10 must see in Milan, Italy

10 must see in Milan? Really? Milan is considered by many tourists pretty dull and not worth a visit. Many says that the Duomo it’s about the only thing worth doing in Milan.

We’ll show you why they’re wrong. In this guide, we will talk about 10 must see attractions in Milan, and please remember, there’s much more to see!

Duomo

Il Duomo (the Milan Cathedral) is on the top of our list of “must see in Milan”. You probably don’t know that the gothic cathedral took 600 years to be completed and it’s the largest church in Italy (St. Peter’s Basilica is in the state of Vatican City, it’s not in Italy), the third largest in Europe and the fourth largest in the world.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Having the Duomo in front of you, look on your left. There’s the entrance to the gallery, which is the Italy’s oldest active shopping mall, built between 1865 and 1867.

In Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II you can find restaurants and bars from famous italian chefs, luxury shops and the lucky bull. My suggestion? Have an espresso at “Camparino”, which is right there at the entrance.

The last supper

The masterpiece from Leonardo da Vinci, made famous by many movies and books is worth a visit.

But there’s a catch! Book in advance or you won’t have any chance to visit the Cenacolo. Check Viator or similar sites for “skip the line” tickets.

La Scala

If you walked in the Galleria, you’ll end up just in front of the most famous theater in the world: La Scala. If you can’t afford to attend the opera, don’t worry! There’s a museum and you can book a personalized tour too!

Castello Sforzesco

Ok, now back from La Scala to Piazza del Duomo. Turn right and walk to the Castello Sforzesco (Milan Sforza Castle) walking through Piazza Cordusio and Via Dante. The castle, one of the must see in Milan, will be right in front of you.

In the castle there are many museums, plus you shouldn’t miss:

• The recently renovated sala delle asse, by Leonardo Da Vinci
• The Rondanini Pietà, a masterpiece by Michelangelo

Arco della Pace

Ok, it’s time for an aperitivo. If you cross the park called Parco Sempione behind the Castello Sforzesco, you’ll end up at Arco Della Pace (also known as Porta Sempione). Stroll around the beautiful and calm plaza and sit down at a table of one of the many bars for an aperitivo!

If you want a more lively experience for your aperitivo, move to Navigli!

Navigli

The Navigli are a system of canals and waterways that cross and surround the city. In the past they were used as “waterways” to link the city to the lakes and the other cities in the area. Right now they’re the at the heart of Milan’s movida.

The new Darsena area is also worth a walk!

San Siro Stadium

Home of Inter and Ac Milan, the San Siro stadium is magical. 80000 seats, and most of them with a magnificent view of the pitch.

It’s easy to find a ticket for many matches on team websites and if you want to experience soccer in Italy you should definitely try it in San Siro! You can easily reach the stadium using the M5 subway line!

Corso Como and Gae Aulenti Plaza

Milan is probably the most “european” city in Italy. Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Corso Como Area are a majestic example of how modern and futuristic Milan is.

Walk from Gae Aulenti to Corso Como and reach Piazza XXV (25) Aprile. Eat at Eataly Smeraldo and thank me later!

Brera and Isola districts

Brera is a Milan district famous for the Pinacoteca, a wonderful museum full of masterpieces from Raffaello, Tintoretto, Mantegna, Hayez, but also for bar and restaurants

The same is true for Isola, which is nearby the Gae Aulenti plaza we already talked about.

Isola is full of bars and restaurants too!

Bonus! Lake Como daily trip

Here’s a little bonus. You can reach Lake Como from Milan by train in less than an hour. If you’re speding some days in the city you can jump on a train and spend the day in Como!