Milan 2-Day Itinerary: Best of Milan in 2 days! (By a Local!)

Planning to spend two days in Milan, but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place!

In this Milan 2-day itinerary I have outlined everything you need to know to spend two amazing days in Milan.

Including the main sights to see, the most optimal walking route around Milan, where to eat, where to stay, and much more! 

I was born in Milan, I lived there until I was 18 and I regularly return to visit family, so you can rest assured that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to this city! 

In this Milan 2 days itinerary I share with you both travel tips and local insights. 

In Milan you will find modern skyscrapers, beautiful historical buildings, a unique architecture and a lively cosmopolitan atmosphere, all blended into one. Milan is an awesome city, which I’m sure you’ll love. 

So without further ado, let’s dive in and start planning the best two days in Milan! 

2-day Milan itinerary: Day 1

Finally, let’s dive in to my two days in Milan itinerary! The itinerary for the first day will focus on the city centre of Milan, and all of its iconic sights.

Start the day in Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo is the best place to start your Milan 2-day itinerary. Piazza Duomo is the central square of Milan, as well as one of the most visited parts of the city.

Not just because it’s one of the major attractions on every tourists Italy bucket list, but also because locals hang around here on weekends. 

When I was in high school we often used to meet up in Piazza del Duomo with friends, and then from there go explore the shopping streets around it. 

Piazza del Duomo, as the name suggests, is also home to the Duomo di Milano, the biggest church in Italy, and an imposing feat of architecture and human engineering. 

Did you know it took hundreds of years to complete?! 

You can spend some time wandering around the piazza, taking in the vibe and stunning views, before heading in to visit the stunning Duomo itself.

Visit the Duomo Cathedral & its Rooftop

I’ll be honest and admit that even though I lived in Milan for 18 years, I’ve probably only been inside the Duomo once.

But if you’re only visiting Milan for two days, you won’t be lazy like me and you’ll probably want to see the interior of this stunning cathedral.

Make sure to get a fast track ticket, so that you don’t waste hours queueing! I also highly recommend purchasing a ticket that includes a visit to the roof of the Duomo cathedral. 

From here you get an amazing view over the roofs of Milan, and the detail of the architecture on the rooftop is pretty incredible.

You could also tweak this Milan 2-day itinerary to visit the rooftop at sunset, that way you get the most stunning pink and pastel colours, both on the spiers and the sky!

On the rooftop of the Duomo di Milan you can also get a pretty good view of “La Madonnina”, the golden statue that has become a symbol of the city.

Make sure to book your Duomo rooftop entrance online beforehand, so that you don’t have to waste time queuing outside. 

Click here to book a fast track ticket to visit the Duomo (inside & on the rooftop!)

Or use the widget below to see prices & availability!

 

Admire Da Vinci’s Last Supper

Once you finish visiting the Duomo, head just next door to the museum where the Cenacolo, or Da Vinci’s Last Supper is held. This famous painting is a must-see on any Milan itinerary.

This iconic mural painting is considered a must-see also on many Italy itineraries, and as such, it can get very busy. Make sure to purchase your ticket online beforehand if you want to skip the queues.

I know I sound like a broken bell when it comes to online tickets, but I just can’t stress enough how much easier it will make your trip. You only have two days in Milan, you don’t want to waste them queueing!

Click here to purchase your Last Supper queue jump entrance & tour!

 

Discover Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

After admiring the beautiful Cenacolo, just go for a short walk over the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Prepare to be amazed by the architecture and decorations of Italy’s oldest shopping mall. 

With its glass dome and fine details on the side of the walls, the Galleria is an incredible place to walk around. 

Despite it being a shopping gallery I wouldn’t recommend buying anything here, as the prices are considerably higher than anywhere else in Milan. 

Fun fact about this place; on the mosaic on the floor there is a bull, tradition has it that you have to put your heel on the balls of the bull and spin three times for good luck. 

The tiles that make up the bull have had to be redone multiple times over the years, since they get worn out quickly by how many people spin on them every day. 

