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19 Things to See in Milan

It is often unfairly said that Milan doesn't have too many tourist attractions to visit and that the city lacks interesting places to see. This couldn't be further from the truth. Milan boasts plenty of museums, churches, and famous monuments that are tied to the history of art, music, and football. We hope you'll reach the same conclusion as we did: a city break of just a few days won't be enough to explore all the fascinating places you can visit, and you'll want to return for another trip. Especially since the surroundings of Milan are also full of beautiful things to see!

Below, you'll find a list of the most important attractions in Milan (you shouldn't miss the top ones). You will notice that many of them are concentrated in the city center, which means you can easily walk from one to another. For those farther away, you can use Milan's metro, which works very efficiently.

There is also an official tourist pass called the Yes Milano City Pass, issued by the city's tourist information center. It includes various discounts and offers access to several attractions, but it’s always a good idea to check beforehand if it’s worthwhile for you.

1. Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo, one of the largest squares in Italy, is the first place you should visit. The square and its surroundings host the most important tourist attractions in Milan. The square is bustling all the time with tourists and locals out for a stroll - from young people meeting at the statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II to tourists taking selfies in front of the Duomo. Along the square's perimeter, you'll find numerous bars, cafés, and restaurants, and many of Milan's public transport lines have stops here.

2. The Milan Cathedral

The impressive Milan's Duomo, located in the middle of the square, is one of the largest churches in the world. If you were to choose just one paid tourist attraction, make it this one, and make sure you don't miss the experience of climbing onto its rooftops. Construction of the Cathedral began in the 14th century and continued for more than 500 years. Its architecture is spectacular, showcasing numerous Gothic spires and statues of both old and modern figures (see if you can spot the statues of the four boxers on the roof). The interior of the cathedral is equally stunning: massive marble columns, colorful stained-glass windows, and breathtaking spaces. Don't miss the statue of Saint Bartholomew carrying his own skin over his shoulders (according to tradition, the saint was flayed alive).

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

3. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is another important tourist attraction in Milan. The main entrance is to the left of the Duomo entrance (you can recognize it by its triumphal arch shape). Built in the second half of the 19th century, the gallery was one of the first shopping centers in Europe. It is an elegant structure, covered with an iron and glass dome and decorated with statues and mosaics. Inside, you'll find historic cafés and bars as well as luxury shops. Here, you'll also find the famous mosaic of the bull (which actually represents the coat of arms of the city of Turin). A superstition says that it brings good luck if you spin three times counterclockwise on your right heel over the bull's private parts. For another spectacular experience from above, you can take the Highline Galleria route, reaching the top and walking on the roof of the passage.

4. "The Last Supper"

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" is one of the most famous paintings in the world and you can see it in Milan, hosted by the refectory (former dining hall) of the Santa Maria delle Grazie Monastery. It attracts so many tourists eager to see it that it can be quite difficult to find tickets unless you book well in advance. Due to the special preservation conditions required for the painting, which is extremely fragile, only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside the museum at the same time.

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your booking on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

5. Santa Maria delle Grazie Church

Don't miss a visit to the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church. Together with the painting "The Last Supper", this is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Milan. The church dates back to the 15th century and features a stunning interior decorated with frescoes and paintings. The "Tribune" (the area near the altar), built by Bramante, is considered one of the most important Renaissance architectural achievements in northern Italy. For its design, the Umbrian architect drew inspiration from the Old Sacristy, built by Brunelleschi for the San Lorenzo Church in Florence.

Like the other churches (except the Duomo), the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the sights in Milan that can be visited for free.

6. Sforza Castle

Castello Sforzesco is another tourist attraction you shouldn't miss in Milan. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and the former residence of the Sforza dukes. Today, it houses the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Sala delle Asse (Leonardo da Vinci), the Armory, the Pietà Rondanini Museum (Michelangelo), the Museum of Furniture and Wooden Sculptures, the Pinacoteca, the Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Museum of Decorative Arts. Even if you don't visit the museums, make sure to at least see the castle and stroll through its courtyards. However, we strongly recommend visiting the Pietà Rondanini Museum to admire Michelangelo's last sculpture, unfinished at the time of his death.

7. La Scala Theatre

Teatro alla Scala is the most famous opera house in the world and can be visited (the museum and the performance hall) either on your own or with a guided tour. We recommend checking in advance here to find the best time for optimal visibility of the hall. If you want to attend a performance, make sure to buy your tickets well in advance!

