Milan itinerary in 7 days

When you think of Milan, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is the capital city of fashion and shopping . It’s true, Milan is really famous for its weeks dedicated to fashion and design and for the presence of many boutiques of famous designers. But it is much more than that! It offers a sublime mix of historic architecture and modern skyscrapers, such as the beautiful Duomo, the main attraction. But in the Lombard capital there is much more to discover, points of interest perhaps less scenic and immediate than in other Italian cities but which have nothing to envy. Moreover, with a journey of less than two hours it is possible to reach other Lombard cities and interesting places to discover.

If you are thinking of spending some time in the Milanese city, here is the itinerary of Milan and its surroundings in 7 days .

Day 1

Start your visit right from the symbol of Milan, the Duomo . The terraces are also worth a visit (open from 9:00 to 19:00).
A short distance away you can take the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and admire its architecture and trendy shops . Then reach Piazza dei Mercanti, one of the most characteristic squares in the city, once the heart of medieval life.

Lunch at the Al Mercante Restaurant (average cost € 35.00).
With a 10-minute walk you can reach the Castello Sforzesco , another symbol of Milan. Its gardens and museums housed inside can be visited. Behind the building extends the Sempione Park, one of the most famous parks in the city, where you can see the Arch of Peace.
Then walk to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece “The Last Supper” is kept inside the Leonardo’s Last Supper Museum (Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 7:00 pm).

Reach Cadorna station and take metro M2 (green) towards Assago or Abbiategrasso, get off at Porta Genova and in 10 minutes you will be in the Navigli area. Dinner at the moment , near the Naviglio Grande, with proposals starting from € 25.00 per person.

In summary:

• Distance covered : 6.1 km / 1 h 15 min
• Places visited : Piazza Duomo and Milan Cathedral (€ 2.00, terrace € 13.00), Vittorio Emanuele II gallery (free), Piazza Mercanti (free), Sforzesco Castle (€ 5.00), Sempione park (free) , Arch of Peace (free), church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and Last Supper (€ 12.00)
• Daily shopping : € 90.00
• Recommended cards, tickets and tours:Milan Cathedral and Terraces: entrance ticketguided tour of the Last Supper
• Where to eat: Lunch at Ristorante Al Mercante ( Get directions ), Dinner at Momento ( Get directions )

Day 2

The first stop on the second day is the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore (open Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 18:30, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00), one of the most important churches in the city , and the Columns of San Lorenzo. Here take bus 94 which will take you, after 5 stops, to the church of San Bernardino alle Ossa (open every day from 9:00 to 18:00, closed on Sundays), an extraordinary church with its surprising ossuary.
Head north and stop at the Teatro alla Scala . You can choose whether to book a guided tour of the Theater (from Monday to Sunday, only possible in the absence of shows or rehearsals), or a free visit to the Museum (every day from 9:00 to 17:30). For reasons of time, we recommend the second option.

After having lunch at Rosso Brera (menu from € 30.00), visit the famous Pinacoteca di Brera (open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:15), which houses masterpieces by the likes of Raphael, Caravaggio , Rubens and many others.

Your stop for the evening is the recently redeveloped Isola neighborhood, which houses the famous Bosco Verticale , the complex of two buildings elected in 2014 as the most beautiful skyscraper in the world. For dinner we recommend Bio.it Milano , with an average cost of € 25.00.

In summary:

• Distance covered : 6 km / 1 h 14 min
• Places visited : Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore (free), Columns of San Lorenzo (free), church of San Bernardino alle Ossa (free), Teatro alla Scala (guided tour € 25.00 – museum entrance € 12.00), Pinacoteca of Brera (€ 12.00), Isola district and Bosco Verticale (free)
• Daily shopping : € 80.00
• Recommended cards, tickets and tours:Brera district and guided experience in the Pinacotecaguided experience at La Scala Theater
• Where to eat: Lunch at Rosso Brera ( Get directions ), Dinner at Bio.it Milan ( Get directions )

Day 3

The third day begins at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana (open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00), one of the most visited museums in Milan which also houses the Library with Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus.
At the end of the visit, head to the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio (open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:30 to 18:00, Sunday from 15:00 to 17:00)

Stop for lunch at Magenta Bar (menu from € 15.00) and then visit the church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:30). From Cadorna station take the M1 metro and get off at San Babila, then reach the famous via Montenapoleone, home to luxury shopping in Milan. Satisfied your desire to shop, behind the Duomo of Milan, in the Palazzo dell’Arengario, the Museo del Novecento awaits you (open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 9:30 to 19:30, on Mondays from 14:30 to 7:30 pm, Thursdays and Saturdays until 10:30 pm).

Take the M3 metro line (yellow) and dedicate your evening to discovering the Brera district , also known as the artists’ quarter . Dinner in Bioesserì , restaurant and pizzeria (starting from € 15.00).

In summary:

• Distance covered : 6 km / 1 h 14 min
• Places visited : church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (free), Archaeological Museum of Milan (€ 5.00), Ambrosiana art gallery (€ 15.00), Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio (free), Quadrilatero della moda (free), Museo del Novecento (€ 5.00), Brera district (free)
• Daily shopping : € 55.00
• Recommended cards, tickets and tours:Milan: private city tour
• Where to eat: Lunch at Bar Magenta ( Get directions ), Dinner at Bioesserì ( Get directions )

Day 4

For this day we recommend a visit to one of the symbols of the city, the San Siro Stadium , also known as the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium . The activity will fill your whole morning, as it includes the tour of the facility and the visit to the Museum (daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm).

Have lunch at Osteria Ippodromo , a few steps from the stadium (average cost of € 30.00).
From the nearby M5 stop (lilac) take the metro towards Bignami and get off at Monumentale (8 stops). Here is the Monumental Cemetery of Milan (open from 8:00 to 18:00, closed on non-holiday Mondays), the eternal resting place of famous people such as Alessandro Manzoni, Carlo Cattaneo and Salvatore Quasimodo.
Before evening, spare time to visit another important Milanese museum, the National Museum of Science and Technology “Leonardo da Vinci” (open from Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00, Saturdays and holidays from 9:30 to 18:30).

For dinner you can choose Ponte Rosso (average cost of € 30.00) and spend the rest of the evening in the recently redeveloped Darsena area.

In summary:

• Distance covered : 12 km / 2 h 31 min
• Places visited : San Siro Stadium (€ 18.00), Monumental Cemetery (free), National Museum of Science and Technology “Leonardo da Vinci” (€ 10.00), Dock (free)
• Daily shopping : € 90.00
• Where to eat: Lunch at Osteria Ippodromo ( Get directions ), Dinner at Ponte Rosso Restaurant ( Get directions )

Day 5

Not far from Milan there is Como , a town that rises on the shores of the homonymous lake. You can reach it either by car (A9 motorway, Lake Como exit) or by one of the numerous regional trains departing from the Central or Garibaldi station (€ 4.80 each way).

Reach the funicular station in Piazza De Gasperi and go up towards Brunate. In this small town you can enjoy one of the most spectacular views over the city of Como and its lake. Take a walk in the alleys of the village, then return to Como and reach Piazza Duomo, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Palazzo del Broletto (which can only be visited internally for events and exhibitions). After the visit, go to Piazza San Fedele with the church of the same name and its bell tower.

For lunch we recommend Il Solito Posto (average cost of € 30.00).
Then go back to Lungo Lario and reach the Monument of the Fallen, with its panoramic terrace and the Volta Temple (Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00) dedicated to the research of Alessandro Volta from Como. The last stop is the splendid complex of Villa Olmo, with the main building of the villa and its gardens (the villa is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00, the park from 1 October to 4 April every day from 7:00 to 19:00; from 5 April to 30 September every day from 7:00 to 23:00).

Stop for dinner at the Il Tennis Restaurant (average cost of € 25.00).

In summary:

• Distance covered : 99.6 km / 1 h 53 min by car including the journey to / from Milan
• Places visited : Como-Brunate cable car (€ 5.30 return trip), church of Santa Maria Assunta (free), Palazzo del Broletto (depending on the events), Basilica of San Fedele and Campanile (free), War Memorial ( € 4.00), Volta Temple (€ 4.00), Villa Olmo (€ 15.00)
• Daily shopping : € 95.00
• Recommended cards, tickets and tours:From Milan: panoramic boat tour of Lake ComoLake Como: 3-hour tour by electric bike
• Where to eat: Lunch at Il Solito Posto ( Get directions ), Dinner at Il Tennis Restaurant ( Get directions )

Day 6

Monza is a city that lends itself perfectly to being explored in one day. To reach it, we recommend that you take one of the many direct regional trains (€ 2.20 each way).

The first stop is the Torre Viscontea, dating back to 1800. The center of Monza contains all the main points of interest, the first in your itinerary are the Civic Museums (schedules subject to various variations, check the official website ) with its extraordinary collection of works. Then reach the nearby Duomo with the Museum (from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm) and the Chapel which houses the famous Iron Crown, used for centuries to crown the kings of Italy and which, according to tradition, contains one of the nails used to crucify Christ (Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00, can be visited only by reservation).

