Free self-guided walk · Milan

From the Duomo to Sforza Castle and Brera

A free self-guided walk from the Duomo through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and past La Scala to Sforza Castle, finishing in the streets of Brera.

Distance
3.4 km
Walking time
46 min
Allow
About 2.5 hours with stops
Stops
7

Open the route in Google MapsMilan city guide

About this walk

Milan's main sights cluster in a short line north-west of the cathedral. This walk links them, then turns into Brera, the old artists' quarter.

Seeing the Last Supper needs a ticket booked well ahead; it is a short walk from the castle.

  • Terrain: Flat and paved, step-free on the main route.
  • Best time: Morning for the Duomo square; evening for aperitivo in Brera.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Duomo

    Start in the square before the Gothic cathedral. The roof terraces are open by ticket.

  2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

    The 19th-century glass-roofed shopping arcade.

  3. Piazza della Scala

    The square in front of the La Scala opera house.

  4. Piazza dei Mercanti

    A small medieval square that was the city's civic centre.

  5. Via Dante

    A pedestrian street leading to the castle.

  6. Sforza Castle

    The great brick castle of the Sforza dukes, with free courtyards and museums inside.

  7. Brera

    Finish in the cobbled streets of Brera, around the Pinacoteca.

Tips

  • Book the Last Supper on the official site; tickets sell out early.
  • Sempione Park is behind the castle.
  • Many shops and restaurants close in August.

Prefer a guide?

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.