3 Days In Milan: An Itinerary For First Timers

3 Days in Milan Itinerary

For the first day in Milan, you can dedicate an entire day to exploring all the highlights of Milan by beginning in the city center and visiting Duomo di Milano, the largest cathedral in the country featuring over 135 adorned spires, thousands of statues, all intricately sculpted to perfection, and a beautiful interior adorned with dark and gritty Gothic decors. No wonder why it took over 600 years to complete!

The best part about visiting Duomo di Milano is the fact that you can also climb up to the top of the cathedral’s roof and you will find a terrace with sweeping panoramic views of Milan’s stunning cityscape. You will also be able to see all those statues up close on the roof. The views are especially beautiful at sunset when the city is bathed in a golden light.

While you are in the city center, be sure to check out the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an open-air mall housed in this stunning glass-vaulted arcade as high as a skyscraper that is home to a wide variety of high-end stores, restaurants, and cafes that will test the depth of your wallet.

While you are at Milan’s city center, you might as well drop by and see Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro, which is an elegant 15th-century church constructed during the Renaissance, located not too far from Duomo di Milano.

Now, let’s get a little cultured and visit one of the many great museums in Milan starting at Pinacoteca di Brera, probably one of the most popular art museums here. The gallery was founded in 1809 by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, who wanted to create a collection of art that would rival the best in Europe. The gallery is housed in the Palazzo Brera, a beautiful 18th-century palace that was once a Jesuit college.

Inside the museum, you will find a vast collection of religious artworks that were created during the Renaissance as well as a selection of statues including another massive statue of Napoleon as Mars, the Peacemaker. No one is more proud of these Napoleon statues than Napoleon himself, I’d imagine, haha 😂.

The museum is pretty big, so spare at least about an hour or 2 here before we head over to our next stop. The ticket price is around 15 EUR per person. To get inside, you are going to have to book a time slot which can be done from the official website or you can just show up and buy the ticket in front of the museum and choose the time slot via one of the many ticket machines at the entrance.

As you explore the city center, head north and you will find the incredible Sforzesco Castle, a massive 15th-century castle complex built by the powerful Sforza family, who ruled Milan during the Renaissance. They also used to live at the Royal Palace, which is located not too far from here, at the time.

One of the highlights of visiting Sforzesco Castle is hanging out in its vast courtyard and gardens located inside and behind the castle, which are open to the public for free. Many people often come here for a picnic, to hang out with friends, and simply take a stroll through the greenery to escape from the bustling life of Milan.

As you explore Sforzesco Castle, do not forget to make your way to Arco della Pace through the beautiful green space of Sempione Park. Arco della Pace, or Arch of Peace, is basically like the Arc de Triomphe of Paris but for Milan.

Spend your evening relaxing at Sforzesco Castle until sunset and then make your way to Naviglio Grande. As you walk, be sure to drop by and check out the Roman Columns of San Lorenzo, a group of ancient Roman columns located near the city center of Milan, believed to be from the 2nd century AD as part of a larger public building or temple. It is one of the oldest structures in the city.

It shouldn’t take you long to walk from the Roman Columns to Naviglio Grande, where we will be chilling out in the evening. This hip neighborhood is built in a way that resembles Amsterdam with colorful buildings, hip restaurants, and cafes, all lined up along both sides of a canal.

The area is a great place to spend the evening with plenty of restaurants and bars for you to choose from. People, both locals and tourists alike, often come out in droves and hang out here. It definitely feels more alive here and less crowded and touristy than all the other places you will visit in Milan. Definitely a great place to end your first day in Milan.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Milan? Check out:16 Best Things to Do in Milan

Day 2: Day Trip Around Lake Como

For our second day, we are going to visit Lake Como, a stunning lake known for its picturesque little villages that dot its banks, set against the breathtaking view of the Italian Alps.

It’s going to be a long day, so be sure to start as early as you can. I’d say, catch the earliest train from Milan to Varenna. It should take about 2 hours before you arrive in the picturesque town. From there, you can spend about 2 hours before taking a boat to Bellagio.

Bellagio, or as it is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Lake Como, is another cute charming little town known for its picture-perfect backdrop of the Alps as well as its colorful narrow streets, crisscrossing up the hillside, surrounded by stunning architecture, cafes, and restaurants.

Basically, Bellagio is the exact image of what you imagine Lake Como would look like. Cute, charming, fairy-tale-like, and beautiful, all in one. It is also probably one of the most crowded towns out of all but thankfully, we are there early in the day so it shouldn’t feel as crowded. Spend another 2 hours exploring the streets before taking another ferry to Menaggio, our next destination.

Menaggio is another small charming town located on the western shore of Lake Como and it is known for its beautiful narrow streets, hillside town, and beautiful promenade full of lovely cafes and restaurants. You can spend about an hour resting and relaxing before we take the bus to Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello, some of the prettiest lakeside villas you will see in Italy.

