What to do in 2 days in Milan: tips and tricks to discover the city's best in a short time

It's a city with a thousand faces, it's also the most European in Italy, with renowned sites and hidden corners to discover. So, how do you decide what to do 2 days in Milan? There are several ways to get to know this modern city full of history, without stress and without missing out on the places that have made it famous throughout the world.

If you like walking you will get the chance to savor the unique atmospheres of the most evocative neighborhoods, perhaps admiring the windows of high fashion boutiques or taking a coffee break in one of the many trendy bars in the city. Alternatively, you can explore Milan with the colorful red buses, so as not to miss any of the most loved monuments. If you're in the mood for sport, a fun way to visit Milan is a guided e-bike tour.

In any case, here is an itinerary to discover Milan, its most picturesque corners and the monuments that you simply cannot miss.

Discover Milan in e-bike❯

An itinerary on what to do for 2 days in Milan cannot fail to start from its most famous and beautiful square: Piazza Duomo. You can get there easily, thanx to the metro, Duomo stop. Here, in one place, you will find also the Royal Palace and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Take your time to enjoy this extraordinary square, starting of course from the Duomo, with its magnificent interior and the view you can enjoy from above, climbing onto the roof terrace. It is one of the busiest destinations in Milan, so remember to book your ticket in advance to avoid long queues. Also don't forget a visit to the adjacent Duomo Museum, which is located inside the Royal Palace, to the right of the cathedral and less than two minutes away. Palazzo Reale also often hosts top-class art exhibitions, so it's worth checking the calendar.

On the opposite side of the square there is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with its shops, bars, restaurants and its iron and glass roof which has inspired many other Italian galleries.

Visit the Cathedral and its rooftop❯

After a well-deserved break in one of the many restaurants in the centre, there are all types and for all budgets, return to the square and take metro line 3, direction Comasina. Just one stop and you will be on Via Montenapoleone, right in the heart of the fashion's word.

Put some elite shopping on your calendar for your next trip to Milan and head to the Brera district instead. Here you will find one of the most important art galleries of Milan and of Italy as well, with masterpieces by Mantegna, Caravaggio, Bellini and many others.

The Botanical Gardens, a green oasis of peace and serenity, is just a few minutes away and it's usually loved by children too.

Brera, however, is above all the perfect place for a totally relaxing walk;  it's a neighborhood to be enjoyed little by little, without haste, with its flower-filled balconies, shops and bistros. It's among the things to do in Milan in 2 days because its romantic atmosphere will remain in your heart and will allow you to get to know a different side of Milan.

After an intense day there is nothing better than relaxing in one of the most evocative and at the same time lively places in Milan. The Navigli district is located around a network of navigable canals whose banks are connected here and there by small bridges. It's located a little outside the center but is well connected thanks to trams and the metro; the closest stop is Porta Genova on line 2.

Here you will find art, antiques, music and even poetry. Among the most illustrious inhabitants of the Navigli there is in fact the greatest Italian poet, Alda Merini, whose house is now a small museum. In the evening, from aperitif time until late at night, the neighborhood becomes particularly picturesque thanks to the thousand lights of the bars, pizzerias and restaurants that are reflected in the water. No wonder that the New York Times included Ripa di Porta Ticinese, the road that runs along the canal known as the Naviglio Grande, among the most beautiful promenades in Europe.

You can also take the opportunity to see Milan from a truly unique perspective by traveling along the Navigli by boat while sipping a cocktail. Find out how clicking the link below.

Find out hot o book a boat tour on the Navigli❯

Let's start our second day of this small guide on what to do 2 days in Milan with another city's unmissable places.

The Sforza Castle, connected by the Metro line 2, Lanza stop, is the imposing fortress built by the Dukes of Milan in the 15th century. Not to be missed because today it hosts several museums of ancient art, prehistory and music. Here you can also find one of Michelangelo's most famous works, the Pietà Rondanini.

Also, right behind the castle there is one of the biggest Milan's green oasis of Parco Sempione, where you can stop and rest for a while before the very last stop.

Visit the Sforza Castle and the Pietà Rondanini❯

To end your journey on a high note, visit the Last Supper, the famous work of art by Leonardo da Vinci.

It is one of the greatest masterpieces of Western art and is located in the refectory of the convent adjacent to the sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The church is also worth a visit, it's in fact a true Renaissance jewel, a UNESCO heritage site since 1980.

You can get there with a walk of fifteen minutes or less, starting from the square in front of the castle and heading to the left onto Via Carducci first, and then Corso Magenta. Remember that access to the refectory is limited to preserve this fragile masterpiece, tickets must therefore be booked in advance. The one ticket that includes also the Sforza castle is quite practical.

Book your tickets to The Last Supper and Sforza Castle❯

Nothing better to end your 2-day trip to Milan than an aperitif. Basically the most Italian social ritual, which is particularly popular in Milan and which you can celebrate basically everywhere in town. However, some neighborhoods become particularly evocative in the evening.

Either Brera or the Navigli, for an instance, are a great choice, but if you have visited the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie you are less than one kilometer away from the basil of Sant'Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan. It is an awesome monument at any time of the day, but at night, when it is illuminated, it acquires a very special charm. In the streets surrounding it, you can also find many trendy bars, small restaurants, wine bars and so on, where you can stop for an authentic Milanese aperitif.