The city of finance, fashion, shopping and aperitifs. When you think of Milan you basically think of this, right? And you know what? Milan is much more, starting from art, history up to culture. I have changed my mind about this city, which is why I will recommend what to see in Milan in two days. The best part? It will be a Neapolitan who will show you Milan, iamme ià.
In the article I will attach, at the end, some useful links for book tickets. Those of the main attractions of Milan. I will also advise you where to stay and how to get to Milan (whether by train, bus or plane). But more importantly…with 2 days available I will give you a double option for a day trip out of the city. Because there are tons of beautiful places outside Milan, my dears. Also, I will leave you a map to help you orient yourself as best as possible with the visit of the attractions.
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| 👨🎨 The Last Supper 🎨 |
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2 days in Milan Italy: Duomo
It is not only the main attraction of Milan, the Duomo is a status in this city. Everything revolves around this Cathedral and its immense square. Meeting place for tourists but also for locals and is a good starting point to reach other spots. The Duomo of Milan is the largest church in Italy and I recommend a visit inside. Walking through its long aisles will make you feel very small. I liked the stained glass windows of the Church with its bright colours.
2 days in Milan Italy: Gallery Vittorio Emanuele II
Very popular location in Milan which is located next to the Duomo and which is one of the shopping hubs in the city. Here you will find bars, restaurants and many shops. It is no coincidence that Galleria was born as a shopping centre between 1865 and 1867. Galleria has the nickname of “living room of Milan”, once a meeting place for the bourgeoisie. The tunnel also connects Piazza Duomo to Piazza della Scala.
2 days in Milan Italy: Sforza Castle
Another beautiful attraction in Milan that is worth a visit and is not far from the Duomo. Sforza Castle has a completely medieval charm and it is among the largest in Europe. In the castle, among the prominent works, we find the Rondanini pieta by Michelangelo. In one of the rooms of the castle (Sala delle Asse) we also find a fresco by Leonardo da Vinci. The other various areas of the Castle host works by Lombard artists.
2 days in Milan Italy: Pinacoteca di Brera
In one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Milan (Brera) there is my favorite attraction: the Art Gallery known as Pinacoteca. I will never stop saying and explaining the love I feel for painting, a world very close to photography. The Pinacoteca is one of those places worth visiting if you are a lover of art history for his numerous works. Hayez, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Veronese, Bramante and Raffaello.
Just some of the artists you will find along the corridors and rooms of the museum. I also really liked the architecture of the Pinacoteca. The internal courtyard, before entering the museum, is very beautiful with a series of columns and arches. One of the paintings that I liked the most is certainly “The kiss” by Francesco Hayez.
Brera: the cool neighborhood of Milan
You will find yourself in the Brera district when you head towards the Pinacoteca. It's a very nice neighborhood, well looked after, and feels like being in a completely different city. It is no coincidence that the locals say that being in Brera doesn't feel like being in Milan and I confirm. There is also a lot of "movida" here, both during the day and in the evening; keep this in mind when having an aperitif.
2 days in Milan Italy: Santa Maria delle Grazie Church
The beautiful Church of Santa Maria, which houses a welcoming cloister, is a must. The Church itself is very beautiful and worth a visit (which is free). Inside the Church, you will find directions to reach its beautiful cloister. The Church is not the only reason why I brought you here, there is another much more interesting.
Next to the Church there is the entrance to the refectory which houses one of the most famous works in the world. Does Leonardo Da Vinci sound familiar to you?
The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci
An iconic painting, world-famous and it has been the subject of studies, debates and films (The Da Vinci Code). Leonardo's Last Supper needs no introduction and is something to see in person. The refectory where it is located (being small) hosts only a few people at a time. For this reason, once inside, the visit lasts 15 minutes and also makes the tickets always sold out.
In fact, for this particular attraction I recommend you book the ticket in advance. But don't worry, at the end of the article I will leave you all the links you need.
2 days in Milan Italy: Navigli
A neighborhood very renowned for its movida and nightlife. At aperitif time (5-6 pm) the Navigli comes to life with its countless bars. If you are looking for a place to spend a fun evening you are in the right place. The Navigli is also one of the few areas of Milan with a body of water and is very pretty in the evening. I recommend a couple of places I've been to:
- Mag Café
- (one of the smallest bars in the world that can accommodate a maximum of 3 people)
Where to have an aperitif in Milan
Milan is the city of the aperitif. It doesn't matter what time it is, in Milan it is always a good time to have an aperitif. However, what are the best areas for an aperitif in the city?
