Quick answer
Start at the Duomo at 9am and go up to the rooftop, walk through the Galleria to La Scala, then spend the early afternoon at the Pinacoteca di Brera and Sforza Castle. End with aperitivo on the Navigli canals from about 6pm. If you have a Last Supper ticket, swap Brera for your time slot.
Opening hours, closing days and ticket prices below were checked on each official site on 5 October 2026. The times in the plan are suggestions: only the Last Supper, and your timed Duomo and Brera tickets, fix the clock.
What to do in Milan in one day: the plan at a glance
Everything in this plan is within walking distance of the Duomo except the Navigli, which are a 25-minute walk or a short metro ride away. Walking times come from OpenStreetMap routing and are rounded.
| Time | Stop | Ticket | Walk to next stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 to 11:00 | Duomo and rooftop terraces | €22 stairs / €26 lift, timed | 7 min through the Galleria |
| 11:00 to 11:15 | Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II | Free | arrives at Piazza della Scala |
| 11:15 to 12:15 | La Scala museum | €12 | 9 min |
| 12:15 to 13:45 | Pinacoteca di Brera | €20, timed booking required | lunch in Brera |
| 15:00 to 16:30 | Sforza Castle | Courtyards free, museums €10 | 28 min, or metro M2 |
| 18:00 onward | Navigli aperitivo | Pay per drink |
9am: Duomo and the rooftop
Be at the Duomo for the 9am opening with a timed ticket from the official shop, ticket.duomomilano.it. Since April 2025 online tickets have no booking fees.
For one day, buy Duomo and Terraces: the cathedral plus the rooftop, €22 by stairs (251 steps) or €26 by lift. The lift only reaches the first terrace level, so you climb the last stretch and walk down either way. The official guide is at least 120 minutes for this ticket, which is why it gets the whole morning.
Cover your shoulders and legs, and leave big bags at the hotel: luggage is not allowed in, and everyone goes through a security check. Our Duomo tickets guide compares every ticket, including the Fast-Track options at €28 and €32.
If you would rather go with a guide, guided Duomo tours with rooftop access are sold on GetYourGuide. The official shop is cheaper if you only need entry.
11am: Galleria and La Scala
Leave the square on the north side through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the glass-roofed arcade that connects Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Scala. It is free to walk through, and the walk to the far end takes about 7 minutes.
On Piazza della Scala, the Museo Teatrale alla Scala is open every day from 9:30am to 5:30pm (last entry 5pm) and costs €12. Besides the collection, you can look into the opera house auditorium from the third-tier boxes, but only when there are no rehearsals, performances or events. Nothing guarantees that view on the day you go.
Midday: Brera or the Last Supper
This is where you choose. Both are timed, both are closed on Mondays, and there is not enough time for both and the castle.
Option A: Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera is a 9-minute walk north of La Scala, at Via Brera 28. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30am to 7:15pm, with last entry at 6pm. The full “Grande Brera” ticket costs €20 and you must book a date and time on the museum’s Brera Booking system or through its call center. The ticket also covers Palazzo Citterio the same day and for the following six days.
Have lunch in the Brera streets afterwards, then walk 11 minutes to Sforza Castle.
Option B: the Last Supper
Only take this option if you already hold a ticket. Every visitor needs a booking for a fixed time slot, the visit lasts 15 minutes, and you have to be at the ticket office 30 minutes before your slot or you lose your entry. Official tickets cost €15 and are on sale until 31 December 2026.
Because the slot sets your day, build around it. The Last Supper is a 16-minute walk from Sforza Castle and a 27-minute walk from the Darsena on the Navigli, so it fits well between the castle and aperitivo. A mid-afternoon slot works with this order: Duomo, Galleria, La Scala, lunch, castle, Last Supper, Navigli.
If official tickets are gone, our Last Supper tickets guide explains the Wednesday noon release and how to pick a tour that includes entry.
3pm: Sforza Castle
The castle courtyards are free and open every day from 7am to 7:30pm, so you can walk through at any point. The castle museums cost €10 and are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5:30pm, but the ticket office closes at 4:30pm and that is also the last entry to each section. Arrive by 3pm if you want time inside.
One ticket covers all the castle museums for the day. On Saturdays at 11am there is an English guided tour for €20 including the ticket, with no booking: it suits a slower day better than this one.
