Rome may be the capital of Italy, but when it comes to the beauty of the places to visit, Milan stands out from above the rest. There are a lot of things to do in Milan. 

Milan may be home to several landmarks built from the past, but it has also been said that Milan is Italy’s city of the future. It is a fast-paced metropolis where creativity is a business, and looking good is considered an art form. 

This metropolis is located in the northern Lombardy region of Italy. Milan is regarded as the world’s capital of fashion and design. Many of your favorite luxury fashion brands consider Milan their home and origin. These include Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Bottega Veneta, Moschino, Prada, Valentino, and Versace, just to name a few. When you want to experience sophisticated fashion, you’ve got to be practicing your tongue for some Italian pronunciations

But aside from being the global centerpoint of fashion and design, it is also a financial hub. And, Milan is also known for its high-end restaurants, shops, the Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral, and the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent where Leonardo da Vinci’s controversial mural (at least, according to author Dan Brown), “The Last Supper,” likes. Let’s get started and explore this glamorous Italian city by knowing the best things to do in Milan. 

Best Things To Do In Milan

Here are the best things to do in Milan, Italy. Get your notepads ready.

1. Take In The Glory Of Catholicism At The Duomo

The first of the best things to do in Milan is visiting the Duomo di Milano cathedral, also known simply as the Duomo. Avid travelers say that if there’s only one sight to see in Milan, it is the Duomo. 

Milan’s Duomo is regarded as the largest and most unique Gothic complex throughout Italy. Believe it or not, it took around half a millennium to build this masterpiece. Once you’re here, it is easy to see why. 

The intricacies and detail of its construction are seen both in its interiors and exteriors. Outside, you’ll find over 2,000 ornate statues that depict Biblical figures and stories, including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Inside, you’ll find more intricately-carved statues, as well as sky-high marble columns, loads of paintings displayed around, astounding stained glass windows, and gilded ceilings. Notice the flooring where you’ll find geometric-patterned marble lined all throughout. 

Unlike other cathedrals of this kind, visitors can access its roof area. From here, you can see the Duomo’s elaborate buttresses, pinnacles, and spires, while taking in the mesmerizing views of the Milano piazza below. 

The Madonna found on the cathedral’s highest spire is also interesting, so be sure to check it out. During the Second World War, the church had this statue covered so it would not be easily spotted in the air, distracting the bombers. 

2. Get Up Close And Personal With Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’

Venerated artist Leonardo da Vinci has his works displayed in various parts of the world. His “Mona Lisa,” for one, is housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Meanwhile, his “The Last Supper,” a painting that depicts Christ’s supper with his apostles, and the artwork that has spurred controversies, particularly in one of the books of author Dan Brown, “The Da Vinci Code.”

After all, da Vinci was born in Italy. His “The Last Supper” can be found in Milan, specifically at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. The mural painting can be found on the wall of the refectory of the chapel’s monastery. But, if you’re here looking for more things to do in Milan, the church also houses other artistic treasures. Feel free to go around. 

3. A One-Of-A-Kind Experience With The Performing Arts At La Scala

If you love and appreciate the performing arts, visiting La Scala in Milan is one of the things you should do within your lifetime. There are several things to do in Milan while you’re here. 

La Scala, referred to in full as the Teatro alla Scala, which is Italian for “theater at the Stairway,” is among the principal opera houses in the world. It was built between 1776 and 1778 during the time of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, but it was only in 1872 when it became the property of Milan. 

Here, you can watch various performances, such as opera, orchestra, and ballet, to name a few. While you’re here, you can also visit the La Scala Museum which displays significant memorabilia in history, such as Liszt’s piano and costumes worn by Maria Callas, an soprano artist of American-Greek descent.

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4. Be In The Center Of Fashion (And Spot Celebrities) By Watching The Milan Fashion Week

When it comes to the world of fashion and which city dominates this industry, it is a race. Some say it is Paris, while others say it is Milan. It’s suffice to say that it seems it is a tie. 

This city in Italy regularly hosts the Milan Fashion Week. Milan Fashion Week is one of the most important fashion events worldwide. It is a clothing trade show held semi-annually in the city, with the autumn and winter fashion showcase held around every February or March, and the spring and summer showcase held every September or October. The next Milan Fashion Week will be held starting this September 19th. 

If you head over to the venues of this fashion show, you won’t just see the latest designs from the biggest fashion labels in the world, but it will also be a chance for you to spot some celebrities. Hollywood stars like Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, as well as K-Pop stars like RM of BTS, have attended the Milan Fashion Week.

5. Feast Your Eyes On More Artworks From The World’s Most Famous Artists At Pinacoteca Di Brera

If you are trying out the several things to do in Milan, you should prepare your eyes to feast on artworks from some of the world’s most famous artists. After all, Italy was the center of the Renaissance. It began here. You’ve known that Milan is home to da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” but there are more famous artworks here. A clout could be found at Pinacoteca di Brera.

