9 activities in Milan, Italy

Take in the best of Milan’s fantastic landmarks and tourist attractions on the quick and convenient City Sightseeing hop-on/hop-off bus tour. What’s more, with this offer you can take your pick from three carefully designed bus routes to really make the most of Milan. From the beautiful Duomo to the Sforza Castle and everything in between, there is no better way to explore Europe’s most elegant city.

Take a seat on the open-top double-decker bus and enjoy the panoramic views of Milan as you are driven through its stylish streets. With the City Sightseeing bus, you can get off the bus whenever you want to explore a place in more detail and simply wait for the next bus to pick you up and continue your tour.

With this offer, you can choose your perfect route from four pre-planned tours. Choose Route A and make the journey from Piazza Castello to the Moscova station. This route comprises of twelve possible stops in total, including the Parco Basiliche, the Duomo, the Scala Theatre and many more. Choose Route B and travel thirteen stops from Piazza Castello to the Brera District, taking in the Lombardia Palace, the Venetian Gate, the Duomo and much more. Opt for Route C and travel 16 stops from Piazza Castello to the Sempione Park, visiting the Hippodrome, the San Siro stadium, the Aquarium and many more of the city’s fantastic highlights.

There is no better way to explore the most elegant city in Europe!

Important
Please be advised that itineraries may be subject to change without prior notice. In the event of any unplanned traffic restrictions, City Sightseeing is not responsible for any disruptions or line diversions beyond their control. For the latest updates on Routes and schedules, please ask to the Assistant on board.

Languages
Pre-recorded English, Italian, Spanish, German, French Russian, Japanese, Portuguese.
Commentary for kids in Italian, English and Spanish

Terms and conditions for pets
Only small and medium-sized pets are allowed on board. If the driver has any reason to believe that the pet may cause damage or put passengers at risk, they have the right to deny access. Pet owners must use a lead or a muzzle and if possible a carrier. The owner must ensure that the animal behaves itself and doesn’t disturb other passengers or members of staff. If the animal makes the bus dirty, the owner will have to pay a fine to cover the cost of cleaning it. The owner is liable for any damage caused by the animal in line with the Article 2051 civil code.

Terms and conditions for luggage
In order not to breach security procedures, you must not bring suitcases, awkward bags, big backpacks or anything of that nature on the bus.

Information of visitor centre
1) Milan Visitor Center – Largo Cairoli
Inside the Milan Visitor Center, placed in Largo Cairoli/Via Cusani 18 customer can ask for any kind of information, take our maps and change its voucher
Opening hours: 9am-7pm
2) City Sightseeing Milan Visitor Center - Central Station
Inside the Milan Central Station within Galleria Carrozze
Opening hours: 9am-7pm

Visit the fashionable Stresa and the amazing Islands on Lake Maggiore on a half day trip from Milan. Set in Italy's beautiful Lake District just 1.5-hour drive from Milan, Lake Maggiore is surrounded by the majestic Alps and home to some of Italy's most impressive gardens. After some free time for shopping in Stresa, you will take a two-hour panoramic boat cruise on the lake, visiting the Borromean Islands (Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella)

Highlights
Visit the lovely Italian town of Stresa
Professional tour guide
Lake Maggiore boat cruise
Stunning scenery featuring lakeside villas and gardens
Explore the Borromean Islands (Isola dei Pescatori and Isole Bella)

On the borders of Piedmont, Lombardy and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore, also known as Verbano is the second largest Italian lake. Your visit will start in Stresa and here you will have free time to explore this quiet and fascinating little town, try some local food or indulge in some shopping before taking a stunning lake cruise. On board you will enjoy the view of exquisite lakeside villas and lush gardens surrounded by crystal blue waters set amidst the beauty of snow capped alps.

First, we pass the exotic Isola Madre, home to a 20 acre park that is considered one of the most impressive in Italy, before heading back in time to the simple life of Isola dei Pescatori where you will have free time to explore, shop or enjoy a light lunch.

The next stop will be the luxurious Isola Bella with the elaborate gardens of the Borromean Palace (not included) surrounded by boutiques and cafés housed in grand historic buildings.

