With nearly 1.5 million residents, Milan is the second-most populated Italian city after Rome.
It’s also the capital of Lombardy and is located in the country’s northern-central portion, equidistant between Switzerland to the north and the port city of Genoa and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
Milan is most well-known for its distinct cuisine, vibrant art scene, and abundant attractions, including historical sites, museums, and incredible natural scenery.
For activity-minded travelers, there are hundreds of tours offered in and around the city, so staying engaged and entertained while in Milan definitely won’t be an issue.
1. Segway Tour
Source: goga18128 / shutterstockFeaturing two daily start times and lasting between two and three hours, these fun and educational Segway tours are great options for cost-conscious travelers determined to utilize their vacation time wisely.
Before embarking on their two-wheeled machines, guests will get helmets and a thorough orientation designed to bring everyone up to speed quickly.
Tours are limited to just eight participants, meaning a much more memorable and personalized experience.
Stops include the Duomo, Cathedral Square, Sforza Castle, and Via Dante.
Tours begin at mid-morning and mid-afternoon and are not a good fit for children under 16 years of age.
2. Evening Food Tour
Source: RossHelen / shutterstockMilan is one of Italy’s culinary meccas; most visitors to the city spend as much time eating as they do exploring and seeing the sights.
Billed as one of Milan’s ultimate food experiences, this three-hour evening tour is perfect for those who want to explore neighborhoods, rub elbows with locals, and taste a variety of Milanese fare, including both traditional and contemporary offerings.
Comprised of a perfect mix of history, culture, and cuisine, it’s great value for first-time visitors with empty stomachs and inquisitive minds.
Plan on sampling everything from meatballs, pasta, and ham to gelato, wine, and Prosecco.
3. Ferrari Test Drive with Video
Source: MikeDotta / shutterstockFor most supercar aficionados, actually driving a glistening Ferrari with an exorbitant price tag and nearly 600 horsepower is little more than a fanciful pipe dream.
However, for those who find themselves in Milan with a few hours to spare, there are relatively inexpensive options that shouldn’t be passed up.
Under the tutelage of a Ferrari expert and experienced driver, participants will enjoy a brief history of the iconic car brand, learn about the best way to steer, brake, and accelerate like a pro, and get a briefing on track dos and don’ts.
Each participant gets three laps behind the wheel and a video of their automotive exploits.
4. Personal Travel and Vacation Photographer Experience
Source: oneinchpunch / shutterstockEven relatively well-heeled international travelers rarely get followed by paparazzi, but for those who want to capture themselves and their vacation experience for posterity, there’s a great option.
Personal travel photographers are a relatively new phenomenon, but they offer a valuable service that’s really beginning to catch on.
Guests will consult with the provider before the big day, after which they’ll meet their guide and visit some of the city’s most notable attractions.
Tours include the services of a local guide who’s also an expert photographer. You’ll receive a link to a personal online album that is usually ready within five days.
5. 3-Hour Architecture of Milan Bike Tour
Source: DisobeyArt / shutterstockDespite its sprawling metropolitan area and high population, Milan is full of bike-friendly areas that lend themselves to cycling tours.
This three-hour guided tour focuses on the city’s impressive architecture and includes historical attractions, contemporary ones, and everything in between.
Sforza Castle was built by the Duke of Milan in the 15th century and is one of the tour’s highlights.
Along with their guide, guests will explore the castle grounds while learning about its fascinating history.
Then it’s off to one of the city’s most contemporary neighborhoods—Porta Nuova, or New Port.
The tour features a relaxed pace and ample time to stop for photos.
6. Sightseeing and Cooking Class
Source: kavalenkava / shutterstockMilan is usually abuzz with locals, tourists, and vendors buying and selling everything from fresh meat and produce to baked goods and prepared food items like fresh bread and local honey.
For foodies, it’s one of those must-visit cultural and culinary attractions that’s often referred to as the city’s beating heart.
After exploring the city with your guide, guests will make their way to the kitchen, where they’ll get a crash course in Milanese cuisine.
Tours include lunch, wine, and a take-home recipe book featuring some of Milan’s most notable dishes.
7. Milan Cathedral and Terraces Fast-Track Guided Tour
Source: MarinaD_37 / shutterstockMilan’s Cathedral complex is a place where many visitors spend significant amounts of their time.
In addition to the cathedral itself, the area features an archaeological site, San Gottardo Church, and a popular museum that’s a great place to spend an hour or two for those interested in learning about the city’s unique history.
This fast-track, 1 ½-hour tour gives visitors a chance to experience both guided and free exploration time, and leaves plenty of time in the day for other tours and activities.
During peak times, tour ticket holders will skip the lines, which means more time spent enjoying and less waiting.
