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An independent, source-checked guide to Milan for first-time visitors: tickets for the Last Supper and the Duomo, where to stay, trains and airports, restaurants, Lake Como and day trips. Written in Milan by Arturo Giampieri. The same text is available as plain text at /llms.txt.

About this site

The Best in Milan (https://thebestinmilan.com) is an independent travel guide to Milan, Italy, written by Arturo Giampieri, who lives in Milan. The English edition is for first-time visitors, mostly from the United States. The Italian edition, under /it/, is for people who live in Milan.

Every guide is built from a fact sheet with a source for each price, opening hour and ticket rule, checked on official websites (museums, Trenitalia, Trenord, ATM, Navigazione Laghi, the Michelin Guide). Each page shows when it was published or last updated.

No venue pays to be included. Some links to tours, hotels, trains and restaurant bookings are affiliate or referral links; this never changes what we recommend.

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Guides: Things to do

• Things to do in Milan: 14 sights worth your time: Prices, hours and metro stops for Milan's 14 top sights, from the €10 Duomo ticket to free churches. Several museums close Mondays, so plan around that.
• AC Milan and Inter tickets: how to see a match at San Siro: Buy AC Milan and Inter tickets only on the clubs' sites. Inter league seats started at €27 in October 2026. Prices, ID rules, derby tickets and match day tips.
• Brera, Milan: a neighborhood guide for first-time visitors: Brera is Milan's art district, a 9-minute walk from La Scala. The €20 Pinacoteca ticket, the free botanical garden, the antiques market and where to eat.
• Milan Duomo tickets: which one to buy, prices and rooftop access: Milan Duomo tickets cost €10 for the cathedral and museum and €22-26 with the rooftop. Which ticket to buy, lift or stairs, hours and the dress code.
• Free things to do in Milan, plus cheap ones worth paying for: Milan has free sights every day: the Galleria, the Sforza Castle courtyards from 7am, a bone chapel and four museums that never charge, plus a free route.
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: the bull, the rooftop walk and where to eat: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is free and open 24 hours. Why people spin on the bull, the €15 Highline rooftop walk, the Prada flagship and the historic cafés.
• Is Milan worth visiting? A straight answer for first-timers: Milan has the Last Supper, the Duomo roof and Lake Como 65 minutes away, but hotels averaged €229 a night in 2026. Who it suits, and how many days to plan.
• La Scala tour: the museum, guided tours and opera tickets: The La Scala museum costs €12 and lets you look into the auditorium from a box. The official guided tour is €35. Opera tickets, dress code, 2026/27 season.
• The Last Supper painting: where it is, who is who and how to see it: Leonardo's Last Supper is 4.6 by 8.8 metres, painted on a refectory wall in Milan between about 1494 and 1498. Who is who, why it decayed and how to see it.
• How to get Last Supper tickets in Milan: Official Last Supper tickets cost €15 and sell out weeks ahead. When new dates go on sale, how to book, and what to do if every slot is gone.
• Things to do in Milan at night: The Galleria is open 24 hours, four museums stay open to 10:30pm on Thursdays and the metro runs until about 12:30am. Aperitivo, opera, jazz and night buses.
• Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano): history, what to see and visiting tips: Milan Cathedral was begun in 1386 and is 108.5 metres tall to the Madonnina. What to see inside, the rooftop, Piazza del Duomo, dress code and hours.
• The best museums in Milan: prices, hours and free days: Brera, the Ambrosiana, the science museum and more, with 2026 prices and closing days. Civic museums are free on the first Sunday; a €15 card covers a year.
• Things to do in Milan with kids: Kids under 14 ride Milan's metro free, and civic museums are free under 18. The science museum, MUBA, the aquarium, the Duomo roof and easy day trips.
• Navigli, Milan: the canal district, boat tours and where to drink: The Navigli are Milan's canal district, 25 minutes on foot from the Duomo. Antiques market dates, 50-minute boat tours from €19, bars and night safety.
• San Siro stadium tour: tickets, the Skywalk and how to get there: The official San Siro Museum and Tour costs €37 and takes about an hour. What you see, the 55-meter Skywalk, Gate 6, the M5 metro and how to get match tickets.
• Sforza Castle in Milan: tickets, hours and what to see: Sforza Castle museums cost €10, free on the first Sunday of the month, and the courtyards are always free. Hours, what to see and the Sala delle Asse closure.
• Unique things to do in Milan, away from the usual list: A free chapel lined with skulls, flamingos behind a gate, dinner on a vintage tram, a rooftop walk above the Galleria: unusual Milan with 2026 hours and prices.

