🗺️ Where to go in Milan: 9 places and ticket prices

Milan is often mistaken for a showcase: boutiques, fashion shows, and crowds at the cathedral. But the city's nine main sights sit close together, and two days is comfortably enough for them.

Planning a trip here is easiest on foot. Almost all of Milan's treasures are gathered in the old center, and you can walk to the canals and new districts in half an hour. Below is a route with nine stops, including ticket prices, opening hours, and honest catches.

We checked prices and opening hours on the official museum websites and we're upfront about where you'll find crowds or an expensive entrance fee.

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Milan route: 9 places

💡 In short:

Get to Milan Cathedral by eight in the morning: the terraces and the square are almost empty then.
Book museums and The Last Supper in time slots in advance, otherwise you'll be left at a closed door.
Save lunch and the evening for the Navigli canals: it's cheaper and livelier there than by the cathedral.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, checked on the official Milan Cathedral website.

The route runs in a loop: from the cathedral through the gallery and La Scala to Sforza Castle, then Parco Sempione, two old churches, the canals, and the new Porta Nuova district. You can cover all nine points on foot in two days, or in one long day if you're in a hurry.

1. Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) stands in the very center, and you definitely won't miss it. It's the city's main symbol and the best starting point for the route. Get there by eight in the morning: by the time the terraces open, a line is already forming at the entrance.

Facade of Milan Cathedral with spires on the square

The facade is decorated with thousands of marble statues, and the doors read like a book: on the bronze panels you'll see scenes from the life of Christ. The main thing here is up top. Climbing to the terraces opens up a panorama of the city and the golden statue of the Madonna on the highest spire.

How to get there: metro, Duomo station, exit directly onto the square.
Cost: terraces from €16 on foot, €18 with the elevator, €28 skip-the-line (as of 09/2026, terrace rates).
The catch: the square is full of pushy vendors, they literally get in your face with bracelets and pigeon feed.

You can come back to the cathedral several times: during the day it's golden, in the evening it's lit up. Drop in for a service if you want to hear the organ live.

2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II starts a stone's throw from the cathedral. It's a cross-shaped passage in the neo-Renaissance style with a glass dome and mosaic floors.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, entrance from Piazza del Duomo

The gallery connects Cathedral Square with La Scala Square and bears the name of the first king of Italy. On the mosaic floor you'll find the bull of Turin: Milanese believe that if you spin on it with your heel, your wish will come true.

How to get there: right next to the cathedral, entrance directly from the square.
Cost: free entry, boutiques open from morning to evening.

3. La Scala

La Scala (Teatro alla Scala) is one of the world's leading opera stages. The building was constructed in the eighteenth century on the site of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala, which is where the name comes from.

The hall is shaped like a horseshoe, so the sound reaches even the farthest seats. Next door there's a theater museum with costumes, sketches, and antique instruments.

Cost: museum €12, reduced ticket €8 (as of 09/2026, Museo Teatrale alla Scala).
The catch: getting tickets to a performance is expensive and difficult, cheap tickets are scarce and sell out fast.

You can buy a museum ticket at the box office too, but on premiere days it closes earlier, so check the schedule in advance.

4. Sforza Castle

Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) is a medieval fortress in the very center of the city. Today eight museums operate inside, and one ticket gives access to almost all the halls.

Sforza Castle at night with a fountain on the square

In the collection you'll see antique musical instruments, sculptures, and paintings, including works by Leonardo da Vinci. The castle courtyards are open freely, and on weekends whole families stroll here.

Cost and hours: museums €5, reduced €3; Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30, closed Monday (as of 09/2026, official castle website).

5. Parco Sempione

Parco Sempione spreads out right behind Sforza Castle. It's a large green space in the English style: manicured lawns, a lake, fountains, and flower beds.

People on the lawn in Parco Sempione, with the Arch of Peace in the distance

It's a convenient spot for a picnic or a break between museums. Make sure to walk to the Mermaid Bridge, it's considered one of the best photo spots in the city.

Who it's for: for relaxing with kids and a quiet picnic on the grass.
Cost: free entry.

6. Santa Maria delle Grazie

Santa Maria delle Grazie is the church of a Dominican monastery in Milan. Its main treasure is not kept in the church itself, but in the former refectory next door.

Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, brick facade and dome

On the refectory wall you'll see Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." Christ and the apostles are painted full-length, and the church itself blends Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Cost and rules: entry by timed slots, booking is mandatory; a group of 40 people enters for just 15 minutes (as of 09/2026, Cenacolo Vinciano).
The catch: open slots are scarce, tickets sell out weeks in advance.

Timed-entry tickets are easier to book in advance on Tiqets.

7. Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio

The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio (Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio) stands on the site of an early Christian church. It's one of the oldest churches in Milan and an important monument of Romanesque architecture.

Facade of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan

The basilica got its current appearance in the Middle Ages, after destruction and rebuilding. Inside it's quiet and there are few tourists, so it's worth lingering here if you're tired of the crowds at the cathedral.

How to get there: metro, Sant'Ambrogio station.
Cost: free entry.

8. Navigli: canals and nightlife

Navigli is a system of canals that used to carry goods. Today it's the liveliest evening corner of Milan.

Dozens of bars and restaurants serving Italian cuisine line the water. You can take a boat ride and see the city from a different angle. At night the area buzzes with nightlife, and students and artists stroll along the embankments.

Naviglio Grande canal in Milan at sunset

If you want to have dinner by the water, book a table in advance: on weekends there are almost no free spots. Evening canal tours on GetYourGuide will help you see the area beyond just sitting at a table.

Who it's for: for those who want dinner by the water and an evening stroll.

9. Bosco Verticale skyscrapers

Bosco Verticale is two residential skyscrapers standing 76 and 100 meters tall, built in 2014 (as of 09/2026, YesMilano).

Milan skyline with skyscrapers, the UniCredit Tower and Bosco Verticale

The balconies are planted with hundreds of trees and thousands of shrubs, so in summer the building walls turn into a real forest. The project grew up in the Porta Nuova district and became a symbol of green architecture.

How to get there: metro to Garibaldi station, then a short walk.
The catch: it's a residential building, tourists are not allowed inside, so you can only view it from the street.

Tickets and opening hours

Below is a summary of current entry prices. Be sure to check the details before your trip: museum schedules sometimes change.

Place	Ticket	Source
Milan Cathedral, terraces	from 16 € on foot, 18 € with elevator, 28 € skip the line	cathedral tickets
Sforza Castle, museums	5 €, reduced 3 €	Castello Sforzesco
La Scala Museum	12 €, reduced 8 €	Museo Teatrale
The Last Supper	timed entry, reservation required	visiting rules

Tours and guided tickets are easiest to arrange in advance, before your trip.

Tours and tickets in Milan

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

See offers on GetYourGuide

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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Milan?

Two days is enough to cover all nine places on this route without rushing. You can also do it in one long day, but you'll have to get up early and skip relaxing in Parco Sempione. If you're coming for art, add a third day for museums and the San Siro stadium.

Is it worth going up to the terraces of Milan Cathedral?

Yes, it's the best view of the city. The elevator only takes you to the first level; after that, there's a staircase. Come at opening time, the line grows noticeably by midday.

How do you get to Leonardo's "The Last Supper"?

Only with advance booking. Reserve online ahead of time and arrive half an hour before your time slot so you can get through security without rushing.

What can you see in Milan for free?

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Parco Sempione, and the Navigli embankments are open to everyone with no ticket. The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is also free to enter. You'll have to pay for the cathedral terraces, the Sforza Castle museums, and the La Scala museum.

What to see in Milan if you have one evening left?

Head to the Navigli canals: there are dozens of bars and restaurants serving Italian cuisine. Stroll along the embankment, take a boat, and have dinner by the water. If you want music, check the La Scala schedule: seats sometimes become available at the box office right before the performance.

In short: what's worth booking

If you're short on time, focus on the cathedral, the galleria, and the canals. Leave the rest for a second visit.

If you're coming for art: the cathedral terraces, the La Scala museum, and "The Last Supper."
If you're traveling with kids: Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione with a picnic.
If you want an evening out: a table in Navigli and a walk along the canals.

Book central accommodation in advance through Milan hotels on Trip.com. Museum tickets and "The Last Supper" are easy to get on Tiqets.

And choose guided city tours on GetYourGuide.

Milan in two days: 9 places with prices and opening hours