10 Things To Do In Milan, Italy - Updated 2024

things to do in milan
Anne
Anne 
Updated
| 4 min read

Milan is a bustling city in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is known as a global capital in the fashion and design industry and is also a financial hub. It is a vibrant city with its high-end shops and restaurants. Of interest to visit is the Santa Maria Delle Grazie Convent, which is home to the iconic mural “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci. Milan’s skyline is also dominated by the Duomo di Milano gothic cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo. In the same area is the 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, home to excellent cafes serving traditional Milanese treats and high-end shops. Read more about the exciting things to do in Milan, Italy by scrolling below.

1. Go for a night out in the Navigli District (from USD 309.0)

This charming district lies along two canals – Naviglio Pavese and Naviglio Grande – both of which are lined by several bars, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and design shops. Enjoy an aperitif and dine in one of the many excellent restaurants before heading out to enjoy the lively nightlife of the district. During the day, and if you are in the city towards the end of the month, enjoy the vintage bazaar held here every last Sunday to browse and purchase fascinating souvenirs to take home with you.

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Navigli Walking Tour - small group tour

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

2 reviews

2. Munch on panettone at Pasticceria Cucchi

Panettone della tradizione artigiana milanese
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pasticceria Cucch... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Milan is the birthplace of panettone, a traditional Christmas and New Year’s Eve dessert or sweet bread loaf. The traditional version is made with sweet dough, with added citron, candied orange, lemon zest, and raisins. There are other versions which are plain or have chocolate. Pasticceria Cucchi is a bakery and coffee shop which has been in business since 1936. This is the ideal place to enjoy a piece of panettone or other Italian treats with a cup of cappuccino.

Pasticceria Cucchi

Address: Corso Genova, 1, Milan, Italy

Website: Pasticceria Cucchi

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 7am - 10pm (closed on Mon)

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3. Visit the iconic Last Supper (from USD 60.0)

The Last Supper is a classic and iconic mural by Leonardo da Vinci and it is located in the refectory of Santa Maria Delle Grazie, a Dominican convent and church in Milan. The church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a combination of gothic and renaissance architecture. Of interest to note, the church was bombed during World War II, leading to much of the refectory being destroyed. Luckily some of the walls did survive, including the one displaying the famous da Vinci mural.

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Skip the Line: "The Last Supper" Ticket in Milan

Duration: 45 minutes

317 reviews

4. Explore the treasure trove of Milan’s top design dealer - Nina Yashar

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Nilufar takes up two floors of an apartment building to showcase one of the most eccentric displays of collectible, mid-century to contemporary furnishings. Yashar once commented that she likes mixing old and new in design conversations to produce beauty in an interesting way. Nilufar attracts design professionals, curators, and editors, but is also a fascinating visit for normal folk.

Nilufar

Address: Via della Spiga, 32, Milan, Italy

Website: Nilufar

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 7pm (closed on Sun)

Price: Free

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5. Dance to electronic music at Tunnel Club

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Tunnel Club is located in a former railway shed, underneath the tracks of the Central Station in Milan. The club is the leader in the electronic music scene in Europe and opened in the 1990s. The Tunnel Club is a trendsetter in the clubbing scene in Milan and features trance, techno, and house DJ sets. The vibe of the club is considered to be underground and people mostly visit the Tunnel Club for the music, not to see and be seen.

Tunnel Club

Address: Via Sammartini, 30, Milan, Italy

Website: Tunnel Club

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 11pm - 5am

Price: 22-56 USD

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6. Unwind at the QC Terme Wellness Center in the shadow of the Spanish Walls

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Located in the shadow of the famous Spanish Walls in the heart of Milan, QC Terme offers a wellness oasis, where visitors can experience sauna, whirlpools, steam baths and relaxation rooms in a peaceful place in Porta Romana. A variety of treatments is available at the wellness center including massages and other spa treatments.

QC Terme

Address: Piazzale Medaglie d'Oro, 2 angolo Via Filippetti, Milan, Italy

Website: QC Terme

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 12am; Sat - Sun: 8:30am - 12am

Price: 100-118 USD

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7. Window shop in Milan's Golden Triangle (from USD 28.0)

The Golden Triangle (or Quadrilatero d’Oro) of Milan includes some of the city’s most famous shopping streets, Via Della Spiga, Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant Andrea, Via Gesu, and Via Borgospesso. These streets feature Italy’s most famous designer shops and this is the perfect area to window shop and gaze at the fashion displays and footwear. Some of the window displays and shop interiors are beautiful and interesting.

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Outlet Best Shopping Mall Tour

Duration: 11 hours

260 reviews

8. Watch a football match at San Siro Stadium (from USD 72.0)

San Siro Stadium in Milan is the largest of its kind in Italy and hosts two top division football teams, AC Milan and FC Internazionale. The stadium holds 80,000 people to watch live football games. There is also a museum dedicated to the history of both football clubs and tours are available.

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San Siro Stadium and Casa Milan with Lunch Option

Duration: 3 to 6 hours

8 reviews

9. Rent a bike and ride alongside the canals (from USD 54.0)

Rent a bike for a reasonable fee or book a bike tour of Milan, then head down to Naviglio, cycling alongside the Naviglio Pavese and Naviglio Grande. Stop off along the way to enjoy a coffee or snack in one of the many cafes and restaurants lining the canals. Naviglio is one of the favorite spots in Milan for fresh air exercise, beautiful buildings, and boats.

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Private Bicycle Tour in Milan 3 hours

Duration: 3 hours

34 reviews

10. Enjoy an evening at the Teatro Alla Scala in Milan (from USD 149.0)

La Scala was originally known as the Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro Alla Scala but is best known by its shortened name. The opera house first opened in 1778 and the stage has seen Italy’s greatest operatic artists as well as opera singers from all over the world. La Scala is said to be among the leading opera and ballet theatres in the world. Besides enjoying an operatic performance, it is possible to tour the museum of La Scala, to view its costumes, statues, and paintings.

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Private tour of Teatro alla Scala Museum in Milan

Duration: 2 hours

2 reviews

Have a great vacation in Milan, Italy

have a great vacation in milan, italy
Source: Pixabay

Have fun on your vacation, while experiencing some of the best things to do in Milan, Italy.

Tip from Content Creator

Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa Duomo di Milano Aroma Napoletano Milano Duomo at Terraza Aperol Gino Sorbillo La Prosciutteria Milano in Navigli

My second time in Milan involved less partying and more spritzes and aperitivos! Visiting Milan only for a day? Here are some more recommendations for a memorable experience:

- Grab a colourful filled doughnut at Aroma Napoletano Milano

- Relish an Aperol spritz with the best views of the Duomo at Terraza Aperol

- Have the best pizza of your life at Gino Sorbillo

- Visit Santuario di San Bernardino alle Ossa

- Head La Prosciutteria Milano in Navigli for their charcuterie boards (and come back to the area at night for drinks)

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anne Sewell was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Africa - Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa - and now resides on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain. She loves writing...Read more

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