Quick Answer
- Best time: April to June and September to October, avoiding fair and fashion weeks.
- Where to stay: Duomo or Brera for first-timers; Navigli for value; Centrale for trains.
- Malpensa Express: runs every 30 minutes, 37 minutes to Cadorna and about 51 minutes to Centrale, with a return ticket at 25 euros.
- Other tickets: a 3-day ticket costs 15.50 euros and a 10-ride carnet 19.50 euros, and you can tap a contactless bank card at the metro gates.
- Last Supper tickets: 2 euros for ages 18 to 25 and free under 18; sales open in March for May to July, June for August to October, September for November to January and December for February to April.
At a glance
- Best time
- Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Language
- Italian
- From the airport
- Malpensa Express, 37-51 min, €15
- Visa
- Schengen rules; EES at the border
- Getting around
- Ticket €2.20; day pass €7.60
Quick tips
- Book The Last Supper first. Tickets are released quarterly and go fast.
- Avoid the fair and fashion weeks unless you have a reason to be there: hotel rates jump.
- Take the Malpensa Express or the M4 in, never a taxi in rush-hour traffic.
- Walk from the Duomo into Brera. Fifteen minutes from the busiest square in Milan, the city feels completely different.
Most first-timers give Milan half a day and see only the Duomo square. Give it two or three and it opens up.
Prices below were checked against the official operators listed at the bottom of the page.
How do you get from the airport to central Milan?
| Airport | Best option | Time | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malpensa | Malpensa Express train, every 30 min | 37 min to Cadorna, about 51 min to Centrale | 15 euros single, 25 euros return |
| Linate | Metro line M4 | About 12 min to the centre | 2.20 euros (standard urban ticket) |
The Malpensa Express runs from early morning until after midnight. Linate’s M4 runs until around 12:30 am.
What to pack for Milan
Four picks from our gear guides that suit this trip. Each card opens the live Amazon price; the links below lead to the full comparisons.
25 x 18 x 4 cm, 254 g, 2.1 L. Locking zips, a cut-resistant double-cable strap, an RFID passport pocket and a strap that clips to a chair. Reader’s Digest’s best crossbody for travel.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe best value compression set going. A double-zip pulls the air out so a week of clothes shrinks to a few inches thick, and you get eight pieces (cubes plus a shoe and laundry bag) for roughly the price of one branded cube. The fabric is thin and the zips aren’t lifetime kit, but for the money nothing beats it.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe reliable all-rounder: one USB-C and four USB-A ports, plugs for 200+ countries, and a built-in fuse with a spare. The adapter most people should buy.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonModel A1259, 10,000mAh, about 37Wh, 215 g. Two phone charges in a jacket pocket, and small enough that the two-bank limit never becomes a question.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonHow do you get around Milan?
When is the best time to visit Milan?
The shoulder months win, but in Milan the event calendar matters as much as the weather.
| Season | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr to Jun) | Mild and bright | Building | Mid, spiking during Salone del Mobile in April | Terraces, the all-round sweet spot |
| Summer (Jul to Aug) | Hot and humid | Lighter as locals leave | Lower in August | Quiet streets, but heat and some closed shops |
| Autumn (Sep to Oct) | Mild, golden | Building again | Good value between fairs | Best light, calmer museums |
| Winter (Nov to Mar) | Cold, often foggy | Low, spiking at Fashion Week | Cheapest outside the peaks | Indoor sights, bargains |
Milan empties around Ferragosto (15 August), when many family-run trattorias close. Fashion weeks (roughly February and September) and the Salone del Mobile design fair in April book out hotels months ahead, so if your dates land on one, reserve early or shift by a week. January after Epiphany and November are the quiet, cheap windows.
Where should you stay in Milan?
| Neighbourhood | Vibe | Price level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centro storico / Duomo | Central, grand | Highest | First-timers, sightseeing |
| Brera | Cobbled, arty | High | Galleries, slow strolls |
| Navigli | Canal-side, lively | Mid | Food scene, value with character |
| Near Centrale station | Practical, business district | Lowest | Budget, trains, airport links |
For a first visit, pick the Duomo area or Brera and walk everywhere. The Navigli is a little cheaper and full of places to eat, a short tram or metro ride from the centre. Near Centrale is practical rather than pretty.
What should you not miss in Milan?
| Sight | Ticket | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Supper (Santa Maria delle Grazie) | 15 euros; 2 euros ages 18 to 25; free under 18 | Reservation required for everyone; 15-minute visits; closed Mondays |
| Duomo and rooftop terraces | Ticketed, by stairs or lift | Book on the official site; go early or late |
| Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II | Free | Look up at the glass roof |
| Brera | Free to wander (Pinacoteca ticketed) | The antidote to the Duomo crowds |
| Navigli canals | Free | Best at dusk |
| Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione | Courtyards and park free; museums ticketed | Home to Michelangelo’s last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà |
Last Supper tickets are released quarterly: in March for May to July dates, in June for August to October, in September for November to January, and in December for February to April. Book the day sales open. Free first-Sunday tickets go online from Wednesday at noon the week before.
How do you eat well in Milan without overpaying?
- Try risotto alla milanese (saffron risotto) at a neighbourhood trattoria rather than on the Duomo square.
- Grab a panzerotto from a counter for a cheap, very Milanese snack.
- Eat in the Navigli or Isola for better value than the centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Milan?
April to June and September to October are the sweet spot: mild days, terraces open, and hotel prices below the summer peak, as long as you avoid the big trade-fair and fashion weeks. July and August are hot and humid, with some small shops shut around mid-August. Winter is cheaper and often foggy, though Fashion Week and Christmas push rates back up.
Where should I stay in Milan for the first time?
Centro storico around the Duomo keeps you walkable and central, Brera adds boutique-and-gallery charm, and the Navigli canals are lively and a little cheaper. Near Centrale station is the budget-and-transport pick, handy for early trains and airport links. Pick one central base and walk.
How do I get from Malpensa airport into central Milan?
The Malpensa Express train runs every 30 minutes to Milano Cadorna in about 37 minutes and to Milano Centrale in about 51 minutes. A single ticket costs 15 euros and a return 25 euros. From Linate airport, the M4 metro line reaches the centre in about 12 minutes on a standard 2.20 euro ticket.
Is the Milan metro easy to use?
Yes. Milan’s metro (lines M1 to M5) is colour-coded and signed by terminus, so you just match the line and direction. A standard ticket costs 2.20 euros for 90 minutes across metro, trams and buses, a 24-hour ticket 7.60 euros and a 3-day ticket 15.50 euros. You can also tap a contactless bank card at the metro gates.
How many days do you need in Milan?
Two to three days covers Milan comfortably: the Duomo and its rooftop, the Galleria, Brera, the Navigli canals and Sforza Castle, plus The Last Supper if you book well ahead. With more time, Milan is a great base for day trips to Lake Como, Bergamo or Turin by train.
Do I need to book The Last Supper in advance?
Yes, and well ahead. Reservations are required for every visitor, groups are small and each visit lasts 15 minutes. Tickets are released quarterly (for example, in June for August to October dates) and cost 15 euros, 2 euros for ages 18 to 25 and free under 18. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Start planning your Milan trip
Check two things before you book anything else: whether your dates clash with a fair or fashion week, and whether Last Supper slots are still open. Get both right and Milan is far easier, and cheaper, than its reputation.
Find cheap flights to Milan | Compare Milan hotel prices
Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit Italy guide and browse more stays on the hotels hub.
