Day 1: Milan Highlights in 24 Hours
Duomo & Rooftop Terraces
Start at Milan's Duomo — the third-largest church in the world, 600 years in the making. The exterior has 3,400 statues and 135 spires. Take the lift (€14) or stairs (€10) to the rooftop terraces — walk among the Gothic spires with views stretching to the Alps on clear days. Inside, the stained glass is extraordinary. Then walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — the world's oldest shopping mall.
The Last Supper & Brera
Pre-book Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie (€15, book months ahead on the official site — only 30 people every 15 minutes). The 25-minute viewing is intense and moving. Walk to the Brera district — Milan's art quarter with the Pinacoteca di Brera (€15), independent galleries, and the Orto Botanico di Brera garden (free).
Navigli — Aperitivo & Nightlife
Head to the Navigli canal district for Milan's best aperitivo scene. Most bars along Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese offer cocktails (€8–12) with a generous buffet spread from 6–9pm. Start at Mag Café for craft cocktails or Rita for a bustling terrace. The canal-side walk at dusk, with reflections of coloured buildings in the water, is quintessentially Milanese.
