Wondering how to spend 24 hours in Milan? You’ve come to the right place!
Milan is frequently a stopover city for travelers who are on their ultimate Italian getaway. It can also be a layover spot for those jet setting around Europe.
Milan is often overlooked for its more popular neighbors like Rome, Florence, and Venice, but if you find yourself in this magnificent fashion capital, here’s a how you can conquer it in a day.
I have personally spent a lot of time in Milan as an exchange student at Bocconi University, and since starting my handbag brand, Vogelle, so I am very familiar with this city. This is exactly how I would spend 24 hours in Milan. I hope you enjoy!
24 Hours in Milan – The Stops
Here’s a map of our itinerary below!
Milan Central Train Station
If you’re training around Italy, you will most likely arrive in Milan at the Milano Centrale train station. If you flew into Milan, at either the Malpensa airport or the Bergamo airport, you will need to either train or bus into the city, which will almost always drop you off at the Milano Centrale train station. This is typically the entrance point for most people visiting Milan, so our itinerary starts here!
If you have a lot of luggage, you can check your bag(s) in for the day at the luggage storage drop that is located inside of the station. I know it can be scary to drop your bags off at a public place, but this baggage drop is totally secure. I have personally left my bags at this luggage storage many times and I’ve never had an issue. Be sure to keep your storage pocket in a safe place during the day so that you can easily pick up your bags when you’re ready to head to your next destination!
After dropping your bags, you’re ready to hit the city! First thing’s first… the duomo!
The Duomo
I highly recommend taking the metro in Milan. Uber’s are very pricey here compared to other cities, and taxis are hard to navigate if you don’t speak Italian. You can access the metro directly below the train station. Keep following the big red “M”s! Purchase either a Mi1 – Mi3 day pass for about 7 euros, or a Mi1 – Mi3 one-way ticket for about 2 euros. During this entire 24 hours, you will not leave the Mi1 – Mi3 zone.
Hop aboard the metro and take the yellow line (M3) from Centrale FS to Duomo and take in the sight of one of the most striking manmade structures in the world.
It is possible to go on the roof of the Duomo of Milan and to go inside. You can also go on a tour underneath the church where they have preserved ruins. These things usually need to be booked ahead of time, especially if you’re visiting during the busy months. If you’re interested in doing any of this, go up to the ticket booth on the right side of the Duomo and see if there’s a wait! You never know.
Out of all three of these options, it will be easiest to get inside of the church. Going up on the rooftop allows for some breathtaking views and I highly recommend it if you can get up there. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of construction taking place on the rooftop, which can take away from the experience.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
This iconic landmark is located directly to the left of the Duomo of Milan. Unless you’re planning on shopping in the designer flagship stores inside of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, this will be a quick stop. Walk through this beautiful structure, enjoy the architecture, and you’ll be ready to hit the next stop!
The Sforza Castle
From the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, you can either walk to the Sforza Castle, take an overground tram, or take the underground metro. I recommend walking since it’s only about a 10-15 minute walk through the beautiful heart of Milan’s historic district.
The Sforza Castle can either be a quick visit, or a longer visit, depending on what you want to see. There is a unique art museum inside of the castle that houses work from Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. Both of these artists spent time working in this castle.
Michelangelo’s last sculpture, Rondanini Pietà, is located inside of the Sforza Castle, but you must pay an entrance fee to see it. If you’re a history lover like I am, it’s completely worth seeing! The castle grounds are free to enter.
If you walk through the Sforza Castle, you’ll end up at Parco Sempione. For those spending more time in Milan, this park is a great place to read, go for a walk, or run and get a workout in. At the end of this park, you can see Arco della Pace.
As you take in the views from the edge of Sforza Castle, you’re probably starting to think about lunch.
Lunch in Milan
The map above shows where you’re likely standing (bottom) when taking in the views of Parco Sempione, and where you’ll find some of the best pizza in the world (top).
If you’re tired of walking, you can take the Lanza metro stop to the Moscova metro stop, but it’s probably just as many steps to walk to this restaurant.
Pizzeria Porta Garibaldi has been serving some of the best pizza in Milan since 1956. Grab some wine and a few slices of pizza, and enjoy the buzz of this popular spot!
10 Corso Como
Fashion lovers, this is for you!
You’ll find some of the most unique pieces here from the most well-known designers. These collections cycle through, so no matter how many times you come to 10 Corso Como, you’ll find something new and exciting.
After browsing the fashion section of 10 Corso Como, head upstairs to see the amazing book store. Here you will find some of the most impressive fashion, culture, and history books and art.
During one of my visits, they were hosting a temporary Karl Lagerfeld exhibition in the book store section of 10 Corso Como. Stumbling upon this was one of the best surprises to happen to me in Milan. Karl’s original sketches were on display for free and I had this entire exhibit to myself. You never know what you might find in this fashion capital!
Navigli
After exploring 10 Corso Como, it’s time to head south to the Navigli neighborhood. This area is one of the most exciting, and most underrated parts of Milan.
If you find yourself here on a Sunday, I’d recommend heading down to Navigli even earlier in the day to see the flea markets.
This is some of the best vintage shopping that I’ve seen anywhere in the world. They have everything from denim to handbags to jewelry to furniture, and more. These flea markets are open every Sunday from 8am to 6pm. Don’t miss it!
If you’re not in Milan on a Sunday, come down to Navigli before the sun goes down to watch the set over the canal. One of the best vintage shops that is open all week long is called Guendj and it’s located on the grand canal. You’ll find vintage leather jackets and Louis Vuitton bags here!
To get here, you can take the metro to the Porta Genova stop and walk about 3 minutes to the canals.
There are shops lining the canals, and the streets come alive at night with the start of aperitivo. No matter your budget or cravings, you’ll be to find a great dinner along the canal. The best restaurant in Navigli is called Naviglio 48.
If you’re staying the night in Milan, I highly recommend booking your spot in the Navigli area unless you need to catch an early train out of the city. In that instance, you should stay near your train station to make your morning more enjoyable.
More Than 24 Hours in Milan?
If you have some extra time in Milan, take a day trip to Lake Como! Lake Como is very doable as a day trip from Milan.
There are so many other things that you could do in this city. Some honorable mentions are:
The Last Supper (needs to be booked in advance)
Fonderie Milanesi (one of the coolest restaurants in Milan)
