.
Source: Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
Opening hours, ticket types (cathedral, terraces, museum) and the dress code could not be read from the official ticket site; check ticket.duomomilano.it.
Day 1 · 2 · 11:30–12:15
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Just north of the cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the nineteenth-century work of the architect Giuseppe Mengoni and Italy's oldest shopping arcade. Mosaics and caryatids rise under the glass dome, and the Bocca bookshop has been in the arcade since 1930. In the central octagon, spinning three times on your heel over the mosaic bull that stands for the coat of arms of Turin is an old Milanese custom. Walk it for the architecture rather than the shop windows, and leave by the northern end onto the square in front of La Scala.
Getting there
- Walk
Good to know
Designed in the 19th century by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni; Italy's oldest shopping arcade. The Bocca bookshop has been there since 1930; the central octagon has the mosaic bull representing Turin's coat of arms.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
It is a public arcade; no ticket is needed to walk through.
Day 1 · 3 · 12:15–12:45
Teatro alla Scala (exterior)
See La Scala, one of the best-known opera houses in the world, from the outside. The architect Giuseppe Piermarini built the theatre between 1776 and 1778; it was rebuilt after war damage in 1943 and extended and restored between 2002 and 2004. Since 1951 the season has opened on 7 December, the feast of Milan's patron saint Sant'Ambrogio, and the great chandelier lighting the main hall holds 365 bulbs. Seen from the statue of Leonardo in the square, the plain façade gives little hint of the splendour inside.
Getting there
- Walk
Good to know
Built 1776–1778 by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini; rebuilt after war damage in 1943, extended and restored 2002–2004. Since 1951 the season opens on 7 December, Sant'Ambrogio's day; the main chandelier has 365 bulbs.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
Museum and theatre tour hours and prices could not be verified; check the theatre's official site if you want to go inside.
Day 1 · 4 · 14:15–17:15
Pinacoteca di Brera
ClosedBooking requiredGive the afternoon to the Pinacoteca in the Brera district. The collection grew out of works gathered from 1776 as teaching examples alongside the Academy of Fine Arts, and the gallery was formally founded in 1809. Today it is one of the most important collections of Italian painting, laid out in rooms that run from the Renaissance to the Baroque. Three hours is enough to see the main rooms without rushing. Afterwards, stroll Brera's cobbled streets into the evening and have dinner nearby.
Getting there
- Walk
Opening hours
Tuesday–Sunday 08:30–19:15; last entry 18:00.
Source: Pinacoteca di Brera · last checked 2026-10-22
Closed
Every Monday; 1 May, 25 December and 1 January.
Source: Pinacoteca di Brera · last checked 2026-10-22
Tickets and booking
Visits must be booked through Brera Booking; on the first Sunday of every month entry is free with a booking.
Source: Pinacoteca di Brera · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
The Pinacoteca was formally founded in 1809; a teaching collection had existed alongside the Academy of Fine Arts since 1776.
Source: Pinacoteca di Brera · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
A booking through Brera Booking is required. Entry is free with a booking on the first Sunday of every month. Check the admission price on the official site.
Day 2 · The Last Supper, Sforza Castle and the Navigli
The booked visit to The Last Supper in the morning, then the museums and courtyards of Sforza Castle; the Navigli canals in the afternoon and the Darsena in the evening. The Last Supper and the castle museums are closed on Mondays.
Day 2 · 1 · 09:00–10:00
The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano)
Booking required
Spend the morning of day two with The Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie. Leonardo da Vinci painted the mural between 1494 and 1497 under the patronage of Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan; it survived the bombing of August 1943, protected by sandbags and coverings. For conservation reasons a visit lasts 15 minutes and no more than 40 people are in the room at once, so it is a short but intense encounter. This is the one stop in the plan that hinges on a booking: you choose your time slot when you buy the ticket, so shift the rest of the day around it.
