Timeline
09:30
Walk through the main entrance of La Rinascente. Browse the ground floor for a quick look at the design and appliances section, or head straight to the rooftop terrace if it is open, to get your first elevated view of the Duomo's spires.
09:45
Step into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Walk across the mosaic floor and look up at the glass roof and cupola. This is the perfect spot to admire the architecture before it gets busy.
10:00
Sit down at Biffi. It is an old-fashioned restaurant and café inside the Galleria that serves drinks and food such as spaghetti, veal, and desserts. It is open from 12:00, so if you arrive at 09:30, you can grab a coffee and pastry here early, or use it as your lunch stop later. For a lighter start, order a cappuccino and a cornetto.
10:30
Walk out of the Galleria and into the piazza. Stand before the Duomo. Admire the massive, impressive late Gothic facade in white marble, festooned with spires and statues. You can admire the facade free from the piazza.
Local tip
Biffi is open from 12:00 to 24:00, but you can have breakfast at 07:30. If you go earlier than 09:30, check if they are serving breakfast. La Rinascente is open Mo-Th 09:30-21:00, Fr-Sa 09:30-22:00, and Su 10:00-21:00, so arriving at 09:30 on a weekday ensures it is open.
Check before you go
- Biffi allows breakfast starting at 07:30.
- La Rinascente opens at 09:30 on weekdays.
Worth knowing
- La Rinascente is open at 09:30 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Milan (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).