Milan in 4 Days: everything you need to know

Despite not being the capital of Italy, Milan is full of things to see and do at every turn. Considered by many to be the city of fashion, this iconic city not only has the best galleries, but also a multitude of museums and buildings that showcase the country's history.

If you're thinking of coming to Milan for four days and don't really know where to start to see everything, don't worry, I've prepared a detailed plan so you can make the most of your time. Visit the Duomo, see The Last Supper, spend an evening on the canals and take a trip to one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Sounds good, doesn't it? Let's get started!

You've just arrived in Milan, and for this first day, I suggest you get a feel for the place by going straight to the city's must-see sights. You're in one of the most historic cities in the country, and you'll soon realise that just by walking around the centre, you'll come across monuments, squares and museums of great importance.

I hope you've come with your batteries fully charged because you'll start the day by visiting the Royal Palace and climbing the great Duomo, you'll eat one of Milan's most typical dishes and you'll end the day in the famous Vittorio Emmanuele gallery and discovering the interior of the Teatro Scala.

Discover the interior of the Royal Palace

I hope you got up early so you can make the most of the day. You've probably chosen to stay somewhere near the centre, but just in case, your first stop will be at the Duomo underground station, one of the busiest spots in the city.

The first thing you'll see is the imposing Duomo that gives the station its name, but before you dive into this marvel, I invite you to start the day by entering the Royal Palace, the building just to the right of the Duomo from the underground station.

This is one of the most important buildings in Milan, as for centuries it was the residence of the great powers that ruled and governed the city. Today, it is a splendid cultural centre that you can visit for around €10 from 9:30 a.m., Tuesday to Sunday. You can tour some of the rooms, stroll through its courtyards and see the temporary exhibitions on display.

Marvel at Milan Cathedral

As you leave the Royal Palace, you can probably guess what the next stop will be, right? Before you stands the imposing Milan Cathedral, one of the city's great landmarks. Clad in pink marble on the outside and clearly Gothic in style from the 14th century, this imposing cathedral is the most visited place in the entire city and is not to be missed.

As you might expect, this is usually a very busy place, so I recommend booking your tickets for the Duomo in advance to avoid unnecessary queues. Although the exterior alone is incredible to see and photograph, the interior of the Duomo will leave you speechless with its high spires and Gothic decoration.

Admission to the Duomo and the museum pass costs only €2, but I highly recommend purchasing a ticket to go up to the cathedral's terrace, which offers one of the most spectacular views of Milan, as well as a view of the entire structure of the building from above. You can choose to pay around €15 to take the lift or around €5 if you prefer to take the stairs.

Try the famous panzerottis

Milan is a city to be seen calmly and without rushing. That's why, after spending the whole morning among royal galleries and Gothic architecture, you're bound to be feeling a little hungry.

You'll have time later to sit down and eat a succulent plate of pasta with a knife and fork, but to make the most of this first day, I suggest you go to one of the most popular places among the Milanese: Luini.

This place sells a variety of pizza that is famous throughout the city: Panzerotti. It is fried pizza dough filled with typical ingredients such as tomato sauce, mozzarella, olives, and basil. They sell them in all shapes and sizes to suit all tastes, and for less than €5, you can eat like a true Italian.

Walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

After lunch and a stroll around the Duomo, I suggest the perfect mid-afternoon activity, just a 5-minute walk from where you are.

This is the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, a place famous throughout the city not only for having some of the most exclusive shops, but also for its infrastructure.

This cross-shaped gallery has huge stained-glass windows that let in light, suspended from tall columns that make the space open and very pleasant to walk through. In addition, there are large mosaics on the floor, such as the Bull, which they say that if you step on its testicles and turn around three times without looking, it means that you will return to the city.

You will surely return one day to revisit this fantastic place, but in the meantime, you can take advantage of seeing some of the most exclusive shop windows in Italy and, if your pocket allows it, take home a little souvenir.

Visit the Teatro Scala

This first day is coming to an end, and to put the finishing touch on it, I suggest you walk a few steps north to one of the city's great cultural buildings: the Teatro Scala. Don't be fooled by its sober façade; this place has been one of the cradles of opera in the entire country. Works such as Madam Butterfly and Nabucco have premiered here.

I highly recommend visiting, because even if you can't attend one of its concerts, you always have the option of taking a guided tour inside for approximately €20.

This way, you can see everything behind the scenes, view the red seats from the stage, and explore the museum with its props and sets.

The last tour of the day is at 5:30 p.m., the perfect time to stay for dinner in the Piazza Mercanti area after the tour.

Yesterday was quite intense, wasn't it? But I'm sure you've already gotten a feel for the city you're in. Milan has an extensive architectural and cultural heritage that you can easily explore on foot, as most of the attractions are close together.

On this second day, you'll visit one of its great buildings, the Sforzesco Castle, which will take up a good part of the morning. You'll be able to see Da Vinci's Last Supper in person and, as if that weren't enough, when night falls, I have an authentic Italian aperitif waiting for you on the romantic canals of Naviglio Pavese.

