I visited Milan last Summer and spent two days exploring the fashion-capital of Italy. The city has a fair amount to offer but, from our experience, you can probably cover it with 48 hours in Milan.
Milan is all about living lavishly. You can shop the most expensive fashion brands, eat incredible food and see some of the best art that the world has to offer. For this post, I have assumed that you are staying near the Duomo and the city centre. We stayed at Hotel Sanpi Milano, which was a great location to use as a base to explore. Here is what we would recommend with just 48 hours in Milan.
48 Hours in Milan | How to Spend Two Days
Day 1 – Late Afternoon / Evening
After you arrive in Milan and have dropped your bags at the hotel, it is time to get up and to settle into the city. What better way to do this than by having a drink and dinner? I would suggest heading over to the Piazza del Duomo for your first Italian sunset. Yes, it is on the tourist trail, but the sight of orange light bathing the historic church is well worth it.
Head to one of the local bars, such as Terrazza Duomo 21 and enjoy an aperitivo. This is an evening drink which is usually served with snacks to get you ready for dinner. Once the sun has set and the temperature has gotten cooler, head over to the Slow Sud restaurant. This is about 500m away from the Duomo and specialises in southern Mediterranean cuisine.
After indulging in Italian food, you head back to the hotel and get some rest. It is a busy day tomorrow!
Day 2 – Morning
Wake up relatively early and treat yourself to a continental breakfast. Feast on Italian cheeses, bread and meat before sipping luxurious espresso from the coffee homeland in Europe.
This morning, you are off to explore the Duomo! The gates open at 08:00am and you are able to climb up to the roof to get the best views in the city. Tickets need to be purchased online before and there are a variety of options. I personally recommend the ‘lift’ options; you don’t want to be climbing up all these stairs first thing!
Once you have admired the view from on top of the church, you can head down into the main atrium. There is plenty more to see here and the Duomo is just as pretty inside. Spend time exploring the different objects and tombs, before heading out into the Piazza.
Your next stop should be a coffee at one of the nearby cafes to recharge your batteries.
Day 2 – Lunch
At Midday, it is time for some lunch – Italian style! What better way to celebrate being in Italy than with authentic pizza. Nearby is Spontiti, a really good pizzeria that will be perfect for lunch. Once you have enjoyed your pizza, then head on back out into the Italian sunshine to begin the next part of your day.
Day 2 – Afternoon
Just a stone-throw away from your lunch spot is the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This iconic landmark of Milan is also the main shopping centre of the city and the oldest in Italy. If you look at the floor in the centre, you will see an indent. This is because of a local superstition whereby they spin on this spot to gain good luck. The Galleria specialises in upmarket luxurious brands, so spend some time looking around. There are also some cafes here too.
After some window-shopping (maybe even purchases?) you head back to the hotel. Grab a room-picnic from the supermarket and recover. You have a late one ahead…
Day 2 – Evening
Tonight you are heading to the opera at Teatro La Scala. This is arguably one of the best opera houses in the world. Tickets are anywhere from €30 – €100 depending on the show, but the evening is well worth it. Indulge in a classic Italian evening, with of course a glass (or two) of Prosecco.
Once you have been thoroughly entertained, head back to the hotel and get ready for the next day.
Day 3 – Morning
Again, start off your day with a top Italian breakfast and coffee. There is a fair bit of walking today so you’ll need it!
Your first stop is Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting The Last Supper at the the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This is an 11 minute Metro stop from the Duomo. Take the M Line from the Duomo to Conciliazione. From there it is only a short walk to the Last Supper Museum. Alternatively, it is only a 24 minute walk from the Duomo and the route there takes you along some nice neighbourhoods. The Museum only allows you to be in the room for 15 minutes due to the popularity, so you won’t be here for long!
Once you have left the museum, you are going to head to my favourite part of the city; the Navigli District. If you have ever imagined the romantic canals of renaissance Italy, then you won’t be disappointed. The district is a 34 minute walk from the museum. However, along the way you can stop at the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, which is absolutely gorgeous. You can also take time to explore Porto Genova.
Day 3 – Lunch
When you arrive in Navigli, take your time to walk around and take in the sights. As you only have 48 hours in Milan, you need to top-up on the Italian food. Le Tournedos specialises in seafood and has an excellent reputation. I think that is it the perfect lunch aside the canals; what do you think?
Alternatively, there are markets here each Sunday. If you are lucky enough to be here on this day, definitely grab some local produce for lunch. We managed to time it right and saw these fabulous markets when we went. I would definitely recommend it.
Day 3 – Afternoon
As you have a flight to catch this evening, head back towards the Duomo. However, before you get there, take the number 2 tram to P.Za Resistenza Partigiana. In Porto Genova is Pasticceria Cucchi, which specialises in panettone. End your 48 hours in Milan by eating this delicious speciality and drinking your last Milano espresso.
To get back to the hotel, jump back on the tram for 9 minutes towards the Duomo.
Final Thoughts
I hope that you found this post interesting and useful. This is very roughly what we did with 48 hours in Milan and, whilst I appreciate we missed out a fair amount, this is a realistic itinerary. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions – I would love to hear from you.
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
