While we were in Milan for a week, but it felt like we only had 48 hours to tour the city, because we were in the city primarily to see the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. (See our post here)
In a week stuffed with Olympic ceremonies and events, we only had a little time to see the highlights of Milan! We relied on Discover Your Italy, an Italian tour agency we’ve used for past trips to Italy, to arrange guides and tours for us, and fit them in around long travel times to ticketed events over which we had little control over the time they would take. Their flexibility allowed us to fit in several tours (including scoring a hard to get Leonardo DaVinci “Last Supper” timed ticket) and allowed us to get a good flavor of the city during a very busy time!
48 Hours in Milan; a suggested itinerary
Leonardo DaVinici “Last Supper”
The hot “ticket” in Milan is the getting to see Leonardo DaVinci’s “Last Supper” at the Church of Santa Maria della Grazie. So if you have trip to Milan planned, get your timed ticket from the church website before you leave, and build your days around the time you get, remembering the wall painting is not open for visits on Sunday mornings or Mondays. With just a few dozen people allowed in to see the artwork at 15 minutes per visit, timed tickets go quickly on line, so book as soon as you know you are going to Milan!
Duomo Of Milan
The dominating icon in the city of Milan is the Duomo, literally, the city’s Catholic Cathedral, which is situated in a pedestrian square. It’s another timed ticket you can purchase in advance. There are three things to see related to the Duomo; the interior of the cathedral, an opportunity to walk around the rooftops of the Cathedral and a related Duomo Museum. The roof top walk is amazing, with up close looks at some of the thousands of carvings on the exterior of the Cathedral, and incredible views across Milan all the way to the Alps. If you plan go on the roof tops, buy either a “lift” (elevator) ticket or cheaper “stairs” tickets and walk about 200 stairs to the roof top. If you start by going up to the roof top first, you will exit into the interior of the Cathedral and won’t need to pass through security twice.
While you are in the neighborhood:
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II a shopping arcade with some of Milan’s oldest brands and bakeries.
La Scala Opera House with cable car in front
Sforza Castle
Milan’s “founding family” 14th century home
The 14th Century fortress and eventual home of the dukes of Milan, it’s a large museum and event space, surrounded by a large fountain and parks.
While you are in the neighborhood:
The Parco Sempione and Arco della Pace, behind the castle, provide green spaces, and there more pedestrian only areas in front of the castle with lots of cafes and shops line the curved Bonaparte Blvd. During our visit, the arco della Pace was home to the Olympic Flame.
North East Milan Fashion District
A single show typifies fashion in Milan, sleek, quality, understated.
Bordered by Via Manzoni and Via dela Spiga, Milan’s high fashion district retains it’s Italian designers, glabal brands you can find anywhere (and may not still be Italian owned) but also small locally owned design houses.
While you are in the neighborhood:
The Pinacoteca di Brera is a 17th C palace which is now one of Milan’s best art museums.
Naviglio Grande
Milan’s small canal district is full of shops and cafes
In Southwest Milan, a gentrifying area is growing up adjacent to the Naviglio Grande. Once affordable, home to bohemians and artists, it is now one of the most popular areas in Milan.
While you are in the neighborhood:
Sant’Eustorgio (pictured) and Sant’Ambrogio (one of Milan's oldest Christian churches parts of which started in the first century CE. )
City Life Neighborhood
An art installation with bronze chair sculptures that look the cheap plastic ubiquitous chairs makes a statement in the City Life neighborhood.
In Northwest Milan, a new development, called City Life, replaced an old business exhibition area. With so much land available, there was an opportunity in the 21st century to build a new neighborhood centered on sustainability, mixed use, and open spaces. It features 3 business towers, known as Curved, Straight and Crooked. with 43 acres of park land, an upscale shopping arcade above the metro (ATM) station and upscale housing.
While fit in a lot of Milan during our Olympic Games visit; we didn’t have the opportunity to visit any of Milan’s top notch art museums, any one of which you could spend a whole day of touring! For more on our Olympic Experience in Milan… See our post here