First, we visit Villa Carlotta, a historic villa built in the late 17th century, known for its elaborate garden design, the incredible view overlooking the lake, and one of the most beautifully decorated villas here.

The garden inside Villa Carlotta is incredible. Located right at the entrance of the villa, you will have to walk through it before you can get inside. The garden features a wide variety of plants, flowers, and sculptures that will make you feel like you are walking around a medieval castle instead of a villa.

Spend about an hour there before taking another bus and visit Villa del Balbianello, probably one of the most well-known tourist attractions in Lake Como. This villa is the very place where they shot some of the Naboo scenes in the prequel Star Wars movies, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, as well as 007: Casino Royale.

Getting to this villa requires a bit of effort, but I guarantee you, it will be worth your while. From Tremezzo, it will take about 10 minutes before you have to get off at Lenno, the closest town to the villa. Once you are here, you will then have to walk along the shoreline for around 30 minutes until you arrive at the entrance by around 3:30 PM.

Spend about an hour here and by the time you are done, it should be approaching sunset. You can head over to Como Town and enjoy a nice evening out, exploring its beautiful lakeside city, or head back to Milan early and call it a day.

If you find all this extremely hectic and rushed, you might want to visit Lake Como with an organized tour instead. It will allow you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip without having to worry about the logistics.

Looking for a complete one-day itinerary for Lake Como? Check out:One-Day Lake Como Itinerary from Milan

Day 3: Visit Bergamo

On our third day, we can go on another day trip and visit Bergamo, a beautiful city steeped in history and only an hour’s train ride away from Milan, so you do not have to start as early as the day before. There are some truly incredible sights and attractions to be seen here and definitely worth a visit if you want a little change in scenery.

Bergamo is home to many historical and cultural sites all spread out across the Upper and Lower Towns. The entire Upper Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located inside a fortress on top of a hill overlooking Bergamo city and is home to many medieval and Renaissance buildings, including the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Cappella Colleoni.

You take one of the many trains from Milan Centrale to Bergamo Train Station, which should take about 50 minutes. From the train station, it is another 30 minutes leisurely stroll through the Lower Town to get to the Upper Town.

I highly recommend starting to explore the Upper Town first as it is the prettiest part of the city and there are a ton more things to do there. Plus, the view is incredible from the Upper Town.

While you are in the Upper Town, make sure you check out Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Cappella Colleoni, Campanone, and Palazzo della Ragione.

You can also go even further uphill and take a funicular up to San Vigilio for an even more incredible view of Bergamo and its surroundings. This part of Bergamo doesn’t get as many tourists as the square in the Upper Town which makes for a nice relaxing stroll for those looking to escape the crowds.

After you have taken the funicular up, you can stroll around the area and make your way to Torre Castello San Vigilio, a castle ruin that sits on top of a hill overlooking the city of Bergamo, which is only a few minutes’ walk away from where you got off the funicular.

You can spend around an hour or two just relaxing and exploring this part of Bergamo before you make your way back to Bergamo Old Town via the same funicular station and make your way down to the Lower Town to explore further.

The Lower Town is also full of interesting architecture and historical sites as well, like the Basilica of St. Alexander in Column and Chiesa dei Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano, so be sure to check those out.

If you do not want to deal with the logistics of all of this, you can also visit Bergamo by shuttle bus using a transfer service or on an organized tour. After you are done in Bergamo, you can take the train back to Milan and retreat for the night, thus ending our Milan itinerary.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Bergamo? Check out:11 Best Things to Do in Bergamo

When to Visit Milan?

Italy can get pretty hot in the summer, so if you want the weather to be a little milder, I highly recommend you visit during the shoulder seasons from April to late May and September to early October.

If you don’t mind the heat and want the best weather for swimming and relaxing in the sun, places like Lake Como are ideal during the summer months between June and August, but be sure to brace for the crowds.

To avoid the tourist crowds during this period, I highly recommend starting your day as early as sunrise. You’ll have many places to yourself. I’ve done this many times at busy locations like Lake Como and found myself enjoying the scenery more in the early mornings when there are fewer people around.

I wouldn’t recommend visiting in the winter as that will hinder our day trip quite a bit with the limited daylight and train schedule. For example, visiting Lake Como as a day trip in Milan wouldn’t be worth it during this time as you will not have enough time to enjoy the beautiful scenery the place has to offer. Stick to the recommended period and you are golden.

How to Get to Milan?

There are several ways you can get to Milan: flying directly from the US or within Europe; taking a train from other countries; or hopping on an international bus across Europe.

From the US, there are many direct flights from JFK that will take you straight to Milan in about 11 hours via Emirates, Delta, and American Airlines. You can browse through great direct flights from here.

From Europe, you have quite a lot more options here. You can either fly directly to Milan from places like the UK via Wizz Air, take a train from all the major train stations around Europe, or catch one of the many buses to Milan. Flixbus is highly recommended when it comes to bus travel in Europe.