Have a panzerotto from Luini

By this point in the day you’ve probably worked out an appetite. While you explore the city centre of Milan, you can taste one of the most famous on-the-go meals that Milan has to offer.

Ironically, this is a dish that is typical in Puglia, it’s not originally from Milan. That said, Luini first opened in Milan in 1888, and is very much part of Milanese tradition.

A panzerotto is basically like a small calzone, but fried instead of oven baked. The classic flavour is tomato and mozzarella, but they offer loads of other fillings too.

There is always a huge queue (they even have security on the door to ensure the queue runs smoothly!) so it’s a good idea to pop by on the early, a bit before actual lunch time, to avoid the big line.

Just next door there’s Spontini, another Milanese dining classic. Here they have “pizza al trancio”, another delicious on-the-go lunch that you can have while sightseeing the Milan City Centre.

Visit Piazza della Scala

If you enter Galleria Vittorio Emanuele from Piazza del Duomo and walk all the way through it you will arrive in Piazza della Scala, the second most famous and important square in Milan. 

Every side of this square is historically important. You will have Galleria Vittorio Emanuele at your back, on your left is Teatro alla Scala, Milan’s most famous opera house. 

Next to La Scala and in front of you is the Palazzo della Banca Commerciale Italiana, one of Italy’s oldest banks, and on your right on the remaining side of the square is Palazzo Marino, Milan’s city hall. 

In Palazzo Marino they actually do temporary art exhibitions that you can access for free. 

The queue to go inside however is always crazy so unless you have plenty of time to spare or it happens to be quite empty, I wouldn’t recommend visiting it. 

You can also visit the stunning interior of La Scala, and learn about its history. I recommend booking a skip-the-line ticket online beforehand, and avoid yourself the queue. 

Click here to book your skip-the-line entrance & tour to La Scala! 

Walk around Castello Sforzesco

Sforza Castle is where the Sforza family, the Dukes of Milan used to live. Today it is the home of multiple art collections and historical exhibitions. 

You can purchase entry to the castle with an audio guide, and visit it at your own pace. Since you only have a day in Milan, that will be better and quicker than joining a guided tour. 

If you don’t fancy visiting a museum, you can still see the inside of the courtyard of the castle for free, as it acts as passage between Piazza Cairoli and the inside of Sempione Park, Milan’s largest park. 

Simply walk past the fountain through the castle gates, and you’ll be transported back to hundreds of years ago. 

Book your entrance to Castello Sforzesco and audio guide here! 

Have an aperitivo at Arco della Pace

You can enter Castello Sempione for free and cross into Parco Sempione. This is the largest park in Milan, and a lovely spot to walk around. From here you can easily walk over to Arco della Pace. 

This city gate is a beautiful and imposing must-see in Milan. 

It’s also surrounded by lots of cool bars and restaurants. Aim to get here for aperitivo time, so you can combine some sightseeing with a typical Milanese experience. 

Especially if you’re visiting Milan and Italy in the summer months, seeing Arco della Pace and its surroundings in the late afternoon or early evening will give you an excellent idea of what life in Milan is all about.

Sit at one of the many bars, order yourself an Aperol Spritz and taste a few delicious nibbles that come with your aperitivo, as you watch the hustle and bustle of Milanese nightlife stream past. 

It will be the perfect ending to the first day of your Milan 2-day itinerary.

2-day itinerary Milan: Day 2

After having seen all of the main highlights of Milan, day two of your Milan 2-day itinerary focuses on other famous spots, but which are also a bit more local and less visited.

Go shopping in Corso Buenos Aires

My parents live near Corso Buenos Aires, and I might be biased when I say, I really like this part of the city. Corso Buenos Aires is a bustling street, full of shops and cafes.

It’s one of the main shopping avenues in Milan, where you can expect to find everything, from small independent stores to the classic big chains.

If you want to update your wardrobe with the latest Milanese trends, this is the place to do so, without breaking the bank.

Start at the end in Piazza Loreto, furthest from the city centre, so that you can walk your way towards Porta Venezia and the next stops of today’s itinerary. 

