2 Days In Milan: The Ultimate Milan Itinerary

The Cheapest Way to See Milan’s Top Sights

If you want to see the best of Milan in 2 days, we’d highly recommend checking out the YesMilano City Pass. It’s the city’s official pass and is a great way to explore as you’ll get plenty of discounts.

There are three types of YesMilano passes to choose from; Flash (24 hours), Standard (3 days), and All-inclusive (3 days). If you’re staying for two or three days, we’d opt for the Standard or All-inclusive pass. The passes include public transport and you’ll have free entry to some museums while benefiting from exclusive discounts.

Although you can purchase this city pass on the official website or through the app, you can also purchase it in advance through GetYourGuide. We use this platform all the time as GYG offers free cancellation on many of their listed activities. You can purchase the YesMilano City Pass here!

Just make sure you check out which attractions the passes include before you purchase.

A Quick Overview of Your 2-Day Milan Itinerary

Day 1:

Navigli District, Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan Natural History Museum, Pinacoteca di Brera, Rooftop Bar

Day 2:

Santa Maria delle Grazie, Sforzesco Castle, Parco Sempione, Arco della Pace, Fradiavolo Pizzeria, San Siro Stadium

Your 2 Days In Milan: Day One

On the first day of this 2-day Milan itinerary, you’ll explore some of the city’s most famous attractions, including Duomo Di Milano and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. You’ll spend most of your time in the city centre, so you won’t have to walk far. The furthest distance between attractions is only a 20-minute walk.

Navigli District

The first stop is the Navigli District, one of Milan’s most beautiful and happening neighbourhoods. Often referred to as Milan’s canal district, this area is centred around the city’s two canals. It’s well known for its charming bridges, vibrant buildings, and canalside bars and restaurants.

The Navigli District quickly became one of our favourite places to walk in Milan. Not only is it a seriously beautiful part of the city, it’s also much quieter. Therefore, you can escape the crowds and enjoy a more laid-back, authentic experience.

You should spend at least an hour walking along the two canals – Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese. The atmosphere is super relaxed and the colourful architecture that lines the canals is gorgeous.

You can also walk through Parco Pubblico di Borgo Archinto, a lovely green space surrounded by traditional architecture. Afterwards, stop by one of the canalside bars for an Aperol Spritz.

Duomo di Milano

Duomo di Milano is the most famous tourist attraction and landmark in Milan. This iconic cathedral is one of the world’s largest Roman Catholic cathedrals and the largest Gothic structure in the city.

Construction began in 1386, and the building was finished in 1965. The cathedral is approximately 108 metres (354 feet) tall and can hold 40,000 people.

Duomo di Milano is best known for its breathtaking exterior. Covered in white marble, the facade features intricate carvings, beautiful windows, and 135 spires. You can find the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo, Milan’s main square.

You might like to know that this square hosts a Christmas market alongside the cathedral in December. We recommend visiting early because the square gets busy fast. Inside the cathedral, visitors are treated to ornate furnishings, magnificent artwork, 14th-century stained-glass windows, and terraces that offer spectacular city views.

This access all areas entrance ticket includes entry to the cathedral, the Duomo Museum, and the Duomo Terraces.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of Milan’s most beautiful tourist attractions. The elegant 19th-century shopping arcade is also one of the city’s best shopping destinations. As such, you need to include it in your 2-day Milan itinerary!

Built between 1865 and 1877, the shopping gallery sits inside a four-story double arcade and features an extravagant glass and iron dome. It’s only a one-minute walk from Duomo di Milano, so you can easily visit straight after exploring the cathedral.

The extravagance and sheer beauty of the domed shopping centre will blow you away. We don’t even like shopping that much and we loved it. If you do want to do some luxury shopping, there are many high-end brands inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, including Swarovski and Louis Vuitton.

There are also plenty of places to eat and drink, including Amorino Gelato and Ristorante Savini.