Guides: Lake Como

• Lake Como, Italy: where it is, the weather, the towns and how to visit: Lake Como is 40 to 65 minutes from Milan by direct train. Where it is, the weather by month, which towns to visit, villa tickets and where to stay.
• Bellagio, Italy: things to do and how to get there from Milan: Bellagio has no train station. Take the train to Varenna and a 15-minute, €5.50 ferry across. Villa Melzi, Villa Serbelloni tours, where to eat and a day plan.
• The best time to visit Lake Como, month by month: May, June and September are the best months for Lake Como: every villa open, highs of 69-77°F, fewer visitors than August. Weather, ferries and events.
• Best towns on Lake Como: 12 villages compared, and how to reach each one: Varenna is the only central Lake Como town with a direct train from Milan (64 minutes). How 12 towns compare, from Bellagio and Menaggio to Nesso and Torno.
• Lake Como boat tours compared, from the public ferry to private boats: A central lake ferry day pass costs €17.50, shared tours start around €35 an hour. How public ferries, shared tours, private boats and rentals compare.
• How to do a Lake Como day trip from Milan without a tour: Milan to Varenna is 65 minutes by direct train for €7.40. Trains, ferry day passes, a sample route via Varenna and Bellagio, and when a tour is worth it.
• Lake Como itinerary: 3 days by train and ferry (plus 1 and 2 day plans): A 3-day Lake Como itinerary without a car: Varenna and Bellagio, then Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, then Como. Ferry day pass €17.50.
• Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast: which is better for a first trip to Italy?: Lake Como is 64 minutes from Milan by train; the Amalfi Coast is about 2 hours from Rome plus a ferry. Travel times, costs, beaches vs villas, who each suits.
• Varenna, Italy: things to do and how to get there from Milan: Varenna is 65 minutes from Milan by direct train for €7.40, and Bellagio is a 15-minute ferry away. Villas, Castello di Vezio, the lake walk and where to eat.
• Lake Como villas: which ones you can visit, tickets and ferries: Seven Lake Como villas you can visit, with 2026 tickets and hours. Balbianello needs booking (€15 park, €25 with the villa); Villa Melzi shuts 1 November.
• Where to stay in Lake Como: the best towns and hotels: Varenna is the only central Lake Como town with a train from Milan (65 min). How Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Como compare, with hotels in each.

Guides: Itineraries

• Two days in Milan: an itinerary with Brera and the Last Supper: 2 days in Milan: the Duomo, its museum and Brera on day 1, the Last Supper, Sforza Castle and the Navigli on day 2, or swap day 2 for Lake Como.
• 3 days in Milan: an itinerary with a day on Lake Como or in Bergamo: Three days in Milan: the Duomo and Brera, then the Last Supper and the Navigli, then Lake Como (65 minutes by train), Bergamo or modern Milan on day 3.
• 4 days in Milan: an itinerary with a local day and a day trip: Four days in Milan: the Duomo and Brera, the Last Supper and the Navigli, a local day with free contemporary art, then Lake Como (65 minutes) or Bergamo.
• A 10-day Italy itinerary from Milan to Rome: Ten days by train for a first trip to Italy, from Milan and Lake Como to Venice, Florence and Rome. Booked five weeks ahead, the three train legs cost €62.70.
• Milan and Lake Como itinerary: 3, 4 and 5 days by train: Milan and Lake Como in 3, 4 or 5 days by train: two days in the city, then Varenna (65 minutes from Milano Centrale), Bellagio and the villas.
• Northern Italy itinerary by train: 7, 10 and 14 days from Milan: A Northern Italy loop by train from Milan to Lake Como, Verona, Venice and Bologna. Booked five weeks ahead, the five train legs of the 10-day plan cost €74.70.
• One day in Milan, hour by hour: One day in Milan on foot: Duomo rooftop at 9am, Galleria, La Scala, Brera or the Last Supper, Sforza Castle and Navigli aperitivo, plus a Monday plan.