Discover Porta Garibaldi & Piazza Gae Aulenti

Once you walk the length of Corso Buenos Aires you will reach the lovely gardens of Porta Venezia. You can go for a leisurely walk in the gardens, and cross over into the trendy Porta Garibaldi neighbourhood.

I find this part of the city really interesting, as you can see the contrast between old and new Milan. Here you can find the modern Piazza Gae Aulenti, with its shiny office buildings and the innovative Bosco in Città.

But you can also see more historical buildings, amongst which the iconic Porta Garibaldi arch.

You can wander around this area for a while, and maybe enjoy something to eat at one of the many local bars, or maybe even at the world famous Eataly!

If you’re visiting Milan in winter, here you can expect to find beautiful Christmas decorations, ice skating rinks and a little Christmas market.

Wander around Brera

From Porta Garibaldi you can easily walk or cycle over to Brera district, the artists neighbourhood of Milan.

Some areas of Brera are entirely pedestrian, so that you can enjoy the atmosphere and walk around the stone cobble roads of Milan, without worrying about getting run over.

Brera neighborhood is also home to the famous Accademia di Brera, the historical art academy where many of Italy’s artists studied, as well as the Pinacoteca di Brera, a famous art museum. 

You will probably arrive here in early afternoon, when there isn’t much going on (it’s more of an evening aperitivo area), but you can still enjoy a wander around this historical neighbourhood of Milan.

If you come here in the evening, you will find also lots of cool bars and restaurants where you can hang out, the famous Bar Brera amongst them. 

Go window shopping in Via Monte Napoleone 

I hope you did enough shopping in Corso Buenos Aires, because we’re about to head to a famous shopping street where actually buying anything will be difficult.

Via Monte Napoleone is one of the most famous streets in Italy, as well as recently being ranked as one of the most expensive streets in the world. This is what they mean when they say Milan is the city of fashion.

This street is home to all the famous brands. Shopping here is, obviously, considerably more expensive than in Corso Buenos Aires.

I’ve never actually purchased anything here, but I do enjoy walking along this road every now and then, taking in the absurd window displays. If anything, it’s an interesting experience.

Have an aperitivo at Navigli

Once you’re done exploring the shopping streets of Milan, it’s time to head to one of the new trendy neighbourhoods for a Milanese classic; an evening aperitivo.

From the city centre you can either take public transport or a taxi, since the Navigli district is a bit out from this area. The Navigli are the river canals of Milan, and a very fun area to visit in the evening.

The sides of the canal are lined with trendy bars and restaurants, which all offer a “aperi-cena” for very affordable prices. Just pay a set price, and enjoy the buffet or platters they bring you.

If you visit Italy in winter, this area is particularly charming, with light decorations strewn across the canals. The cold won’t stop the Milanese from enjoying their aperitivo!

As one of my favourite Italian quotes says, “In Italy, they add work and life on to food and wine.”

It’s a lovely area where you can join the locals in this evening ritual; the perfect way to end your two days in Milan!

Logistical tips for Milan in 2 days 

Before we dive into the details of my Milan 2-day itinerary, I wanted to share with you some useful logistical tips for spending two amazing days in Milan.

These include things like how to get around the city, where to stay in Milan, what to book online beforehand and more.

How to get to Milan

First things first, how do you actually get to Milan?

Milan is well connected to the rest of Europe and the world, with three airports within 1 hour drive from the city centre.

If you’re flying from outside Europe, you will usually land at Milano Malpensa (MXP). If you’re flying from another European city you will usually land at either MXP or Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY).

Milano Linate (LIN) is the airport closest to Milan city centre, but it’s usually more for flights within Italy. 

Having lived abroad for the last ten years, I have my fair amount of experience flying into Milan and having to reach the city centre. Personally, I recommend the bus over the train, as it’s cheaper and quicker. 

Both from MXP and BGY there are two or three different bus companies running into Milan Central Station. You can purchase the bus ticket online beforehand to save time once you land. 

