One Day In Milan Travel Guide: How to get the most out of the “Moral Capital.”

A self-guided tour of Milan in an afternoon

What should you do with one day (or just one-half day) in Milan? Milan is a big city with lots to offer, but it often doesn’t top travel itineraries for a first-timer coming to Italy. Most people visit Milan for the first time because they are flying in or out of Milan on their way to another destination. If that’s the case, then you might find yourself with just one afternoon/evening in Milan. This One Day In Milan Travel Guide will give you ideas for how to get the most out of your short time in Milan. This is also a great way to revisit some favorites if you have been to Milan before.

Navigli in Milan, Italy. Photo by Mauro Castagna

First things first, why is Milan called the “Moral Capital” of Italy? The Milanese (people of Milan) feel that their work ethic is the reason that Milan has become the world capital of finance, business services, fashion, design, media, and publishing.

Jump ahead: Self-Guided Milan In A Day

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – Best Time Of Year To Visit

Milan can be very hot and humid in the summer, and in the winter, it can get cold enough to snow. You decide what’s right for you. Some people like it cold and love the idea of a little snow. If the more extreme seasons don’t suit you, then you should absolutely aim for the spring or fall. If your trip isn’t to Milan but happens to go through Milan, then your timing may be decided based on your other plans. That’s okay; you can still use this guide to decide what to do with your short time in Milan.

Trolleybus in Milan, Italy, when it snows. Photo by Marvz Etcoban

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – Know Before You Go

If you’re going to Milan, you might be interested in seeing Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Last Supper. In order to purchase tickets, you will need to plan in advance. The ticket release schedule is somewhat complicated. Tickets are released in blocks of a couple of months at a time. Tickets are typically released about 60 days before the first day of that block. 

For example, in 2025, on June 17th, tickets opened for August 1st through October 31st. We’ll save you the trouble of counting; that’s only 43 days before August 1st. You can also check back daily to see if new tickets are available for the date that you want to go. Alternatively, you can book a tour, but you won’t find a tour that is only to see the Last Supper. Tours will include more, and it may be difficult to fit into just one afternoon/evening in Milan. Keep reading for tips on how to fit the Last Supper into your one and only day in Milan.

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – Getting There

There are 3 airports in the Milan area. You may need to stay near the airport, instead of the city center if you have an early flight. The 3 airports are Linate, Bergamo, and Malpensa.

• If you are flying in or out of Linate, then you will likely have a connection within Europe. It’s unlikely that you will have a direct flight between the U.S. and Linate. Linate can be reached by public transportation in 30-60 minutes. There is a shuttle bus, and that is the quickest public transportation route. The shuttle bus to Milano Centrale is 25 minutes and is non-stop. Find out more about the shuttle bus on the Autostradale website. By car or taxi, it could take as little as 25 minutes to get to/from Milano Centrale, but if there is traffic, it could take twice as long.
• Bergamo is a city outside of Milan with affordable flights, but just like Linate, you probably won’t find a direct flight between here and the U.S. Bergamo airport is an hour’s drive from/to Milano Centrale. It is also an hour on public transportation. There are several shuttle bus options from Bergamo Airport. Autostradale offers a shuttle to Milano Centrale, and so does Orioshuttle. A bus and metro combination will take 75 minutes.
• The 3rd, and most popular, airport for international flights in/out of Milan is Malpensa airport. Malpensa airport is almost an hour from the city center by train and 40 minutes by car, or 50-70 minutes by bus shuttle. Autostradale also has a shuttle between Malpensa airport and Milano Centrale.  If you have a 6 am flight out of Malpensa, then you will probably want to stay at a hotel near Malpensa. Choose a hotel that offers a shuttle or that can call a taxi for you.
• All hope is not lost just because your flight isn’t in Milan; you can still spend the day in Milan before heading to Malpensa. You can find luggage storage at the main train station to store your bags while you galavant around Milan. There are plenty of luggage storage options throughout Milan, but you may find that Milano Centrale station is the most convenient for your plans.

From Milano Centrale (and other stations in Milan), you can find a metro line to get to the part of the city you need to be in. For example, if you are going to Castello Sforzesco or staying near it, Milano Cadorna train station is close to Castello Sforzesco. You can also take a taxi from the train station, or see if it’s close enough for you to walk from the station you arrive at. If you want to take a taxi, look for the orange taxi sign and queue (line). Even when the line is long at Milano Centrale, it moves quickly.

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – Where To Stay

One afternoon/evening in Milan is limiting, so make the best of it. It’s best to stay near the things you want to see/do. Stay in the historical center. If you are unable to stay in the historical center, there is a very efficient tram/metro system (subway) in Milan. Or, if you find a better price to stay near Milano Centrale, it could make your entry and exit easier.

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – Getting Around Milan

Milan is a big city, but depending on your plans, you may be able to walk everywhere. The tram or metro goes all over the city, and there are buses to supplement anywhere the metro doesn’t go. When we stay in the city center and do everything this guide tells you to do, we walk everywhere. We only need the metro to get to/from the main train station (Milano Centrale). You can also use a taxi service in Milan if that suits you better. 

We prefer to use the freeNow taxi app to call taxis and pay through the app. If you decide to take the metro or a bus, there is a convenient tap-to-pay system in place. Or, you can purchase tickets at a kiosk inside the underground stations. We recently heard that Trenitalia has a new feature that allows you to book a taxi with FreeNow when you purchase a Frecciarossa train ticket. Something you might consider if you are coming from another major city like Venice, Florence, or Rome.