Opening hours
Museum Tuesday–Sunday 08:15–19:00, last entry 18:45; ticket office Tuesday–Sunday 08:00–18:45.
Source: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano · last checked 2026-10-22
Entrance fee
Full ticket (25 and over) €15.00; reduced (18–25) €2.00; free under 18.
Source: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano · last checked 2026-10-22
Tickets and booking
Booking is always mandatory, for everyone (infants included) and for every ticket type, free ones included. Sales open in three-month blocks: in September for November–January, in December for February–April, in March for May–July and in June for August–October. Extra tickets go on sale online only every Wednesday at 12:00 for the following week. At most 5 tickets per calendar year; arriving less than 30 minutes before your slot forfeits the ticket.
Source: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
For conservation reasons a visit lasts 15 minutes, with no more than 40 people in the room at once.
Source: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
Leonardo da Vinci painted it between 1494 and 1497 under the patronage of Ludovico il Moro; it survived the August 1943 bombing protected by sandbags and coverings.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
Be there 30 minutes before your booked time; if you are late, the ticket is forfeited. Tickets go on sale in three-month blocks, so plan early.
Day 2 · 2 · 10:30–13:00
Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle)
Closed
Walk along Corso Magenta to Sforza Castle. Wandering the castle's courtyards is free; the real riches are in the museums inside the walls. The museum devoted to the Rondanini Pietà, Michelangelo's last work, the Museum of Ancient Art and Armoury, the Pinacoteca, the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Furniture and Wooden Sculpture, the Egyptian collection and the Museum of Musical Instruments all share one ticket. It is valid for the day it is issued and gives one entry to each section; two and a half hours is enough for the Rondanini Pietà and one or two other museums at a relaxed pace.
Getting there
- Walk
Opening hours
Museums Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:30; ticket office and last entry to each section 16:30. Courtyards daily 07:00–19:30, free entry.
Source: Castello Sforzesco (Comune di Milano) · last checked 2026-10-22
Closed
Museums closed every Monday and on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
Source: Castello Sforzesco (Comune di Milano) · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
The ticket is valid on the day of issue and gives one entry to each section of all the castle's museums, including the Egyptian collection.
Source: Castello Sforzesco (Comune di Milano) · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
Some museum areas may be temporarily closed; check the notices on the castle's official site before you go. Check the ticket price on the official site.
Day 2 · 3 · 15:00–18:00
The Navigli and the Darsena
In the afternoon, head to the Navigli, Milan's canal district. It grew up around two historic canals, the Naviglio Grande and the Naviglio Pavese, part of a water system developed in the Renaissance to which Leonardo da Vinci contributed his engineering. The two canals meet at the Darsena, the city's old river port, now restored. Walk along the towpaths, watch the façades reflected from the bridges and end the day with dinner around the Darsena. An antiques market is held from time to time along the Naviglio Grande.
Good to know
The district lies around the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals, part of a water system developed in the Renaissance with engineering input from Leonardo da Vinci. The canals meet at the Darsena, the old river port.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Tips
To reach the Navigli by public transport, check the line and stop in ATM's journey planner. The day of the antiques market could not be verified.
Getting around
Getting there
Three airports serve Milan: Malpensa (45 km from the centre), Linate (7 km) and Bergamo Orio al Serio (50 km). The Malpensa Express connects with Cadorna, Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi stations; metro line M4 runs to Linate. The city has five metro lines: M1 red, M2 green, M3 yellow, M4 blue and M5 lilac.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Entrance fee
Malpensa Express: a ticket to or from any Milan station costs €15 for adults and €7.50 for ages 4–13; free up to age 3 with a paying parent. The 30-day return ticket is sold online only.
Source: Malpensa Express (Trenord) · last checked 2026-10-22
Entrance fee
ATM city tickets (zones Mi1–Mi3; metro, buses, trams and Trenord S lines): single €2.20 (90 minutes), daily €7.60 (24 hours), 3-day €15.50, carnet of 10 €19.50. When you pay contactless with a card, phone or watch, the cheapest fare is applied automatically.
