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.
It's worth around 2 hours for Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Entry is free. It's known for its ornate architecture, luxury shops, selfie spots, and tasty cafes in a historic shopping area which connects major tourist attractions in the city center.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Milan City Walking Tour Experience ($67)
- Milan Highlights semi-Private Walking Tour ($47)
- Milan Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone ($8)
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:
- Milan Centre Food Tour of 7+ Italian Tastings with Risotto & Wine ($106)
- Small Group Cozy Cooking Class in a Typical Milanese Home. ($107)
- Barolo Wine Tasting, Alba, UNESCO Castle: Small Group from Milan ($227)
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.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for La Scala Opera House (Teatro alla Scala), which is €30. It's great for couples and is known for its opulent architecture and world-famous opera productions.
It's worth around 1 hour for The Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore. Entry is €9, children free. It's known for its stunning architecture with beautiful frescoes and sculptures, providing a glimpse into Milan's artistic and religious legacy.
The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for couples. Known for its Romanesque architecture and as one of Milan's oldest churches, entry is free.
The Porta Nuova District is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for anyone. Known for modern architecture and popular restaurants, entry is free.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Lake Como, Torno & Lugano: Small-Group Tour with Boat Cruise ($167)
- 2 hour Vintage Fiat 500 Central City Tour in Milan ($240)
- Lake Como & Milan in One Day: Milan's Duomo & Lake Como Boat Tour ($179)
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.
It's worth around 2 hours for Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Entry is free. It's known for its ornate architecture, luxury shops, selfie spots, and tasty cafes in a historic shopping area which connects major tourist attractions in the city center.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vintage Shopping Tour in Milan ($70)
- Shopping in Milan with a Fashion Stylist ($156)
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:
- Lake Como, Torno & Lugano: Small-Group Tour with Boat Cruise ($167)
- Milan City Walking Tour Experience ($67)
- Lake Como & Milan in One Day: Milan's Duomo & Lake Como Boat Tour ($179)
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:
- Classical Music Concerts in Milan ($18)
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.
The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano) is worth visiting for around 1 hour, which is great for couples. Known for showcasing the famous painting of Jesus and his disciples, entry is €17.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. It's a nice activity for families and is known for Leonardo da Vinci's inventions and exhibits on science, historic collections, and more. It's €10, children/students €7.50.
You'll want to have around 4 hours for The Museum of Natural History of Milan. It's a nice activity for families and is known for its wide array of family-friendly exhibits on nature and science. It's €5, free for children under 18.
Make sure to set aside around 2 hours for The Sforza Castle Museums, which are €5. It's great for families and couples and are known for showcasing Milan's cultural and artistic heritage within a stunning and historic architectural setting.
You'll want to have around 2 hours for Pinacoteca di Brera. It's a nice activity for everyone and is known for its huge collection of historic artwork. It's €15.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MACRO) is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for anyone. Known for its wide range of contemporary and modern art collections, entry is free.
It's worth around 2 hours for Museo del Novecento. Entry is €5, €3 with reduced admission. It's known for showcases a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations, highlighting the evolution of artistic styles over the past century.
It's worth around 2 hours for The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum. Entry is €12 and children are €2. It's known for its Renaissance art and furniture displayed in an authentic historical home.
Make sure to set aside around 3 hours for Triennale di Milano, which is €25. It's great for any traveler and is known for its rotating exhibits on modern art, architecture, and design.
You'll want to have around 3 hours for Biblioteca Ambrosiana. It's a nice activity for backpackers and is known for its collection of manuscripts, drawings, rare books, and interesting artwork. It's €15, or €20 with a combination ticket for the crypt. Children and those 65+ are free or reduced.
Make sure to set aside around 1 hour for The Columns of San Lorenzo, which are free. It's great for couples and are known for its ancient Roman columns and as a popular gathering spot.
Milan Cathedral is worth visiting for around 2 hours, which is great for couples. Known for being a symbol of Milan with its Gothic architecture, ornate facade, and busy plaza, entry is €16.
It's worth around 2 hours for The Crypt of San Sepolcro. Entry is €9.50 and children are free. It's known for its historic crypts and archeological ruins.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Barolo Wine Tasting, Alba, UNESCO Castle: Small Group from Milan ($227)
- Alfa Romeo Museum, Private Guided Tour, From Milan ($240)
- Sforza Castle and Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini guided experience ($60)
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
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