This Milan one day itinerary will provide you with the highlights of this unique Italian city. But is it possible to experience Milan in a day?
One day in Milan arguably may not be enough time to absorb all of the greatness of this gem in Northern Italy, but sometimes one day is all you’ve got. So why not make the most of it?
When I knew I’d have one day in Milan I thought about what my top priorities were, as I do with every city I visit. For me, food and photography are generally what I enjoy spending my time experiencing wherever I am. With that in mind I had a good idea of what to do in Milan in one day.
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How To Spend One Day in Milan
In addition to undeniably stunning architecture and great food, Milan is arguably the fashion capital of the world and many travelers flock here to take advantage of the city’s shopping scene. Designer stores seem to be located around every corner, some globally-known and others that I have never even heard of.
While there’s an exciting buzz to the city that comes with being home to such a prominent fashion scene, it’s not something I’m personally all that interested in when I travel. If fashion is your thing, then you’ll want to modify this one-day Milan itinerary to include some shopping time because I wasn’t able to squeeze it in for myself this trip.
Shopping aside, I still had an amazing time spending one day in Milan. This city is gorgeous, full of life, and lots of great wine. Read on to see more about what I did for one day in Milan.
If you have more time to travel, Milan is the perfect starting point for a North Italy road trip. Consider exploring Milan for one day and then embarking on an adventure to the gorgeous northern region of the country.
The Perfect Milan One-Day Itinerary
Sunrise at Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)
Duomo di Milano is without a doubt one of the city’s highlights and must-sees. Since photography is a huge part of my travel agenda, capturing gorgeous shots at this cathedral was high on my priority list for my one day in Milan.
The Duomo is the largest church in Italy, even bigger than St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. This Italian Gothic-style cathedral houses up to 40,000 people and is the fourth largest church building in the world.
Religious or not, the vastness and architectural detail of the Duomo is stunning and worth admiring by any traveler spending a day in Milan. The church sits on a massive open square leaving tons of space for visitors to gather around and take photos or enjoy the view from one of the many quaint cafes that line the perimeter.
My one day in Milan was the first stop of this particular Europe trip and it began with 7+ hours of flight delays out of Spain. The delays resulted in my friends and I arriving in Milan at 4:00 a.m. rather than the night before. After failing to get a few hours of sleep, we decided to head out with our cameras for sunrise at the Duomo.
For reference, the photos in this post at the Duomo were all shot during the first hour of sunrise. We were running solely on Italian espresso, but visiting the Duomo at sunrise was the best decision we made. Getting to experience the church in the early morning silence was magical, and we were pretty happy with the photo results.
I want to emphasize how worth it I found it to be to wake up early and visit the Duomo at sunrise. We ended up back near the Duomo in the early afternoon by chance and the scene was an absolute nightmare.
I can honestly say I have never seen so many tourists in one place as I experienced at the Duomo mid-day. Do not expect the scene to be anything like these photos if you visit any time after 10 a.m. We left the area at about 9:30 a.m. and crowds were forming.
So while I am not at all a morning person—really, it’s a huge struggle—I am happy to power through my sleepiness when traveling if I get to experience something as breathtaking as the Duomo in silence with the sun rising from behind. This will forever be one of my favorite travel moments, as well as some of my favorite photos.
If you want to check out the stunning interior of the Duomo, click here to purchase your Duomo entry tickets in advance.
Museo del Novecento
In addition to the impressive collection, my photographer friends and I really wanted to visit Museo del Novecento to capture some unique shots of the Duomo.
The photos here were taken in a top floor space at Museo del Novecento. The floor to ceiling windows offer the most incredible view over the plaza and Duomo, and the morning light had the entire scene soaked in a golden glow.
Much like my sunrise experience down below in front of the Duomo, this scene is one I will never forget. We entered the museum right when it opened at 9:30 a.m. and head directly to this room to capture these shots while the sun was still giving off that sunrise golden-hour type of light.
Note that there is a fee to enter the museum. At the time of my visit the entry fee was € 10.