Pinacoteca di Brera is located upstairs from Castello Sforzesco, one of the most prestigious art schools in Italy. Pinacoteca di Brera’s gallery is home to Milan’s collection of Old Masters, most of it taken from Venice by Napoleon. You’ll find here works of Rubens, Goya, and Van Dyck, as well as those from, what else, the Italians, such as Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and the Bellini brothers.

6. Shop At The Famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II challenges the luxurious shopping experiences at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and Fifth Avenue in New York City, among others. But Milan might be the runaway winner, as it is often ranked number one on the lists of the best cities for luxury shopping. 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was built at the height of the 19-century Belle Époque, a period in European history characterized by economic prosperity, colonial expansion, technological advancements, and so much more. But this shopping galleria is not for the faint-hearted pocket. You know why? It houses high-end designers like Prada, Gucci, and Armani, and even the items from the lower-end shops are not that cheap. Cafés here offer coffee that is more expensive than in other coffee shops. If you want, you can instead dine at McDonald’s. This high-end shopping haven is still generous enough to build a McDonald’s here. But if McDonald’s is still expensive for you, you can instead admire the mall’s architecture, paintings, and intricate floor tiles.

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7. Savor Authentic Italian Food With Aperitivo

Italian cuisine is known for its simplicity and the use of fresh ingredients to create the richness of flavors. It embraces the art of slow cooking and instead focusing on enhancing the natural taste of the ingredients rather than overpowering them. Milan is, of course, one of the best places to try authentic Italian food. 

Some of the best restaurants in Milan include Langosteria, Spore, Trippa, Erba Brusca, 28 Posti, and Ristorante Da Giacomo. 

But, don’t forget to eat with the famous aperitivo. An aperitivo is a pre-meal drink specifically meant to whet the diner’s appetite. It is Milan’s signature drink, and while other cities in Italy offer it, the best are in Milan. This is one of the things to do in Milan that you should not miss. 

8. Learn How To Make Pizza And Gelato – Right Here In Milan

Let’s not go too far and overthink when it comes to Italian cuisine. The most famous ones would probably be pizza and gelato. If those are enticing your appetite right now, you can even beef up the experience by learning how to make pizza and gelato, right here in Milan. 

In this Viator tour, you can master the techniques behind these beloved Italian dishes with a talented chef. It all happens in a downtown cooking studio for a relaxed tutorial on how to make authentic pizza, get this, from scratch, and mix up some creamy gelato like a pro. You’ll, of course, be able to taste what you’ve made. Excited? Hop on this tour. 

9. Go On A Private Tour Around Milan’s Fashion District

If you’ve missed the Milan Fashion Week or the fashion stores at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II are too expensive for you, there are other things to do in Milan where you can explore its fashion heritage without paying too much. You can go on a private tour around Milan’s fashion district. 

In this tour, you’ll explore the Navigli district and visit its hidden fashion gems, from local artisan boutiques to the big-name designer stores. 

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10. Take A Moment And Relax At Milan’s Gorgeous Parks

If the sightseeing tours around the city have tired you, you can take a moment and relax at the gorgeous parks here. Many of Milan’s parks have extensive green spaces. While the noise from the traffic can still be heard, as these are parks located within the city, these lush spaces will act like angels to minimize the murmuring of the cars. 

One of the most famous parks here in Milan is Parco Sempione, located just behind Castello Sforzesco.

11. See More Da Vinci At The Biblioteca and Pinacoteca Ambrosiana 

If you think that da Vinci’s works end at the Louvre and Santa Maria delle Grazie church, think again. There’s another place in the city where you can try things to do in Milan viewing more paintings from revered artists, the Biblioteca and Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.

It has a vast collection of art pieces mostly from just a single person. During the early 1600s, Federico Borromeo, an Italian cardinal and former Milan archbishop, handed all the artworks he had personally collected throughout his life to this place. 

Today, it has a 24-room gallery that features works of art, such as da Vinci’s “The Portrait of a Musician,” Caravaggio’s “The Basket of Fruit,” and Raphael’s “The Cartoon for the School of Athens.”

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Things To Do In Milan: Best Hotels

Milan is a beautiful city in Italy with a lot of alluring sights to behold. There are so many things to do in Milan. So, why don’t you complete the experience by staying at the best hotel? Here are some of the best hotels in Milan. 

• Portrait Milano
• Mandarin Oriental, Milan
• Bulgari Hotel Milano
• Four Seasons Milano
• Hotel Principe di Savoia
• Casa Baglioni
• Room Mate Giulia

Don’t Miss The Unmatched Beauty Of Milan, Italy

Milan is one of the most popular destinations for travelers around the world. This ravishing city in Italy is worth visiting for the abundance of its historical, cultural, and architectural attractions. Music fans will love La Scala theater, architecture buffs will swoon over the Duomo, the Pinacoteca di Brera for art lovers, and the glitzy Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for luxury shoppers. Plus, many other things to do in Milan. The place does not fail to impress. If there were a list of literally the most beautiful cities on Earth, Milan would lead it.