Brera
900 m from Piazza del DuomoCobbled lanes between the castle and La Scala, with art galleries, small restaurants and the Pinacoteca. Elegant, central and fairly expensive.
- Population
- ≈ 1,400,000
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Best time
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Nearest airport
- LIN, 7 km
Start in the square: Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo, 20121 Milan
Piazza del Duomo is the centre of Milan in every sense. The white marble front of the cathedral, with its forest of spires, fills one side; the grand arch of the Galleria opens on another. A statue of King Victor Emmanuel II on horseback stands in the middle, and the metro runs below.
Within a short walk
- Milan CathedralPiazza del Duomo, 20122 Milan100 m
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele IIPiazza Duomo, 19-21, 20121 Milan200 m
- La ScalaPiazza della Scala, 20121 Milan400 m
- Pinacoteca di BreraVia Brera, 28, 20121 Milan900 m
- Museo Poldi PezzoliVia Manzoni, 12, 20121 Milan500 m
- San Bernardino alle OssaPiazza S. Stefano, 20122 Milan500 m
Where to stay in Milan
Ticinese and Navigli
1 km from Piazza del DuomoFrom the Roman columns of San Lorenzo down to the old canals, lined with bars for the evening aperitivo. An antiques market fills the towpath once a month.
Porta Nuova
2.1 km from Piazza del DuomoThe new skyline of glass towers and the tree-covered Bosco Verticale, around Piazza Gae Aulenti. Modern hotels near Garibaldi station.
Isola
2.6 km from Piazza del DuomoA small former working-class area behind Garibaldi station, with street art, local bars and good restaurants. Relaxed and close to the new towers.
Things to do in Milan
Milan Cathedral
Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milan
A Gothic cathedral that took six centuries to finish. Walk out on the marble roof among the spires, by stairs or lift; book ahead in summer.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Piazza Duomo, 19-21, 20121 Milan
A 19th-century shopping arcade under a glass roof, with cafés and luxury shops. Spin on your heel on the mosaic bull in the floor for luck.
La Scala
Piazza della Scala, 20121 Milan
Milan's opera house, open since 1778. The season starts on 7 December; the museum lets you look into the hall when there is no rehearsal.
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milan
The convent refectory with Leonardo's Last Supper on its wall. Visits are short and in small groups, and tickets sell out weeks ahead.
Sforza Castle
Piazzale Castello, 20100 Milan
A large brick castle of the dukes of Milan, now home to several museums and Michelangelo's last sculpture. The courtyards are free to walk through.
Pinacoteca di Brera
Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milan
A major collection of Italian painting in a palace shared with the art academy, with Mantegna's Dead Christ and Raphael's Marriage of the Virgin.
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
Piazza Sant'Ambrogio, 20123 Milan
One of the oldest churches in the city, founded by Milan's patron saint in the fourth century. A quiet porticoed courtyard leads to the Romanesque front.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli
Via Manzoni, 12, 20121 Milan
A collector's 19th-century home kept as a museum, with Renaissance paintings, armour and clocks. Small, calm and close to La Scala.
Parco Sempione
Parco Sempione, 20154 Milan
A large park behind the castle, with lawns, a pond and the Arch of Peace at the far end. Popular with runners and for picnics.
San Bernardino alle Ossa
Piazza S. Stefano, 20122 Milan
A small church near the Duomo with a side chapel whose walls are covered in human skulls and bones. Free to enter.
Getting there
Milano Linate Airport (LIN)
20138 Peschiera Borromeo
7 km from the city centre
Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP)
21015 Ferno
40 km from the city centre
Il Caravaggio International Airport (BGY)
24050 Orio al Serio
46 km from the city centre
Milano Centrale railway station
Piazza Duca d'Aosta, 20124 Milan
Main railway station, 2.6 km from Piazza del Duomo
When to go
Average daytime high and night-time low per month (2005–2024). Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
- 7°Jan
- 10°Feb
- 14°Mar
- 18°Apr
- 22°May
- 26°Jun
- 29°Jul
- 29°Aug
- 25°Sep
- 19°Oct
- 13°Nov
- 8°Dec
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 7 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| Low °C | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain mm | 54 | 63 | 63 | 86 | 118 | 92 | 74 | 85 | 85 | 101 | 122 | 68 |
| Rain days | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
| Daylight h | 9.1 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
The year in Milan
The biggest events that come back every year, starting with the next one.
From 7 DecemberFestival
Oh Bej! Oh Bej!
Milan's old Christmas market around the castle, opening on the feast of the city's patron saint, with stalls of sweets, crafts and roasted chestnuts.
February and SeptemberCulture
Milan Fashion Week
Designers show their new collections twice a year. Most shows are by invitation, but the city fills up and hotel prices rise.
AprilCulture
Salone del Mobile
The big furniture and design fair at the trade grounds outside town, with hundreds of free design events in shops and courtyards across the city.
AprilSport
Milano City Marathon
A spring marathon through the centre and past the main sights, with relay races for teams. Some streets close for the morning.
Early SeptemberSport
Italian Grand Prix
The Formula 1 race at the historic Monza circuit in a large park north of Milan. Trains run from the city on race weekend.
SeptemberMusic
MITO SettembreMusica
A classical music festival shared with Turin, with concerts in churches, theatres and halls across the city, many of them at low prices.
Practical information
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- 1 EUR = 1.11 USD = 0.84 GBP (ECB, 29 October 2026)
- Language
- Italian
- Plugs
- Type C and F and L, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112, 113, 115, 118
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (summer UTC+2)
- Country calling code
- +39
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
Public holidays in the next 12 months
Shops and museums may close or keep Sunday hours on these days.
- All Saints Day (Tutti i Santi)1 Nov 2026
- Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione)8 Dec 2026
- Christmas Day (Natale)25 Dec 2026
- St. Stephen's Day (Santo Stefano)26 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day (Capodanno)1 Jan 2027
- Epiphany (Epifania)6 Jan 2027
- Easter Sunday (Pasqua)28 Mar 2027
- Easter Monday (Lunedì dell'Angelo)29 Mar 2027
- Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione)25 Apr 2027
- International Workers Day (Festa del Lavoro)1 May 2027
- Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica)2 Jun 2027
- Assumption Day (Ferragosto o Assunzione)15 Aug 2027
- St. Francis of Assisi's Day (San Francesco d'Assisi)4 Oct 2027
Milan FAQ
When is the best time to visit Milan?
Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct, when the average daytime high is between 18 and 26 °C.
Which airport is closest to Milan?
Milano Linate Airport (LIN), about 7 km from the city centre.
What currency is used in Milan?
The euro (EUR).
What plugs are used in Milan?
Type C and F and L, 230 V.
What are the biggest yearly events in Milan?
Oh Bej! Oh Bej! (From 7 December), Milan Fashion Week (February and September), Salone del Mobile (April), Milano City Marathon (April), Italian Grand Prix (Early September), MITO SettembreMusica (September).
Nearby cities
All guides in Italy →Piedmont · 126 kmTurinPopulation ≈ 850,000
Liguria · 119 kmGenoaPopulation ≈ 580,000
Veneto · 141 kmVeronaPopulation ≈ 260,000
Lombardy · 45 kmBergamoPopulation ≈ 120,000
Last updated 29 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.