Having only one day in Milan I didn’t want to spend too much time indoors at museums, but I did want to make a stop at Museo del Novecento. This art museum is located adjacent to the Duomo in the Palazzo dell’Arengario.
Museo del Novecento opened in 2010 and displays hundreds of works of art from the 20th century. The majority of the collection at this museum is by Italian artists. There are sections dedicated to specific art movements, sections for genres, as well as a major section devoted to Italian Futurists.
Orsonero Coffee
Delayed flights, no sleep, and sunrise photo shoots mean that coffee is more necessary than ever. Besides needing the caffeine boost to stay alert, researching local coffee shops is one of my favorite things to do when I travel.
Orsonero Coffee in Milan came across my radar when planning my trip and the photos had me hooked. The interior is stylish, minimal, and welcoming and the menu had a few of my personal favorites.
With only one day in Milan, there’s only so much coffee a girl can drink. Orsonero Coffee was my top pick of all the coffee shops I saw online and it’s one of my favorite cafes I’ve visited abroad to this day.
The cafe was a bit far to walk from the Duomo but a quick Uber ride had us at Orsonero in no time. The staff were incredibly knowledgable and friendly, making our morning caffeine pitstop all the more pleasant. In addition to beverages there are light morning snacks to enjoy if you like to pair a treat with your coffee.
LùBar
My friends and I are shamelessly big fans of the Aperol Spritz, so there was no doubt we needed to have a few while spending one day in Milan. We were told by a local that LùBar was a great spot to enjoy a refreshing mid-day drink in a beautiful setting.
The recommendation to visit LùBar checked out—this place is stunning. With a charming outdoor terrace and an interior covered in greenery, LùBar is the type of environment I’d happily sit in all day.
The Aperol Spritz was truly the best we’ve had to this day, and we’ve had many. I cannot speak on the food here, as we only had drinks, but a cold beverage or a coffee break is the perfect reason to visit this spot.
Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli
Directly across the street from LùBar is a lovely park, Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli. Home to public gardens, a planetarium, history museum, and plaza, the park at least makes for a pleasant detour on your way to or from LùBar.
Unfortunately I didn’t snap any pictures when passing through the park, I was too busy enjoying the serenity of it all. But if you make your way to LùBar then you will undoubtedly see the park and all of its allure.
With one day in Milan in would have been really easy to spend the entire day in the central area surrounding the Duomo, but I wanted to get a taste of some different local scenery.
Naviglio Pavese is a canal in Milan that connects the city to Pavia and a great area to visit to escape the afternoon Duomo crowds. The canal dates back to the 14th century and was used as a navigable waterway until 1965.
Strolling the canal you will now find boats anchored in the water, creating a picturesque scene amongst the surrounding bars, restaurants, and shops. The canal is great for a daytime visit and also an excellent nighttime option due to the number of bars in proximity. I’ll share a few of the bars I enjoyed later in this post.
Iter
Iter is a really cute cafe/bar near Naviglio Pavese. The interior has a hip, trendy vibe with travel-theme objects and decor. I stopped by in the morning so I ordered coffee and a light meal, but they serve alcohol as well and are open into the night as a bar.
Osteria del Gnocco Fritto
One day in Milan means it’s a must to experience some authentic local cuisine. Osteria del Gnocco Fritto caught my eye because it specializes in some items that I hadn’t yet experience in Italian cuisine.
“Gnocco Fritto,” as in the restaurant name, is a traditional dish made from very few, simple ingredients. The combination of flour, lard, salt, and yeast are kneaded into a dough that is rolled thin, folded, and fried.
The flaky pocket is then served with an assortment of Italian cured meat and cheeses. These little fried pillows basically serve as a vessel for other delicious Italian delicacies, which I’m very into.
Drinks at Rita
As tired as I was, with only one day in Milan I forced myself out in the evening to experience some nightlife. Like I previously mentioned, there is a concentration of bars around Naviglio Pavese. Rita is a cocktail bar in this area serving food and creative beverages, worth stopping in for a drink or two.