Milan Natural History Museum

First opened in 1838, the Milan Natural History Museum, also known as the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, is one of the city’s oldest museums. It’s an excellent place to visit if you want to learn more about the natural world.

The fun starts before you even enter the museum – right outside stands a large dinosaur statue. The building is impressive, too, so take a few photographs before heading inside.

Inside the museum, you’ll find several exciting exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions include Dinosaurs and other Fossils, Invertebrate Animals, and the History of Human Evolution.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll enjoy the dinosaur exhibition most. This part of the museum contains a large collection of dinosaur fossils (among the collection is the snout of a spinosaurus).

Milan Natural History Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Adult tickets cost €5 (£4.23) and children go free.

Pinacoteca di Brera

Make sure you visit Pinacoteca di Brera if you’re in Milan for two days. Pinacoteca di Brera is Milan’s most famous art gallery. Located in the Brera district, it’s believed the gallery houses one of Italy’s best art collections.

The gallery is best known for its collection of Italian Renaissance and Baroque artwork. The artwork inside Pinacoteca di Brera ranges from the 14th to the 20th century!

Famous works of art inside the gallery include Tintoretto’s Finding of the Body of St. Mark, Andrea Mantegna’s Lamentation of Christ, and Francesco Hayez’s Kiss. Pinacoteca di Brera is part of a large complex that also includes the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense, the Botanical Garden, and the Astronomical Observatory.

The art gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:30 am to 7:15 pm. Tickets cost €15 (£12.67) for adults, and under 18s go free, or you can enjoy a guided tour for €8 (£6.76).

Rooftop Bar

The perfect way to end your first day in Milan is at a rooftop bar, watching the sunset, admiring the views, and enjoying an Aperol Spritz. Luckily for you, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

You’ll find bars serving a wide range of wines, beers, cocktails, and spirits across the city. However, there are a select few rooftop bars that stand out above the rest. Roof Milano and Radio Rooftop Bar are two noteworthy choices.

Roof Milano is a chic rooftop with a panoramic lounge and rooftop terrace that offers fantastic views of the city. Located in Piazza Giuseppe Missori, you can enjoy cocktails, coffee, or a beautiful Italian dinner overlooking the city.

Like Roof Milano, Radio Rooftop Bar in Via Marco Polo also has a panoramic terrace that offers excellent city views. You can enjoy a cocktail and Italian cuisine here.

Your 2 Days In Milan: Day Two

On your second day in Milan, you’ll visit more of the city’s famous landmarks, including Sforzesco Castle and Arco Della Pace. You’ll only have to walk for 12 minutes to get between four of the main attractions. Hopefully, you can end the day watching a football match at the San Siro.

Santa Maria delle Grazie

Start your second day in Milan at Santa Maria delle Grazie, a 15th-century church, convent, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also known as the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, this breathtaking landmark is one of Milan’s most beautiful Renaissance structures.

The church was built with Local materials, including granite for the columns and earthenware for the masonry. However, Santa Maria delle Grazie is better known for being the home of a masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. This is the place where Leonardo painted the legendary Last Supper (1495-1498).

This world-famous painting represents the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Twelve Apostles. The painting is a mural directly painted onto the world of the convent.

You can visit da Vinci’s masterpiece and explore Santa Maria delle Grazie on this guided walking tour, which includes skip-the-line entry and an expert guide. Alternatively, reserve your entrance ticket on the official website.

Sforzesco Castle

A 12-minute walk from Santa Maria delle Grazie is Sforzesco Castle, a must-visit during your two days in Milan. Built by Francesco Sforza in the 15th century, Castello Sforzesco is a medieval fortification known for its architecture and rich history.

Throughout history, the castle has served as a defensive fortress, military barracks, and ducal residence. Today, it’s a cultural centre with museums, libraries, and art galleries.

This quadrangular fortress combines medieval and Renaissance architectural styles. It has a pointed-arch gate, two tall stone towers, an internal defensive building, and a Filarete tower.