For lunch we recommend the Vineria dei Tintori (prices starting from € 30.00).
Then leave the center behind and arrive at the Villa of Monza with its beautiful park. Spend the afternoon here, visiting the villa and strolling through the immense park.

If you want to stop for dinner in the city you can choose the Derby Grill restaurant , just outside the gates of Villa Reale, with prices starting from € 25.00.

In summary:

• Distance covered : 54.8 km / 1 h 27 min by car including travel to / from Milan
• Places visited : Torre Viscontea (free), Civic Museums (€ 6.00), Duomo and Piazza Duomo (admission to the Museum € 8.00; Teodolinda Chapel € 8.00), Ponte dei Leoni (free), Monza Park (free), Villa Reale (€ 10.00)
• Daily shopping: € 92.00
• Recommended cards, tickets and tours:Monza tour by segwaySegway tour of the Monza and Brianza Park
• Where to eat: Lunch at Vineria dei Tintori ( Get directions ), Dinner at Derby Grill ( Get directions )

Day 7

Pavia is located 35 km south of Milan and is an excellent destination for a day trip. In addition, direct trains to the city leave every 30 minutes from Milan Central Station (round trip € 8.00).

All the points of interest that can be visited in one day are located in the historic center, starting from Piazza della Vittoria, the heart of the city. Here visit the Duomo with its imposing 92-meter dome (from 7:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 19:30, on Sundays from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 20:00: 00). Take via XX Settembre to reach the church of S. Maria del Carmine, dating back to the end of the fourteenth century. Next to it is Palazzo Malaspina, today the seat of the civic library. Lunch

at Gustò Pavia(average cost € 20.00), arrives at the Castle of Pavia, home of the Visconti and Sforza families. Today it houses the Civic Museums (every day from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Tuesdays) including the Pinacoteca Malaspina with paintings by numerous artists (Tiepolo, Correggio and others).
From the Castle go towards Strada Nuova and then Corso Alberto where the University area is located, which is one of the oldest not only in Italy but also in Europe and which has hosted illustrious teachers such as Alessandro Volta and Ugo Foscolo.

For the evening reach the characteristic Borgo Ticino and dinner at Osteria della Malora (average cost € 40.00).

In summary:

• Distance traveled : 89.4 km / 1 h 52 min by car including travel from / to Milan
• Places visited : Piazza della Vittoria (free), Cathedral of Pavia (free), church of S. Maria del Carmine (free), Palazzo Malaspina (free), Pavia Castle (free), Civic Museums and Pinacoteca Malaspina (€ 10, 00), University and Civic Towers (free)
• Daily shopping : € 78.00
• Where to eat: Lunch at Gustò Pavia ( Get directions ), Dinner at Osteria della Malora ( Get directions )

How much does a week cost in Milan

NB : The prices expressed in the table above are to be intended “per person” .

While not excessive, if properly planned, the costs for a week in Milan can undoubtedly be considered high . Much depends on the area where you decide to stay, the closer you get to the center, the higher the costs are, but it is also possible to stay in peripheral areas and be able to easily reach the main points of interest. To further lower spending, you can choose not to always have lunch or dinner in restaurants but sometimes also go to a fast food restaurant.

• Low cost flights: starting from € 50.00 – see the offers
• Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 53.00 per room – see the offers
• Recommended cards, tickets and tours:science and technology Entrance to the Leonardo da Vinci MuseumMilan Pass: the best of the city in one ticketMilan Cathedral and Terraces: entrance ticket
• Total cost of a week, including flight : from € 640.00 per person

Before leaving: useful tips

• When to visit Milan : although it can be visited all year round, spring and autumn are preferable, to avoid the sometimes very low winter temperatures and the summer heat – find out more
• How to get: it is served by two international airports, Malpensa and Linate, there are bus services to the center (about € 10.00 each way per person). It is easily accessible by train from many other Italian cities. It is also well connected to Bergamo Orio Al Serio Airport.
• Where to sleep: Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Scala area, the most central but also the most expensive. Cheaper alternatives are the Central Station area and the Porta Romana area. If you are looking for nightlife, choose the Navigli district
• How to get around : on foot in the center, to move over longer distances the subway (4 lines The new integrated fare system provides that the fare between two locations is calculated based on the number of zones in which you travel, the minimum fare available for purchase is equal to 3 tariff zones at a cost of € 1.60) – find out more
• Recommended cards and passes : MilanoCard, allows you to travel for free on all urban transport and have free or discounted access to various attractions. 1 day € 11.00, 2 days € 17.00, 3 days € 19.00.