Drinks at PINCH Spirits & Kitchen
After a drink and a snack at Rita, my friends and I head to check out another cocktail bar in the area, PUNCH Spirits & Kitchen. The drink menu reminded me a lot of the cocktails I see at home in San Francisco. Overall, another cool spot with a great ambiance that is worth including in your Milan bar crawl.
Where to Stay for One Day in Milan
Looking for a place to stay for one day in Milan? Here are a few of my favorite options for every budget.
Budget-Friendly Options for One Day in Milan
OSTELLO BELLO GRANDE // With only one day in Milan Ostello Bello Grande is a great budget-friendly hostel option since it is located only 100 meters from the Central Train Station. The location is convenient for transit options around the city and to the airport. Also, Ostello Bello Grande won Best Large Hostel Worldwide HW Awards 2017! Click here to check rates and availability.
ATMOS LUXE NAVIGLI // This budget-friendly hostel is near the picturesque and lively Naviglio Pavese canal. If you are looking to experience the bars, cafes, and shops surrounding this popular canal area then Atmos Luxe Navigli is a perfect place to stay for one day in Milan. Click here to check rates and availability.
Moderately-Priced Options for One Day in Milan
HOTEL BERNA // If hostels aren’t your thing, Hotel Berna is an excellent, reasonably-priced option for your one-day stay in Milan. Hotel Berna is located near the Central Train Station, which is always a convenient place to be near, especially during such a quick trip. This 4-star hotel has rave reviews for its location and warm hospitality. Click here to check rates and availability.
ROOM MATE GIULIA // is located in Centro, the heart of Milan within walking distance of the Duomo and the heartbeat of the city. Not only is the location perfect, but Room Mate Giulia is MAJOR design goals. This is the type of property that I lay my eyes on and I never want to leave, which can be a problem since I shouldn’t be wasting one day in Milan in a hotel room. Click here to check rates and availability.
Splurge-Worthy Options for One Day in Milan
GRAND HOTEL ET DE MILAN // If you want to spend your one day in Milan in luxurious accommodations, Grand Hotel et de Milan is the place. This property exudes everything I imagine when I think envision a chic, classic Italian setting. Grand Hotel et de Milan is conveniently located near the heart of the fashion scene and city center, so you can access everything you need once you step outside. Click here to check rates and availability.
PALAZZO PARIGI HOTEL & GRAND SPA // For next-level luxury the Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa is the ultimate hotel experience. This property is stunning and the kind of place I’d imagine spending my honeymoon in. Not a single detail is overlooked , with rooms, amenities, and services that live up to the 5-star rating. Click here to check rates and availability.
Plan Ahead for One Day in Milan
If you’re a major planner like me and like to have your itinerary as lined up as possible before departing, here are some of things you can pre-book for your trip to Milan.
Duomo Milan Cathedral and Rooftop Ticket
If you want to experience the inside and rooftop of the stunning Duomo, you can purchase your entry ticket in advance so you do not have to wait in line with the crowds. Here is the link where you can purchase your ticket to access the Duomo and its rooftop.
Fast Track Guided Tour: Duomo Milan Cathedral and Rooftop Ticket
Sometimes when you are on a tight schedule it’s nice to have someone guide you and provide information as you go. For one day in Milan, you may prefer to opt for a guided Duomo tour which also provides fast track to skip the line—very crucial when you only have one day in a city! Here is the link where you can purchase your fast track guided tour of the Duomo.
Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna: Full-Day Tour from Milan
If you happen to have more than one day in Milan, the city is within reach to do a day tour to beautiful Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna. This full-day trip takes you on a bus to view the colorful villages and gorgeous lake scenes. Here is the link where you can view the schedule and book a day tour to Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna.
Staying Connected in Milan
When I travel in Europe I stay connected to the internet using TEP Wireless, which is my favorite travel wi-fi service. The devices work in countries all over the world and are a lifesaver when it comes to accessing maps and reservations in places where you don’t have cell service. Click here to check where TEP provides coverage and see the current device rental prices.
