Milan is a fantastic Italian city to explore and the things to do in Milan are wonderful. Whether you’re a first-timer or you’ve been to the city many times before, there are lots of fun activities!
Milan is home to many iconic sights that are worth a visit for sure, but there are also many unique things in the city. I’ve spent a lot of time in Milan and I never got bored in the city.
In this Milan things to do guide, I included all kinds of activities so there will be something for your liking for sure. From exploring the famous Duomo di Milano to going to a theater to seeing art, I got you covered!
Best Things To Do in Milan
See the Arco della Pace
The Arco della Pace is a very interesting triumphal arch that you can find at a historic city gate of Milan.
The arch dates back to the 19th century, but there was already a gate at this place since the Roman Empire as it was included in the Roman walls of Milan.
The arch was created when the city was ruled by Napoleon and the architect Luigi Cagnola made the arch.
The arch is where a road connected Milan to the city of Paris.
The arch can be very interesting to see when you are going for a walk in Milan.
It is a very impressive landmark and it has a lot of beautiful details that are wonderful to see.
Address: Piazza Sempione, 20154 Milano MI
See the Duomo di Milano
The Duomo di Milano, or Milan Cathedral in English, is the most iconic sight in the city.
If you look up photos of Milan, you’ll see photos of the Duomo.
This is the cathedral church of the city of Milan and it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan.
What’s amazing is that it took close to 600 years to complete the cathedral. The construction started in the year 1386, but the cathedral was only finished in the year 1965.
Another interesting fact about the cathedral is that it is the largest church building in the country of Italy and it is one of the largest church buildings in the world.
You can find the Duomo in the center of the city near many of the other sights in Milan.
Address: P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI
Visit Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco, or Sforza’s Castle in English, is a medieval castle that you can find in the city.
You can get to this castle from the Duomo di Milano in a very short time. And there are many other sights in the city that are near it as well.
This medieval castle was created in the 15th century by the ruler of Milan, Francesco Sforza.
Throughout the centuries the castle was enlarged and the complex was one of the largest on the continent.
Nowadays, you can find several museums here and you can see the castle from the inside.
There are many different museums at this place where you can see art and learn about history.
Address: Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano MI
See the City from Above at the Branca Tower
Do you like viewpoints? Then going to the Branca Tower is one of the best activities in Milan for you.
This is a very large modern observation deck that has a height of about 350 feet or about 107 meters.
You can find the Branca Tower at Parco Sempione.
What’s great is that you can take an elevator to the top of the tower. From there, you can enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the city of Milan.
Seeing the buildings of the city from here is a very impressive sight.
Also, what makes going here even more special is that it is the largest point in the city of Milan.
Address: Viale Luigi Camoens, 2, 20121 Milano MI
Shop at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Here’s another one of the best landmarks that you can check out.
You can go to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
This is a covered passage that you can find next to the Duomo di Milano.
It is a very beautiful covered passage with very large ceilings and a lot of amazing details. Also, the material that was used to create the passage is very luxurious and it gives the whole place a wonderful atmosphere.
You can find a lot of upscale shops at this place. For example, you can find shops of Prada, Louis Vuitton, and other high-end brands here.
Also, there are various places here where you can get great food.
Address: P.za del Duomo, 20123 Milano MI
Attend a Show at Teatro alla Scala
Teatro alla Scala is an opera house that you can find in Milan. When you are doing a trip to the city, you should definitely consider seeing an opera performance at this place.
You can find the opera house near the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Duomo di Milano. So you can combine going to those places and seeing a performance here.
The opera house is a very beautiful building that was built in the year 1778. It is one of the most important opera and ballet theaters in the world.
What’s great is that the opera house has a very beautiful detailed interior that makes the whole place look very luxurious. This makes seeing a show here very special to experience.
Address: Via Filodrammatici, 2, 20121 Milano MI
See The Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie
You can find the famous work by Leonardo da Vinci the Last Supper in the city of Milan.
This is a famous mural painting from the Renaissance on which you can see the scene of the Last Supper. On it, you can see Jesus with his apostles before the moment that Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him.
It is one of the most famous pieces of art in the world, and you can find the mural painting at the Santa Maria delle Grazie. A historic church in the city of Milan.
You can go here by yourself and do a self-guided tour. Also, you can choose to do a guided tour and learn about the work at the same time, which is very interesting.
