Milan, Italy is a beautiful city that is filled with unique things to do. Its location in the North of Italy makes it easily accessible from other countries, and it’s the perfect place to spend a weekend. In addition to being the fashion capital of Italy, it’s also a wonderful place to sightsee, take in the beautiful architecture and eat amazing food. That’s where this guide comes in! Keep reading for your 2 days in Milan, essential travel itinerary!
2 Days in Milan, Italy
Hotel Recommendations in Milan
Milan is a very walkable city if you’re staying in a central area. Most of the major attractions are in Zone 1, the historic city center – right in the center of Milan. While you don’t necessarily need to stay directly in the old city center, staying close by will allow you to walk to many of the popular neighborhoods and tourist attractions.
There are tons of hotels to choose from, but a few of my favorites include:
- Hotel Mentana (I stayed here and really enjoyed it)
- Hotel Manzoni
- Hotel Spadari Al Duomo
- Palazzo Segreti
Note: Milan is more expensive than other cities in Italy – so hotel prices are, unfortunately, higher too.
Day 1 in Milan
Check Into Your Hotel
Start your day in Milan by arriving on an early train or flight. Then head right to your hotel to check in and drop off your bags!
Have Brunch at Van Bol & Feste
Van Bol & Feste is a famous cafe in Milan that serves up great pastries, sandwiches and gelato! I recommend sitting at one of the tables on the outdoor patio and enjoying a relaxing brunch.
Save room for dessert, as they’re famous for their Van Bol. A delicious cake and ice cream combo!
Go Shopping! Or Window Shopping
Milan is known for its fashion, and there are a wide array of stores to check out. You’ll find everything from high end designers to affordable chains like H&M and Primark.
For more affordable stores, check out Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. This street has all of the major stores like H&M, Zara and Stradivarius.
For upscale shopping, or window shopping, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a glass covered shopping area that houses some of the most high end stores – such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada.
Visit the Duomo and Rooftop
After a fun few hours shopping, drop your purchases off at your hotel and head over to the stunning Duomo.
You need to buy timed tickets in advance for entry, so click here to reserve yours.
Be sure to also get the rooftop tour option! The views are stunning and this was my absolute favorite part of my trip to Milan.
You can either take the stairs or pay a little extra to take the elevator up. I took the stairs both ways in the middle of July and it was hot, but totally doable.
Admire the Duomo from a Rooftop Bar
After visiting the Duomo and taking in the views from the rooftop, head over to one of the two rooftop bars next door: Terrazza Aperol or Terrazza Duomo 21.
Both of these bars offer beautiful views of the Duomo without the crowds. I recommend visiting at sunset for the best views. Just make sure to make a reservation for Terrazza Duomo 21 in advance, or get to Terrazza Aperol early, these bars get very busy and tables fill up fast. Terrazza Aperol does not take reservations.
I recommend having just one drink at either of these bars. Drinks are on the pricey side, 20€ each, but they do come with snacks and it’s worth it for the views! You can also take some pretty incredible photos of the Duomo from these rooftop bars.
Enjoy a Pasta Dinner
When in Italy eat pasta, right? There are so many delicious restaurants all over Milan where you can enjoy delicious pasta.
If you’re looking for a casual, affordable spot check out Miscusi. Since you’ll be in Zone 1, you can visit either the Colonne or Cadorna location, whichever is closer to your hotel. I really enjoyed my dinner at Miscusi, and it was the perfect relaxed dinner for the first night in Milan.
If you don’t mind walking a little extra (20 minutes), and are looking for delicious typical Milan dishes, definitely consider checking out Amici Miei. They serve delicious cotoletta alla milanese (veal milanese,) which is definitely a must try traditional dish when in Milan.
Enjoy a Gelato
For me, a day in Italy isn’t complete without a gelato! One of my favorites, AiVoglia, is right near Miscusi Colonne, so it’s a great post dinner stop!
Day 2 in Milan
Have Brunch at Bar Luce
Bar Luce is located a bit outside of the city center, at the Fondazione Prada. This 1950s style cafe was designed by Wes Anderson, and it is so lovely to visit. In addition to the beautiful decor, the food is good too!
If you don’t make a reservation (which I can’t figure out how to do online,) you may have to wait a little bit for a seat, but it’s definitely worth it. The little sandwiches, coffees and cakes were all very good. If you want to ensure you have a table, give them a call at +39 02 5681 4858.
