What to Do in Milan in 6 Hours: A Guide for Short Layovers

June 20, 2025
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Milan is the city of art, fashion and design, as well as home to a busy layover airport. The city is pretty walkable, meaning you can see a lot of the highlights in just a few hours – making it perfect for a layover escape!

Table of Contents

Can I leave Milan Airport during my layover?

Yes, you can leave the airport but I would recommend an absolute minimum layover of 5 hours, anything over is better. Milan airport is called Milan Malpensa Airport and the code is MXP. Your average time to leave the airport, get to and from the city and re-enter will be between 3-4 hours, meaning if your layover is 6 hours you will have 2 in the city – adapt the itinerary according to this, all activities will have a time estimate.

Visa Requirements to leave Milan Airport during a layover

Milan is in Italy which is located in Europe. If you have an EU passport, you won’t need a visa to enter the country.

If you are from the US or other non EU countries, you may be eligible for a Schengen visa that allows entry up to 90 days. This will soon be replaced by ETIAS, a new travel authorisation for countries that don’t need a visa to enter Europe. I’d highly recommend checking you country’s guide on entering Europe and what documents/visa/authorisation you need at the current moment.

Time to pass through immigration in Milan and leave the airport

If you are flying domestic or within the EU, you won’t need to go through passport control. If you also don’t need to pick up your luggage as it will automatically be transferred to the next flight (check this with your airline), then you can be out in 30min – 1 hour. For international flights with passport check, expect 1 hour+. If you have to pick up your luggage, this can add an additional 15-30 minutes.

Getting back to the airport in time

You need to arrive back at the airport with plenty of time to spare so that you can go through security and passport control. The official guidance suggests 2-3 hours before your flight, usually 2 is enough. Your bags should have been transferred automatically, but if you booked with different airlines you may need to re-check it too. Allow enough time for this.

How to get from Milan Airport to the City Centre:

Milan Airport has two terminals that are quite far apart but they are connected by free shuttle bus. There are several ways to get to the city centre:

Bus – Terravision runs a bus from the airport to Milan Central Station for 16€ return, it takes about 50 minutes.

Train – Malpensa Express runs from both terminals to several stations in Milan, taking around 50 minutes and costing 13€ each way.

How to get around Milan using public transport?

Milan is very walkable, but it also has an extensive public transportation network, including metro, trams and buses. You can pay using your contactless card. A single ticket costs 2.20€ for 90 minutes.

Ultimate Milan Layover Itinerary

Here are all of Milan’s must-see attractions for a short layover. When calculating which places you have time to see, account for the roughly 3-4 hours you will need just to leave and re-enter the airport.

The suggested time spent in each place is based on fully exploring it. If you only have 2 hours in the city, you can still see most of these items, take a quick picture and move on.

Let’s get into it:

Map of this Milan Layover Itinerary

Start with the famous Duomo di Milano (~2 hours)

The best way to start any Milan tour is with THE landmark: the Duomo di Milano. You can take the best photos of the Gothic cathedral from the Piazza del Duomo. The Duomo is entirely made of brick faced with Candoglia marble. If you only have a short time on your layover, you will only be able to see the cathedral from the outside, which is already well worth it.

If you do have the time to go inside, I highly recommend you pre-book your tickets to get the required time-slot and cut down on waiting times. The Combo Lift or Stairs tickets are often said to be the best value, including the stunning interior of the cathedral as well as the rooftop terraces that boasts incredible views over Milan.

Take a stroll through the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (30 min)

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping centre in Italy and often referred to as the heart of the city. It is lined by luxury brand shops and fancy restaurants. Make sure to look up at the stunning window ceiling!

While there, take part in an ancient ritual that has recently grown famous on social media: for good luck, spin 3 times with your heel over the bull’s testicles in mosaic (representing the Turin coat of arms) on the floor of the gallery’s central octagon.

Marvel at the Teatro alla Scala (45 min)

This is one of the most famous opera houses in the world, with a beautiful exterior and interesting tours. You can enter for a self-guided tour for 15€ or get a guided one from 30€ where you will learn all about Milan and Italy’s theatre history.

If you have extra time, you could even see one of the shows here, a variety of operas, ballets, and concerts.

Revisit history at Piazza Mercanti (20 min)

Visit this Piazza for a glance into Milan’s medieval past – the central square of 13th century Milano. While the buildings here may not seem as impressive as its more modern neighbours, they are important reminders of Milan’s century old legacy.

Visit the impressive Sforzesco Castle (1 hour)

Located a short walk away from the city centre, you will find the imposing Medieval-Renaissance fortress. It’s fascinating to visit even from the outside, transporting you back centuries in time. Both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo worked on the castle once upon a time.

The courtyard is free of charge and the museum including the works of the mentioned masters costs just 5€. You can easily spend a few hours here if you have the time, marvelling at the architecture and interior.

Wander around Parco Sempione (30 min)

Located right behind the castle, you will find the extensive Parco Sempione. A beautiful green area in the heart of Milan with a big pond. When we visited here, there was an event going on with locals ballroom dancing, it was so fun! Everyone was super welcoming and kind.

If you have extra time to explore Milan:

Milan Free Walking Tour

One of my favourite ways to get to know a new city is via a “free” walking tour where you tip at the end. They are usually locally run and will cover all of the main attractions, as well as where to eat and more.

Navigli district

Often referred to as one of Milan’s liveliest neighbourhoods with great nightlife, Navigli is named after the 2 canals that run right through the area. If you have the time, it is worth strolling through the streets here and enjoying the atmosphere!

Go see “The Last Supper”

Milan is home to one of the most famous paintings in the world, still at its original place on the wall of the dining room of the former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is a huge painting depicting Jesus and his disciples during their famous last meal. Make sure to pre-book this attraction as it gets very busy. Tickets are €15,00 and you only get a 15-minute viewing window (tickets sell out months in advance). To have more time and tickets even last-minute, consider booking a tour:

QC Termemilano

If you are looking to relax, this is the place to go. A unique wellness centre with a Spa and thermal baths, right in central Milan.

Where to stay in Milan?

If you do decide to extend your layover and stay a night or more in Milan, these are hotels/hostels at different price points I would recommend. All have great reviews, are central and come with good amenities: