How many days in Milan? 3 days: the Duomo, The Last Supper and Lake Como
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Milan is Italy's business and fashion capital, and visitors who expect Rome or Florence sometimes find it plain at first. Give it two days for its real treasures (the marble Duomo and its rooftop, Leonardo's Last Supper, the Sforza Castle and the art of Brera) and its way of life (the evening aperitivo), and a third day for Lake Como, one hour away by train. The one thing to plan weeks or months ahead is The Last Supper: tickets for its 15-minute visits sell out fast.
Short answer
Two days covers the Duomo, the Last Supper, the castle, Brera and the Navigli. The third adds Lake Como, the most beautiful day trip in northern Italy.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Duomo, the Galleria and La Scala
Morning. Visit the Duomo at opening, the largest Gothic cathedral in Italy, begun in 1386 and finished in the 20th century. Take the lift or stairs to the rooftop terraces (combined tickets about €15-25) and walk among 135 spires and the golden Madonnina statue. Cover shoulders and knees.
Afternoon. Walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (1877), a glass-roofed arcade of cafés and shops; spin on the mosaic bull for luck. Visit the La Scala theatre museum (about €12), with a view of the auditorium when there is no rehearsal, then the Museo del Novecento for Italian 20th-century art and a window on the Duomo.
Evening. Have aperitivo in the Brera district: from about 18:30, a drink (€10-15) often comes with snacks. Then dinner in the cobbled streets around Via Fiori Chiari.
Buy Duomo tickets online with a time slot; the queue for the rooftop lift is long by midday.
Day 2: The Last Supper, the Sforza Castle and the Navigli
Morning. See The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano) in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie (about €15 plus booking fee). Visits last 15 minutes, in small groups, with timed tickets released online several months in advance; if sold out, guided tours that include entry cost more.
Afternoon. Walk 15 minutes to the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco, about €10), whose museums include Michelangelo's Rondanini Pietà, his last work, then cross Sempione Park to the Arco della Pace.
Evening. Go to the Navigli, the canals designed partly with Leonardo's help, for aperitivo along the Naviglio Grande, then dinner. On the last Sunday of the month, an antiques market lines the canal.
Last Supper tickets are released in batches on the official site, usually about three months ahead. Set a reminder.
Day 3: Lake Como
Morning. Take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino (about 1 hour, a few euros). In Varenna, walk the lakeside path and visit the gardens of Villa Monastero.
Afternoon. Take the ferry across to Bellagio, the 'pearl of the lake' (about 15 minutes), with its stepped lanes and the gardens of Villa Melzi, and to Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo for its terraces and azaleas in spring.
Evening. Return by ferry to Varenna and the train to Milan. For a different evening in Milan, see the skyscrapers of Porta Nuova and Stefano Boeri's Bosco Verticale, two towers covered with trees.
Buy a day pass for the central-lake ferries; it covers Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and Tremezzo.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and Day 2. You lose Lake Como.
Got extra days?
With more time, visit Bergamo's upper walled town (about 50 minutes), Verona (about 1h15), or modern art at the Fondazione Prada and the Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan.
Where to stay in Milan
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Around Milano Centrale | Cheaper hotels, trains for day trips, metro to the Duomo. | €110-170 |
| Mid-range | Brera | Pretty streets, galleries, walk to the Duomo and the castle. | €200-350 |
| Mid-range | Navigli / Porta Ticinese | Canal-side nightlife and aperitivo. | €150-260 |
| Comfort | Quadrilatero della Moda / Duomo | Design and luxury hotels near the fashion streets. | €400-1,000 |
Getting around
Milan's metro (5 lines) and trams cover the city; a single ticket costs about €2.20 and contactless cards work at the gates. The centre is walkable. From Malpensa airport, the Malpensa Express reaches Cadorna or Centrale in about 40-50 minutes; from Linate, the M4 metro takes 15 minutes. Trains to Lake Como, Bergamo and Verona leave from Centrale.
What to eat in Milan
Milanese cuisine is rich: risotto alla milanese (with saffron), cotoletta alla milanese (breaded veal chop, cooked in butter), ossobuco (braised veal shank, traditionally with risotto) and cassoeula (pork and cabbage stew in winter). At Christmas, the city's own panettone is everywhere. The aperitivo was refined here: try a Negroni Sbagliato, invented at Bar Basso, or a Campari Spritz. A panzerotto from Luini near the Duomo is a cheap lunch. Dinner costs €30-60 per person.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October, with highs of 18-27°C. Design Week (Salone del Mobile, April) and Fashion Weeks (February and September) fill hotels. Summer is hot and humid, and many restaurants close in August. Winter is cold and foggy, with the opera season at La Scala from 7 December.
Month-by-month weather for Milan →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €60 | €120 | €300 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €60 | €120 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €45 | €80 |
| Local transport / trains | €6 | €15 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €115 | about €240 | about €540 |
Approximate 2026 prices. Milan charges a city tax of several euros per person per night, depending on hotel category.
Before you go
Common questions
What if The Last Supper is sold out?
Check the official site for last-minute releases, or book a guided tour that includes entry. A few tickets may be sold at the door early in the morning, but do not rely on it.
Is Milan worth visiting?
Yes, for the Duomo, the Last Supper, Brera, the shopping, the food and the aperitivo culture, and as a base for Lake Como and Bergamo.
Which part of Lake Como should I visit?
The central lake (Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo) is the most beautiful and the easiest by train and ferry. The city of Como, at the southern end, is quicker to reach but less scenic.
Is the Duomo rooftop worth it?
Yes: walking among the spires with views to the Alps on clear days is one of the highlights of Milan. The lift saves the 250 stairs.
Is Milan expensive?
More than most Italian cities, especially hotels during fairs. Aperitivo snacks and lunch menus help keep costs down.
Do I need to book the Duomo?
Booking online is strongly recommended in high season, especially for the rooftop. Entry to pray is free, but tourists need a ticket.
Can I see an opera at La Scala?
Yes: tickets go on sale months ahead, and some gallery seats and last-minute tickets are sold on the day of the performance.
Where is the best view of the Duomo?
From the rooftop terraces, the Museo del Novecento's windows and the terrace bar of La Rinascente department store.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Italy trips. Prices are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Duomo di Milano, Cenacolo Vinciano, Castello Sforzesco, Teatro alla Scala, ATM and Navigazione Laghi websites before booking.
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