Spend the morning at Sforzesco Castle

After resting and enjoying a good breakfast, you will head to Cairoli metro station to begin this second day, from where you can reach the main attraction of the day: a visit to Sforzesco Castle.

This place has enormous historical significance, as it was the Ducal Palace for a long time until it changed hands after the Ambrosian Revolution. Today, despite all the modifications it has undergone, it has enormous heritage value and is well worth a visit, not least because it is free to enter.

However, the real attraction lies inside, as the entire enormous castle has been used to house some of the city's best museums.

For a single ticket costing around €10, you will have access to the interior of the Sforzesco Castle and all its museums, such as the Museum of Ancient Art, the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Museum of Prehistory. A real shot of history and heritage first thing in the morning.

See Da Vinci's Last Supper

Visiting the castle, including its museums and walking around the outside, will surely take up most of your morning. However, before you grab something to eat, I have one of the highlights of any visit to Milan in store for you.

Just a 10-minute walk along Corso Magenta, you will find the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a place that appears simple from the outside but hides a treasure that you cannot miss: Leonardo Da Vinci's "The Last Supper".

To see this legendary painting, which was painted directly onto plaster, you need to book tickets in advance for approximately €10. Italy takes great care of its cultural heritage and, in order to preserve this marvel, visits cannot last longer than 15 minutes, but I can assure you that it will be time well spent. What's more, if you go at midday, there will be far fewer people than at other times of the day and you will be able to enjoy the work almost exclusively.

Visit the Basilica of Saint Ambrose

On leaving the convent, you can stop for a bite to eat at one of the nearby pizzerias such as Assaje, just a 3-minute walk away. After filling your stomach and recharging your batteries, you can take a short walk of less than 10 minutes to another of Milan's great architectural landmarks, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.

This place is one of the best preserved in the entire city and its architecture is of great importance to Milan's aesthetic. The Basilica was built in the Romanesque style in 387 and later rebuilt in the 11th century.

It has two towers of different heights and a large atrium that would serve as inspiration for all subsequent Gothic constructions. Admission is free, and inside you can visit Stilicho's sarcophagus and the crypt.

Discover the ruins of the Column of San Lorenzo

Continuing with historical remains and while you work up an appetite for dinner, I suggest continuing the walk down Edmundo de Amici Avenue until you reach the columns of San Lorenzo.

This site is one of the archaeological sites that can be found simply by walking around Milan and consists of a total of 16 columns located in what were once the Roman baths and amphitheatre.

In the background, you can enter the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, the oldest church in Milan. You can go inside if you have time, as admission is free, but simply strolling through the city at dusk is worth the effort.

Dinner at Naviglio Pavese

To end this intense day, I have the perfect plan for you to do at night in Milan, just a few steps from where you are. One of the busiest areas at night and with the best atmosphere for having a drink or dinner is the Naviglio Pavese neighbourhood, where Milan's canals are located.

I can't think of a better plan than to visit one of its most popular venues, such as Manhattan, and sit by the canal to enjoy a typical Italian aperitif, which consists of an all-you-can-eat buffet where you can dine and sample the best Italian dishes in a charming area that is ideal for a date or evening out.

During these two days in Milan, you will have already enjoyed all the city's great landmarks and monuments.

That's why, since you still have time to continue discovering the city's hidden corners, I suggest you spend this third day getting to know all the museums and galleries that this city of art has to offer.

You will start by visiting a veritable open-air museum, the Monumental Cemetery, and from there you can walk to all the other places, such as the Modern Art Gallery or the Brera Art Gallery. To round off this third day, there is nothing better than a five-star dinner in this beautiful, central neighbourhood.

Visit the Monumental Cemetery

I don't know about you, but when I go sightseeing in a big city, I love to see what its cemeteries are like, and in the case of Milan, I can assure you that it will leave you speechless. Far from being a gloomy and desolate place, Milan's Monumental Cemetery is a veritable open-air museum.

To get there, head to the Monumentale metro stop. By the way, I recommend purchasing the Milan public transport card, which you can use to travel by underground, tram and bus. From here, you can enter and explore the entire cemetery free of charge.

Inside, you can see authentic works of art such as obelisks, Greek pantheons, engravings and all kinds of historical mausoleums, such as those on the "walk of fame" just inside the entrance.

Experience the contrast of Piazza Gae Aulenti and have lunch at Porta Nova

Touring the cemetery will have taken up a good part of the morning. That's why, when lunchtime rolls around, I want to offer you a contrast and take you to one of the newest areas of Milan: Piazza Gae Aulenti, built in 2012.

A whole new and modern urban complex has been built around this square, with buildings such as the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), with up to 2,000 species of plants on its façade. Walking around this area is interesting because you can discover the contrasts between the more historic Milan and its more modern, cutting-edge heritage.

