Milan is a departure port for river cruises through northern Italy from May through October, with Uniworld and Scenic Cruises both home porting here and Tauck River also calling.
Milan rewards travelers with a compact historic core built around the Duomo, a Gothic cathedral whose forest of spires and pinnacles took five centuries to complete and is crowned by the gilded Madonnina statue. Steps away lies Piazza della Scala, home to one of the world's most storied opera houses, while the glass-vaulted Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II connects the square to the cathedral square itself, lined with cafés and boutiques.
Beyond its landmarks, Milan serves as a practical gateway for excursions to Lake Como, whose villa-lined shores lie within easy reach by road. The city's center rewards those on foot, with the cathedral, opera house, and shopping arcades all clustered within a short walk of one another, making even a brief call enough time to absorb the essentials of this cosmopolitan northern Italian capital.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Milan.
Climb to the Duomo Rooftop
Ascend by stairs or elevator to walk among the cathedral's marble spires and gargoyles for close-up views over the city and, on clear days, the distant Alps.
Stroll the Galleria's Arcades
Wander beneath the glass-and-iron vaults linking Piazza del Duomo to La Scala, pausing at historic cafés and grand shopfronts that have anchored Milanese life for over a century.
Day Trip to Lake Como
Head north by car or train, about an hour from central Milan, to see villa-studded shores and lakeside towns like Bellagio, a scenic contrast to the city's urban core.
