Milan in One Day: Itinerary For a Quick Trip

The Morning- Detailed Itinerary

The Last Supper

Start your day in Milan with one of the city’s most famous attractions: da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The Last Supper is in the unassuming church of Marie della Grazie. You could walk by and not even know it was there (if not for the lines of tourists out front).

I didn’t even know The Last Supper was in Milan. I missed it on my first trip to Milan because I didn’t know about it. I learned the hard way you can’t see it last minute!

When I went back, I spent some time researching how to get tickets. I had to plan my visit to be sure I didn’t miss out again.

Da Vinci tried a new technique with The Last Supper. He wasn’t familiar with it because it was experimental. So, the masterpiece isn’t as well maintained as some of his other works.

The tour is very structured to protect the artwork and ensure that others can enjoy it in the future. But you have plenty of time and only share the space with a small group. I enjoyed this visit more than the Vatican and other art museums.

The Last Supper tickets will sell out. Buy your tickets as soon as you book your flights and accommodations in Milan.

There are two ways to get your ticket to see this Masterpiece.

Get Your Tickets Through a Tour Agency

One reason tickets sell out so fast is that tour agencies buy them and then resell them to tourists. Buying from a tour office is an easier option.

If you don’t want to battle the less-than-optimal website, this is for you!

You’ll pay a premium, but I don’t think it’s too much. Even the tour companies sell out.

You can also combine your last supper ticket with a walking tour of Milan. I like this one because you see so much of what you’ll already want to see.

This is the option I recommend. It was way more complicated than I thought it would be to buy my tickets. I have time and energy to put toward navigating the site. If you do too, read on. Otherwise, just get them from the tour guides!

Buy Your Tickets On Your Own

If you plan your trip more than 3 months in advance, you can get your tickets to The Last Supper on your own. This is the cheapest option since you don’t have to go through a ticket seller, but it also requires more effort.

Not gonna lie; it isn’t a straightforward process.

Go to this website and look at the top banner for when tickets for your window will go on sale.

Tickets go on sale 3 months at a time. They usually start the sale about one month from the window’s initial date.

For example, tickets for November – January would all go on sale on the same day in September.

The best way to find it is to keep checking the website until your date window shows up. It’s not ideal, but set a reminder in your calendar each week so it doesn’t become overwhelming.

When you know the start date of your ticket window, set an alarm so you remember. Ticket sales open on Italian time.

To keep from frantically clicking around, bookmark this website. It goes to the ticket sales calendar.

It’s a bit like using Ticketmaster for a popular concert. I wasn’t expecting it to be like that. When I got in, it felt like an Eras Tour + Ticketmaster situation.

Be ready a few minutes early, write down your date and time so you can see them, and get ready to commit!

Things to Know About The Last Supper

Your visit to The Last Supper will take a little time, which is great since you’ve only got a day!

It’s only 45 minutes.

It’s very planned out. You have some time and a holding area, then 15 minutes to view the last supper, and then exit the building. 

You visit The Last Supper in small groups. Make sure to get there on time.

If you miss your window, you may be unable to go in since the groups are very limited. 

Note that you can’t bring luggage or large backpacks with you. Many people missed their chance because they were running to try to store luggage.

An audio app provides information about the artwork. Download it to your phone before you go. Then bring earbuds, and you can listen on your own.

If you forge, there is a pamphlet they give you to read.

Grab Breakfast or A Coffee

After your visit to the Last Supper, head to a café for breakfast if you haven’t eaten already.

If you’re gluten-free, check out one of my favorites.

Even if you have eaten, coffee in Milan is incredible. Order a cappuccino and reflect on the Last Supper while enjoying the break.\

Start your Walking Tour Near the Duomo

Next, make your way to the Duomo of Milan.  It’s a 20-minute walk, or you can take the 13 tram.

I recommend downloading the free Rick Steves Europe app and taking a DIY walking tour. If you want a guided tour this one has everything you need!

Download the app and look for the Italy section. Find the Duomo Neighbourhood walking tour in Milan. Before you leave your hotel, download the tour to your phone and bring your headphones with you. 

I prefer these tours because you can listen at your own pace. Stopping when you want to spend more time or fast-forwarding if you’re not interested.

The 75-minute walking tour covers the inside and outside of the Duomo, La Scala, Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele, and more. 

