Milan tourist attractions & sightseeing

1. Milan Cathedral (Duomo)

In Piazza del Duomo you will find the famous Milan Cathedral. The construction of this church started in the fourteenth century and lasted until the twentieth century. The architecture of the Duomo, the baroque facade, the mosaic and the paintings will enchant you. Visit the Cathedral Museum to learn more about its history and details, and go to the rooftop to enjoy beautiful views of the Italian city and get a closer look at the pinnacles. More info 'Milan Duomo'.

2. The Last Supper by Da Vinci

In the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie you can see the mural 'The Last Supper'. This famous mural measuring 5 by 9 meters depicts the moment when Jesus informs his apostles about the traitor in their midst.

📌 Warning: It's important to book your tickets early for your visit to Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece weeks in advance. The number of tickets is very limited and reservations are therefore absolutely necessary (more info and tickets The Last Supper).

3. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

This Galleria is the oldest shopping center in all of Italy and the covered shopping arcade is best known for its special glass roof. This shopping center is perfect for purchasing items from well-known brands or souvenirs. You can buy clothes, accessories, books and art. You can also enjoy a luxurious overnight stay in the Galleria Vik Milano hotel or meet there for lunch or dinner. From the top floor you also have a special view over Milan and the highlights. More info 'Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II'.

4. Landmarks: Castello Sforzesco

You will visit this castle in Milan Italy to learn a little more about the history of the city. You will learn about the influence of wars, famous Italian families and the construction and restorations that have taken place. Not only does the castle itself attract attention in terms of architecture, you will also appreciate the decorative elements inside. Several museums are housed in this castle, such as the Pinacoteca, the Egyptian Museum and the Archaeological Museum. You buy a combination ticket that gives you access to all these small museums. More info 'Sforzesco Castle'.

5. Parco Sempione & Arco della Pace

The Arco della Pace (the great gateway to the city) with its horses on top, borders the Parco Sempione. This place not only attracts visitors because of the historical significance of the gateway (built for Napoleon), but you can also relax in this stylish park and escape the bustle of the city or walk on to Castello Sforzesco. More info 'Parco Sempione'.

6. I Navigli district

What to do in the I Navigli district? Navigli is known for its canals with cozy restaurants and bars. It actually seems as if you are sitting on an authentic canal. In this district you will find many small, artisan shops and designers and artists who sell their own work through their studio. For vintage items, the last Sunday of the month, head to the Mercatino dell'Usato di Porta Genova, an antiques and flea market. And at the Vicolo dei Lavandai alley, you will learn about the history of the neighborhood. More info 'I Navigli'.

7. La Scala Theater

In this neoclassical theater you can book a guided tour or book a show for the evening, such as opera, ballet or an orchestra. You will not get bored of the velvet red chairs, the golden decorations and the chandelier that hangs in the middle. Would you like a guided tour? This also includes a visit to the museum that is located next to Teatro la Scala. Highlights are theater costumes from the past and beautiful old sets, as well as paintings and instruments. More info for visiting 'La Scala theater'.

8. Pinacoteca di Brera

The Pinacoteca di Brera is an art gallery in Milan's Brera district. This art gallery with mainly classical art is divided into 36 different rooms and each room showcases a specific period, movement or type of art. The Pinacoteca is located in the Palazzo Brera, where you can also visit the Brera library, the astronomical observatory and the (free) adjacent botanical garden. More info 'Pinacoteca di Brera'.

9. Monumental Cemetery of Milan

The Cimitero Monumentale di Milano is a special landmark, although you may not immediately think of that when visiting a cemetery. Various objects by famous artists are on display and the gigantic structures and statues make it a unique place that families have created for their deceased. Small chapels and imposing graves make this very different from other cemeteries. It is a quiet place where you can easily look around a bit longer through all the monuments present. More info 'Cimitero Monumentale'.