Source: ATM Milano · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
112 is the number for all emergencies across Italy. Anyone staying even one night pays a tourist tax directly to their accommodation; the amount depends on the type of property. The tourist information point is at Piazza Duomo 14, open daily 10:00–18:00.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · last checked 2026-10-22
Good to know
Consulate General of Türkiye in Milan: Via Antonio Canova 36, 20145 Milano; telephone +39 02 318 368 00.
Source: T.C. Milano Başkonsolosluğu · last checked 2026-10-22
What and where to eat
Recommended places
Trippa
Porta RomanaItalian
MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand; the guide mentions its simple, slightly retro room and dishes from all over Italy, including the tripe it is named after.
Source: MICHELIN Guide · MICHELIN Guide · last checked 2026-10-22
Dongiò
Porta RomanaCalabrian
MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand; the guide notes it has served full-flavoured Calabrian cooking since 1987.
Source: MICHELIN Guide · MICHELIN Guide · last checked 2026-10-22
Da Giannino – L'Angolo d'Abruzzo
Porta VeneziaAbruzzese
MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand; the guide describes a friendly city trattoria with red-and-white checked tablecloths.
Source: MICHELIN Guide · MICHELIN Guide · last checked 2026-10-22
Savini
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele IIItalian and Milanese
On YesMilano's route of historic places to eat; the historic, elegant restaurant inside the Galleria. It fits lunch on day one.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Panificio Luini
Duomo, Via Santa RadegondaBakery, panzerotti
According to YesMilano, a family from Puglia has been making panzerotti here since 1949; a quick lunch on the go next to the Duomo.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Trattoria alla Pesa
Porta GaribaldiMilanese
A trattoria serving Milanese dishes, included in YesMilano's route of historic places to eat.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Pasticceria Cova
Via Monte NapoleonePastry shop
The historic pastry shop that closes YesMilano's route on a sweet note.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Local specialities
Risotto alla milanese
Milan's signature risotto, coloured gold by saffron.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Cotoletta alla milanese
One of Milan's oldest dishes; it is mentioned in a document from 1148 kept at the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Ossobuco
A slice of veal shank; the name means "bone with a hole" in dialect, and it is often served with risotto alla milanese.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Panettone
A dome-shaped cake about 30 cm tall, part of the Christmas table since the 15th century.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Mondeghili
Milanese meatballs; the recipe appears in a Milanese–Italian dictionary from 1839.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Minestrone alla milanese
A vegetable soup whose ingredients change with the season.
Source: YesMilano (Milano & Partners) · Official tourism source · last checked 2026-10-22
Opening hours and prices vary by venue; check the venue’s own site before you go. Recommendations are not paid placements.
Where to stay
Candidates were picked by distance to the area, star rating, guest rating (weighted by number of reviews) and completeness of hotel details. Ratings, review counts and details come live from our catalogue. Tiers follow the star rating.
Sample dates: 26.11–27.11 (1 night), 2 adults. Prices change with dates; choose your own dates on the hotel page.
The Duomo and the historic centre
Day one's cluster of the Duomo, the Galleria and La Scala is on the doorstep, and the tourist information point is on Piazza Duomo.
Good for: First-timers and short stays
Budget
Mid-range
Brera and the Castello
The Pinacoteca di Brera and Sforza Castle are within walking distance, and Cadorna station is on the Malpensa Express.
Good for: Art lovers and couples who like an evening stroll
Budget
Mid-range
Porta Garibaldi and Porta Nuova
Milano Porta Garibaldi is one of the Malpensa Express stops, handy if the airport link matters most.
Good for: Travellers who put the airport link first, mixed business and city trips
Mid-range
Photos: Pexels (Mikhail Nilov, Travel with Lenses, Bingqian Li, Dmitry Romanoff, Andrew Patrick Photo, Marian Florinel Condruz, Hülya Bky)