One thing to note is that there are a lot of negative reviews about the service at Bar Luce. While I didn’t think the service was extraordinary, I also didn’t think it was that bad. I still 100% recommend going.
After brunch, you can also check out the art and culture exhibits at Fondazione Prada, if that’s something you’re interested in!
Take a Tour
For your last afternoon in Milan, I recommend taking a tour or partaking in a unique experience or activity.
There are tons of options to choose from, varying from art and culture tours, to food tours to history tours.
Some of my top recommendations include:
- Essential Milan Tour Including Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’
- A great way to learn more about the culture sights in Milan, and to see the famous The Last Supper painting!
- Street Food Walking Tour
- For those who are interested in Milan’s culinary scene.
- La Scala Theatre and Museum Guided Experience
- For those interested in learning more about the history and importance of this famous Opera House.
Explore the Navigli Neighborhood
Navigli is a neighborhood in Milan known for its canals! It’s easily walkable from the city center (30 minutes), or you can take the Line 2 tram and arrive in around 20 minutes.
It’s fun to walk around the neighborhood and admire the canals. You can even get to-go drinks from different stands in the area, and enjoy them by the canals.
Have Dinner at Sabbia D’Oro
The Navigli neighborhood is known for its wide assortment of bars and restaurants. While there are a ton to choose from, I recommend checking out Sabbia D’Oro! This restaurant came highly recommended and is popular with both locals and tourists.
It’s a little off of the main canal, making it less packed than many other restaurants nearby. The decor is cozy and inviting and the food was all really good!
If you don’t mind walking a little outside of Navigli center, consider checking out Osteria Conchetta. Osteria Conchetta is less than a 10 minute walk from the central canal area, and is definitely worth it! They’re well known for their traditional Milanese dishes, including their risotto served inside a parmesan cheese wheel. What could be better?!
In addition to Sabbia D’Oro and Osteria Conchetta, Le Striatelle di Nonna Mafalda also comes highly recommended! It’s conveniently located right in Navigli.
Gelato Time!
In addition to its wonderful selection of restaurants, Navigli also boasts some awesome gelato shops.
I recommend checking out Gelateria Latteneve, it’s some of the best gelato I’ve ever had! It’s also just 2 minutes walking from Sabbia D’Oro, so it’s the perfect post-dinner spot.
Optional: See a Show at La Scala Theatre
La Scala opened in 1778 and is one of the world’s most famous opera houses. While it is possible to take a tour of La Scala without seeing a show, attending a performance is sure to be a spectacular experience.
Tickets vary in price, but it’s possible to see a performance for as little as 10€.
Keep in mind that shows often start at 8pm, so you’ll need to have a very early, or relatively late, dinner.
Click here for the performance calendar and to book tickets.
And just like that, 2 days in Milan! I hope you found this Milan travel guide to be helpful. If you have any questions, or any recommendations for how to spend 2 days in Milan, let me know in the comments.
Lastly, I appreciate you sharing this post on social media and with someone you know who would love a trip to the beautiful city of Milan, Italy!
F&Q – Things to know when visiting Milan, Italy:
- Is Milan a walkable city?
- Milan is a very walkable city! Especially in the city center. There is also a great tram system for longer distances.
- Is 2 days in Milan enough?
- 2 days in Milan is a good amount of time to see many of the main tourist attractions and sites! However, it’s a wonderful city and you’ll likely find yourself wanting to visit again.
- Is it expensive to go to Milan?
- Milan is the most expensive city in Italy. Hotel, taxis and food/drinks tend to be more expensive than other major Italian cities.
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♡Kate
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I just spent a day in Milan with the opportunity to view The Last Supper painting. By the time we were finished, it was too late to tour the Duomo and go up on top. Next time!
Looks like a fun time, especially the gelato! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent post, Kate. I love Milan. I have been there a few times. Definitely agree with exploring Duomo’s rooftop. They also have an amazing archaeological site beneath the Duomo. Well worth the time when there. The La Scala is a real treat. I watched two operas there and was so impressed.
I love the efficiency of this post..and all the yummy food! thanks for the recommendations.
All cities in Italy look incredible, but that duomo…WOW! I’ll definitely need to make a stop in Milan to see that.
Oooh it looks like you had SUCH a good trip! All the food looks incredible and wooowza for the Duomo and Rooftop views! I have never been to Milan, but I think I would looove it.