Finally, you will re-join the boat and cruise back to Stresa for your return to Milan.

Italy’s best Pizza and Gelato Class is finally in Milan!

"Italians do it better"... certainly true if we're talking about tasty pizza and creamy gelato. Well finally so can you, learning to make genuine pizza and gelato in a unique location: our brand new (and very hip!) cooking studio in downtown Milan!

Among all Italian cooking classes the Diadema Cooking School’s signature cooking class in Milano in English is now doubt among the finest and best cooking classes in Milan!

Master the most delicious of all Italian arts from the pros, discover the tricks of the trade and make authentic, genuine pizza and gelato. Meet our expert "pizzaiolo" and follow his cues, he will illustrate, and demonstrate, the secrets which lie behind picture-perfect, scrumptious pizza.

In the fascinating ambiance of our cooking studio the chef will show you how to make pliable paper-thin yeast dough, kneading it to perfection. He will give you tips on how to prepare a zesty, yet light tomato sauce to spread on top. Aprons on: it's your turn to measure the ingredients, knead and roll.

While the dough rests take a break to savor a selection of our premium Diadema wines and olive oil before learning another, unique, trick of the trade: making gelato and the cone for it! Hear all about the history of Italian ice-cream, discover the raw ingredients and learn where the best are produced from your entertaining chef. Mix the ingredients and whet your appetite watching the chocolate melt into the cream.

While the gelato churns its way to perfection your chef will show you how to combine the ingredients to make the batter and cook your cone, and once it’s done you can get back to your pizza. It’s time to roll out your dough, choose your favorite toppings, season and flavor it to taste and pop it into the oven!

As soon as your fragrant pizza comes out of the oven, piping hot and tempting, sit down, relax and indulge your taste buds with the unique flavors of the best meal in the world: the fragrant home-baked pizza and luscious gelato you made yourself in the heart of downtown Milan!

At the end of your pizza making class you will receive a Certificate of Attendance and a full Recipe Booklet to keep and use once back home, to make pizza and gelato for your friends and family.

Entertaining, instructive and easygoing our gelato and pizza making class is perfect for families seeking an activity where children can learn about local culture in a fun and relaxed way.

Others:
*Vegetarians and/or those suffering from intolerance and/or allergies are more than welcome: vegetarian and other alternative recipes are available and included (advance notice is appreciated).

Our first stop will be Lugano. In less than an hour, we will pass the Italian border to arrive in Switzerland. We will take a scenic drive to the foot of the Alps and the “Monte Carlo of Switzerland”. Spectacular Lugano is located on the beautiful lake of the same name. This Italian-speaking town is one of Switzerland’s top tourist destinations and favourite playgrounds for celebrities, athletes, and entertainers.

If you are craving artistic culture, take a relaxing walk through town to Santa Maria degli Angioli Church. It is here where Bernardino Luini, whose works were often mistaken for Leonardo da Vinci’s, painted his Passion and Crucifixion, largely considered to be Switzerland’s most important Renaissance painting. Would you rather explore the elegant city centre? No problem! Make your way over to the beautiful downtown shopping area, brimming with inviting shops, rich Swiss chocolate, and fine luxury goods. Lugano is certainly a destination that you don´t want to miss.

Next, we reach the famous city of Bellagio, the “pearl of Lake Como”. Once in Bellagio, you will have free time to enjoy the town and do some shopping, or just relaxing and eating some local food in the most nostalgic bars and restaurants of the city. Once you have had a chance to take some photos and enjoy the town’s charming atmosphere, you will board a boat for a 2-hour cruise along the lake, with Como as a destination.

This is a unique opportunity to admire the breath-taking landscapes and see villas of the rich and famous all around the lake. Lake Como is a famous holiday destination for stars and celebrities, and during the cruise, your guide will point out George Clooney’s villa, plus villas that once hosted Star Wars and James Bond movie sets.

During this relaxing cruise, you will have time to take pictures and learn from your guide about stories and anecdotes of the lake while enjoying a drink or a snack at the bar and restaurant on the boat.

After that, the bus will take you back to Milan’s city center in time for dinner. Experience the highlights of Northern Italy and Switzerland on this flexible and relaxing Lake Como and Bellagio Day Trip from Milan, including Lugano.