Bergamo Airport to Milano Bus Transfer – click here to purchase! 

Milan Malpensa to Milan Central Station Bus Transfer – click here to purchase! 

However, I wouldn’t personally buy your bus transfer online before. This because once you land and step outside the airport, their might be a bus from a different company leaving before the company you have the ticket for. 

They’re quite regular and you won’t have to wait long, but waiting for your bus while one drives off in front of you is always annoying. This is the same reason why I don’t buy return tickets (even if they’re cheaper). 

I would purchase the bus transfers listed above only if I was travelling in high season, and wanted to be sure I don’t have to queue to get one once I land. 

Check out some popular Milan tours below!

 

How to get around Milan

As I’ve said above all the main spots of Milan are within walking distance. However if you don’t want to walk too much, you can easily get public transport. 

It might be a bit slow, but Milan has an excellent public transport system. You can get an overground tram or bus for short distances, and the underground train for longer distances.

It’s also very affordable at 2 EUR per ride. 

There are also plenty of taxis to be found all over Milan, especially the city centre. They tend to be a bit pricey, but will quickly take you everywhere you need to go. 

A recent addition to transport modes in Milan, which is what I use these days when I’m in Milan, are the e-scooters and e-bikes parked all over the city. 

Just download the app, grab a scooter, go where you need to go and then drop it off wherever! 

Another easy way to get around the city, and be sure you see all the main sights, is with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. Besides taking you everywhere, they’ll also give you an audioguide to share interesting facts about Milan. 

Click here to book your Milan Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour! 

Where to stay in Milan for two days

The best place to stay in Milan will depend on whether you’re just visiting Milan for a quick city getaway, or if it’s part of a wider Italy itinerary.

If you’re only visiting Milan, I recommend staying close to the Duomo, so that you can be close to all the main attractions and don’t waste too much time travelling across the city.

If it’s part of a longer Italy trip, and you plan to go beyond Milan, like on a day trip to Lake Como or to some beautiful beaches near Milan, then I suggest staying close to Corso Buenos Aires and Milano Centrale.

That way you’ll be close to the train station for your day trips and next movements, while still being fairly close to Milan city centre.

Regardless of what your Italy travel budget is, I listed below some accommodation options that should fit.

Budget: Ostello Bello Grande – I’ve been to a few events at Ostello Bello hostels and they’re always good fun. Their hostels are in central locations, with spacious dorms and fun social events.

Click here to book your stay at Ostello Bello Grande in Milan!

Mid-range: B&B Hotel Milano City Center – With its central location, panoramic rooftop terrace and spacious rooms, this is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to treat themselves without breaking the bank.

Click here to see prices and availability at B&B Hotel Milano City Center!

Luxury: Galleria Vik Milano – located inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, this hotel is the perfect place to treat yourself. Luxury, super central location and epic views, what more could you want?

Check out the latest prices and availability at Galleria Vik Milano here!

Best tours for 2 days in Milan

Milan is a big city, but the main attractions are all quite close to each other. If you follow the 2 days in Milan itinerary I outline in this article, you can easily discover the city alone. 

That said, it can also be fun to join a tour. That way you’re sure you’ll be visiting all of the top highlights, and also have a local guide with you to tell you about the history of the city. 

I have outlined below some of the most popular and highly reviewed tours in Milan. 

Da Vinci’s Last Supper Tour – If you want to see the famous Last Supper, you have to book this tour online beforehand. It’s one of the most famous pieces of art in human history, and as such, you can expect l. 

I’ve walked past this museum hundreds of times while living in Milan, and I’ve always been shocked by the huge line of people waiting outside. You only have two days in Milan, so make sure you don’t waste them queuing!

Purchase this tour with skip-the-line entrance and save yourself some time!

 

Fast Track Milan Cathedral & Terraces Guided Tour – The same goes for the famous Duomo of Milan. Get a fast track ticket to avoid the queue, so that you can properly enjoy this beautiful cathedral!