- Piazza Duomo: Terrazza Aperol and Terrazza Duomo are two beautiful places with a view. If you are in company and want to make a good impression, don't be shy, these two places are cool. In the Galleria, however, you will find the iconic Camparino in the Galleria, a real living room.
- Corso Como: another very popular area with a target age of around 30. In the afternoon there is a large turnout also due to after work. What's better than a nice Negroni after an 8-hour shift spent on the laptop with your boss stressing you out!?
- Navigli: already mentioned above and worth seeing, especially in the evening when the lights turn on.
Is 2 days in Milan enough?
My answer is: absolutely yes. Indeed, as I told you at the beginning of the article, with two days available you can take a trip out of town. You can dedicate the 1st day entirely to Milan, trying to visit everything. A good start would be to wake up early to start your Milanese tour. If you can't, put something off until the next day, preferably early.
I'm telling you early so you can dedicate part of the second day to a day trip out of the city near Milan. Where..? I give you a couple of options my friends, and both are very tempting. I leave you a map below with the attractions of Milan to help you orient yourself better.
Places to visit near Milan: Como lake
The first alternative near Milan and which will not disappoint you. Como, famous for its magnificent lake, it is one of the favorite destinations for tourists. Just to name one, a certain George Clooney bought a house in those parts. Como can easily be visited in half a day, which is why I consider it perfect for an escape. In addition to the fact that, leaving Milan, you can also enjoy the Milanese "countryside" a bit.
Distance Milan - Como
- Train 40 minutes
- Car 45 minutes
Como can be easily reached in about 40/45 minutes. I take this opportunity to leave you the link to take a look at the prices of the Milan – Como train route.
Places to visit near Milan: Lugano
A wonderful place I have been and fell in love with. Lugano is located in Switzerland, which means that to get there you have to cross the border. Lugano can also be visited in half a day and you will fall in love with its landscape. The city is located close to the lake (called Lugano) and is surrounded by 2 mountains.
The beauty of Switzerland is that the air is so pure and smog-free that you can see everything clearly and clearly. It is also the reason why landscapes in Switzerland are among the most beautiful in the world.
Monte Bre Lugano
No but…do these places seriously exist on Earth? When I arrived at Monte Bre (one of the two mountains of Lugano ) I wondered if I was in Heaven. But the best thing is that, if you reach this place by bus, you will pass through the village of Bre. I felt like I was in a fairy tale... mountain houses, mountains in the background, and fresh air. Getting to Monte Brè from Lugano:
- By bus (20 minutes) arriving at the village of Brè and then continuing on foot along a mountain route.
- By funicular (10 minutes) which always leaves from the center of Lugano and arrives at the top.
If you decide to visit Lugano on a day trip, please go to Monte Brè. What a place… what a peace, a beautiful experience!
Distance Milan - Lugano
- By train 1 hour and 20 minutes
- By car 1 hour
I leave you the link for prices and reservations of train tickets for the Milan – Lugano route.
Useful links
Below I leave you the links that allow you to book tickets for attractions in Milan.
- Priority entrance to the Duomo (excluding terraces)
- Skip-the-line entrance ticket to the Duomo and terraces
- Sforza Castle with digital audio guide
- Brera Art Gallery ticket
- Guided tour of Leonardo's Last Supper
Where to stay in Milan
Below I leave you a booking.com widget where you just have to enter the dates for your trip to Milan. Take a look at the facilities, prices, and offers.
If, however, you go for something cheaper in Milan, you can consult Hostelworld.
How to get to Milan
On the how to get to Milan from your starting point I leave you the Omio link. All you have to do is enter your starting point and Omio will do the rest. Omio, if you travel by plane, will give you a list of the best options.
Conclusions
This little trip of mine to Milan is over and I hope it has given you some ideas. Milan is an Italian city definitely worth visiting and which, as you have seen, has a lot to offer. I have changed my mind a lot about this city, which is now part of my top 5 in Italy. Until your next trip and remember: those who travel live twice!
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