Do you have just one day to discover Milan and want to see the most beautiful sights of Milan?
Then you’re in the right place.
We’ll show you how to see the highlights of the capital of Lombardy in 1 day.
The Best Milan 1-Day Itinerary
Are you planning a trip to Milan and have only one day to explore the city on your own?
Milan is one of the best cities in North Italy, offering many attractions for you to explore.
We’ve picked out the best highlights to see in one day.
Included are a map, the optimal walking route, and a timetable for you, so you can download it, save it, and have a relaxed trip while seeing the best of Milan in one day.
Our Top 3 Highlights in Milan
Here are our highlights that you shouldn’t miss if you only spend one day in Milano:
You’ll find more information about these attractions further down.
How To See The Best Of Milan In One Day
Since the Milan attractions are close to each other, you can explore the fashion city on foot.
The walking tour passes by the best things to see in Milan, which are mostly quite close to each other.
Note: If you want to do the walking tour, you should know that it covers about 12 miles (18 kilometers) on foot.
If this is too much for you, you can shorten the distance using the metro, buses, or trams.
Here, we recommend the Milan City Card for public transportation. With it, you can use the city’s public transport.
Alternatively, you can take the Hop-on Hop-off bus.
→ 24-HOUR TICKET FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Milan Itinerary Map
One Day In Milan: Our Suggested Itinerary
| TIME | ATTRACTION | NOTES |
| 9:00-10:30 AM | Milan Cathedral | Ticket for the Cathedral |
| 10:35-11:00 AM | Galleria Vittorio Emanuele | Boutiques and Cafes |
| 11:15 AM-12:00 PM | Quadrilatero della Moda | Fashion District |
| 12:15-1:30 PM | Brera District | Lunch and Cafes |
| 2:00-3:00 PM | Cimitero Monumentale | Insider Tip: Impressive Cemetery |
| 3:15-4:15 PM | Sforza Castle | Historical Attractions |
| 4:30-5:30 PM | Santa Maria delle Grazie | Ticket for The Last Supper (Da Vinci) |
| 6:00-7:00 PM | Naviglio Grande | Boat Trip and Aperitivo |
The one-day walking tour in Milan starts at the city’s landmark:
1. Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano)
The Milan Cathedral, officially known as Duomo di Santa Maria Nascente, is Milan’s landmark. The cathedral is located right in the city center.
This impressive Gothic building was started in the 14th century. It took several centuries to complete the cathedral which is one of the reasons why Milan is one of the most visited cities in Italy.
Today, the Milan Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the world.
Its size, magnificent towers, and color are extremely impressive.
Our highlight of the walking tour through Milan was visiting the church.
We recommend the Milan Cathedral Roof, the interior of the cathedral, and the archaeological area beneath the cathedral square.
For access to the roof terrace, archaeological area, and the cathedral, you need a ticket. We booked the ticket here:
→ TICKET FOR THE MILAN CATHEDRAL
Tip: There are several options for visiting the cathedral, including the roof terrace with an elevator or on foot. (We went on foot via the stone spiral staircase).
If you’ve also booked the roof terrace, you’ll find the entrance to the left of the main entrance.
You walk along the cathedral until you see an entrance. You can also visit only the cathedral.
However, we found the roof terrace very worthwhile.
After visiting Milan Cathedral, the walking tour continues to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Right next to Milan Cathedral and the cathedral square is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
In the covered, cross-shaped passage, boutiques of well-known designers, as well as restaurants and cafes, line up on both sides.
Even if you don’t want to shop here, it’s worth walking through the Galleria and admiring the mosaics on the floor.
It’s also worth looking up to admire the glass dome and the glass roof that give the passage a special flair.
3. Quadrilatero della Moda
The Quadrilatero della Moda is Milan’s fashion district. Here, the luxury labels are located. It’s worth experiencing the ambiance and the shop windows of the designers.
Even if this topic doesn’t interest you, the Quadrilatero della Moda is on the way to the next highlight.
The name of the district comes from the fact that it extends over four streets and forms a square.
These streets are Via Monte Napoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga, and Via Sant’Andrea.
4. Brera District
In the Brera district, there are narrow streets with restaurants, cafes, and small boutiques. It’s worth stopping for a coffee or lunch before continuing your walking tour through Milan.
In the Brera district, you’ll also find the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most important art museums.
From the Brera district, we continue to one of our highlights in the fashion city of Milan:
5. Cimitero Monumentale
The Monumental Cemetery is our insider tip for Milan and impressed us greatly. It’s a huge cemetery.
Here, you’ll find huge sculptures, artistic graves, and crypts. There are also graves as large as houses.
Admission to the Cimitero Monumentale is free. On your visit, you’ll receive a map showing the highlights.
6. Arco della Pace and Sforza Castle
From the Cimitero Monumentale, we continue to the Arco della Pace. The triumphal arch stands at the beginning of Parco Sempione.
Through the Simplon Park, you’ll reach the Castello Sforzesco. The castle was built by the Visconti Dukes.
The imposing fortress dates back to the 15th century. Since then, various rulers have lived here.
The courtyard of Castello Sforzesco is huge. You can stroll through it and, if you’re interested, visit the museum.
→ TICKET FOR THE SFORZA CASTLE MUSEUMS
7. Santa Maria delle Grazie with The Last Supper
From Castello Sforzesco, we continue to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This church is world-famous, as one of the most famous artworks in the world is located in the dining hall of the monastery.
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci can be viewed here. We looked at the mural and were impressed by its size.
Our experience report with information, tips, and the process for visiting The Last Supper in Milan is highly recommended, if you intend to visit the famous painting during your stay in Milan: The Best Way To See The Last Supper In Milan
If you want to view The Last Supper, here you can find tickets for the artwork and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie:
From the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, we continue on foot to the next attraction in Milan:
8. Naviglio Grande
As a perfect end to the day, you can take a boat trip on the Naviglio canal and enjoy a glass of wine or Aperol Spritz to round off a successful day in Milan.
In the Navigli district, you’ll also find numerous restaurants and cafes. So, you don’t have to end the day hungry.
Final Thoughts About Our One Day In Milan Itinerary
Our itinerary helps you to see the best of Milan.
If this day in Milan itinerary feels too overwhelming for you, I would recommend focusing on the city center with the Duomo di Milano, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, The Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church and the Brera district or Naviglio district.
If you ask us, our favorite attraction besides the Duomo di Milano, The Last Supper, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was the Cimitero Monumentale.
No matter what you’re planning to see, we hope you have a great day in Milan.
If you need more information about how to get to Milan, and where to stay in Milan, check out our other travel guides and resources.
Do you want to learn more about Milan? Then feel free to read on here:
Things To Do In Milan
How To See The Last Supper In Milan
Milan In The Rain: Best Activities And Things To Do
Best Things To Do Alone In Milan: Our Solo Traveler’s Guide
How To Visit The Milan Duomo Rooftop Terrace And Cathedral
Best Day Trips From Milan
Milan Itineraries:
Milan 2-Day Itinerary (The Only One You’ll Need)
Milan 3 Day Itinerary
