Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Milan?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Milan?
Many travelers spend one to five days in Milan during their visit. After all, the chic city has plenty to explore such as the historic old town, the big city activities, and the restaurant scene.
Milan is the fashion and design capital of Italy. It has many glamourous shops as well as beautiful art and architecture. The city is also a financial hub for the country. While its often skipped over by tourists for other more popular Italian cities, those who visit will be rewarded with many great experiences.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Milan? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Milan?
Many visitors choose to spend around three days in Milan. This would give you the chance to experience the city's most popular activities and admire the historic sights, enjoy the city's energy, sample the delicious cuisine, and dance the night away. Since many visitors prefer to spend around one to five days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do in the chic city.
How to spend 3 days in Milan
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. Known as the Centro Storic, this area is the most popular with tourists. It's where you'll find the most historic buildings and beautiful sights in the city.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The City Storytelling Experience: Art, History and Myths Come Together ($3)
- Milan: Highlights Walking Tour with Cathedral and Rooftops ($64)
- Milan Food Walking Tour of Brera ($104)
The delicious food of Milan is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. The city has a mix of traditional dishes combined with modernized, trendy restaurants. You can try a new dish by a groundbreaking chef, or sample a long running favorite like risotto alla Milanese.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Delicious! Milan's Favorite Food tour ($86)
- Brescia and Franciacorta winery area. Cultural and wine tasting small group tour ($184)
- Authentic Italian Cooking Class in a Milanese Loft ($93)
Milan is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. In particular, the city center is walkable.
Given that Milan is a large and popular city, give yourself a full day to uncover the diverse neighborhoods, captivating attractions, and engaging activities scattered throughout the area. Be sure to include visits to some of the city's premier landmarks and quintessential neighborhoods, too. The city is known as the financial, fashion, and (arguably) cultural capital of Italy.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Lake Como - Small Group Day Tour from Milan with Boat Cruise ($162)
- Off the Beaten Track in Milan: Private City Tour ($80)
- Lake Como, Bellagio with Private Boat Cruise Included ($108)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city has a huge number of students and young professionals, which make it a fun place with an active nightlife. There are cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and relaxed pubs that you can chose from.
Public transit in Milan is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. Options include metro, bus, tram, and train lines.
Shopping in Milan is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Famous as the fashion capital of Italy, shopping is the thing to do here. There are many streets that are lined with the biggest designers in fashion. Make sure you check out Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Corso Buenos Aires.
A few tour suggestions include:
- From Milan Fidenza Shopping Express The Bicester Collection ($11)
- Shopping in Milan with a Fashion Stylist ($65)
- Serravalle Outlet Luxury Shopping Tour- semiprivate VIP transfer ($97)
Milan is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. There is stunning architecture and beautiful neighborhoods that you can explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Milan: Highlights Walking Tour with Cathedral and Rooftops ($64)
- Milan Food Walking Tour of Brera ($104)
- Milan: Small Group Guided Walking Tour ($27)
Is 4 days enough time in Milan?
With four days at your disposal, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Milan has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind in your hotel or use Milan as a base for day trips to nearby destinations. You can relax while enjoying the historic old town, the big city activities, and the restaurant scene at your own pace. We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.
Piazza del Duomo, Milan
How to spend 4 days in Milan
With 4 days in Milan, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Don't miss Piazza del Duomo during your trip to Milan, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
Live music is very popular in Milan, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. The diversity of music ranges from classical concerts to techno raves. Popular venues include Blue Note Milan, Santeria Social Club, and Spirit de Milan.
A few tour suggestions include:
- La Scala Opera House, Musical Tour - Small Group - Skip-the-Line ($147)
Is 5 days enough time in Milan?
Five days is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Milan, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Enjoy the chance to admire the historic sights, enjoy the city's energy, sample the delicious cuisine, and dance the night away on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Milan as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.
Milan, Italy
How to spend 5 days in Milan
If you have more than 5 days in Milan, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Milan a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city, but other sights include Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca di Brera, and Sant'Ambrogio.
A few tour suggestions include:
- La Scala Theatre and Museum guided experience ($51)
- Small Group Last Supper & Sforza Castle Guided Tour ($92)
- Milan Cultural Treasures: Duomo, La Scala and Sforza Castle Tour ($71)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Milan, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.