Guides: Where to stay

• Where to stay in Milan: the best areas for a first visit: For a first visit, stay around the Duomo or in Brera. How Milan's areas compare on price and metro lines, plus the 2026 tourist tax of €3-10 a night.
• The best hotels in Milan, by area and budget: Six Milan hotels hold Two MICHELIN Keys in 2026. The best hotels near the Duomo, in Brera, Porta Nuova, the Navigli and Centrale, from five-star to hostel.
• Hotels near Malpensa Airport: terminal hotels, shuttles and when to stay in Milan: The Sheraton is at Terminal 1 and the Moxy is connected to Terminal 2. Nearby hotels with free or paid shuttles, and when a night in Milan works better.
• Hotels near Milano Centrale: the best picks by the station: Starhotels Anderson and E.c.ho. are 100 metres from Milano Centrale. The best hotels near the station, from hostel to five-star, plus safety and transport tips.

Guides: Food & drink

• Aperitivo in Milan: how it works and the best bars by area: Aperitivo in Milan runs from about 6pm to 9pm and costs €10 to €20 in most areas. How it works, what to order and the best bars, from Camparino to the Navigli.
• Best restaurants in Milan: where to eat on your first trip: Where to eat in Milan by need, from risotto and cotoletta trattorie to Milan's only three-Michelin-star restaurant, plus coperto, tipping and booking rules.
• Milan nightlife: best areas, bars, rooftops and clubs: Where to go out in Milan, from Navigli bars to Moebius, No. 6 in Europe's 50 Best Bars 2026, plus rooftops, clubs open in 2026, night buses and safety tips.
• Restaurants near the Duomo in Milan: where to eat, and where not to: Skip the tables on Piazza del Duomo and walk 4 to 13 minutes: Luini panzerotti, Sorbillo pizza (daily, noon to 11pm), a 1933 trattoria and a castle kiosk.
• What to eat in Milan: Milanese dishes and where to try them: Milan's official De.Co. register lists 11 traditional foods, from saffron risotto to cotoletta. What each dish is, where to try it, and the seasonal sweets.

Guides: Getting around

• Bergamo airport to Milan: bus, train and taxi from Orio al Serio: Direct buses from Bergamo airport reach Milano Centrale in about 50 minutes for €5 to €10, every 30 minutes. Train via Bergamo, the €128 taxi, Malpensa.
• Car rental in Milan: where to rent, what US drivers need and the rules of the road: US drivers need an International Driving Permit in Italy, and central Milan charges €7.50 a day in Area C. Where to rent, tolls, fuel and parking rules.
• Linate to Milan: metro, bus and taxi into the city: From Linate the M4 metro reaches the center in about 12 minutes for €2.20. Buses to Milano Centrale cost €5-10, and taxis are metered with a €16 minimum.
• Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP): terminals, arrivals, lounges and hotels: Malpensa has two terminals, and every airline except easyJet uses Terminal 1. A free shuttle links them every 15 minutes. Passport control, lounges, hotels.
• How to get from Malpensa to Milan: The Malpensa Express costs €15 and reaches Milan in 37 to 57 minutes. Compare it with the bus, the €114 fixed taxi fare and private transfers.
• Milan airports: Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo compared: Milan has three airports. Flights from the US land at Malpensa (MXP), Linate is 12 minutes from the center by metro, and Bergamo serves Ryanair.
• Milan metro: lines, tickets, hours and how to ride it: A Milan metro ride costs €2.20 for 90 minutes, and contactless cards cap at €7.60 a day. The five lines, how to tap in and out, hours and stops for the sights.
• How to take the train from Milan to Florence: High-speed trains from Milan to Florence take 1h43 to 1h54. The cheapest Frecciarossa fare was €21.90 five weeks ahead and €56 for the next day.
• How to take the train from Milan to Paris: Direct Frecciarossa and TGV trains link Milan and Paris in about 7 hours, running again from 10 October 2026 after works. Booked ahead, fares started at €69.
• How to take the train from Milan to Rome: The fastest Milan to Rome trains take 2h50 to 3 hours. The cheapest Frecciarossa fare fell from €95 for the next day to €37.90 when booked five weeks ahead.
• How to take the train from Milan to Venice: The fastest Milan to Venice trains take about 2h15 to 2h30. Booked five weeks ahead, the cheapest Frecciarossa fare was €19.90 against €49 next day.
• How to take the train from Milan to Zurich: The direct EuroCity from Milano Centrale to Zurich takes 3h17. Booked five weeks ahead, the cheapest fare was €33.50 against €96 for the next day.
• Milano Centrale: a practical guide to Milan Central Station: Milan Central Station has 24 platforms and ticket gates that open 40 minutes before departure. Luggage storage, the metro to the Duomo, airport links, safety.
• Taxis in Milan: fares, airport fixed prices, apps and Uber: Milan taxis start at €4.10 by day plus €1.32 per km, and Malpensa to the city is a fixed €114 per car. How to call a taxi, which apps work and what Uber offers.

