How to Spend One Day in Milan

Post author:Traveler with a Map
Post published:July 30, 2019
Post category:Blog / International Travel / Italy / Milan

While Milan is a fashion and commercial center of Italy, it is also a charming city well worth visiting for at least one day. I have traveled all over Italy multiple times but had never visited Milan before. I am so glad we decided to spend 2 nights in the city before heading to Cinque Terre.

Milan has a lot of attractions and you could easily spend many days here. There are a lot of museums and churches but if you only have one day, I would recommend skipping them and just walking around to get a feel for the city. Here are my suggestions for one day in Milan.

Start your day by visiting Piazza del Duomo, the main square of Milan. Undoubtedly, The Duomo will catch your sight first. It’s an amazing building, awing visitors with its size, beauty, and spectacular architecture. The cathedral took almost 600 years to build and wasn’t completed until the 1960s. It is also the 3rd largest church in Europe after St. Paul Basilica in the Vatican and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. While we didn’t get a chance to see the rooftop terraces, we did go inside the cathedral. The beautiful floors and the enormous columns impressed me the most. The cathedral is truly magnificent. A statue of Victorio Emanuele II decorates the center of the square and the Presidential Palace lines the streets along the piazza. Visiting the Duomo and exploring this area will easily take a couple of hours of your day.

Another impressive structure right next to the Duomo is Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II – the luxurious shopping area of Milan. Stroll through the Galeria and enjoy the lovely arcades.

On the other side of it , you will find a beautiful Piazza Della Scala. A statue of Leonardo DaVinci adorns the square while the Galery of Italy and the Opera- Teatro Alla Scala surround it.

From there, spend some time exploring the Brera area. The streets and the buildings with plant decorated balconies are adorable here. Many of the smaller streets are closed to car traffic, so it’s very pleasant to walk along them.

Peek into some of the courtyards as well. They are lovely. That also goes for the courtyard at the Pinacoteca. You’ll find a statue of Napoleon in the center and beautiful arches. The National Library is locates here as well as the Brera Academy.

We sat down for a cappuccino at one of the restaurants at Piazza del Carmine- a charming square with a gorgeous church- Chisa S. Maria del Carmine.

From there walk towards Castello Sforzesco, a citadel built in the 14th century, which now houses several museums. The ground are beautiful and even if you don’t have time to explore the museums, it’s certainly pleasurable to stroll around the castle.

While you’re in Parco Sempione, it is worth checking out the Peace Arch, Arco Della Pace, an archaeologist resembling the Arch de Triumph in Paris. While it’s enjoyable to wonder through the park, you can’t help but realize that the parks in Milan are not nearly as well-kept as the parks of Paris or London.

We did take a train from here to Piazza Loretto a place where Mussolini’s and his mistress’s bodies were hung from their feet and abused by the Milanese. We didn’t find a plaque commemorating the event, nevertheless it was interesting to see where it all happened.

I absolutely recommend the Canal area for dinner. Bars and restaurants line the Naviglio Grande and it’s a fun and happening place to visit. Not many tourists come here, so you’re mostly among the locals. Don’t miss this one.

Milan is a wonderful city. Even if you only have one day in Milan, if you wonder the streets and follow this itinerary, you’ll enjoy the city and get a good feel for it. I will definitely be back. By the way, Milan will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2026, so it should be fun!