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milano MI
Explore the Palacio Real de Milán
The Royal Palace of Milan is an interesting historic building that used to be the place where the government of the city could be found.
Nowadays, this is a cultural center that you can go to to see exhibitions of art.
There are often changing exhibitions that are at this place for a certain period of time, so there is often something new to see at the Royal Palace of Milan.
If you like art, you should definitely go to this place.
Also, what’s great is that the building itself is a piece of art. The building has a Neo-Classical architectural style that can be great to see and there are many spaces at the building that are wonderful to check out.
Address: P.za del Duomo, 12, 20122 Milano MI
See Nature at the Brera Botanical Garden
Do you like nature? Then, the Brera’s Botanical Garden is one of the attractions in Milan you should see for sure.
This is a botanical garden where you can find lots of different species of plants. And there are rare species as well that can be great to see.
Moreover, what’s great is that the garden dates back to the year 1775.
This is one of the best places in the city to go for a relaxing walk. And when you do, you can look at the beautiful nature that the garden has to offer.
After going here, I’m sure you’ll feel much more relaxed for sure.
Address: Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milano MI
Go to the Civic Archaeological Museum
This is one of the best things to do in Milan for those that love history. You can go to the Civic Archaeological Museum.
This is a museum that you can find at the Monastero Maggiore
At this museum, you can learn about the city’s history, which can be very interesting.
For example, you can learn about the city of Milan during the Roman Empire from the 4th century BC.
Also, you can learn about many other parts of the city’s history. For example, you can learn about Milan during the Middle Ages as well.
You can find a lot of different objects here. For example, there are sculptures, tools, and helmets, and there is much more to see at the museum.
If you really want to learn about the history of the city, this is one of the best places to go for that!
Address: Corso Magenta, 15, 20123 Milano MI
Visit Fondazione Prada
Fondazione Prada is an art center that organizes lots of art exhibitions of contemporary art.
There are many temporary art exhibitions that were hosted in the past in the city. And there are several ones each year.
Also, there are permanent objects with art at Fondazione Prada.
Also, what’s great is that you can see great photography exhibitions at this venue.
This is a great place to visit if you want to see unique and new art in a very modern space!
Address: L.go Isarco, 2, 20139 Milano MI
Go for a Stroll at Sempione Park
Sempione Park is a beautiful park that you can find in the city of Milan.
You can find this park very close to the Duomo di Milano. When you walk there, you can get to the park in less than 20 minutes.
Sempione Park is a beautiful place with a lot of great nature that can be great to see when you go here for a relaxing walk.
Besides that, you can also see a variety of things at the park besides beautiful nature.
For example, you can find Castello Sforzesco at this place.
Also, the Arcdo della Pace is located at the Parco Sempione and there are historic sites that are interesting to see.
You can combine going for a relaxing walk here with checking out one of these things in the park.
Visit Museo Teatrale alla Scala
The Museo Teatrale alla Scala is a very interesting museum that you can find next to the Teatro alla Scala.
At this museum, you can learn about the iconic opera house to which the museum is attached.
The museum covers history through various interesting displays.
For example, you can see displays of the artists that performed at the opera house here.
Also, there are displays with costumes, instruments, and many other objects.
Furthermore, there are paintings of famous musicians at that performed at the opera house in the past.
Also, what’s is that the museum has its own library. This is a library that was created in the 1950s and it contains about 140,000 works that relate to opera and ballet.
Address: Largo Antonio Ghiringhelli, 1, 20121 Milano MI
See Art at the Museo Poldi Pezzoli
Going to the Museo Poldi Pezzoli is one of the best Milan things to do if you want to see art.
You can find this museum in the center of Milan.
This is a house museum that was opened in the year 1881. The house that you can find here has a very beautiful interior that covers many periods of time. Each room has a different interior.
Also, the house houses a beautiful collection of art. The art that you can find here includes paintings, jewelry, works of glass, historic clocks, and much more.
Furthermore, what’s interesting is that you can find objects here from ancient times.
Address: Via Alessandro Manzoni, 12, 20121 Milano MI
Go to the Canals of the Navigli District
The Navigli District is a part of Milan that can be great to visit when you are doing a trip to the city.