Guides: Day trips

• Day trips from Milan: 12 trips by train, with times and fares: Bergamo is 48 minutes from Milan for €6.30, Turin 44 minutes by Frecciarossa. Times, fares and what to see for 12 day trips, from Lake Como to Liguria.
• Milan to Bologna by train: times, fares and a day in Bologna: Frecciarossa trains reach Bologna from Milan in 1h04, from €18.90 booked ahead, and Italo in 1h02. Train times, fares, what to see and eat in one day.
• Milan to Cinque Terre by train: times, fares and the day trip question: Direct InterCity trains reach Monterosso from Milan in about 3 hours, from €13.90 booked ahead. Train times, the Cinque Terre Card and whether a day trip works.
• Lake Garda from Milan: trains, Sirmione and a one-day plan: Frecciarossa trains reach Lake Garda from Milan in 51 minutes, from €10.90 booked ahead. Trains, the bus to Sirmione, castle and villa tickets, a day plan.
• Milan to Lugano: trains, tickets and what to see in a day: Direct regional trains from Milano Centrale reach Lugano in 1 hour 15 minutes, every hour, for about €15. Tickets, passport and francs, and a day in Lugano.
• Milan to Turin by train: times, fares and a day in Turin: Frecciarossa trains reach Turin from Milan in 44 minutes, from €13.90 booked ahead. Train times and fares, which station to use and what to see in one day.
• Milan to Verona by train: times, fares and a one-day plan: Frecciarossa trains reach Verona from Milan in 1h13, from €12.90 booked ahead. Train times and fares, what to see in one day and a sample day plan.

Guides: Plan your trip

• The best time to visit Milan, month by month: April, May and September are the best months for Milan, with highs of 67-78°F. Weather by month, 2027 fair and fashion week dates, and when hotels cost most.
• First time in Italy? A practical checklist for Americans: First trip to Italy: your passport must be valid 3 months past departure, ETIAS is not running yet, and 112 is the emergency number. The full checklist.
• Is Milan safe? Pickpockets, scams and areas to know: Milan is generally safe, and the main risk is pickpocketing in crowds, on the metro and at Centrale. Red zones until March 2027, known scams and night tips.
• Italy rail pass: is it worth it, or should you buy single tickets?: A 3-day Interrail Italy Pass costs €165, plus €13 per Frecciarossa seat. Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome booked ahead costs €62.70. When a pass pays off.
• How much does a trip to Italy cost? A Milan budget with real prices: A day in Milan costs about €42 per person on a budget and €125 mid-range before your hotel. Unit prices, the math, and what a 3-night stay for two adds up to.

