Milan is a working town. It is a busy place and is going to get busier in about one day with the EXPO 2015 opening. Why not get away from the crowds below and enjoy some peace and tranquillity from up above? Here are some panoramic opportunities in Milan. Three are a variety of options from climbing to the top of a 14th century church to aperitivo time to shopping at the city’s most glamorous department stores.
1. Duomo
The classic must-see. Climb the 250 steps or take the elevator to get to the top of Milan’s main cathedral. The view of the square below is amazing, but also mingling with the spires and gargoyles high above the city is pretty amazing too. On a clear day, you can see the Alps in the distance.
INFO:
Site: Duomo
Hours: Daily 9:00AM – 7:00PM. Last ticket 6:00PM. From May 9 to September 13 every Friday and Saturday all-day opening from 9:00AM to 9:30PM. Last ticket 9:00PM.
Closed on Christmas and May 1st.
Admission: €12 elevator, €7 stairs (discounts for groups available)
Address: Piazza del Duomo
2. Ristorante Giacomo Arengario
This restaurant is located on the rooftop of the modern and contemporary art museum, Museo del Novecento right next to the Duomo. Take in an exhibit at the museum, then head up to the roof for a dinner with views.
INFO:
Site: Ristorante Giacomo Arengario
Hours: Daily (7 days a week) from noon to midnight
Contact: Via Guglielmo Marconi, 1
+39 02 72093814 – info@giacomoarengario.com
3. La Torre Branca
This tower is located in the Sempione Park. The park itself is also a great place to visit. Manicured gardens, soft grass and big trees have all the makings for a relaxing Sunday afternoon stroll.
The tower is 355 feet high and just like the Duomo, on a clear day, you can see the Alps.
INFO:
Site: Torre Branca
Hours: Have a look at the site above for opening times. Note some days they are open until midnight.
Admission: €5
Address: Viale Emilio Alemagna (Parco Sempione)
4. La Rinascente
La Rinascente is actually an upscale department store. On the 7th floor there is a high-end food store as well as a variety of eating options. All the way to the end of the store, there is a cafe’ that has glass roof seating as well as a terrace with perfect views of the Duomo across the street. This cafe/restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and even has tea time between the hours of 4:00PM-6:00PM Monday – Friday. Expect to pay more for that tea as the price includes the view as well.
INFO:
Site: La Rinascente
Hours: Daily 9:30AM – midnight
Contact: Piazza Duomo, 7th floor, +39 02 88521
5. Sky Terrace – Hotel Milano Scala
Super cosy and relaxing Sky Terrace (part of Hotel Milano Scala) is centrally located and the place to be during Spring and Summer. Enjoy a drink along with fab appetizers. New York Times “36 Hours: 125 Weekends in Europe,” included Sky Terrace as one of the four reasons to visit Milan.
INFO:
Site: Sky Terrace
Contact: Via dell’Orso, 7, +39 02 870961
Italy Translated 
Oh I love Milan! Great post!
I was there with some girlfriends and we had great time! I would love to visit the city again to take more pictures and really doing the cultural thingies. When traveling with friends, sometimes it was hard to do travel photography 😀
Hi Indah! Well….next time you come, let me know and we can hang out…and you can take all day to take photos…maybe even teach me some tricks! 🙂
Once again, you made me want to hop on a plane and come to Italy! Wayne and I were in Milan 12 years ago and your pictures brought back memories. But, of course, we didn’t know all of those “gems” to go to…we need to go with you!
Hi Kathy!!! Thanks so much…yes…get back over here ASAP!!!!! It could be a fun bday trip ya know! 🙂
You’re making me dream of an Italian getaway!! That upscale food shop in the department store sounds right up my alley … I can only imagine the goodies there considering it’s ITALY – and of course I wouldn’t refuse a great view 😛 haha … it’s clear where my priorities lie!
Hi Sophie….you and I would be great in the food shop together…to me that is where the REAL view is! ha, ha, ha!
Awesome views! I think I got your nespresso pods from Rinascente – (I think… Do they have a nespresso section?) I loved exploring there and thought the cafe was really cute! You’ll have to take me to Sky Terrace next time we visit. 🙂
YESSSS!!!! What a memory!!! But the nespresso part is in the dungeon of the Rinascente…. 😦 Can’t believe we did not go up to the terrace!
I actually went there alone somehow and did go up to the terrace! 👍😊
Wait…what?!!?!? YAY….good! It is nice up there….I took my friend Susan who has lived here 20 years, and she had never been (this was a few months ago)…..she said she felt like she was on vaca…..
I will do all of the above! I’ll take the view from a table with a nice glass of red wine. Wow!!
Hi Susan…yes…views with vino……that is the best for sure! Have a good weekend!
Diana! I remember you took Natalie, Britt and I to the Duomo and La Rinascente-so pretty! I remember I could not go into the Duomo-I had a spaghetti strap top on and forgot to bring something to cover my shoulders! It was all so beautiful!
Hi Sheri! Yes…that was fun going in there together. HMMMMM….we have a second chance to do the Duomo in a few months! YAY! Cannot wait!
There must be xome amazing views there. The cathedral rooftop sounds like a fascinating place to be!
There would be some GREAT photo ops for you there! 🙂
…is what I was thinking! A few years ago I got some great views of the city of Liverpool from the top of the cathedral tower there and enjoyed taking some photos (https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/liverpool-city-views/)
Beautiful Graham….I tell you what….you come to Italy and I will take you around for great photo ops…meanwhile, you can teach me about photography? good trade off! 🙂
My sister was working a la Rinascente for a few months. Milan is such a busy working city, I worked there for a while too but being a country girl, I could not get used to the city. I loved the fashion and the “aperitive time” though!
I really like your panoramic photo from the basilica. Che bella! Un abbraccio cara ciao!
Ciao Alida…yes….Milano is for sure a crazy town….lots of people…..which I kind of like, I don’t know – – – I spend a lot of time alone and I think all of the people make me feel connected somehow. But aperitivo is wonderful…maybe TOO wonderful….makes it difficult to take advantage of the fashion! Ha, ha, ha….Comunque…grazie!! buona serata!
Somehow, despite two visits to Milan, I never went to the top of the cathedral. I did dine at the top of La Rinascente, though, to get the view.
Hi Alison…..yay…a good reason to come back. We can go together. It would be fun to meet!
Nice picture.
Hi Jacob…thank you!
How are you, Diana?
Stunning pictures and views! Milan is a really beautil city that is for sure 🙂
Such gorgeous views and stunningly captured.
Hi Sue! Thanks so much for your kind comment!!! Have a great weekend!
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