In this district, there are several canals that are lovely to see. For example, you can find the Naviglio Grande here.
These canals are a very trendy place in the city and you can find a lot of very good restaurants next to the canals here.
If you are looking for a great place to have dinner in Milan during a city trip, this is a great place for that.
Also, what’s interesting about the canals is that the construction of the canals started in the 16th century. This historic aspect of the canals makes going to the Navigli District even better!
Galleria d’Arte Moderna
Do you like modern art? Then, you should definitely go to the Galleria d’Arte Moderna when you are in the city of Milan.
This is the Modern Art Gallery of the city and you can find the gallery inside of Villa Reale.
At this museum, you can find a very large collection that consists of both Italian and European works. And besides that, there are works by artists from other countries in the world as well.
The collection of the gallery consists of objects by some of the world’s most famous artists, such as Picasso, Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Canova.
In the past, there were also contemporary works at this gallery, but these have been moved in the year 1955 to another place in the city.
Address: Via Palestro, 16, 20121 Milano MI
Go to the Leonardo3 Museum
Do you want to learn about the famous Leonardo da Vinci? Then, you can go to the Leonardo3 museum which is one of the most interesting attractions in Milan.
This is a museum that is all about Leonardo da Vinci and his works.
You can see a lot of different machines here that were designed by the inventor.
At the museum, there are a lot of physical models that were created based on the designs of Leonardo da Vinci.
For example, you can find a mechanical submarine here, a rapid-fire crossbow, and much more.
Also, you can learn about The Last Supper at this museum.
You can find this museum at Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II, so if you want to shop after learning new things at this museum, that is possible!
Address: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, 11, 20121 Milano MI
Hang Out at Piazza Mercanti
The Piazza Mercanti is a public square that you can find between the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Cordusio.
It is a large city square that you can find in the city center of Milan.
On the square, there are many historic buildings, including historically important ones.
For example, you can see the Broletto Nuovo here.
This is a building that was built in the year 1233 and it was the administrative headquarters of the city of Milan.
Also, you can find a Gothic palace here from the 15th century.
Besides that, there are other historic buildings that are located on this square.
So if you like architecture, you should go to this place for sure. You can go here for a relaxing stroll or you can hang out and relax.
Address: Piazza dei Mercanti, 20123 Milano MI
Go to the Museo del Novecento
The Museo del Novecento is a museum that you can find at the Pizza del Duomo in the heart of the city of Milan.
At this place, you can see great art from the 20th century.
In total, there are 400 different works of art in the museum’s collection.
The permanent collection showcases great art through which you can learn about the city’s art.
Also, you can attend great temporary art exhibitions at the museum. These are at the museum for a limited time only, so this means that you can often see something new here.
Address: P.za del Duomo, 8, 20123 Milano MI
Shop at Corso Venezia
If you’re wondering what to do in Milan and you like to shop, then you should definitely check out the Corso Venezia.
This is a street that you can find in one of the best shopping districts of the city.
It is a very exclusive street where you can find a lot of upscale shops that are great.
For example, you can find Burberry, Prada, Armani, and several high-end retailers here.
Besides that, there are beautiful palaces on the Corso Venezia. These palaces showcase great examples of Renaissance, Baroque, and other architectural styles.
Also, what’s great is that there is a beautiful archway entrance to the street that is amazing to see.
Do a Guided Day Trip to Venice
Although Milan is a very nice city to visit with a lot of great things to do and see, there are many great places near the city that are worth exploring as well.
One of these cities is the city of Venice.
This is one of the most famous places in the world and one of the best places to visit in Europe.
You can do a guided day trip to Venice from Milan with an expert guide.
During this day trip, you’ll see all of the iconic sights of the city.
Also, you go for a guided walking tour of the city of Venice during this day trip and you’ll do a boat trip on the lagoon.
Besides that, this guided day trip includes time during which you can explore the city all by yourself.
Visit the San Siro Stadium
Do you like the sport of soccer? Then, you should definitely go to the San Siro stadium when you are in Milan. This is a stadium that you can find in the San Siro district of the city.
This stadium is the home stadium of two of the most famous European soccer clubs in the city: A.C. Milan and Inter Milan.
Also, the stadium is one of the largest stadiums in Europe.
If you like soccer, it can be a lot of fun to get some tickets and see a game at this stadium.
