Milan is the regional capital of Lombardy, a city of about 70 square miles (182 sq km) that suits travelers who want the Duomo, Leonardo’s Last Supper, La Scala and a food hall in one trip. The Last Supper remains the first stop for visitors, followed by the Pinacoteca di Brera.
Three airports serve the city: Malpensa 31 miles (50 km) away, Linate 6 miles (10 km) and Bergamo 37 miles (60 km). Driving into the historical center costs money on weekdays, so the choice of airport and the choice of wheels both matter.
At a glance
- Region: Lombardy, Milan is the regional capital
- Airports: Malpensa 31 miles (50 km), Linate 6 miles (10 km), Bergamo 37 miles (60 km)
- Into the center: Malpensa Express train from Malpensa, M4 (Blue) metro line from Linate
- Driving: Area C restricted zone, cameras on Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Weather: July highs of 87°F (31°C), January highs of 45°F (7°C)
- Sightseeing: YesMilano City Pass Standard with a 3-day public transport ticket
Where is Milan and what is it like?
Milan is the regional capital of Lombardy and sits at 400 feet (122 m) above sea level. It covers about 70 square miles (182 sq km) and holds roughly 7,500 inhabitants per square kilometer. Three airports serve it: Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo.
The center is built around the Duomo, with the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, 643 feet (196 m) of culture and shopping, close by.
The city’s patron saint is Saint Ambrose. Leonardo left his mark here: the Conca dell’Incoronata lock in the north of the city was designed by him, and the Ambrosian Picture Gallery keeps the Codex Atlanticus.
What is there to do in Milan?
The Duomo, Palazzo Reale and the Galleria
The Duomo is the symbol of the city. The Duomo Museum has 26 rooms covering 2,000 square meters, and the cathedral can be visited with its terrace and stairs.
The YesMilano City Pass Standard includes the Duomo Cathedral and terrace with stairs, along with a 3-day public transport ticket. The pass also covers the Sforza Castle Museums, the GAM/Modern Art Gallery, the Archaeological Museum and the Natural History Museum. It offers discounts of up to 30% through the YesMilanoPass app.
The tourist office offers luggage storage, which helps on a travel day, and the Infopoint staff speaks English among five languages.
Leonardo, Brera and the art collections
The Ambrosian Picture Gallery houses the largest collection of Leonardo’s sheets, the Codex Atlanticus. The Museo del Novecento is inside Palazzo Arengario, a few steps from the Galleria.
The Church of San Maurizio is defined as the Sistine Chapel of Lombardy. The Sforza Castle, a symbol of the city’s industriousness and love of beauty, adds museums to the same walk.
Since the Last Supper draws the most visitors, reserve it early in busy months. Art lovers can group the Museo del Novecento, Palazzo Reale and the Duomo Museum into one central day.
The Navigli by boat and on foot
The Navigli neighborhood is explored by a guided tour on foot and by boat. It starts near the Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio and includes a boat cruise on which guides present the area. The boat departs from Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 4, and the itinerary ends with a walk along the alzaia of the Naviglio Grande.
The itinerary has two stages. The first begins in the north of the city, with a meeting point at Via San Marco, 48, near the Conca dell’Incoronata, the lock designed by Leonardo. The boat stage visits the Darsena, the old port of Milan.
Add the Vicolo dei Lavandai, a historic spot where women washed clothes for centuries, to the walk.
Gardens: Brera, Guastalla and beyond
The Orto Botanico di Brera, inside Palazzo di Brera, hosts more than 300 plant species and is described as a romantic green oasis in the center. The Guastalla Gardens are one of Milan’s most beautiful green areas, near the Duomo.
The Giardino della Villa Belgiojoso is an English-style garden designed at the end of the 1700s by Leopold Pollack. The Giardini Indro Montanelli were renamed in 2002 in memory of the journalist and essayist, and the Giardino Perego is a historic English-style garden turned into a public park in the middle of the last century.
These gardens fit between museum visits. Families and anyone who needs a break from stone and marble will find them useful.
Mercato Centrale and the food side of Milan
Mercato Centrale Milano is on Via Sammartini, at the corner of Piazza Quattro Novembre. At the market you eat food from the botteghe, the food stalls. Something new is always on offer to discover, listen to or taste, in the market, in the Piazza or on the Terraces.
The Info point gives details on services and events. It is the place to ask what is on during your visit.
Verdict by profile: if you want art and history, pick the Duomo area and Leonardo. With a love of food, add Mercato Centrale. For a slower day outdoors, take the Navigli boat tour or the gardens. Anyone hoping for a beach holiday will find Milan suits them less.
How do you get to Milan and get around?
Malpensa is the largest airport serving the Milan area and has two terminals. By car it takes approximately one hour via the A8 motorway, and the Malpensa Express railway connects it with the city centre. Linate, the city’s main airport, reaches the centre on the new M4 (Blue) metro line.
Milan Bergamo Airport lies about one hour from the centre of Milan. A bus service between Bergamo railway station and the airport runs every 10 minutes.
By road, the A1 connects Milan to Naples via Bologna, Florence and Rome. The A4 runs from Turin to Trieste via Milan, Bergamo and Brescia, and the A7 links Milan to Genoa via Pavia and Voghera. The A8 and A9 head north toward Varese, Como and Switzerland. The A21 connects Turin to Brescia, and the A22 links Modena to the Brenner Pass via Mantua.
Area C is a restricted area of the historical centre where a vehicle can enter upon payment. Cameras are active Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. It is not active on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Cars pay €7.50 within the day after entering. A car that enters Area C can also pay €22.50 within 7 days of entering, once it’s registered on the AreaC portal. Admission is free for electric and hybrid cars. Tourist buses with 9+ seats pay from €60 to €150 depending on length.
With the M4 metro, the Malpensa Express and a 3-day transport ticket in the city pass, a car is easy to skip for a city stay.
When should you go to Milan?
May, June and September are the comfortable window. May highs reach 75°F (24°C), June 83°F (28°C) and September 78°F (26°C). September has about five rainy days, fewer than May at about eight and a half.
July is the warmest month, with highs of 87°F (31°C) and lows of 67°F (19°C), so plan museum visits for the middle of the day indoors.
November is the wettest month, with 4 inches of rain over eight rainy days and highs of 54°F (12°C). Winter is cold: January highs sit at 45°F (7°C) and lows at 31°F (0°C), which is worth knowing before climbing the Duomo terrace.
What to know before visiting Milan
According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov), U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa.
- Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended. Passports must have 2 blank pages for entry stamp.
- You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.
- Entry: 10,000 Euros currency limit or equivalent. Exit: 10,000 Euros currency limit or equivalent.
- The advisory for Italy is Level 2, Exercise increased caution, issued September 10, 2026, due to terrorism.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Buying travel insurance before you go is highly recommended.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2ephp/en/general-info-lombardy/getting-lombardy), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html), checked 2026-10-30
- areac.atm-mi.it (https://areac.atm-mi.it/Areac/IWeb/English.aspx), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/turismo-in-lombardia/milano-turismo?gad_source=1), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/en/activity/yesmilano-city-pass-standard), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/en/tourism-in-lombardy/tourism-milan/infopoint-milano), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/attivita/i-navigli-milano-0), checked 2026-10-30