How to See the Best of Milan in One Day

Milan has quite the reputation for underwhelming visitors. Some people love it and some people are left feeling deflated after a visit to Milan. You’ve just got to know what not to miss in Milan and hit up these spots in a day or two and be on your way. That’s why I have put together this itinerary on how to the see the best of Milan in one day!

Here’s how to see the best of Milan in one day

Selfie in front of the Duomo di Milano cathedral, Milan

Start at the Duomo Complex.

With only one day in Milan, there’s no better place to start than its famous Duomo complex. The front view of the Milan Cathedral, complete with pigeons hanging out in the square, is easily one of the most iconic images of Milan. One of the biggest in the world, this cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete.

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There are several sights included in a full Duomo Complex ticket, which means you only need to buy one pass to see them all!

Unfortunately, the popularity of the Duomo means that you’ll have long lines to deal with, especially to enter the interior of the cathedral itself.

For that reason, with only one day in Milan to work with, I would recommend purchasing a skip-the-line pass: the upcharge is reasonable, and the time saved is completely worth it.

Pro Tip: There is a strict dress code if you do enter the catherdral, requiring shoulders and knees to be covered. SO make sure you dress for your one day in Milan with this in mind.

Tickets Prices and Admission Times to Milan Cathedral

Visiting the Terrace

Hours: 9 am to 7 pm, last admission at 6:10 pm
Cost: by stairs €13, by elevator €17
Fast Track Tickets: €25

Visiting the Cathedral

Hours: 8 am to 7 pm, last admission at 6:10 pm
Cost: €8

Milan in one day- enjoying authentic italian risotto — Enjoying the view of Milan Cathedral while indulging in some deliciously authentic Italian Risotto.

Step inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

While you were exploring The Duomo Di Milano, if you hadn’t yet noticed the giant, and gorgeous archway to the side of you, well, allow me to introduce you to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II. If high-end shopping or window browsing is something that would help make your one day in Milan superb, then this is the place for you. The Galleria is one of the oldest shopping malls in the entire world and is still enjoyed by people of all classes to this day.

Even if you’re not planning on doing any shopping, the Galleria is worth walking through: the glass ceiling gives the entire place a soft glow, and the path through the Galleria leads right from the Piazza del Duomo to the nearby Piazza della Scala.

Pay a visit to the Piazza della Scala.

The Piazza della Scala only requires a quick pit stop during your one day in Milan, but since it is so close to the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, it’s worth taking note of!

Here you can take a quick look at a statue of Leonardo Da Vinci, and also glance at Milan’s famous opera house. If you love the theatre and get an early start during your day in Milan, you may also be able to squeeze in a visit to the interior to the La Scala Opera House: we haven’t been ourselves, but from the photos we’ve seen, the interior does look far more impressive than the exterior! In order to visit, though, you’ll need to rework your Milan schedule a bit (tours are given in the afternoon), and book in advance, as the opera house is a very popular place to visit!

About The Last Supper: How to See It During One Day in Milan

Seeing Da Vinci’s famous painting while in Milan is harder than it look, which is why we didn’t include it in our one day in Milan itinerary: access is tightly controlled, tickets are hard to come by, you must book your visit in advance, and when you do get in, you are allotted a strict 15 minutes to admire The Last Supper in person. And taking photos is strictly prohibited.

Tickets can be purchased on the VivaTicket website. The “Last Supper” is listed as Cenacolo Vinciano. Tickets go on sale roughly two and a half months ahead of time.

Pro Travel Tip: Purchase your tickets as soon as possible!! These tickets sell out within hours of going on sale, so mark the date and time on your calendar so you can purchase your tickets as soon as they become available.

Tickets cost €15 including the reservation fee.