Duomo
First-timersThe centre, around the cathedral and the Galleria. Everything close, prices high.
Milan city guide
Things To Do In Milan
Fashion, design, aperitivo and a Gothic cathedral you can walk on the roof of. Italy's richest and least touristy big city, and the gateway to the lakes.
56
Hostels in the city
7.4
Average, from 85,905 reviews
€2.20
90 minutes on the metro, trams and buses
15 min
Your slot with the Last Supper
€10–15
Aperitivo with a buffet
The city that works
Milan is Italy's business, finance, fashion and design capital, and it has never needed tourists the way Rome and Venice do. That makes it easier to visit: fewer queues, fewer touts, and a city that is going about its own life.
It was heavily bombed in the Second World War and much of it was rebuilt, so the centre is a mix of grand old palazzi, Fascist-era blocks and very new towers. The great sights are concentrated: the Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala and Leonardo's Last Supper are all within a short walk or a metro ride of each other.
Milan is best at the end of the working day, when the aperitivo starts and the city fills the bars of Navigli, Brera and Porta Venezia. Two days covers it, and Lake Como is an hour away by train.
Where to stay
The metro is excellent, so anywhere near a station works. Navigli and Porta Venezia are the best areas to be in at night.
Navigli
Going outThe canal district in the south-west, full of bars and aperitivo.
Porta Venezia
Nightlife and valueArt nouveau streets, the LGBTQ+ scene and good bars. On metro M1.
Brera
AtmosphereThe artists' quarter: cobbled streets, galleries and smart bars.
Centrale
TransportAround the main station. Convenient and rough at night.
Isola
Living like a localNorth of Garibaldi, near the Bosco Verticale. Local bars and restaurants.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How long have you got?
The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.
Things to do
Things to do in Milan
Start at the Duomo, the Gothic cathedral that took six centuries to finish. Go up to the rooftop terraces, by lift or stairs, and walk among the spires with the city below. It is on a separate ticket from the cathedral itself.
Next door, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a glass-roofed arcade from the 1860s, leads to La Scala, the opera house. Spin on your heel on the bull mosaic in the floor of the Galleria; it is supposed to bring luck.
Leonardo's Last Supper, on the wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, is seen in timed groups of about fifteen minutes and sells out weeks ahead. Book as soon as tickets are released.
The Castello Sforzesco has Michelangelo's last, unfinished sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà. The Pinacoteca di Brera is one of Italy's great painting collections. For contemporary art, the Fondazione Prada and Pirelli HangarBicocca, which is free, are among the best in Europe.
Free things
Free things to do in Milan
The Duomo square, the Galleria and the outside of La Scala are free.
Pirelli HangarBicocca, a huge former train factory now showing contemporary art, is free. So is the Monumental Cemetery, a vast open-air gallery of sculpted tombs.
The Navigli canals are free to walk, and on the last Sunday of the month there is an antiques market along the Naviglio Grande.
State museums, including the Brera, are free on the first Sunday of the month. The Last Supper is included, but you still need to book.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Milan
Milanese food is rich, buttery and northern. Risotto alla milanese is coloured with saffron, cotoletta is a breaded veal cutlet, and ossobuco is braised veal shank, traditionally served together with the risotto.
The aperitivo is Milan's great contribution to budget travel: from about six to nine, a drink costs €10 to €15 and comes with snacks or a buffet that, in some bars, is big enough to replace dinner.
Panzerotti, fried pastries filled with mozzarella and tomato, are the famous street snack near the Duomo. Panettone, the Christmas cake, was born here.
Restaurants around the Duomo are expensive. Navigli, Isola and Porta Venezia are better value.
Nightlife
Going out in Milan
Milan has the best nightlife in Italy. The evening starts with aperitivo, and the Navigli, the old canals in the south-west, are the centre of it: bars along both banks, busy every night and packed at weekends.
Porta Venezia is the heart of the LGBTQ+ scene and has some of the best bars in the city. Brera is smarter and more expensive. Isola, north of Garibaldi, is more local.
Milan also has a real club scene, around Corso Como and Garibaldi and in venues on the outskirts, open until the early hours.
A cocktail is €10 to €14, often with the aperitivo spread included.
Getting around
Getting around Milan
The metro is fast and easy. A single ticket costs €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes on the metro, trams and buses, with one metro entry. A 24-hour ticket is €7.60 and a 3-day ticket €15.50. Paper tickets were withdrawn in January 2026: buy a rechargeable RicaricaMi card, or simply tap a contactless bank card at the gates, which caps at the day rate.
From Linate, metro line M4 reaches the centre in under fifteen minutes on a standard ticket. From Malpensa, the Malpensa Express train runs to Cadorna and Centrale for €13 in about fifty minutes; buses to Centrale are a little cheaper. From Bergamo airport, buses run to Centrale.
High-speed trains reach Florence in about two hours, Rome in about three and Venice in about two and a half. Trains to Lake Como leave from Centrale and Cadorna.
Costs
What Milan costs
Milan is one of the most expensive cities in Italy for beds. Dorms typically start around €30, and double during fashion weeks, Design Week and big trade fairs, when the whole city books out. Check the calendar before you book.
A careful day is €65 to €85. Aperitivo is the great saving: a drink with a buffet is dinner for €10 to €15.