If you don’t want to do a tour you can also purchase just entrance to the cathedral and rooftop, but with a local guide teaching you about the unique history of the Duomo, it will be an entirely different experience. 

Plus, make sure to purchase the ticket with access to the Duomo rooftop, the details on the “guglie” are simply stunning, and the views over Milan are incredible.

Click here to book your Milan Duomo skip-the-line entrance & rooftop access!

Milan: Hidden Gems Guided Bike Ride – Once you’ve seen all the main sights, this tour is a great option to discover Milan beyond the popular tourist attractions. 

Milan: 1-Day Open Bus Tour – If you don’t fancy walking, this bus tour is a great way to see all the main sights, with an audio guide telling you about them, without tiring yourself out.

Another two very popular museums in Milan are the Science & Technology Leonardo da Vinci Museum and The World of Leonardo Museum. Especially if you’re visiting Milan with kids, they can be fascinating to visit! 

What to pack for your Milan 2 day itinerary

Milan is the city of fashion, as well as a super popular tourist destination, so there aren’t really any essentials or outfits you have to pack for two days in Milan. If you forget anything, you can just go on a shopping spree there.

That said, beyond the usual travel essentials and whatever is on your Italy packing list, here are some things I recommend you don’t forget.

Camera – Given how stunning Milan is, you want to make sure you capture it in all its beauty!

Reusable water bottle – If you follow every step of this Milan 2-day itinerary, you’ll end up walking loads, so make sure to stay hydrated! You can just refill it at any of the free water fountains dotted around Milan.

Walking shoes – Given how much you will be walking, make sure you have comfortable shoes!

International adapter – You can buy it in Milan if you forget it, but it’s always a pain having to head out to search for one with your phone battery dying on you.

Power bank – Regardless of if you have a charger or not, it’s always handy to bring one of these, so whether you need your phone for photos or mapping your way, you know it won’t abandon you when you most need it!

Do you need travel insurance for two days in Milan?

After my personal experience spending two nights in a private hospital in Tenerife, and having to pay for it out of pocket (it wasn’t cheap), I always recommend getting travel insurance.

You might not end up needing it, but for a small fee you can travel without worries. Personally, I suggest getting your Italy travel insurance with  Heymondo.

Heymondo offers tailor made travel insurance, providing the best value for money for your specific trip. You can also buy it once you’re already abroad and have forgotten about it before flying (which, if you’re anything like me, is quite likely).

Besides the usual cancellation, medical expenses, luggage coverage and general travel insurance services, Heymondo also has a 24/7 doctor chat and instant assistance through their app.

As a Greta’s Travels reader, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance!

Click here to get your 5% off Heymondo travel insurance!

Are two days in Milan enough?

Considering I lived in Milan for 18 years, and still haven’t visited all the museums, churches and secret spots of the city, or eaten at all the best restaurants, probably not.

That said, locals will argue that no amount of time is ever enough to properly see a city. Personally, I think two days in Milan is the perfect amount of time to see all the main sights and get a feel for the city.

Some travellers only spend one day in Milan, and I agree that is too brief to properly see the city. With two days you can see all the main tourist attractions, without having to rush around the city.

You can also slow down the pace a bit, enjoying Milanese experiences like an “aperitivo”, as well as a bit of shopping in the city of fashion.

Final thoughts on my 2 days in Milan itinerary

There you have it, the ultimate Milan 2-day itinerary! Have you been to Milan before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

Milan is my hometown, so I’m obviously a bit biased, but I do genuinely believe it’s one of the most fascinating cities in Italy, which everyone should visit at least once.

Many travellers often overlook Milan in favour of the more iconic destinations, like Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre or Matera, but they don’t know just how much they’re missing.

With its right history and glamorous fashion, Milan is a vibrant and cosmopolitan hub, just waiting to be discovered. It’s one of the best Italian cities to visit in Northern Italy, with a rich history and beautiful sights.

I hope you found my Milan 2-day itinerary useful, and that it will help you plan your two days in Milan. If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

Click here to see my Milan 2-day itinerary web story!

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