Author Login

Day Trip to Milan - 7 Places You Must Visit

Planning a day trip to Milan? Here is a list of recommended places to visit in Milan during a short stay and experience about it.

Day Trip to Milan - 7 Places You Must Visit
You can see a lot of Milan in 24 hours, but not everything!

If you're only going to be in Milan for one day, here are some of my recommendations:

1. Duomo di Milano

  • Location: P.za del Duomo, 20122 Milano MI, Italy
  • Famous for: One of Italy's oldest cathedrals - "The Cathedral with a Crown"
  • Estimated time to explore: 1h

The Duomo is the main cathedral of Milan and was built in 1386. It's one of the largest domes in Italy, and with its size it's no surprise that it has been nicknamed "The Cathedral with a Crown." The Duomo is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as being famous for being one of Italy’s oldest cathedrals.

If you're interested in going inside, there is an entrance fee—but it's definitely worth it! You'll be able to see paintings by such Renaissance artists as Giotto di Bondone (who painted scenes from Genesis on the ceiling), Donato Bramante (who designed the dome), Leonardo da Vinci (who created paintings based off ancient Roman frescoes), Raphael Sanzio da Urbino (responsible for many frescos) and Michelangelo Buonarroti (whose statues sit atop the bell towers).

2. Sforza Castle & Piazza Castello Fountain

  • Location: Piazza Castello, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
  • Famous for: Private residence for royalty, a weapons depot, and military barracks used since Roman times
  • Estimated time to explore: 2-3h
Sforzesco Castle & Piazza Castello Fountain

Located in the city center, Sforza Castle is a castle in Milan. It was built by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, to serve as a political and administrative center.

The castle was built on a site that had been used since Roman times. It was later occupied by monks who constructed an abbey and chapel dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie at the end of the 12th century. In 1395 Ludovico Il Moro moved his court here, but after his death it became a state prison under Filippo Maria Visconti until 1447 when Venice took control of the city and further fortified it with walls around the town center.

Interesting Fact:
During this period Leonardo da Vinci designed machines for war using springs (the famous “spring catapult”) which were tested in 1480 but never used because France invaded Lombardy before they could be deployed against them; instead they were sent back home where they remained until recently discovered during restoration work on this very same building!

3. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

  • Location: P.za del Duomo, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
  • Famous for: One of Milan's most important landmarks and Italy's oldest active shopping mall
  • Estimated time to explore: 1-2h
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (crowded)

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is an Italian shopping mall in Milan, Italy. It was designed by the architect Giuseppe Mengoni and built between 1872 and 1877. The construction was funded by the wealthy businessman Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, who used to be King of Piedmont-Sardinia (1861-1878).

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was opened to the public on May 1st, 1877 as a place for leisure activities such as concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions as well as being home to several cafes and restaurants. It's still popular with tourists today but has also become a prime spot for fashion shoots due to its huge arched spaces which can fit hundreds if not thousands of extras at any one time!

my instagram: @didiofederico
www.fdsmilano.it
Photo by Federico Di Dio photography / Unsplash

4. The Last Supper

  • Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie
  • Famous for: Famous painting illustrating the last "dinner" between Jesus and his disciples.
  • Estimated time to explore: 1-2h

The Last Supper is a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It was created in 1495 and hangs in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.

The painting depicts Jesus with his twelve disciples at the Last Supper just before Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion. The main subject of this work is Jesus Christ himself with his back to us as he sits at a long wooden table flanked by his inner circle (or "inner fishbowl" as my friend would call them). On either side are his male disciples wearing blue robes while their female counterparts wear white dresses; both groups have similar facial expressions: staring straight ahead with solemn-looking eyes or open mouths speaking words that are not audible to anyone else but themselves. In total there are 13 figures represented: 11 males (Jesus plus 10) and 2 females (Mary Magdalene plus an unknown figure).

💡
You can reserve your tickets online before visiting so you don't have long lines waiting outside this famous site which attracts about five million visitors each year!

5. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

  • Location: Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 15, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
  • Famous for: A medieval building of historical importance of Lombard Romanesque architecture and one of the oldest churches in Italy
  • Estimated time to explore: 1-2h
Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio (photo by dimitrisvetsikas1969, Pixabay)

Sant'Ambrogio, the most important example of early Christian architecture in Europe, is a 5th-century church in Milan, Italy. The Church was founded by Saint Ambrose on land offered by Emperor Valentinianus II during the construction of the Aurelian Walls. It was consecrated in 397 but completed only under Bishop Maximianus (418–450) after an interruption caused by the invasion of Alaric I and his Visigoths at the beginning of 410.

The basilica's most striking features are its loggia and apse. The former has no less than 36 carved marble columns set against a backdrop that is decorated with mosaics depicting Old Testament scenes as well as pagan images such as Medusa and Pegasus. In contrast to this elaborate exterior, however, Sant'Ambrogio's interior lacks decoration of any kind besides various altarpieces; it is simply decorated with simple columns down either side with plain white walls behind them.

6. Porta Nuova

  • Location: Piazzale Principessa Clotilde, 37, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
  • Famous for: Modern architecture and urban renewal projects
  • Estimated time to explore: 1-2h
0:00
/0:08

Porta Nuova at night, Milan

Porta Nuova is a district in Milan, Italy, known for its modern architecture and urban renewal projects. The area is home to several skyscrapers, including the iconic Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) residential towers, and the Gio Ponti Tower. It also features a variety of shops, restaurants, and public spaces, such as the Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna. The district is considered a symbol of Milan's economic and cultural revitalization, and is a popular destination for both tourists and locals.

7. Porta Ticinese

Photo by Andréa Villiers / Unsplash

You should visit Porta Ticinese, a gate in the city wall of Milan. It was built in 1450 and is a good example of Renaissance architecture. This gate is located on Via San Gregorio, which is also known as “Strada Nuova” (New Street).

Porta Ticinese is considered one of the most important entrances to Milan because it links both directions: north and south. It’s an area with many shops and restaurants where locals meet up with friends or family members during lunch breaks before heading back to work. You can find all kinds of tasty treats here!

Can you visit Milan in a day?

You can see a lot of Milan in 24 hours, but there’s still so much more to explore. To really get a feel for the city and its people, you need at least three days of exploring time. This article only touches on some of my favorite things to do in Milan; there are so many more! I hope that this information will help you plan your next trip (or day trip) to this beautiful city.


That's it for now! Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments or if you would like me to cover one in more detail =).

Want to know what to do on your next trip? Explore our growing blogs in our MapScratched Travel Blogs site and use the filters that we provide to plan your trips faster.

If you want to become an author FOR FREE and share your travel experiences with other adventurers, make sure you fill in our very short travel author form.

Create your travel profile now!

Connect with travellers worldwide and exchange travel experiences

Sign Up

Powered by Ghost