Through this neighbourhood, you can reach the Porta Nova area, where you will find several nice restaurants to stop for a bite to eat and recharge your batteries, such as Pizzeria Carlsbergol.

Visit the Modern Art Gallery and the Indro Montanelli Gardens

After lunch, while your food is digesting, you can take a short 5-minute walk to your next stop, the GAM, which specialises in modern art. But first, you can take a stroll through the Indro Montanelli Gardens, adjacent to the Gallery, which are ideal if you are visiting Milan with children, as they have a space for them to play.

Admission to the GAM costs around €10 and is an ideal way to continue exploring the contrasts of Milan. After spending two days seeing the city's historical past, in this gallery you can see the most exclusive examples of modern art, not only Italian but also international, with paintings by Van Gogh, Picasso and Cezanne.

Enjoy the exhibitions at the Pinacoteca di Brera

On leaving the GAM and to finish off this tour of Milan's museums, I recommend ending the day at the Pinacoteca, one of the city's jewels, which has some of the best paintings in Italy. Visiting the Pinacoteca di Brera is one of the essential stops in Milan.

If you like classical art, you're sure to be fascinated by this place, as it's considered the first museum in Milan and houses works by artists such as Bellini, Tintoretto and Caravaggio.

Tickets can be booked in advance if you want to avoid queues and cost around €15, with the option of adding an audio guide for a few euros more to guide you through the most important paintings.

Enjoy dinner in the city centre

It's been a busy day, hasn't it? Don't worry, it's time to relax. When you leave the art gallery, you'll be right in the centre of Milan and you'll be able to see the areas you visited during the day at night, with the added charm that this brings.

It's the ideal setting to treat yourself and end the day in a good Italian trattoria, dining on a delicious meal. Some of the most renowned restaurants in this area include Rosso Brera, with a delicious traditional menu.

These three days of visiting the city have surely been intense and rewarding. That's why, since you have one more day of holiday, I can't think of a more entertaining plan than going on one of the best excursions available from Milan.

Among all of them, without a doubt, one of the most recommended is the one that takes you to Lake Como, an area near Milan with some of the most beautiful villages in the whole country.

Whether you decide to book an organised excursion or want to do it on your own, I recommend starting the excursion in the city of Como and, after exploring its narrow streets, taking a cruise on the lake. After lunch, don't miss a visit to two of its most emblematic villages: Bellagio and Varena.

Arrival in the medieval city of Como

The ancient city of Como is only an hour and a half from Milan and can be reached by bus on your own for approximately €5 or directly with one of the excursions from Milan to Lake Como. This medieval city was formed around the lake of the same name, which is of glacial origin.

The surroundings are lush with vegetation, and the buildings have had to adapt to the terrain. Ideally, you should take some time to explore, buy a souvenir, and enjoy a more rural atmosphere after all the chaos of Milan.

One-hour cruise on the lake

Once you have explored the town of Como, you cannot leave without enjoying one of the best boat trips on Lake Como.

If you book an organised excursion, most of them include a one-hour trip on the lake from where you can see some of the surrounding villages. Otherwise, you can always book a trip directly at the village pier.

Lunch in the village

Before heading to the other villages in the lake area, it's best to grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in Como. If you're on a guided tour, some include lunch.

But if in doubt, you can always take an hour or two to eat at places like Hosterietta, which has a delicious menu and a terrace where you can enjoy the picturesque village.

Visit to Bellagio

From Como, the next stop I suggest is Bellagio, another of the most beautiful villages on the lake shore. If you're wondering how to get to Bellagio, let me tell you that if you're travelling independently, you have two options: one inland and another slightly longer route that goes along the riverbank. However, most excursions take you directly by boat.

This second option is one of the most attractive ways to enjoy the whole experience and will take you to Bellagio in less than an hour. Here you can explore the small village, enjoy its green surroundings and take in the incredible panoramic views of the entire lake area.

End the day in Varenna

Another of the most beautiful villages around Lake Como is Varenna, a village just opposite Bellagio that you can easily reach by boat in a few minutes.

It is a fishing village with a very picturesque atmosphere and from where you can take some of the best photos of the whole lake.

I can't think of a better way to end this wonderful trip to Milan than with a sunset in this charming village.

After returning from this full-day excursion, you can bid farewell to the city with a final stroll and plan when you will return to this historic and cosmopolitan city.

Milan is a city that can be visited at any time of year, but there are clearly better times when you won't find as many tourists and the temperatures will be more pleasant. In general, it tends to be too hot in summer to spend the whole day walking around the city. That's why the ideal time to visit is in June or September.

Even so, if you want to go at a special time and don't mind the cold, I can't think of a better plan than going to Milan at Christmas, when the whole city is lit up and decked out in its finery.

Your trip to Milan is full of sights and entertaining activities, but to give you an overview of everything you're going to do, here's a table with the main points to help you get your bearings.