Important Information
Please note you will need the correct Visa in your passport to enter Switzerland. Please check the link in your voucher for more information about the visa requirements.

Languages
English

Discover the best of Milan on an eye opening tour among some of Italy´s most beautiful architecture.

The Best of Milan on Foot and Da Vinci's "Last Supper" - Priority Access
You will start with a visit inside the famous Duomo, located in the most central point of the city. This grand Gothic cathedral took almost six centuries to complete and is the fifth largest cathedral in the world. Our next stop is the impressive Galleria Vittorio Manuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping centres, with two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in a spectacular glazed octagon.

Passing through the Gallery you will arrive at Piazza della Scala, the square which houses the world-renowned Scala Theatre – Milan’s Opera House. Some of the greatest musicians and singers the world has ever known have performed here. Next, it’s through the Brera District. Rich in historical buildings and, old literature cafés, restaurants and trendy bars, it is one of the most fascinating places in the city to visit.

The great finale of the tour is none other than Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, hidden away in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This tour of the best of Milan includes this difficult to obtain a pre-booked ticket*, guaranteeing exclusive, no queue entry and an intimate viewing of this special painting.

"The Last Supper" by da Vinci and the best of Milan on foot - Priority access
If you prefer to your start the tour by viewing the impressive masterpiece of da Vinci, "The Last Supper", surely you lean for this option. After visiting the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, we will enter the Brera District, the bohemian district of Milan, and visit its picturesque streets before reaching the Sforzesco Castle, old fortress and one of the most iconic monuments of the city.

Continuing your tour, will lead you to the great Galleria Víctor Manuel II, whose arcades, ceilings and mosaics will leave you impressed. Just located a few meters away you can find the Scala Theatre, Milan’s Opera House and chosen location for the premiere of some of the most important operas throughout history. After seeing one of the most famous theatres in the world, you will visit the Duomo, the great symbol of Milan.

Languages
English

The Ultimate Florence Cooking Class… finally in Milan!

Dining, in or out, is a question of style in Milan, and only here can one find all of Italy (and most of the world) in the kitchens, and the majority of Michelin-star restaurants. But nothing beats learning to make it yourself, right? Learn the tricks of the trade at the best cooking class in Milano!

Finally, you can: our signature “Wanna Be Italiano” cooking class, beloved and popular ever since 2007, is now available in downtown Milan!

Master the art of preparing typical Milanese fare and traditional Italian cuisine, enjoy a unique pasta making class in Milan led by an experienced charismatic chef; dive into the depths of flavor in the charming contemporary premises of the Diadema Cooking School!

First of all set off to explore Milan’s fascinating culinary scene visiting the city’s bottegas, crammed with fresh produce and local specialties. Led by your chef you will browse, learn about the local specialties and traditional food heritage, and liaise with the vendors, butchers and bakers as you pick out the best, tastiest ingredients to prepare your meal. Groceries in hand take a short walk to our cooking school, a brand-new stylish facility in the heart of town.

Aprons on, following your chef's skilled instructions and learn how to prepare exquisite traditional dishes: cheese fondue, ragout, fresh hand-rolled pasta and dessert, too. Measure, mince, mix and stir (and taste, of course, to get the seasonings right!), and take a break to savor a selection our premium Diadema wines and local specialty cheeses. Once all is ready sit down with a good glass of wine and relish the best Italian meal ever: the one you made yourself in the heart of Milan.

At the end of the experience you will receive a Cooking Class Attendance Certificate, as well as a full Recipe Booklet to share the recipes you learned with your friends and family at home… everyone will love tasting what you learned to make at your cooking class in Milano!

What's more, you get free subscription to our Food & Wine Club (25-Euro value), to access special discounts online on wine and typical products!

Others
Menu varies slightly according to the season but will generally include hand-made pasta, pasta sauces, cheese fondue and a dessert.