8. Quadrilatero della Moda

We've included the area known as Quadrilatero della Moda ("The Fashion Quadrilateral") on our list of tourist attractions to visit in Milan because the city, nicknamed the "fashion capital", is famous for shopping and for Milan Fashion Week. The Quadrilatero is the area bordered by four streets (Via Monte Napoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga, and Corso Venezia) where luxury shops are concentrated. We recommend taking a walk through this district even if you're not particularly interested in shopping - it's worth wandering around and admiring the displays of luxury boutiques. This is another great way to get acquainted with one of Milan's defining characteristics. Additionally, in this area, you'll find the Poldi Pezzoli Museum, the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, Palazzo Morando with its Costume Moda Immagine collection, and the Grand Hotel et de Milan, where composer Giuseppe Verdi used to stay and where he composed the opera Otello.

9. Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology is yet another must-see attraction in Milan. Not only is it the largest science and technology museum in Italy, but it also houses the most comprehensive collection of machines built after Leonardo da Vinci's designs. Additionally, you'll have the chance to see a fragment of the Moon, the Enrico Toti submarine, a model of the Vega launcher, and the Conte Biancamano transatlantic liner.

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Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

10. Brera District and Pinacoteca di Brera

Brera is artists' district in Milan. It is also home to the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most valuable art collections in northern Italy. If you're an art lover, be sure to visit it. The most important works displayed here belong to Giovanni Bellini, Jacopo Tintoretto, Piero della Francesca, Raffaello Sanzio, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, and Caravaggio.

11. Navigli District

Navigli is another bohemian and colorful district from Milan. Here you can find cafés, bars, and restaurants at very affordable prices, as well as shops and art galleries. Its name refers to the canals that crisscrossed the city in the Middle Ages. Two of these canals, Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese, have survived to this day. They are navigable, so you can also take a boat ride for yet another unique perspective of Milan.

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

12. Leonardo3 Museum

The Leonardo3 Museum is another attraction dedicated to the great inventor, featuring models and digital representations of his creations. It is an award-winning museum that can be especially interesting if you’re visiting Milan with children.

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Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

13. San Bernardino alle Ossa Church

San Bernardino alle Ossa Church is the most somber church in Milan. Inside the church, the ossuary chapel is decorated with hundreds of skulls and bones brought either from overcrowded cemeteries during the medieval period or from those dismantled after the closure of a nearby hospital in the mid-17th century.

14. San Siro Stadium

For the football fans, San Siro Stadium is probably the most important tourist attraction in Milan. In addition to visiting the museum, which includes trophies and jerseys of famous players, you can enter the locker rooms of AC Milan and Inter Milano, the two teams sharing this iconic venue, or you can walk through the players' tunnel, and sit in the stadium's VIP stand.

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15. Sant'Ambrogio Basilica

Built in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 11th century, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is one of the oldest churches in Milan and is representative of the Romanesque style in the Lombardy region. It is believed to have been founded by San Ambrogio (St. Ambrose), the patron saint of Milan. It is considered the second most important church after the Duomo. The church is rich in legends and stories. Inside, at the top of a porphyry column in the central nave, there is a bronze snake, believed to be the one made by Moses in the desert. Outside, there is another column, nicknamed "the Devil's Column". According to the legend, the two cracks on the column were made by the devil's horns during a fight with San Ambrogio, which is said to have occurred here.

16. Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

The Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is also known as the "Sistine Chapel" of Milan due to the extraordinary wealth of paintings inside. The frescoes, dating back to the 16th century, were created by some of the most famous Lombard painters, many of whom belonged to Leonardo da Vinci's school. Known until recently only by locals and art historians, the church has become one of the most visited places in Milan in recent years.

17. Sempione Park

Sempione Park is the largest park in Milan, and its history dates back to the time of Gian Galeazzo Visconti in the 14th century. Initially created as a garden, it later also served as a hunting park and a venue for parties organized by the Sforza family. It was then abandoned and used for the stationing of foreign garrisons. The decision to restore it to its former glory came at the end of the 19th century, and in 1906, Sempione Park hosted Milan's first International Exposition. Inside the park, you'll find the Torre Branca, which you can climb to get a panoramic view of Milan, as well as the Liberty-style Aquarium and the Palazzo della Triennale, which houses the Design Museum.

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18. Porta Nuova District

The Porta Nuova District is the futuristic area of Milan, featuring skyscrapers and modern architecture. Here, you'll find the modern Gae Aulenti Square, the Biblioteca degli Alberi Park ("Library of Trees"), and some of the tallest buildings in the city: the UniCredit Tower, the Solaria Tower, the Diamante Tower, as well as the Bosco Verticale ("Vertical Forest") apartment complex, which is covered from top to bottom with greenery.

19. Casa Milan Museum

The Mondo Milan Museum at Casa Milan is another destination for football enthusiasts. It houses trophies and unique items and offers an interactive display of the history of AC Milan.

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.