Inside, you’ll find many exciting attractions, including an Egyptian archaeological museum, an ancient art gallery, and a sculpture collection. The courtyard is open daily from 7 am to 7:30 pm, while the museums are open from 10 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

The courtyard is free and museum tickets cost €5 (£4.23). You can also visit the castle on this guided tour!

Parco Sempione

Sforzesco Castle sits within Parco Sempione, so it only makes sense to visit both places on the same day. Spanning 116 acres (47 hectares), Parco Sempione is the largest park in Milan.

It was constructed between 1890 and 1893 and was inspired by 19th-century English gardens. In the park, you’ll find several fascinating buildings, trees, flower beds, walking paths, and an artificial lake.

Parco Sempione isn’t a place you want to rush. Instead, make the most of the opportunity to enjoy one of Milan’s more relaxing locations.

We loved wandering around the park, admiring the sights and watching the world go by. You could grab a coffee and sit on a park bench for 20 minutes.

Having said that, there are also plenty of things to see in Parco Sempione. Attractions to keep your eyes peeled for other than Sforzesco Castle include La Triennale di Milano, Arena Civica, and Acquario Civico Milano.

Arco della Pace

At Porta Sempione, in front of Parco Sempione, you’ll find one of Milan’s most underrated landmarks, Arco della Pace. Despite being one of Milan’s most historical landmarks, few tourists realise its significance.

The construction of this beautiful triumphal arch, reminiscent of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, began in 1807 to celebrate Napoleon’s victories. However, construction was stopped when the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy was conquered by the Austrian Empire.

Work eventually started again and the arch was completed in 1838 to celebrate the Italian unification. Today, Arco della Pace is one of Milan’s most beautiful Neoclassical monuments.

It’s 25 metres (82 feet) tall and features beautiful bronze statues that depict a goddess being led by four horses. The monument also has inscriptions that commemorate European peace and Italian history.

The arch is free to visit and is always open. At night, lights are shone onto the arch, so travellers can see it.

Fradiavolo Pizzeria

You simply can’t spend two days in Milan without having a proper Italian pizza. As you can imagine, there are thousands of places to order pizza in Milan, so deciding where to eat can be challenging.

However, for us, Fradiavolo Pizzeria stands out as one of the best pizzerias in the city. Despite only opening its doors in 2018, Fradiavolo has become a much-loved pizzeria across Italy.

The brand has over 25 establishments, six of which can be found in Milan. The pizzeria is well known for its traditional pizzas and bold flavours!

You can choose from four different doughs (Classic, Multigrain, Black, and Gluten-Free), and a huge variety of toppings. We preferred the traditional pizzas like marinara and the Fradiavolo, but there are always new and exciting pizzas added to the menu.

One of our family members ordered a pizza with a carrot puree base – it was delicious!

San Siro Stadium

If you love football and only have 2 days in Milan, we recommend planning your visit around a football match at the San Siro. At the very least, a San Siro tour should be included on your 2-day Milan itinerary.

Not only is the San Siro home to two of European football’s most successful clubs (AC Milan and Inter Milan), but it’s also one of football’s most iconic stadiums. With a capacity of 80,000+, it’s the largest football stadium in Italy.

We watched Inter Milan play in a Serie A fixture against Lecce. Tickets were affordable compared to British football and the atmosphere was out of this world. You can purchase tickets for AC Milan and Inter Milan games on their official websites.

Alternatively, visit the San Siro on this stadium and museum tour. You’ll walk down the tunnel, visit the changing rooms, explore the memorabilia and trophy-filled museum, and more.

Helpful Information for Your Milan Itinerary

How to get to Milan

The easiest way to get to Milan is by flying. There are currently three airports that serve the city; Malpensa International Airport (MXP), Milan Linate Airport (LIN), and Orio Al Serio Airport (BGY).

