RunCity

Milan on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Milan's best-known sights, including Teatro alla Scala, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Duomo di Milano and more. It is about 9.5 km on foot, roughly 3 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Milan leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 9.5 kmDistance
  • 3 hoursWalking
  • about 79 minRunning
Play Milan in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Milan
Photo: Jiuguang Wang · CC BY-SA 3.0

This route links Milan's historic centre with its canals and its newest skyline, about 9.5 km in all. It starts at La Scala, walks through the glass-roofed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to the marble Duomo and the medieval Piazza dei Mercanti behind it. The bonus stop, the Roman columns of San Lorenzo, is where Milan gathers for an evening drink, and the Darsena, the old canal harbour, is a short walk south.

The Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio and Santa Maria delle Grazie, home of Leonardo's Last Supper, lead to the Sforza Castle and the Arco della Pace at the far end of Sempione Park. The last stop is the Bosco Verticale, two towers with trees on every balcony in the Porta Nuova district. The metro covers the longer gaps, and seeing the Last Supper inside needs a ticket booked well ahead.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Teatro alla Scala

    Teatro alla Scala

    The plain neoclassical front of the world's most famous opera house.

    Photo: John Picken · CC BY 2.0

  2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

    Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Photo

    The glass-roofed arcade seen from the central octagon.

    Photo: Marco Pagani · CC BY 3.0

  3. Duomo di Milano

    Duomo di Milano Photo

    The marble façade and its spires from Piazza del Duomo.

    Photo: Jiuguang Wang · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Piazza dei Mercanti

    Piazza dei Mercanti

    The medieval market square tucked behind the Duomo.

    Photo: Stefano Stabile · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Colonne di San Lorenzo

    Colonne di San Lorenzo Bonus

    The sixteen Roman columns where Milan gathers for an evening drink.

    Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lizadaly/ · CC BY 2.0

  6. Piazza XXIV Maggio and the Darsena

    Piazza XXIV Maggio and the Darsena Photo

    The old canal harbour lined with cafés.

    Photo: Jwslubbock · CC BY-SA 3.0

  7. Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

    Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

    The brick basilica and its atrium courtyard.

    Photo: Novellón · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Santa Maria delle Grazie

    Santa Maria delle Grazie

    The church that holds Leonardo's Last Supper, seen from outside.

    Photo: Marcin Białek · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Sforza Castle

    Sforza Castle Photo

    The Filarete tower above the main gate.

    Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Arco della Pace

    Arco della Pace Photo

    The triumphal arch at the edge of Sempione Park.

    Photo: Filip Maljković from Pancevo, Serbia · CC BY-SA 2.0

  11. Bosco Verticale

    Bosco Verticale Photo

    The two towers with trees growing on every balcony.

    Photo: Jeronimo Alcala · CC BY 3.0

Play Milan in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Milan on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 9.5 km, roughly 3 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Milan is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Milan?

    Open Milan in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Milan leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Teatro alla Scala and finishing at Bosco Verticale. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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