The biggest medieval town in Europe, Genoa maintains the charm of the ancient maritime republic. The Ancient Harbour renovated in 1992 by the architect Renzo Piano and the labyrinth of narrow alleyways in the old town are just two of the many attractions of this city. On arrival in Genoa downtown, a professional guide will show you the heart of the city on an inspiring walking tour.
After free time for lunch, visit the colourful village of Santa Margherita Ligure on the Tigullio gulf, nicknamed the Dolphins Gulf due to the lange school of dolphins that are often spotted there. Here you take the boat for a mini-cruise to the charming fishing village of Portofino, a half-moon shaped sea side village whose beauty has been narrated across the millennia by writers and poets such as Guy de Maupassant.

The journey ends with the return by boat to Santa Margherita, where your coach will be waiting to take you back to Milan.

Language
English

Take a ride on the Green Train of the Alps on a spectacular journey on the Swiss Alps from Milan. Cross the lake of Thun on a cruise boat to reach the enchanted village of Interlaken.

Highlights
Rail tour from Milan aboard the Green train of the Alps
Amazing cruise on the Lake Thun
Stunning Alpine scenery of the Swiss Alps
Free time to explore Interlaken
Professional tour leader
Depart Milan on a high-speed train for the town of Domodossola, the last Italian frontier before the Swiss border. Here begins your adventure on the “Green train of the Alps!”

The train takes you on a journey through the Simplon pass, one of the most beautiful crossings in Switzerland. Cutting between the alps, your knowledgeable English-speaking guide will introduce you to the secrets of mountains and the valleys as they appear before of your eyes.

After around 2 hours of breath-taking panoramas, we arrive in Spiez, on the shores of Lake Thun. Here we stop for a spot of lunch (not included), before departing on our cruise to Interlaken, on a state of the art steamboat.

Whilst crossing the lake, take a moment to snap some pictures of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, 3 famous mountains whose recognisable shapes reflect in the light blue water of the lake.

Once in the Interlaken, enjoy time to explore the picturesque architecture or take a walk around the shore where you can marvel at the hang gliders peacefully soaring over the snow capped alps in the distance. Aside from beautiful views, don’t forget to try some of the world’s finest Swiss chocolate at the one of the many local specialty chocolatiers that dot the town.

In the late afternoon, we take the train back to Domodossola, before returning to Milan on an air-conditioned coach.

Experience the appeal of the European Alps on a full-day trip to Courmayeur and Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, from Milan. With your guide, travel to Courmayeur, a picturesque Alpine town, and ascend to the Helbronner peak (3466 mt) in the amazing Monte Bianco Skyway cable car. Capture sweeping views of th Italian, Swiss and French Alps on camera, visit the marvellous exhibit of Crystals and the Botanical garden at Le Pavillon.

Highlights
- Full-day trip to Courmayeur and Mont Blanc from Milan
- Professional tour guide
- Ride the cable car to the summit at the Helbronner peak
- Spectacular views of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn

Climb on top of Europe on this panoramic journey to the Mont Blanc. Leave Milan early in the morning on an air-conditioned coach and reach the Alpine town of Courmayeur.

Ride up the Monte Bianco Skyway cable car and discover a spectacular panoramic view of the Valle d’Aosta and the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. On a clear day, you may even see Mattherhorn, considered on the icon of Switzerland, it is actually shared with Italy where it iss called Cervino.

The first stop on the way up is at Mont-Frety Pavillion. Here you can visit the "Botanic Garden Saussurea", one of the highest in Europe, that offers a rich variety of incredible, rare and beautiful alpine plants from worldwide mountain areas. You can also enjoy a typical lunch (not included) at the restaurant Bellevue, the local dishes retrace the Aosta Valley tradition with polenta and meat but international cuisine is also available, or visit the Cave Mont Blanc and experimental High Altitude Winery.

In the afternoon, you take the last leg of the skyway and reach Helbronner peak. Enjoy free time at the top to soak up the views. From its height of 3,466 m, the terraces of the Helbronner peak offer a 360° view of all the Italian, Swiss and French Alps.

After you are full of fresh Alpine air and loaded with pictures, meet your guide and travel back down into the heart of Courmayeur town center. Browse the shops at your leisure, perhaps enjoy a refreshing drink on a sun-drenched terrace in town (own expense) and admire the many chocolate-box chalets and boutiques you find.