6pm: aperitivo on the Navigli
Aperitivo in Milan usually runs from about 6pm to 9pm, and the Navigli canals are the best-known place for it. The Darsena, at the top of the canals, is a 28-minute walk from the castle.
To save your legs, take the green M2 metro to Porta Genova, the Navigli stop. Cadorna and Lanza are the M2 stations closest to the castle. From the Duomo, take the red M1 to Cadorna and change to the M2.
If it’s Monday
On Mondays the Last Supper, the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Sforza Castle museums are all closed. This plan still works on a Monday:
- 9am: Duomo. Since you have more time, add the Duomo Museum (open Monday, closed Wednesday). The €32 Fast-Track Pass covers the cathedral, the museum and the rooftop by a dedicated lift. A cheaper route is the €10 Duomo + Museum ticket plus a €16 rooftop ticket by stairs.
- Late morning: the Galleria and the La Scala museum, which is open every day.
- Afternoon: walk to Sforza Castle (16 minutes from the Duomo) and through its free courtyards.
- 6pm: Navigli aperitivo.
Getting around: which ticket to buy
Most of this day is on foot. You will probably ride the metro once or twice, mainly to reach the Navigli.
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tap a contactless card | €2.20 per ride, capped at €7.60 per day | Most visitors |
| Ordinary ticket in the ATM app | €2.20, valid 90 minutes | A phone without contactless cards |
| Single-day ticket | €7.60 for 24 hours | Four or more rides |
Tapping a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Amex (or Apple Pay or Samsung Pay) at the gates is the simplest route. The system charges the cheapest fare, and from the fourth trip in 24 hours it charges the day fare in place of more single tickets. On the metro, tap in and tap out. Each person needs their own card or phone, because one card pays for one passenger.
ATM’s contactless fare does not cover Trenord trains, so the Malpensa Express needs its own ticket.
Milan on a layover or in 24 hours
If you land with a day between flights, the Malpensa Express takes about 37 minutes from Malpensa Terminal 1 to Milano Cadorna and about 51 minutes to Milano Centrale, and a one-way ticket costs €15. Cadorna is on the red M1 line, the same line as the Duomo station. Our Malpensa to Milan guide has the timetable and the other options.
Two practical limits on a layover: the Duomo does not let you in with luggage, and the morning plan needs a timed Duomo ticket. Store your bags first (the Duomo’s shop points visitors to nearby Radical Storage points) and book the Duomo for a slot that leaves time for the train.
What to skip with one day in Milan
- The Last Supper without a ticket. You cannot buy at the door, and chasing returns eats the day.
- Both Brera and the Last Supper. Pick one and give it proper time.
- The castle museums if you arrive after 4pm. The ticket office closes at 4:30pm. The courtyards are free and open later.
- A day ticket bought in advance. With contactless, the cap does the math for you.
- The Vigna di Leonardo across from the Last Supper. It has been closed to the public since September 2023.
Where to stay for a short visit
If you have one night, staying near the Duomo puts the 9am start a few minutes away. Our where to stay in Milan guide compares the neighborhoods, and you can check hotels near the Duomo on Booking.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day in Milan enough?
It is enough for the Duomo and its rooftop, the Galleria, La Scala, one museum and an evening on the Navigli. You will have to choose between the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Last Supper, and the Last Supper only works if you already hold a ticket.
What should I not miss with one day in Milan?
The Duomo with its rooftop terraces. A cathedral and rooftop ticket costs €22 by stairs or €26 by lift, and the official guide is to allow at least two hours.
Can I see the Last Supper on a day trip to Milan?
Only with a ticket booked in advance for a fixed time slot. Every visitor needs a booking, the visit lasts 15 minutes and you must arrive 30 minutes early. The museum is closed on Mondays.
What is closed in Milan on Monday?
The Last Supper, the Pinacoteca di Brera and the Sforza Castle museums. The Duomo, its rooftop and museum, the La Scala museum and the castle courtyards stay open.
Do I need a metro day pass for one day in Milan?
Usually not, because the center is walkable. A single ride costs €2.20 and contactless taps are capped at the €7.60 day fare from the fourth trip, so you never pay more than a day ticket.
What time is aperitivo in Milan?
Aperitivo usually runs from about 6pm to 9pm. The Navigli canals are the best-known area for it.