Last Updated on September 1, 2025
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
By Jim Ferri
Before we met, and later as a married couple, my wife and I both had ignored Milan. And we weren’t alone among travelers headed to Italy.
Many travelers bypass this city in northern Italy’s Lombardy Region since it’s renowned as the country’s financial center. After all, in a country overflowing with artistic and cultural jewels, might one’s time not be better spent uncovering art treasures beyond a country’s commercial capital?
However, when planning a trip to Asia through Europe one Fall, my wife and I found we needed to make a flight connection in Milan. Wisely, instead of viewing it as an inconvenience, we viewed it as an opportunity to explore another Italian city.
We decided to spend a weekend there, which wound up being two perfect days, both from a touristic as well as a gastronomic perspective. Although it can’t compete with the number of sights you’ll find in Rome, Florence, or Venice, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a few days. The city is also clean, easy to navigate, and filled with restaurants serving delicious Milanese cuisine. It’s well worth a stopover or brief visit.
We stayed at the Windsor Hotel Milano primarily because it was rated a four-star hotel, and we were able to secure a good deal online. It turned out to be comfortable, not quite four stars, but close to it.
It’s a small and clean hotel offering good service, as well as a bar and restaurant. The breakfast buffet was quite good, although dinner could have used some improvement. It was also well located within easy striking distance of Central Station and less than a $10 taxi ride to all of the places we wanted to visit in Milan.
If you have two days to spend in Milan, here are the top things to experience. Note that the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and La Scala are all conveniently located adjacent to one another.
Teatro alla Scala
One of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, Teatro alla Scala first opened in the late 18th century. Today, this beautiful Neoclassical theater remains world-renowned and boasts one of the largest stages in Europe.
If you love opera but are also budget-minded, try to snag one of their discounted tickets (up to a 25% discount). They go on sale two hours online or one-hour at the box office before most performances. Students under 26, and those under 18 or 65+, can get up to 20% off on specific Monday–Thursday performances. See Teatro alla Scala for information on how to purchase tickets.
When Visiting Milan, Don’t Miss the Duomo
One of the largest churches in the world, Milan’s Gothic Duomo took 500 years to build. It’s the reason its facade includes Gothic, Renaissance, and Neoclassical styles.
The Duomo is best known for its incredible roof, which is adorned with spires, gargoyles, and statues. It gives it an incredibly ornate appearance when you stand on the huge piazza that fronts it. Inside, beautiful stained-glass windows illuminate a vast interior that includes 52 pillars and numerous tombs and statues.
Tickets to the Duomo range from €8-36 depending on when you visit and what you want to see (the cathedral, archaeological area, museum, and lift to the rooftop, etc.) See Duomo di Milano for more information and ticket prices. The cathedral is open daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm (last ticket sold at 6:00 pm).
The Duomo is one of the top places to visit in Milan. No matter how short you stay, don’t miss it!
Another Don’t Miss: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
To the left of the Duomo is another of the city’s treasures, and another top place to visit. It’s totally free unless you go on a shopping spree or dine in one of its restaurants.
It is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Also known as Il Salorro di Milano, it is an ornate 19th-century shopping arcade with elaborate mosaic floors. It’s one of the oldest and most beautiful shopping arcades in the world.
Set in the shape of a Latin cross with different sections representing Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. It also has a magnificent glass roof and dome. It’s unlike anything you’re likely ever to have seen before.
Interspersed among Prada, Armani, and other crème de la crème of fashion, are numerous restaurants. They include the famous and historical Savini.
Peek Into Peck
Peck is the legendary Italian food store, Milan’s answer to London’s Fortnum & Mason and Harrods food halls.It’s worth taking a peek into Peck during your visit to Milan.
Although much smaller than either of its British counterparts, its three floors are filled with the best food and wine from Italy. There’s also a restaurant.
It’s the top spot for Italian gourmands and only a block or so off the piazza in front of the Duomo. Buon appetito!
A Must-see for Two Days in Milan: Da Vinci’s Last Supper
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a 15th-century convent whose claim to fame is Leorardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painted on its dining-room wall. Since the painting is tempera painted on a dry wall and not a fresco, it has deteriorated badly over the years despite attempts at restoration.
Although it is not in the center of the city as are other sites, it is one of the top places to visit in Milan not matter how long or short is your visit to the city
During your visit to Milan you need to make a reservation and buy tickets in advance for the 15-minute tour, which you’ll often have to purchase through tour companies that buy up many of the tickets and charge a surcharge.
Or you can do as we did and arrive at the convent when the ticket office opens at 8:30am and hope for the best. We were able to buy two tickets for the 9:30 tour and spent a pleasant hour at Caffé Le Grazie, a pleasant cafe/food shop across the street.
Pinacoteca di Brera
You’ll find the city’s best collection of art in Pinacoteca di Brera where the Accademia di Belle Art was founded in the 18th century.
Here you can enjoy a diverse and interesting collection that includes works by Modigliani, Canova, Montegna, Bellini, Raphael, Tintoretto and others, all spread through 38 small galleries.
Time your visit for mid-morning and stay in the neighborhood to lunch at one of the small restaurants in the area. We had a nice lunch at La Taverna del Borgo Antico, two nice pastas and wine for €36.
When Visiting Milan Visit the “Fashion Quadrilateral”
During our two days in Milan my wife suggested we make a visit to the Milan’s nearby fashion district, the Quadrilatero della moda. It was an interesting idea since despite Milan being one of the fashion capitals of the world, most people never think of making this fashion district one of their places to visit in Milan.
Some guidebooks call it the “Fashion Quadrilateral” because the small four-square block area is located within the borders of Via Mazoni, Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant’ Andrea. There you’ll see most of the Italian flagship stores of the kings and queens of world fashion, walking about the entire area in about an hour.
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