10. San Siro Stadium

As a football fan you want to visit the football stadium of A.C. Milan and Internazionale. A new stadium is being built near Stadio San Siro, so those who want to see the old one no longer have all the time in the world. With a tour you get to see all the important places in the stadium, such as the changing rooms. There is a museum at the San Siro stadium and there is also a separate museum for fans of A.C. Milan. This is called Casa Milan. More info about the 'football stadium'.

11. San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

A church that is not so striking from the outside, which will surprise you enormously when you enter. Almost every inch of wall and ceiling is covered with paintings or mosaics. Even walls and pillars are embellished with decorations. The former monastery used to be split in two and only since the end of the 18th century were nuns allowed to enter the church together with the faithful. You will be amazed at all the applied colors and decorative elements. More info 'Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore'.

12. Milan sightseeing by bike

Would you like to experience Milan in a different way than on foot or by public transport? Book this fun bike tour including an enthusiastic guide. The guide takes you to places that are difficult for most visitors to find and shows you all the highlights of the city. You don't need more than half a day to discover the most important tourist places of the city of Milan by bike. With someone who knows the city with its tourist attractions, this bike tour will be a special experience (more info and booking of bike tours).

13. Where to go: Brera art district

You will immediately notice the colorful houses in the cozy alleys in this Milanese district. It is mainly artists and other creatives who live here and you immediately feel that in the atmosphere in the district. The many shops, studios and special boutiques invite you not only to browse the shop window, but also to go inside. The Brera district is also perfect for a delicious Italian lunch or dinner in one of the cozy restaurants or bars. More info 'Brera'.

14. Bone Chapel of San Bernardino alle Ossa

In the Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa is a chapel completely covered with bones and skulls. The ossuary may look sinister, but it attracts many visitors to this church. It is not only the bones that are interesting, because you can also see a fantastic ceiling. It concerns a painting in mainly gray and yellow, on which angels and souls are depicted in the central part. Saints and the Virgin Mary are painted in the four corners. More info 'Bone Chapel of San Bernardino'.

Extra: Day trips from Milan

From Milan you can easily make various day trips, for example by train. The city of Bergamo is 40 minutes from Milan, which highlights are definitely worth a visit. Explore medieval Bergamo on foot with tourist attractions such as the Duomo and its Piazza. Whether you travel to Lake Como (more info Como day trip from Milan), where you visit charming places (Como, Bellagio or Varenna) or view the impressive nature and spacious villas along the water's edge. Furthermore, you can reach beautiful cities such as Turin, Verona, Bescia or the port city of Genoa by train. In this article you can read about the 10 best day trips from Milan.

15. Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia

Are you traveling with children or is it a rainy day? Then be sure to visit the 'Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci'. This huge and interactive museum is located in an old monastery and an important Milan tourist attraction. Here you can view objects based on Leonardo da Vinci's sketch work, including various real models (and scale models) of submarines and other ships, steam trains and airplanes. Learn more about the Milan Science Museum.

16. Places to visit: Porta Nuova

Porta Nuova is the business district of Milan. In addition to a number of large companies, there are also nice boutiques and cozy bars here. The district originated on a site where factories and old train tracks used to be. It is the showpiece of various international architects and investors, with the most important modern highlights being the UniCredit Tower and the Bosco Verticale. The latter are two imposing residential towers with large terraces and lots of greenery. You can see the trees and plants from afar. More info 'Porta Nuova'.

17. Colonne di San Lorenzo

In front of the Basilica di San Lorenzo is a square and at the beginning of this square you will see the Colonne di San Lorenzo. It concerns sixteen marble Corinthian columns, which probably used to be part of a bathhouse or temple. The entire area around the church used to be full of residential houses, but now you can see the gigantic columns in the square from a distance. Behind the church is also a park, the Parco Papa Giovanni Paolo II. More info 'Basilica en Colonne di San Lorenzo'.

17. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

This is one of the oldest churches in Milan Italy and the original church was built by Saint Ambrose. Over time, the church has been regularly rebuilt and restored by bombardments and now, in addition to a church, it also has a walled courtyard. A covered colonnade runs along the square on both sides. You will especially read about the legend with the devil who has left his traces here. More info for visiting 'Sant'Ambrogio'

19. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana & Da Vinci Codex

While visiting the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana you will learn about artists such as Botticelli, Caravaggio, Tiziano and Raphael through the artworks on display. The collection in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana contains not only paintings, but also manuscripts. The highlights here is the Codex Atlanticus - twelve leather-bound manuscripts with texts and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. Read about Leonardo da Vinci's inventions and see his sketches from airplanes to musical instruments and from nature to weapons.

📌 Tip: Behind the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is the Crypt of Leonardo, part of the San Sepolcro church. After a long restoration, this underground church from the 11th century can be visited again. The San Sepolcro Crypt has, among other things, a floor from Roman times and frescoes from the 11th century (more info and reservations).

20. Shopping in the 'Golden Quadrangle'

Besides a visit to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for shopping you can also visit Quadrilatero d'Oro. Also known as the golden quadrangle, this is the place to visit if you are looking for chic fashion and luxury brands. The quadrangle contains the streets Via Manzoni, Via Monte Napoleone, Corso Venezia and Via della Spiga. You can recognize the fashion district by brands like Gucci, Chanel and Cartier.

21. L.O.V.E., a special landmark

This donated sculpture is located in the square in front of the Milan Stock Exchange. You see a hand with the middle finger pointing up and this middle finger being raised not to the stock market itself, but to those who are causing equity investor and financial crises. The statue is a design by the Italian Maurizio Cattelan and the letters L.O.V.E. do not stand for love as you may now think, but for Libert, Odio, Vendetta and Eternit (freedom, hatred, revenge and eternity).

22. Things to do in Milan: Have an 'aperitivo'

Milanese love their aperitivo at the end of the working day. From 6 pm the bars and cafes such as in the district I Navigli are therefore ready for you with typical drinks, such as a Negroni, Prosecco or Aperol Spritz, accompanied by a tasty snack. The tradition started when at the end of the working day - but before going home for dinner - people had a small snack to whet the appetite. Will you join this tradition during your stay in Milan?

23. Visit attractions with the (historic) tram

The Milan tram network has existed since 1881 and it is therefore not surprising that you can still see historic trams in Milan. With a length of more than 180 kilometers of tram tracks, you can use 17 different tram lines in 'Milano'. If you don't want to explore the city entirely on foot, you can take instead of the metro from ATM also take the tram to visit Milan points of interest or to your accommodation. More info 'Transport in Milan'.

24. Santa Maria presso San Satiro

Less than a five minute walk from the Milan Duomo is another interesting church, the Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro. The entrance to this elegant church is free of charge. When you enter the church, you will especially notice the golden colors incorporated in the ceilings. The existing lighting emphasizes the color even more. The black and white floor also attracts attention, but the most special thing in this church is the richly decorated altar.

25. La Vigna - Da Vinci's Vineyard

(Temporarily closed!) The vineyard that used to be here was donated to Leonardo da Vinci in 1498 by Ludovico il Moro. You can imagine that Da Vinci could relax in this vineyard after a day of inventing, sketching and writing. While visiting the vineyard, follow a route through the gardens and museum at Casa degli Atellani. Book your tour and learn about Leonardo da Vinci's life through his extraordinary vineyard.

Extra: Visit more Milan museums

If you're interested in the cultural offer in Milan, you can also visit the following museums: Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia, Museo del Novecento, Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Museo Gallerie d'Italia, Museo Storico Alfa Romeo, Pirelli Hangar Bicocca, Casa Museo Boschi di Stefano, Museo Leonardo3 and the Natural History Museum. From classical to modern art, from fashion to cars and from science to technology, Milan's museums have it all. In this article an overview of the most beautiful museums in Milan.