Discovering Milan in One Day

Despite being Italy’s second most populous city, Milan gets very little love from tourists. As the undeniable economic hub of Italy, it is more often associated with business and industry than it is with its history-laden attractions. Yet, like everywhere else in Italy, Milan has a wealth of places to see. The city has stunning attractions that would deem it a must-see destination if it were located somewhere else. Anywhere else.

As it stands, Milan doesn’t frequently make it onto the itineraries of first-time travelers to Italy. The vibrant city deserves at least one day of exploration, but it rarely receives more than a passing glance. The city simply has too much competition from places like Rome, Florence and Venice.

Travelers who decide to give Milan a chance, however, will find a lively city with tons of things to do. Spending even one day in Milan reveals a city that is both forward-thinking and cosmopolitan. It is a place that has embraced the future with open arms, while holding on to the history, culture, and tradition that makes Italy such a special destination.

Travel Itinerary for One Day in Milan

Though Milan is nothing like Rome in terms of the grandeur of its architecture, it contains many gems that extend far beyond the sheer beauty of its central square. Milan contains numerous cupolas with beautiful frescoes, green city parks, an impressive museum of modern art, hidden alleyways and high-end streets for wealthy shoppers.

As with any large city, discovering the best of Milan in one day is challenging. Yet, armed with a pair of good walking shoes, I was able to explore many of the city’s top places to visit during my short 24 hour stay.

• The Duomo of Milan

The beating heart of Milan is undoubtedly the Piazza del Duomo and its dazzling cathedral. The famous Duomo di Milano is Milan’s most popular attractions and one of Italy’s most recognizable icons. It is, without a doubt, the top thing to see in Milan and one of the highlights of Italy as a whole.

The Gothic cathedral is among the world’s largest churches. It took six centuries to build and is an architectural masterpiece.

Purchasing tickets for the rooftop is the best way to appreciate the delicate intricacy of Milan’s Duomo. The rooftop affords an up-close look at the church’s gargoyles and spires.

On clear days, it even provides views over Milan’s surrounding buildings and the Alps in the distance.

• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Situated adjacent to the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is unmissable. It is one of the city’s architectural highlights, as well as its premier high end shopping destination.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele sits within a four story double arcade. It dates back to the mid 1800s and consists of vaulted glass arcades that shelter high end stores such as Gucci, Prada, and Versace.

The gallery is a must for both sightseers and shoppers wishing to splurge on designer-brand purchases in the world’s fashion capital.

• Castello Sforzesco

From the Piazza Duomo, the pedestrian drag of Via Dante leads to the fortified Castello Sforzesco and Sempione Park. The Sforzesco Castle and adjacent park are among my favorite places to visit in Milan.

The iconic red-brick Sforzesco Castle dates back to the 1300s. The castle—originally a Visconti fortress—became home to the mighty Sforza dynasty that ruled Renaissance Milan.

Today, the castle houses seven specialized museums, which gather together intriguing fragments of Milan’s cultural and civic history.

• Basilicas in Milan

Aside from the domineering Duomo Cathedral, Milan has a handful of pretty churches tucked into alleyways and lining its busy streets. Near the Piazza Duomo, we had the opportunity to visit a handful of Milan’s beautiful basilicas—including the exterior of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and the Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio.

Though travelers with only one day in Milan may wish to skip these smaller buildings, they are certainly worth exploring for those interested in religion and art.

• Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper

Before traveling to Milan, I knew nothing about the city. I didn’t really know what to see in Milan,  other than the fact that the city housed the great painting

Aside from the Duomo, the Last Supper Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is the city’s claim to fame.

The painting resides in the Santa Maria delle Grazie Basilica. It is both one of Da Vinci’s most defining works and one of the world’s most renowned paintings. Seeing the painting requires reservations, often months in advance.

Despite traveling to Milan dozens of times as a flight attendant, I’ve never been able to secure a reservation to the Last Supper painting due to the last-minute nature of my visits.

• The Navigli of Milan

The Navigli are a system of navigable canals that once served as transportation thoroughfares in Medieval Milan. Today, they are an enjoyable place to visit, lined with bars and eateries serving unbeatable happy hour deals.

The Navigli serve as a peaceful place to take a late afternoon stroll, followed by a pre-dinner aperitivo (a quintessential and ever-popular Milan tradition that involves cocktail-hour drinks followed by generous portions of finger food).

Kicking back and enjoying an aperol spritz is the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing in Milan.

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Despite being one of Italy’s premier cities, Milan is often overlooked by travelers who choose to head to Rome, Florence, or Venice instead. And when travelers have more than a week in Italy, they nearly always decide to head to the country’s quaint photogenic villages—picturesque destinations along the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre or Lake Como, for example.

On the surface, it is easy to see why eager sightseers might choose to skip Milan. Unlike many other cities in Italy, Milan is not overflowing well-known places to visit. Its beauty is much more subtle—often tucked away in alleyways, hidden in nondescript churches or nestled among modern cement buildings.

Milan is Italy’s industrial and economic powerhouse. And, while on the surface the city seems to be little more than a brash and soulless metropolis, spending time in Italy’s second-largest city reveals a place that is teeming with things to do and see.

From meandering down alleyways to happy hour along the canals and from quaint basilicas to the grand Piazza Duomo, Milan is certainly worthy of a few days’ visit.

Most people just don’t give it a chance.