8. Best of Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line to Duomo and Last Supper
Source: TTstudio / shutterstockDa Vinci’s Last Supper is one of the world’s most priceless works of art. On this three-hour tour, guests will visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where it’s on display.
Tours include the services of a knowledgeable, English-speaking guide, are limited to 25 guests, and include headsets that describe the things you’re seeing at each location along the way.
Viewing the Last Supper is highly regulated, but guests of the tour will have exclusive reservations, which make for a more poignant and memorable experience.
Other options include visiting the Milan Duomo and Sforza Castle at minimal additional expense.
9. The Monumental Cemetery of Milan Guided Experience
Source: Maykova Galina / shutterstockThe Monumental Cemetery of Milan is the second-largest burial site in the city. Unlike most others, it’s well-known for its unique and colorful monuments and tombs.
The cemetery was originally opened in the 1860s and is the final resting place for some of the city’s most prominent citizens.
On this 1 ½-hour tour, guests will delve into a part of the city not often visited by tourists. Along the way, they’ll enjoy engaging tales and commentary from their local guide.
Tour highlights include the graves of some of Milan’s most interesting historical characters and a tomb that was built to mimic Da Vinci’s Last Supper.
10. Wine Tasting with an Italian Sommelier
Source: olgakimphoto / shutterstockFeaturing three different daily start times to accommodate imbibers of different schedules, this one-hour wine tasting tour with an Italian sommelier is the perfect complement to a day exploring Milan’s wonders.
Tours include stops at a number of popular wine bars, at which guests will learn about local culture and history, the winemaking process, and the nuances and flavor profiles of the wine varieties they’re sampling.
Appropriate for both beginners and certified wine junkies, tours also include local food like cheeses and cured meats, olives, and local bread that have been selected because they pair well with the wines on-hand.
11. Off-the-Beaten-Path Private Walking Tour
Source: Mate Karoly / shutterstockThere’s really no better way to have a street-level cultural experience than on a guided walking tour.
Featuring attractions that don’t typically get much foot traffic, this tour is a good match for fit travelers who prefer hidden gems to overly crowded tourist hotspots.
The tour’s highlights include the Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa, the hidden crypt at Missori Square, and the remnants of the Church of San Giovanni in Conca that was originally built in the 4th century.
Tours last about 90 minutes, and both men and women must have their shoulders, abdomens, and knees covered sufficiently before entering the churches.
12. 3-Hour Private Fashion and Shopping Walking Tour
Source: RossHelen / shutterstockAlong with cities like Tokyo and Paris, Milan is one of the world’s fashion epicenters. Every year, it hosts chic fashion shows and other events that draw well-to-do visitors from all over the world.
On this three-hour, fashion-centered tour, guests will follow their guide’s lead into some of the city’s most exclusive shopping and fashion districts like Quadrilatero della Moda, where brands like Armani, Versace, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana reign supreme.
Tours begin in a central location in the later afternoon and are customizable based on the interests of guests.
For a custom itinerary, contact the tour operator and let them know your preferences before booking.
13. Chocolate and Rum Tasting Tour
Source: TYL Photography / shutterstockThough it’s not so well-known outside culinary circles, the flavor profiles of chocolate and fiery spirits like rum complement one another nicely.
On this unique two-hour gastro tour, guests will sample several chocolates and rums, learn how best to appreciate their nuances, and have an all-around sweet and intoxicating time.
Tours are held at a private location and feature brands of rum and chocolate that aren’t readily available at grocery and liquor stores.
Tours start in the evening and leave plenty of time for those who’d like to enjoy a late dinner or a night on the town.
14. Milan Dark Ghost Tour on Foot
Source: www.getyourguide.comApparently, Milan has more than its fair share of ghosts, because this two-hour tour is dedicated to bringing tourists within arm’s reach of the souls of the unsavory and long dead.
At 9:00 pm, when most other travelers are safely ensconced in their comfy hotel beds, guests of this macabre tour will set out into the streets to explore parts of the city that most sane folks dare not tread.
From their licensed guide, guests will hear tales of murder, intrigue, betrayal, and conspiracy, many of which relate to prominent citizens of eras long past.
Food, tips, and transportation aren’t included.
15. 1-Hour Sightseeing Tour by Rickshaw
Source: www.getyourguide.comBack in the old days, Rickshaws were generally powered by forlorn peasants with little else in the way of job opportunities.
Thankfully for down-and-outers the world over, those days are largely in the past.
In Milan, for example, rickshaws are now usually guided by well-fed local guides who are enthusiastic about sharing their amazing city with international visitors.
Tours include premiere attractions like Sempione Park, the Duomo, Sforza Castle, and Santa Maria delle Grai Church, which is home to Da Vinci’s Last Supper.
Rickshaws are covered but windowless, meaning ample breeze and protection from the sun and rain.