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 and 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.
