Location: Milan
Top Things to do in Milan
10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Milan That You Shouldn't Miss
One of the world’s fashion capitals, Milan offers endless opportunities for chic shopping. Hit the artsy neighborhood of Brera for leather goods and Via Monte Napoleone for exclusive, expensive boutiques. The enchanting mosaics and glass vaults of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II make shoppers feel like they’re wandering inside a painting. Take break from your spree to gape at the iconic Duomo, then grab tickets to a performance at La Scala. Post-opera, the Navigli district pulses with late-night activity.
Restaurants in Milan
1. Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,483 reviews
Reviewed By NusratChe - London, United Kingdom
The exterior façade covered in grey stone is somewhat understated by Italian standards and one is not prepared for what lays in its interior. Once inside, your senses are filled with vibrant colours of paintings and frescoes everywhere. Walls are covered by spectacular frescoes from the 16th century while above, the vaulted ceiling is painted in glorious biblical scenes. This was a church attached to a nunnery and indeed there is a separate large room called 'Hall of Nuns'. A marvellous place to spend an hour or two, very close to Santa Maria delle Grazie that houses The Last Supper. No entrance fee but a small donation would show a visitor's appreciative decorum. On the vault of the hall of the nuns is depicted a starry sky, with God, the Evangelists, and angels. In the end there is the painting Ecce Homo. Organ In the hall of Nuns there is an organ of 1554 by Giovan Giacomo Antegnati entirely by mechanical transmission, consisting of a keyboard of 50 notes and a pedal 20, constantly united to the keyboard.
2. Dialogo nel Buio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,595 reviews
3. Bagatti Valsecchi Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 582 reviews
The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is a historic house museum that exquisitely expresses an extraordinary adventure of collecting at the end of the 19th century. The protagonists were two brothers: the Barons Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi.
Reviewed By cordyroy - Naples, United States
Beautiful palazzo filled with Renaissance furnishings. The brothers separate apartments have wonderful pieces. One of the beds is jaw dropping. The temporary exhibition of fantastical bird figures is scattered throughout. Part of the 4 houses plan in Milan for discounted admission.
4. Museo Poldi Pezzoli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,179 reviews
This fine museum houses an exquisite collection of art, furnishings and historic arms, including Antonio Pollaiuolo's "Portrait of a Lady," which has become an icon for Milan's own style and elegance.
Reviewed By Sauna_Boss - London, United Kingdom
Our second visit to this jewel of Milan. This delightful museum is filled with beautiful works of art and is one of our favourite places in Milan.
5. Monumental Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,755 reviews
Why visit a cemetery when you’re on vacation, you ask? The tombs at this Milan burial ground offer a great glimpse of Italian artistic styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Reviewed By DonnaandCraig - Doylestown, United States
The tombs of Milans famous and wealthy citizens from the 19th and early 20th centuries are large and extravagant. It's like walking around a huge, intriguing sculpture garden, it's fascinating. Well worth the visit. The China Town section of Milan is within walking distance if you want Asian food later.
6. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,337 reviews
The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana was established in April 1618, when Cardinal Federico Borromeo donated his collection of paintings, drawings and statues to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, which he had founded in 1607. Inside the Pinacoteca's expositive path, articulated in 24 rooms, we can admire some of the greatest masterpieces of all times, like The Musician by Leonardo, The Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio, The cartoon for the School of Athens by Raphael , the Adoration of the Magi by Titian, the Madonna del Padiglione by Sandro Botticelli and the magnificent Vases of Flowers by Jan Brueghel. In addition to Renaissance artworks, the museum's collections include paintings by important 17th century Lombard artists (like Morazzone, Giulio Cesare Procaccini, Daniele Crespi and Carlo Francesco Nuvolone) as well as 18th century artists like Giandomenico Tiepolo, Fra' Galgario, Francesco Londonio, and also a notable cluster of 19th and early 20th centuries authors like Andrea Appiani, Francesco Hayez and Emilio Longoni. Walking from a room to another you can also discover a series of genuine curiosities, like the gloves that Napoleon wore at Waterloo, the armillary spheres from the Settala Collection, or the case that keeps a lock of Lucrezia Borgia's hair, in front of which many famous poets like Gabriele D'Annunzio and Lord Byron came to take inspiration. The ideal end of the visit is the Biblioteca Ambrosiana's old 17th century reading room, the Federiciana Room, which is the frame for the Codex Atlanticus exhibition.
Reviewed By blairkk25 - New Jersey, United States
I visited the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in December 2019. I had a hard time finding it and ended up walking around for 45 minutes with my map and asking several people (in Italian) for directions. But my persistence paid off. The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is a beautiful museum but it is poorly lit. The ticket cost 15 euros. They provided a good museum plan in English and other languages which gave good guidance on the key works of art to look at. Some of the works of art in this museum include - paintings by Botticelli, Titian, Caravaggio, Breugel and many others. A cartoon by Raphael. A staircase with a beautiful mosaic panorama. Statues in the courtyard. A library with items of Leonardo da Vinci. After the library is a nice bookstore and gift shop. I had an enjoyable visit. But make sure you get precise walking directions to the museum.
7. Chiesa di Santa Maria presso San Satiro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,776 reviews
Just south of the world-famous Duomo in Milan, this historic church was built in the 9th century. More commonly known as “San Satiro,” it houses Byzantine frescoes and other works of art.
Reviewed By 214evaf - Bloomington, United States
Visit and admire the amazing depth perception of the altar arches and columns. It is so deceiving! Ingenious.
8. Leonardo da Vinci's Horse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By alessandrofL127YD - Milan, Italy
Wonderful horse of Leonardo da Vinci, must see. His story is very strange. The study for the realization of this equestrian masterpiece began in 1482, when Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan, proposed to Leonardo to build the largest equestrian statue in the world. In 1493, the first design was modified and another design like this was implemented and displayed. A clay copy was also shown publicly. Everything was ready but the 100 tons of bronze, necessary to make the statue, were not available due to the merger of several cannons useful for the defense of the Este duchy. In 1499, French troops arrived in Milan, which used it as a target - shot (idiots) and destroyed it. Thanks to the American Charles Dent, art collector, enthusiastic about the idea of realizing Leonardo's dream, we can see this majestic work. He managed to build the company for fifteen years at a cost of $ 2.5 million, he died before seeing the horse completed. Another American, Frederik Meijer, continued to finance the project, which eventually materialized He was placed in this position in 1999. I understand that a horse is doing well in front of the Milan racecouse, but only idiots like the French in 1499 did not understand that it was a job to be placed in a central area of the city
9. Museo Civico Archeologico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By AleDima2014 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A small museum, close to San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (a must), with two Roman towers in the garden to remind visitors that Milan used to be a capital city of the Roman Empire. you will find an interesting collection of Greek, Roman, Etruscan and Lombard artefacts, including jewelry and ancient glasses. You can visit it in one hour, 5 euro is the full price for a ticket.
10. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,869 reviews
Reviewed By giacomina17 - Brisbane, Australia
You can't miss this place as it is huge. Amazing to think it is so old. Milan's second most important church after the Duomo. Good signage throughout means you get to appreciate its history and the art work, especially in the side chapels.