Located 45 km (28 miles) from the city centre, you’ll likely fly into Malpensa, Milan’s main international airport. Meanwhile, Linate Airport operates domestic and European services. Orio Al Serio Airport is also an international airport but it’s located in Bergamo (50 km/31 miles away).

If you land at Malpensa Airport, you can take a train or bus to the Milano Centrale train station. This Malpensa to Milan bus transfer costs less than £9 per person. Free luggage hold is included and there are no stops between the airport and the city centre.

Depending on traffic, the bus journey takes approximately 50-60 minutes. If you’d prefer to take the train, the Malpensa Express only costs €13 (£10.90) and takes roughly one hour.

How to get around Milan

You’ll be pleased to hear that Milan is super easy to get around. Many of the city’s best tourist attractions are reachable on foot and there are various public transport services you can use.

When we visited Milan, we spent most of our time walking around and using the metro. The metro covers most of the city and its surrounding area. We found it to be an affordable, fast, and reliable way to get around.

Milan also has a public bus service that covers most of the city centre and main attractions. If you’re looking for a more unique way to get around the city, you could ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.

Milan’s Hop-On Hop-Off service allows you to jump on and off at the city’s most popular attractions including the Duomo and Sforzesco Castle. The service has four routes to choose from and an audio guide is available in 10 different languages.

The best time to visit Milan

Honestly, there isn’t a bad time to visit Milan. That’s because there are pros and cons to visiting in every season. For example, Milan is warmer between June and August, but it’s also much busier and more expensive.

Conversely, Milan is colder and wetter in December, but that’s when the city comes to life with festive decorations and Christmas markets. We visited Milan in December because we wanted to explore the Christmas markets and we’re so glad we did!

Conveniently, December is also one of the cheapest times of the year to visit Milan. Milan’s off-season is from December to February. During this time, you can find cheaper flights and more affordable accommodation.

If you prefer warmer weather and sunnier skies, visit Milan in July. In July, Milan experiences average temperatures of 25°C (77°F). Alternatively, you can visit in February or September and enjoy Milan Fashion Week.

Exploring Milan By Tour

If you only have 2 days in Milan you’ll want to see and do as much as possible. One of the best ways to see a lot in a short amount of time is on a tour. Not only are tours a fantastic way to see everything a location offers, but you learn much more thanks to the expert guides who show you around.

Here are some of the most popular tour options in Milan:

• Milan: Guided Walking Tour & Last Supper Visit – This walking tour includes a skip-the-line entrance to Leonardo De Caprio’s “Last Supper” and visits famous Milan landmarks like Teatro alla Scala and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
• Best of Milan Experience – This 6-hour walking tour, led by an expert guide, visits iconic attractions, including the Duomo di Milano, Leonardo da Vinci’s Vineyard, and Santa Maria delle Grazie.
• Historic Milan Tour – This skip-the-line walking tour will see you visit famous attractions, such as Piazza della Scala, Via Dante, and “The Last Supper” with an art historian guide.

Where to stay in Milan

To make the most of your 2 days in Milan you need the perfect base. Luckily, there are hundreds of excellent accommodation options. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly hostel or a luxury 5-star hotel, there’s something for you.

Here are some of the best accommodation options to get you started:

Budget: Ostello Bello Milano Duomo

Ostello Bello Milano Duomo is a fabulous budget-friendly hostel less than a mile from Sforzesco Castle and a 12-minute walk from Duomo di Milano. The hostel offers spacious and clean dormitory rooms, as well as affordable private rooms.

All dormitories and rooms have air conditioning, lockers, and private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries and showers. Ostello Bello Milano Duomo also has an outdoor terrace area, dining room, and kitchen facilities. What more can you ask for?

Mid-range: Hotel La Vignetta

Hotel La Vignetta has single, double, and triple rooms with private bathrooms, storage space, and a desk area. It’s a short walk from Milan’s Navigli canals and offers convenient access to the Porta Genova Railway and the city’s metro system.