Milan In A Day Pro Tip 1: The phrase “tap-to-pay” confuses some people; you do need to hold your card in place for several seconds before it processes. If you quickly tap your card to the “tap-to-pay” machine, the transaction probably won’t complete. Try again and hold it there just a little longer.

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – Must-See.

With only one afternoon or day in Milan, your time is brief, and here’s what we suggest you do. This is written in the order that we do it, based on where we are typically staying. Save these locations on your map so that you can decide the best order to see them in.

• After you check into your hotel, go have the best gelato ever at Chocolat Milano. Get the pistachio, you’re welcome.

Dark Chocolate and Pistachio Gelato at Chocolat Milano

• Enjoy your tasty treat as you walk over to Castello Sforzesco (15-minute walk). Walk the grounds inside the castle walls. Exit the castle through the main entrance and head straight.

Inside the walls of Castello Sforzesco, Milan, Italy

• Spend some time in the piazza admiring the Duomo, one of the most beautiful buildings in Italy. This Duomo looks quite different from all the other Duomos in Italy. The Lombards wanted it to stand out, so they built this Gothic cathedral in only white marble. It took about 600 years to complete the cathedral.
• After you’ve taken photos of the Duomo, stroll through the Galleria (to your left if you are facing the Duomo) and do some window shopping. I want to caution you that food and drinks in this area can be expensive. We once paid €16 for a small Aperol Spritz inside the galleria, so please don’t make the same mistake!
• By now, it’s probably close to dinner time, and you can make your way to the restaurant that you plan to eat at (hopefully you’ve made a dinner reservation too). If it’s still too early, head that way anyway and find a place along the way to enjoy an aperitivo. Keep reading for ideas on what to eat and where to go.

If you have a full day in Milan, modify the above self-guided tour with these recommendations:

Spend more time at the Duomo

Don’t just get tickets to go inside, make sure your ticket includes the rooftop. On top, you’ll find amazing views of the city, and even the rooftop is a masterpiece in architecture and design. The rooftop has 135 spires, and every inch of it is thoughtfully sculpted. You can get various tickets, you can opt to take the elevator to the top, or take the stairs (all tickets require you to take the stairs down). You can get tickets only to go on the roof, or you can combine them with entry to the cathedral and other museums. 

When you make it to the rooftop, make sure to admire the famous gilded copper Madonnina del Duomo. Madonnina del Duomo has traditionally been the highest point in Milan. Over the years, some buildings have been built taller than her (108.5 meters). However, to maintain the tradition, builders will have a replica of the Madonnina placed on top so that the Madonnina is always the highest point in Milan. During the summer months, there is music played on the rooftop, “Serato d’Incanto.” If you are there on the right day, you can get tickets for these events. You can find the perfect ticket for your needs on the Duomo Milano website.

Milan In A Day Pro Tip 2: if you can manage the stairs, the elevator line is far longer, so if you want to save time, take the stairs!

See the Arco Delle Pace

Near Castello Sforzesco and on the opposite side of it from the Duomo is the Arco Delle Pace, an arch dedicated to peace. Get your gelato at Chocolat Milano, then go to the Arco, followed by Castello Sforzesco. The Arco is a 15-minute walk from Chocolat Milano. From the Arco, walk through the Parco Sempione to get to Castello Sforzesco, also about a 10-15 minute walk.

Arco delle Pace, Milan, Italy.

Have an aperitivo in the Navigli neighborhood

Enjoy an Italian staple, the aperitivo, before you go to dinner. From the Duomo, you can take the metro and be in the Navigli in about 30 minutes (consult Google Maps for the best line to take at the time that you are going).

Admire Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.”

If you manage to get tickets to see The Last Supper, you will find that it is close to Chocolat. You can get your gelato fix after seeing Leonardo’s masterpiece. We recommend trying to see the Last Supper sometime after breakfast and before lunch. By visiting the Last Supper at this time, you can have a pre- or post-lunch Gelato before starting the rest of your self-guided tour through Milan in one day.

Get flipped off in Malan!

Self-Guided One Day In Milan – What To Eat And Where To Eat It

Risotto Milanese is a must while you are in Milan. Risotto Milanese is made with parmesan cheese and saffron, giving it a beautiful yellow/orange color. If you’re feeling adventurous, get the Ossobucco with Risotto Milanese. Ossobucco is also a Milanese dish; it is a braised veal shank, save some bread to spread the bone marrow onto! Two of our favorite places to get it are Trattoria Milanese dal 1933 and Cantina Della Vetra. You will want a reservation to go to either of these restaurants.

We hope this guide helps you get the most out of a short trip to Milan. Did you know that you can get to Venice in 1.5 hours by train from Milan? Venice is great, but it can get crowded, so if you’re looking for something a little different, consider Padua. Padua is 15 minutes before Venice on the same train from Milan. Stay in Padua and day trip to Venice! Read our Padua guide to find out why you should stay in Padua instead of Venice.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your trip to Italy, see our photos of Italy to inspire you. Also, read some of our city travel guides for everything on what to do, see, eat, and where to eat it. If you have any questions, check out our travel tips, or you are welcome to comment below, and you can send us an email. We’re happy to share any insight we might have. 

Did we leave out one of your favorite things to do in a short self-guided day trip to Milan? Please comment below to tell us and our readers about it!

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