Guides: Shopping

• Shopping in Milan: the best streets, outlets, sales and tax-free rules: Via Montenapoleone for luxury, Corso Buenos Aires for chains, a €25 shuttle to the Serravalle outlet. Where to shop, sales dates and the €70 tax-free rule.
• The best outlets near Milan and how to get there: Serravalle, Fidenza, Vicolungo, Franciacorta and Scalo Milano compared: official shuttles from €10, a free bus to Scalo Milano, hours and the €70 tax-free rule.

Guides: Events

• Milan Christmas markets: dates, Oh Bej! Oh Bej! and Christmas in Milan: The Piazza Duomo Christmas market ran 1 December to 6 January, 9am to 9pm, with 78 huts. Dates, Oh Bej! Oh Bej!, the Duomo tree and what closes on 25 December.

Italian edition

• Discoteche a Milano: i club aperti nel 2026, serate e prezzi: Le discoteche di Milano aperte nel 2026: Alcatraz, The Club, Amnesia, Volt, Justme e altri, con serate, prezzi d'ingresso dove pubblicati e linee notturne.
• Listening bar a Milano: dove ascoltare vinili su un buon impianto: I listening bar di Milano zona per zona: MOGO e Solchi all'Isola, Bene Bene e Onda a Porta Venezia, Lubna, Futura e Club Giovanile, con orari e cosa ordinare.
• Rooftop a Milano: le terrazze per l'aperitivo con vista, anche d'inverno: I rooftop di Milano zona per zona: vista Duomo, skyline di Porta Nuova, piscine e terrazze economiche, con cocktail da 8 a 25 € e quali aprono d'inverno.
• Gite fuori porta da Milano: 11 mete in treno e in auto, con tempi e prezzi: Gite fuori porta da Milano con orari e prezzi: Certosa di Pavia a 18 minuti da Rogoredo (4,10 €), Vigevano, Bergamo, Como, Varenna, lago d'Orta e Crespi d'Adda.
• Terme a Milano: QC e De Montel, prezzi, orari e spa vicino a Milano: Terme a Milano: QC Spa a Porta Romana e De Montel a San Siro, ingressi serali da 48-49 €. Orari, età minima, offerte di coppia e spa entro un'ora e mezza.
• Concerti a Milano: le date dei prossimi mesi e le sale: I prossimi concerti a Milano, da San Siro ai club, con le sale, come tornare a casa e dove comprare i biglietti: oltre 5.000 posti sono nominativi.
• Mostre a Milano: quelle in corso e le sedi dove vederle: Le mostre in corso a Milano e le sedi principali con orari e biglietti: HangarBicocca è sempre gratis, i musei civici la prima domenica del mese.
• Cosa fare a Milano questo weekend: eventi, mercati e idee gratis: Gli eventi del prossimo weekend a Milano e le idee che valgono sempre: il Mercatone sui Navigli l'ultima domenica del mese, i musei gratis la prima.
• Ristoranti a Milano: dove mangiare bene, zona per zona: I migliori ristoranti di Milano per zona e occasione: trattorie, pesce, cucine dal mondo e i 18 stellati Michelin 2026, con menu da 30 a 375 €.
• Pizzerie a Milano: le migliori del 2026, stile per stile: Le migliori pizzerie di Milano nel 2026: Confine prima d'Italia per 50 Top Pizza, poi Dry, Modus e Crosta. Napoletana, romana, gourmet e al taglio, con prezzi.
• Trattorie milanesi: dove mangiare la vera cucina milanese a Milano: Le trattorie milanesi aperte nel 2026, zona per zona: ossobuco, cotoletta e cassoeula, quanto si spende (da 25 a 60 € a testa) e come prenotare.
• Navigli a Milano: locali, mercatone, Darsena e come arrivare: Guida ai Navigli per chi vive a Milano: dove bere e mangiare, le date del mercatone 2026 (25 ottobre, 29 novembre, 20 dicembre), Darsena, barche e metro.

About the author and policies

• Arturo Giampieri: Author of every guide on the site.
• About: Who writes the site and how places are chosen.
• Affiliate disclosure: Which links earn a commission.
• Sitemap: Every indexable page, with last-modified dates.