Milan is Italy's fashion and design capital, with a Gothic cathedral, Leonardo's Last Supper, La Scala opera and an aperitivo scene. It is also the gateway to Lake Como and the Alps.
Good to know
- Book The Last Supper weeks in advance; slots sell out.
- August is quiet as locals leave; many restaurants close.
- The center is compact; trams and metro connect everything.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Gothic cathedral with 3,400 statues; walk across the marble roof among spires for city and Alps views.
Glass-domed 19th-century arcade of luxury boutiques, cafes and Prada's flagship.
Italy's most famous opera house, with a museum of costumes and instruments and evening performances.
Artsy cobbled streets with bookshops and a gallery of Italian masters including Caravaggio and Raphael.
Saffron risotto alla milanese and cotoletta in a traditional trattoria, a classic Milan dinner.
Renaissance fortress with museums holding Michelangelo's last work, next to a large green park.
Italian design icons from Vespa to Alessi kettles, in a Futurist-era building.
Leonardo da Vinci's mural in a convent refectory; entry is by timed 15-minute slot.
Historic canals lined with bars, where aperitivo buffets come free with drinks.
Streets of designer boutiques around Via Montenapoleone; window shopping is free and good for people-watching.
Train to the lake for ferries to Bellagio and Varenna, about an hour away.