Better yet, you can easily walk from the hotel to popular tourist attractions like Sforzesco Castle and Duomo Square. The hotel’s luggage storage services are also useful if you plan to explore more between checking out and flying home.

Luxury: Château Monfort – Relais & Châteaux

If you want to travel in style, look no further than Château Monfort – Relais & Châteaux. This luxurious 5-star boutique hotel offers dazzling bedrooms and suites with vibrant decor, royal-esque interiors, and gorgeous private bathrooms.

The hotel also has a restaurant that serves delicious Italian cuisine (Restaurant Rubacuor), while the two bars are excellent places to reminisce after a day of exploring. Regarding location, Duomo Square is only a 20-minute walk from Château Monfort – Relais & Châteaux.

Airbnb: Boutique Apartment Milano – Sarpi

We stayed in Boutique Apartment Milano – Sarpi during our 2 days in Milan and we can’t recommend it highly enough. For starters, the apartment is absolutely beautiful. It’s spacious, clean, modern, and stylish.

Regarding amenities, the apartment has everything you need to enjoy your stay in Milan. This includes a bathroom with a walk-in shower, two beds, a living room, and a full-sized kitchen. It’s also in a central location for exploring the city.

Frequently asked questions about Milan

How many days do I need in Milan?

Two to three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Milan. In two days, you can easily visit the city’s most famous attractions and enjoy delicious Italian food and drink.

If you opt to spend three days in Milan, you’ll have more time to explore the city’s major sights. Alternatively, you could leave the city on a day trip to Lake Como or Lake Garda.

What is a good budget for Milan?

We recommend a budget of at least £65-£85 per person per day for Milan. If you stay in a hostel (or you’re sharing a room), you may be able to get by on less than this, but we wouldn’t recommend it.

Much of Milan can be explored on a budget, but there are some paid attractions which are worth the visit. If you want to make the most of your trip, perhaps allow a higher budget.

Is 2 days in Milan enough?

Yes, 2 days in Milan is certainly enough. While there are many things to see in the city, you can easily do everything in 48 hours (although spending longer here will allow you to take a day trip or two).

We only spent 2 days in Milan and found that we had plenty of time to visit the main attractions. In 2 days, you’ll also find that you have enough time to enjoy the city’s food and drink.

Is Milan walkable?

Yes, Milan is a walkable city. Most of the city’s popular tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other, so you’ll have no issues getting around.

For example, you can walk between Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and Sforzesco Castle in less than 15 minutes. We spent almost all of our time in Milan walking, only using the metro on one occasion to reach the San Siro.

Where to go after Milan

If you’re looking for somewhere else to go after spending 2 days in Milan, you’ll be pleased to hear you have many options. For starters, Malpensa International Airport offers travel to many of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations.

For example, you could fly to Paris, Barcelona, London, and Budapest. Alternatively, you could leave Europe and visit places like Morocco, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

There are also plenty of exciting places to visit if you’d prefer to stay in Italy. From Milan, you can easily get to beautiful spots like Lake Como and Lake Garda – there are frequent buses and trains from Milan to both places. Of course, you could also hire a car and head out on a road trip to the lakes.

From Milan, you can also take a bus, train, or flight to Rome, Florence, and Bergamo.

Final Thoughts on Your 2 Days in Milan

There you have it, everything you need to know about spending 2 days in Milan. As you can see, there are many exciting things to see and do in the city!

Whether you want to visit some of Italy’s most iconic landmarks, relax at a rooftop bar, or watch a Serie A football match, there’s something for every traveller. Better yet, you can enjoy the city without breaking the bank.

Milan is one of our favourite European city break destinations, and we’re sure it’ll quickly become one of yours too. So why don’t you get those flights booked?

If you have further questions about your 2 days in Milan then don’t hesitate to contact us via Instagram, Facebook, or in the comments below!

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