Things to Do in Milan: the Duomo, the Last Supper, the Brera Gallery, the Sforza Castle and the Navigli

The Duomo is the symbol of Milan, and the Madonnina d’oro stands on its main pinnacle. Start there, then book Leonardo’s Last Supper, which remains first for visitors, followed by the Pinacoteca di Brera, a 12 to 15 minute walk from the cathedral. The Sforza Castle and the Navigli canals fill the rest of the days.

At a glance

• Top sights to see first: the Duomo, the Last Supper, the Pinacoteca di Brera
• Main access: Linate is 6 miles (10 km) away, Malpensa 31 miles (50 km), Milan Bergamo 37 miles (60 km)
• Suggested length of visit: 1.5 to 2.5 hours for Brera
• Navigli guided tour: 3 hours
• City pass: YesMilano City Pass Standard, valid for 3 consecutive days

What are the best things to do in Milan?

The Duomo and its terraces

Construction began in 1386 in the Gothic style. The cathedral has 3,400 statues and 55 stained-glass windows. The complex also includes an archaeological area with the remains of the Battistero di San Giovanni alle Fonti, the terraces and the Museo del Duomo, which has 26 rooms.

The single ticket for the Duomo and the museum costs €10, or €8 on Wednesdays. The museum is closed on Wednesdays. The rooftops cost €18 by lift and €16 on foot. The lift only goes to the first level of the terraces, so the second level and the descent are by stairs anyway. Each ticket is valid for one entry in each area.

The Last Supper

Leonardo’s masterpiece is in the museum at Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie 2. Visits run in 15-minute shifts with a maximum of 40 people at a time.

Reservation is always mandatory. Tickets go on sale about three months ahead, quarterly. More are released online every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. for the following week. Online booking allows up to 5 tickets. Arrive 30 minutes before your slot, because latecomers lose the right of entry.

The Pinacoteca di Brera

Napoleon established the gallery in 1809. It has 38 rooms around the courtyard of honour and 500 works on display, by Italian and foreign artists from the 14th to the 19th century. It sits in the Brera district, a few steps from the Duomo and Montenapoleone.

The entrance is at Via Brera 28. The Lanza (M2) and Montenapoleone (M3) metro stops are both about 5 minutes on foot. A visit takes between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. The full ticket is €20, entry is free under 18, and EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €4. The Grande Brera ticket also opens Palazzo Citterio at Via Brera 12 on the same day and the following 6 days, so the two fit one relaxed stay in the district.

The Sforza Castle

The Sforza Castle is a symbol of the city’s industriousness and love of beauty. One ticket covers all the castle museums, including the Ancient Egypt Gallery, and the Panoramic Battlements give access to a stretch of the patrol walkways. The castle and Parco Sempione are about ten minutes on foot from Brera.

The full ticket costs €10 and the reduced one €5. It is not refundable. The audioguide is €5, and weekend guided tours cost €20 with the museum ticket included. The museums are closed on Mondays. On that day the courtyards are still free, as they are every day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Navigli and the Darsena

The guided tour combines a walk and a boat cruise through the Navigli district. The first stage starts in the north of the city at the entrance of via San Marco, where the Conca dell’Incoronata, a lock designed by Leonardo, stands. The second stage is at the Darsena, once a trade port with 1,000 meters of quays. The boat also passes the Vicolo dei Lavandai, where women washed clothes for centuries.

The tour lasts 3 hours. The meeting point is Via San Marco 48, and the boat leaves from Alzaia Naviglio Grande 4. The route ends with a walk along the alzaia of the Naviglio Grande. Groups are limited to 20 people, so book ahead.

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

The Ambrosiana houses the largest collection of Leonardo’s sheets, the Codex Atlanticus. The full ticket, which includes the San Sepolcro Crypt, costs €20. It is €13 for under 18s and university students, and free up to age 5.

A complete visit takes around 90 minutes for the Pinacoteca and 30 minutes for the Crypt. The combined Duomo and Ambrosiana ticket is valid for 72 hours, so the two visits can be split across days.

Teatro alla Scala

La Scala is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. The box office is at Piazza della Scala. Guided tours run in Italian, English and French at some times of day.

The open ticket for the museum costs €15 per person. The fixed-date ticket costs €12, or €8 for students and seniors over 65. The fixed date is the cheaper choice if your plans are set.

When is the best time to visit Milan for sightseeing?

January is cold, with highs of 45°F (7°C) and about five rainy days, so coats go on for the Duomo terraces. April brings highs of 67°F (19°C) and about eight rainy days, which suits walking between Brera and the castle with a light rain layer. July reaches 87°F (31°C) with about four rainy days, so the rooftops and the castle courtyards are best with water and a hat. November is the wettest month, with 4 inches of rain over about eight rainy days, and an umbrella helps on the Navigli walk.

Beaches and outdoor things to do in Milan

Milan’s outdoor time is spent along the water and in its gardens. The Darsena is today a lively stretch of water returned to Milanese people and tourists.

For a quiet break, the Guastalla Gardens are one of Milan’s most beautiful green areas and sit near the Duomo. The Brera Botanical Gardens are a romantic green oasis in the center of the city.

Day trips from Milan

Lake Como is reached by the rail network. Varenna is a fishing village with Vezio Castle above it, more than a thousand years old. The Wayfarer’s Path connects Lecco, Abbadia, Mandello and Varenna. Villa Carlotta, known for its botanical gardens and art museum, and Villa d’Este are historic residences on the lake. The Villa Bernasconi Museum in Cernobbio can be added as a self-guided visit.

Lake Maggiore has the Borromean Islands. Isola Bella is known for Palazzo Borromeo and its Italian-style garden, and Isola Madre for its exotic vegetation. Isola dei Pescatori is 100 meters wide and 350 meters long, with a village of fifty inhabitants, the only Borromean island inhabited all year round. The Castles of Cannero stand on two rocky islets.

Things to do in Milan with kids

Children can ride the Navigli boat cruise and walk the alzaia afterward. The Duomo Smart Experience adds augmented reality, virtual reality and a 3D tour.

Brera is free for under 18s, and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is free up to age 5. The Navigli tour runs 3 hours, so confirm it suits the youngest travelers before booking.