You can see the highlights of Milan on your own time.

This is perfect since you only have one day in Milan.

You can do all or part of the tour, depending on when you start and how you feel.

Afternoon in Milan– Overview

Afternoon: Duomo + Rooftop And Galleria 

     Parco Sempione

     Window Shopping Famous Streets

Evening – Navigli + Aperetivo

Afternoon in Milan- Detailed Itinerary

After the walking tour, grab lunch. Then head to the Parco Sempione. On a great weather day, you can also grab a picnic lunch and eat in the park.

This is a big park in Milan so there’s plenty of space to explore. Please keep track of your time and how your feet feel so you don’t overdo it!

Depending on what else you want to do, you can spend several hours here or only 30 minutes. I recommend spending some time walking around or relaxing in the park. 

Be sure to walk by Castello Sforzesco.

Walk the Fashion Streets

After walking through the park had to see some of Milan’s most famous streets. Milan is a a city known for fashion and many Italian designers have stores here.

• Corso Vittorio Emanuele II – Near the Duomo
• Via Manzoni – Near La Scala
• Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant’Andrea, Via della Spiga – luxury window shopping. Plus, it’s a beautiful place to be. Even if you aren’t into fashion,n walking these streets is still fun!
• The Brera Neighborhood- beautiful cobblestone streets and shops. It’s my favorite walk.

I’m not a high-fashion girl, and I don’t love shopping. But it’s still fun to walk the fashion streets in one of the world’s fashion capitals. 

Grab Dinner and Drinks with a View

When you’re ready for dinner, head to the Navigli district in Milan. Milan used to be a city of canals like Venice. Now, the remaining canals are in the Navigli part of the city. There are two main canals, Naviglio Pavese and Naviglio Grande. It’s worth wandering and looking at bridges. The views, cafes, and shops here are unique to this area of Milan.

Grab an aperitif (pre-dinner drink) at a bar overlooking the canals.

Or, grab dinner at one of the many restaurants in this part of the city.

It’s a perfect area to cap off your time in Milan.

Getting Around Milan

Milan is easy to get around. It’s also the second largest city in Italy, so public transit will be your friend. The city center is walkable and well-connected to the rest of the city.

A single ticket on public transit costs €2.20. A 24-hour pass costs €7.60 and covers everything on this itinerary.

The 24-hour pass is the way to go. You don’t have much time. As much as I love to walk around, using transit can help you maximize your time.

You can buy a 24-hour ticket from the ticket machines at the metro stations.

You can use tap to pay if you have a credit card with no international fees. It will calculate the cheapest fare for you. It is easiest to add a card to my phone’s wallet and tap for each ride.

If this sounds stressful, buy the 24-hour ticket! Decide which is easier for you and go with that.

Downloaded the city map on Google Maps. This makes it easy to navigate around Milan when your feet are tired.

Or, there is a Milan Transit App that you can use to plan your trip and see timetables.

Getting to Milan

There are so many ways to get to Milan but you’ll likely arrive by plane or by train.

By Plane

By plane, you’ll fly into Malpensa (MXP) or Linate (LIN). MXP is a large international airport.

There is a third airport, but it is very far away from Milan, so don’t fly into that one.

Each of the main airports is well connected to Milano Centrale Station.

The Malpensa Express connects Malpensa (MXP) to the city center. It’s a 54-minute ride and costs €13.

Linate (LIN) has more domestic flights, and the airport is very close to the city.  There are express bus options. The new M4 metro line will run in Linate as well. 

By Train

If you’re arriving by train, arrive at Milano Centrale FS. This is the main station, and it’s very well connected to the rest of the city. You can catch buses, metros, and trams from here. 

It’s big and can be confusing. Pay attention to the signage to make sure you know where to go.

Where to Sleep in Milan

With only one day in Milan, you want to stay somewhere that makes it easy to see the city.

Both times I’ve been to Milan, I’ve stayed near Centrale station, which has been perfect. It’s so well connected to the rest of the city that it’s easy to get around.

I’d also recommend staying in the city center, so you’re where you want to be when you start your day exploring the city.

Enjoy Seeing the Highlights Of Milan in One Day

Milan is an incredible city to visit! Even if you only have a day, you can make the most of your time and still see the highlights.

Enjoy your time by visiting The Last Supper and exploring the city!