• Lifestyle
    • Art & Culture

48 hours in Milan

Take a map and the timetable of public transports..and we'll let you know the city!

It's the capital of fashion and design that boasts an impressive list of heavy-hitting architecture, state of the art museums, and swanky locales.

Whether you're stopping through for 48 hours or settling in for a week of exploration, here are a few suggestions to kick start your trip to Milan

Big enough to make you feel in a metropolis, Milan is also small enough to get a real feel for all of the unique neighborhoods and local culture. Grab a map and your bearings on the metro system- it'll come in handy to better distinguish the different areas. 

Starting in the center, Milan's Cathedral (better known as the Duomo) is an astonishing testimony to faith, architecture, culture, and history. This large plaza is a typical meeting place and a kind of fulcrum around which the city revolves. Be sure to grab breakfast on the sky high Terrace at the Rinascente - we can't think of a better way to start the day off than with stunning views of the Duomo.

Back down on Earth, you'll find the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, one of the first shopping malls in the world featuring brands like Prada, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Borsalino, and more. Take a peek inside and get a taste of Milanese elegance even if you're not quite ready for the price tags. At the other end of the Gallery, take a moment to admire La Scala, one of the most prestigious theaters where you can catch a spectacle during your stay (highly recommended).

Next on the agenda, head to the QC Terme Spa located in the Porta Romana neighborhood for a bit of R&R. Indulge in a relaxing massage and a moment to slow things down in this one of a kind space that has even been known to host fashion shows from time to time… 

Nearby you can also check out the newly unveiled Fondazione Prada, a contemporary structure designed by OMA and Rem Koolhaas that caters to some impressive contemporary and classical art. Just don't forget to stop by Bar Luce, the cafe designed by Wes Anderson, for a bite to eat or a coffee. It's a bit like living in a film. 

If the spa and a visit to the Fondazione Prada aren't really your style, fear not. Swing over to the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, which was consecrated in 379… the roads there are full of local stores, cafes, and stunning architecture (on your way, check out the Torre Velasca near Missori- another iconic building built by Milanese architects BBPR).

Take your time to roam the charming streets where you can drop in to the Science and Technology Museum and maybe even a local market or two.  

Wandering south towards the Navigli, the waterways will have you feeling like you're in Venice. The canals in the city were once major lines of transportation and even carried the marble used to construct the Duomo right to the site.

While many have since become obsolete or covered, this neighborhood is known for streets hosting large crowds around happy hour and late into the night. Attracting all kinds of groups, it's the perfect place to grab a drink and bite to eat in company. Watch the sun set as you sip on a Negroni or better yet, a Negroni Sbagliato- the cocktail that was invented here in Milan, before dinner.

If you're looking to hit the town after the sun goes down, there are bars and clubs all throughout the city. Just pick your crowd and mingle late into the night. A more alternative group can be found in the Navigli neighborhood, eclectic and energetic in Porta Venezia, classy and cool in Brera, and easy and laid back in Isola

Take me here: 48 hours in Milan

On the same topic

Masterpieces of cinema shot in Lombardy

The most beautiful natural landscapes and the urban cityscapes of Lombardy in the films of both Italian and foreign directors
  • Lifestyle
Masterpieces of cinema shot in Lombardy

10 places to instagram in Lombardy

Lombardy has so many locations with perfect scenarios to immortalise and share on Instagram. How many do you know?
  • Lifestyle
10 places to instagram in Lombardy

What to see in Lombardy

A remarkable artistic heritage, a variety of landscapes, rich cultural traditions... all waiting to be discovered!
  • Lifestyle
What to see in Lombardy

Christmas Holidays SONDRIO E VALMALENCO

Mercatini, eventi, musica, spettacoli, brindisi, mostre, attività per grandi e piccini in occasione delle feste natalizie.
  • Lifestyle
Christmas Holidays SONDRIO E VALMALENCO

April 2025 Events in Lombardy

April brings the spring to Lombardy, with trips out of town, seasonal flavours, art initiatives, and sporting events
  • Lifestyle
Events Lombardy

Travelling on historic trains

Vintage trains offer unprecedented views of Lombardy's landscapes, for a priceless experience that combines history and beauty.
  • Lifestyle
In viaggio sui treni storici

10 good reasons to visit Lodi

  • Lifestyle
10 good reasons to visit Lodi

Trams in milan

Take a seat on its wooden benches and enjoy a journey through the old days in Milanese history and tradition
  • Lifestyle
Trams in Milan

The treasures to discover in the province of Varese

From nature to art to cycling, what to see and do in a little-known corner of Lombardy.
  • Lifestyle
Drone view of Lake Varese. View of the Monte Rosa massif.

10 Good reasons to visit Lecco

  • Lifestyle
10 Good reasons to visit Lecco

Halloween in Lombardy

Ghostly villages and palaces, haunted by the spirits of tormented souls, beckon only the bravest to explore their surreal environments. 
  • Lifestyle
Halloween in Lombardy

Winter Lombardy

Many initiatives, activities, cultural and sporting proposals that will make you love the cold
  • Lifestyle
Winter in Lombardy, between cities and mountains

Zona tortona

The "Cinderella" of the city, turned from industrial area into queen of art, fashion, design and nightlife
  • Lifestyle
Zona Tortona

From Varese to Lake Maggiore

Discovering Varese and Lake Maggiore in 72 hours. A long weekend in the countryside
  • Lifestyle
Da Varese al Lago Maggiore

Bergamo: shopping and flavours

Shopping in Bergamo is divided between Città Alta and Città Bassa. The promise: artisan shops, historic cafes, fashionable shop windows
  • Lifestyle
Bergamo: shopping and flavours

Spring in Milan

When the fog leaves ... the city lives. Initiatives, events, outdoor activities.
  • Lifestyle
Walking along the Navigli

10 Good Reasons to...

Fashion, design, food, lakes… a few suggestions for your stay in Lombardy
  • Lifestyle
10 good reasons to choose and visit the land

Como in a weekend

A mediaeval heart for the city that loves science and design with light. Discover Como in 48 hours. Without ever losing sight of the lake
  • Lifestyle
Como in a weekend

Tour of the Monza ENI Circuit

Take a tour of the most exclusive areas and the track of the Monza Circuit with the Autodromo guide
  • Lifestyle
Tour autodromo Monza

The Wine Valleys

A guide to the most picturesque valleys and villages in italy and their fine wines
  • Lifestyle
The Wine Valleys