The metro is cheap and the day ticket covers everything. HangarBicocca and the cemetery are free, and state museums are free on the first Sunday.
Safety
Staying safe in Milan
Milan is generally safe, with pickpocketing on the metro, especially line M1 around the Duomo, and in the crowds in the square and the Galleria.
In front of the Duomo, men tie string bracelets onto wrists or hand out seed for the pigeons and then demand money. Keep your hands to yourself and walk on.
The area around Centrale station can feel rough at night.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Milan
The lakes and the Alps are an hour away. So are some of northern Italy's best small cities.
Lake Como
Villas, mountains and ferries between lakeside villages. Varenna and Bellagio are the prettiest.
Bergamo
A Venetian-walled old town on a hill, reached by funicular.
Lake Maggiore
The Borromean Islands and their palaces and gardens.
Turin
The first capital of Italy, with arcaded boulevards and the Egyptian Museum.
Verona
The Roman arena and a walkable medieval centre.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Design Week and the fashion weeks fill every bed. Plan around them, or for them.
Staff pick
20–21 November
Muse
Muse is a globally acclaimed British rock band known for their electrifying live performances and genre-blending sound that fuses alternative rock, electronic, and symphonic…
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23–29 November
BookCity Milano
BookCity Milano is an annual event born from the collaboration of Italian publishers, aimed at celebrating the profound connection between books, reading, and the…
Staff pick
1 Dec – 6 Jan
Milan Christmas Market
Step into a winter wonderland at the Milan Christmas Market, affectionately known as "Oh Bej! Oh Bej!" This cherished tradition, dating back to the…
Staff pick
7 December
Saint Ambrose Festival
Join Milan in celebrating the feast of its patron saint, St. Ambrose, with a special church service held at the historic Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.…
Staff pick
22–25 October
Abilmente Milano
Experience the ultimate creative extravaganza at Abilmente Milano, Italy's premier craft fair. Dive into a world of artistic inspiration with hands-on workshops, captivating exhibitions,…
Staff pick
30 Oct – 2 Nov
Milano International FICTS Festival
The Milano International FICTS Festival is a celebration of sports cinema and television, attracting film enthusiasts and industry professionals from around the world. The…
Staff pick
7–9 November
Milano Whisky Festival
Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Scottish malt whiskey at the Milano Whisky Festival, where the focus is on spreading the culture and…
31 October
Andrea Pucci
Andrea Pucci returns to the stage with a new, highly anticipated show titled "Dove Eravamo Rimasti...?" at the Unipol Dome in Milan. The show…
Hostels
Where to stay in Milan
Milan's hostels are spread around the city, with clusters near Centrale, Navigli and Porta Venezia. Book early for fair weeks. These are the top-rated right now, live from Hostelworld.
Atmos Luxe Navigli
Dorms from €38 a night
See dates and book
Ostello Bello Milano Duomo
Dorms from €26 a night
See dates and book
YellowSquare Milan
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
Combo Milano
Dorms from €20 a night
See dates and book
MEININGER Milano Lambrate
Dorms from €24 a night
See dates and book
Ostello Bello Milano Centrale
Dorms from €26 a night
See dates and book
Madama Hostel & Bistrot
Dorms from €36 a night
See dates and book
City Center House
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
MEININGER Milano Garibaldi
Dorms from €24 a night
See dates and book
QUO Milano
Dorms from €24 a night
See dates and book
Bovisa Urban Garden
Dorms from €24 a night
See dates and book
Grand Hostel Coconut
Dorms from €29 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April, May, September and October are ideal. Summer is hot and humid, and August is empty as the city goes on holiday.
Jan
Cold and foggy
Feb
Fashion Week fills the city
Mar
Spring arrives
Apr
Design Week. Book months ahead
May
Excellent. Warm and green
Jun
Hot. Aperitivo outdoors
Jul
Hot and humid
Aug
The city empties for the holidays
Sep
Fashion Week returns
Oct
Excellent
Nov
Cold and foggy
Dec
Sant'Ambrogio and Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Milan is humid in summer, foggy in winter, and colder than the rest of Italy from November to February.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes the €7.60 day ticket. Beds can double during fashion weeks and Design Week.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Milan travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Milan?
Two: one for the Duomo, the Last Supper and the centre, and one for Brera, the Navigli and aperitivo. Add a day for Lake Como.
How do I see the Last Supper?
Book online as soon as tickets are released, usually weeks ahead. Visits are in timed groups of about fifteen minutes.
How do I get from Malpensa to Milan?
The Malpensa Express train runs to Cadorna and Centrale for €13 in about fifty minutes. Buses to Centrale are a little cheaper.
What is aperitivo?
A drink between about six and nine that comes with free snacks or a buffet. In Milan, the spread is often big enough to replace dinner, and it costs €10 to €15.
Is Milan expensive?
For beds, yes, especially during fashion weeks, Design Week and big trade fairs, when prices double. Food and transport are reasonable.
Can I visit Lake Como from Milan?
Yes. Trains to Varenna or Como take about an hour, and ferries connect the lakeside villages.
Is Milan worth visiting?
Yes, for the Duomo, the Last Supper, the art and the best nightlife in Italy. It is also far less crowded with tourists than Rome, Florence or Venice.
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