But you can also go to the stadium if you don’t like soccer, that’s because many different music events take place at the stadium throughout the year.
Address: Piazzale Angelo Moratti, 20151 Milano MI
Go to Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
The Basilica of Sant’ Ambrogio is a historic building that you can find in the city center of Milan.
It is a Romanesque-style church.
The history of the church goes back to the year 380 when the church was first mentioned.
However, the current church building that you can find here dates back to the 11th century.
In the past, the church wasn’t located within the city walls of Milan, but centuries later, the church was surrounded by new developments of the city.
If you want to check out a beautiful historic building, a great thing to do in Milan is to go for a walk in the city and go to the Basilica of Sant’ Ambrogio!
Address: Piazza Sant’Ambrogio, 15, 20123 Milano MI
Learn New Things at the Milan Natural History Museum
The Milan Natural History Museum is a very interesting museum that you can find in the city of Milan and that was founded in the year 1838.
At this museum, you can learn a lot of new things from the museum’s permanent exhibitions.
There are several different permanent exhibitions at the museum that focuses on specific parts of natural history.
For example, one part of the museum is all about mineralogy. Also, there is a section where you can learn about paleontology and see dinosaur skeletons.
Also, there is an interesting exhibition at the museum that focuses on the evolution of humans. To be more specific, this part of the museum focuses on the relationship of humans with other parts of nature.
Address: Corso Venezia, 55, 20121 Milano MI
See Art at the Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera is also a great place to go in the city of Milan if you like art.
The collection of this museum includes all kinds of very good pieces of art.
For example, you can find a lot of great Italian art here, and there is art from other places in the world as well. In fact, the collection of Italian paintings of this place is one of the best collections of its kind in the world.
Moreover, the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera covers a period of about 700 years, which is very interesting.
Because of this, you can see many different styles of paintings at this place.
Also, what’s great is that you can find here sculptures and a variety of other types of art.
Address: Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milano MI
See Contemporary Art at Gallerie d’Italia
The Gallerie d’Italia is a great art gallery in the city and going there is one of the most interesting things to do in Milan if you like contemporary art.
At this place, you can find a great collection of both modern and contemporary works of art.
You can find the art gallery at the Piazza della Scala.
In total, the collection that you can find here consists of close to 200 different works.
Also, what’s great is that the art gallery has a very central location. So you can combine going to this art gallery with checking out some of the other great sights!
Address: Piazza della Scala, 6, 20121 Milano MI
Do a Day Trip to Lake Como
You can also do a day trip to Lake Como from Milan.
Lake Como is one of the most beautiful and popular lakes in Italy, and you can do a guided day trip to the lake.
This is a guided day trip by bus during which a guide takes you to beautiful places at Lake Como.
For example, you can see great picturesque villages during this trip.
Also, you can enjoy great views of the lake during this guided tour.
Go to the Rooftop of the Duomo
You probably know the Duomo di Milano very well, but did you know that you can go to the roof of the iconic cathedral? This is one of the most fantastic things to do in Milan with a great view.
The rooftop of the Duomo is very large and it is a great place to visit.
From the rooftop, you can enjoy a great view of the city and the square in front of the cathedral.
Also, you can see beautiful architecture at this place that can be great to see from up close. Also, the rooftop is a wonderful place for photography as it is a very photogenic place in the city.
Address: P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI
See Art at Pirelli HangarBicocca
The Pirelli HangarBicocca is a very large exhibition space that you can find in the city of Milan.
It is one of the largest exhibition spaces in Europe and you can go here to see great art.
At the Pirelli HangarBicocca, you can often attend great contemporary art exhibitions with amazing art.
And the art exhibitions often change. Because of that, this place is the perfect place to discover the best new art, and this place is perfect if you want to see something different every time that you go here.
Furthermore, what’s nice is that you can go to this place completely for free. However, make sure that you make a free reservation when you want to visit this place.
Address: Via Chiese, 2, 20126 Milano MI
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Milan Things To Do Tips
With the MilanoCard, you can have a very good time while you are in Milan.
This is a card that gives you discounts, free entry, and free public transportation to make your trip to the city much more convenient. This means that if you’re wondering what to do in Milan, you can now do much more in an affordable way!
These were my favorite things to do in Milan. As you see, you can spend a lot of time in the city and never get bored!