From Asia, there are also many direct flights to Milan operated by local carriers from cities like Singapore, Seoul, or Tokyo or you can go with connecting flights which are often a bit cheaper. There are many flights from Asia that connect via Middle Eastern countries like Emirates via Dubai or Etihad via Abu Dhabi. The journey should take approximately 12 hours direct.

To find a cheap flight to Milan, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

How to Get Around Milan?

By Walking: Within the city center, you can pretty much visit most tourist attractions on foot. For further away attractions, you can rely on the metros for short distances and the train for longer distances.

By Metros: Milan has a very extensive metro system that allows you to move around the city pretty efficiently. The metro ticket is 2.20 EUR and you can easily tap your credit card at the gate when you enter the platform. No need to fiddle with the ticket machines. Very convenient!

By Trains: When traveling between cities, trains are a reliable option in Italy. With excellent coverage and generally dependable schedules, though there may be a chance of a 5-10-minute delay, they are operated by Trenitalia, which you’ll be using for your day trip to Lake Como and Bergamo.

Due to the short transit time and the tendency for trains to be delayed, always allow at least 20 minutes for transit if possible. You can book a train ticket online beforehand, which is extremely convenient.

By Tours: If you prefer not to deal with the logistics, organized tours are available for getting around and for day trips to places like Lake Como and Bergamo.

How Much Money Do I Need for 3 days in Milan?

From this 3-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 4 nights in Milan, you can expect to pay around 120 EUR for accommodation at a minimum, considering you are staying in hostels.

Food: For 3 days, 3 meals a day in Milan, you can expect to pay around 90 EUR for food, considering you eat out for every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.

Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 54.55 EUR for transportation including roundtrip tickets to Lake Como and Bergamo.

Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 128.5 EUR for activities, 60.5 EUR in Milan, 54 EUR at Lake Como, and 11 EUR in Bergamo.

Total Budget for 3 days in Milan: 393.05 EUR

Is it Safe in Milan?

In general, Milan is pretty safe, but just like other big touristy cities in Europe, you will have to be extra careful with your belongings, especially in crowded places like the metros and the train stations. Petty theft and pickpocketing are quite prevalent there.

As usual, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended and always, ALWAYS keep an eye out on your belongings at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places like a metro or a train station and make sure you are holding your phones and wallets tightly.

Other than that, you should be fine traveling around Milan. I didn’t have any problems in Italy when I was there. Keep your wits with you and you will be fine.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Italy?

There are 4 major carriers in Italy: TIM, Vodafone, W3m, and Iliad, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Italy. Unfortunately, with the rise of eSIMs, having to be in the country to buy a sim card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.

If you have a smartphone that supports eSIMs, I highly recommend you take a look at this eSIM. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from ranging from 1 GB for 7 days costing only 5 USD to 10 GB for 30 days costing 22.5 USD.

The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don’t have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local SIM card with 4G speed across the entire country.

Or if you are traveling to Italy as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-month trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.

For more information on eSIMs in Italy, click here: Check Italy’s Available eSIM.

What to Pack for Milan?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Milan, Italy:

Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.

Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.

Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi’s jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.

Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).

Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It’s lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.

Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker’s towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.

Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.

Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.

Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It’s a total game-changer.

Universal Adapter: You’ll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.

Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.

Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It’s large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it’s stylish as hell!

Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Northern Italy

I hope you found this Italian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:

First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You’re going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Week Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
Have a day to spare in Milan? Why not spend it in the hilltop fortress of Bergamo. Here are the 11 best things to do in Bergamo.
Ah… Venice, the city of art, culture, and the birthplace of the Renaissance. You just can’t visit Italy without seeing it with your own eyes. To help you plan a trip there, here are the 15 best things to do in Venice.
Planning a trip to Lake Como but not sure where to begin? Check out: the 10 Best Places to Visit in Lake Como.
For a complete backpacking guide to Lake Como, check out: The 3-Day Lake Como Itinerary for Those Without a Car.
Want to visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan? Check out: One-Day Lake Como Itinerary from Milan.
For an off-the-beaten-path place to visit in Northern Italy, you can’t go wrong with Bologna. For a complete travel guide, check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Bologna.
Want to explore the Dolomites but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites.
For a complete backpacking itinerary for the Dolomites, check out: the 7 Days Dolomites Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
At the heart of sunny Tuscany lies Florence, one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. If you are planning to visit Florence, check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Florence.
Cinque Terre, known for its picturesque stacked houses on cliffs and coastlines, is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the bustling city life in Northern Italy. To start planning, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Cinque Terre.
Planning to visit Pisa and the Leaning Tower? Check out: 10 Best Things to do in Pisa.
Siena, a medieval town in Tuscany, will transport you back to the Middle Ages the moment you step in. If you want to visit Siena, here are the 10 Best Things to do in Siena.
For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.