Top 10 Things to Do in Milan

Leonardo's extraordinary mural, painted on the refectory wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie, is one of the most studied and reproduced artworks in history. Timed tickets sell out weeks in advance, so booking early is essential.

Italy's oldest active shopping gallery is a breathtaking 19th-century iron-and-glass arcade connecting the Duomo to La Scala opera house. Luxury boutiques and historic cafes line the mosaic floor where locals spin on the bull's testicle for good luck.

Milan's canal district is the city's most atmospheric neighborhood, lined with art galleries, vintage markets, and aperitivo bars that fill up at sunset. The Sunday antique market along the Naviglio Grande is one of the largest in Europe.

The Golden Quad — formed by Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, and Corso Venezia — is the world's most prestigious shopping district. Every major luxury fashion house maintains its flagship store here.

The cobblestoned Brera neighborhood is Milan's artistic soul, home to the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Italy's foremost fine art museums. Beyond the museum, the streets are filled with independent bookshops, antique dealers, and candlelit trattorias.

This colossal 15th-century fortress once housed the court of Ludovico Sforza and Leonardo da Vinci, and now contains seven museums including Michelangelo's final unfinished sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà. The adjoining Sempione Park is perfect for a post-museum picnic.

La Scala is arguably the world's most famous opera house, its name synonymous with operatic excellence since 1778. Even non-opera fans should visit the small but fascinating museum and try to catch a performance during the legendary season.

Designed by OMA, this art complex in a converted distillery complex presents challenging contemporary art exhibitions across a campus of old and new buildings covered in gold leaf. The bar designed by Wes Anderson is an attraction in itself.

The Milanese aperitivo ritual — drinks accompanied by generous free buffets of finger food — is a local institution that begins at 6 pm across the city. Corso Como, Isola, and Navigli are the best neighborhoods to experience this beloved tradition.

Leonardo's extraordinary mural, painted on the refectory wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie, is one of the most studied and reproduced artworks in history. Timed tickets sell out weeks in advance, so booking early is essential.

Italy's oldest active shopping gallery is a breathtaking 19th-century iron-and-glass arcade connecting the Duomo to La Scala opera house. Luxury boutiques and historic cafes line the mosaic floor where locals spin on the bull's testicle for good luck.

Milan's canal district is the city's most atmospheric neighborhood, lined with art galleries, vintage markets, and aperitivo bars that fill up at sunset. The Sunday antique market along the Naviglio Grande is one of the largest in Europe.

The Golden Quad — formed by Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, and Corso Venezia — is the world's most prestigious shopping district. Every major luxury fashion house maintains its flagship store here.

The cobblestoned Brera neighborhood is Milan's artistic soul, home to the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Italy's foremost fine art museums. Beyond the museum, the streets are filled with independent bookshops, antique dealers, and candlelit trattorias.

This colossal 15th-century fortress once housed the court of Ludovico Sforza and Leonardo da Vinci, and now contains seven museums including Michelangelo's final unfinished sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà. The adjoining Sempione Park is perfect for a post-museum picnic.

La Scala is arguably the world's most famous opera house, its name synonymous with operatic excellence since 1778. Even non-opera fans should visit the small but fascinating museum and try to catch a performance during the legendary season.

Designed by OMA, this art complex in a converted distillery complex presents challenging contemporary art exhibitions across a campus of old and new buildings covered in gold leaf. The bar designed by Wes Anderson is an attraction in itself.

The Milanese aperitivo ritual — drinks accompanied by generous free buffets of finger food — is a local institution that begins at 6 pm across the city. Corso Como, Isola, and Navigli are the best neighborhoods to experience this beloved tradition.