4.8
Past Meets Future: An Architectural Journey Through Milan
- 3 hours
- City Highlight Tours
- Milan
Choose one of 4 locals available
Experience hosted by Salvatore, Laura Serena & other locals
- Private Tour
- Carbon Neutral
- Destination
- Milan, Italy
- Category
- City Highlight Tours
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Transport mode
- Walking tour
- Available languages
- English, Español, Italiano, Français
- Included
-
- Private Guide
- Local Snack or Drink
- All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
- Excluded
-
- Entrance to Attractions
- Local Transportation
6 reasons to book this tour
- Marvel at Milan’s most iconic buildings
- Spot classics like Bosco Verticale & Duomo di Milano
- Discover hidden architectural treasures
- Learn about the visionaries behind Milan’s architecture
- Can be 100% personalized to your wishes
- Privately guided by a local expert
What you can expect
Milan is a city where time speaks through its buildings — and this tour brings that story to life. Join a passionate local on a walk through Milan’s most stunning architectural contrasts, where centuries-old elegance meets bold modern innovation.
Start your tour at the iconic Duomo di Milano, where gothic spires stretch toward the sky, and learn how this masterpiece took nearly six centuries to complete. From there, wander through the ornate Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping mall, where iron and glass form a majestic 19th-century arcade.
Continue to Palazzo Brera, a striking example of neoclassical architecture that still holds the creative spirit of Milan’s artistic golden age. Then, switch gears — and eras — as you hop on the metro and head to Porta Nuova, Milan’s modern heartbeat.
Here, sleek skyscrapers, innovative design, and sustainable architecture take the spotlight. Marvel at the award-winning Vertical Forest (Bosco Verticale), a global icon of green living. Your host will share fascinating insights into the urban transformation of this once-industrial zone into a cutting-edge design hub.
Along the way, enjoy personal stories, local insights, and the flexibility to tailor the tour to your interests. Whether you’re an architecture lover or just curious about Milan’s unique cityscape, this tour offers the perfect balance of history and innovation.
Choose your local
Get to know these 4 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
-
Salvatore
The Wine&Cheese Expert
4.7195 reviewsEnglish・Español・Italiano -
Laura Serena
The Duomo Lover
4.9120 reviewsEnglish・Italiano -
Francesca
The Historian Lover
4.9473 reviewsEnglish・Français・Italiano -
Arianna
an authentic Milanese local, sociologist and tour leader
5.05 reviewsEnglish・Español・Français・Italiano
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
-
Meeting point
Meet at At the well - Milan to start your journey
-
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
-
Architectural Icons
From the majestic Duomo di Milano to the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the futuristic Bosco Verticale, your local host will guide you through Milan’s most stunning architectural contrasts. -
Hidden Details
Milan’s architectural beauty isn’t just in the big names — it’s in the fine details, courtyards, and quiet corners. Your host will point out fascinating design elements and hidden spots only a local would notice -
Design Stories & Local Legends
Behind every façade lies a story. From gothic ambition to 21st-century sustainability, your host will share the tales of architects, artists, and visionaries who shaped Milan. Expect rich storytelling, fun facts, and unique perspectives along the way -
Local Break
Pause your architectural journey with a stop at a local café or design-forward spot, handpicked by your host. Grab a drink or a quick bite, soak in the surroundings, and get insider tips for the rest of your stay in Milan. -
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
-
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
-
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
-
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Hannah🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 July 2025
Our flight was delayed and so we had to 1 day to see Milano - this tour was a fantastic way to start seeing some of the things that make the city special. Salvatore had a relaxed and humorous style, and he introduced us to a variety of sites, sharing about the history, architecture, city planning, and sociocultural influences of each. Will definitely check out other WithLocals tours in the future. Great tour!
Margo🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 July 2025
This was an excellent way to start our week in Milano. Salvatore was a superb tour guide covering history and current culture, took us to interesting areas we may not have pursued on our own, all the while providing engaging converation and answering so many questions.Perfect Way to Kick off Week in Milano
mfxmgxyrb2🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
9 July 2025
Our tour with Francesca was great. She is very knowledgable about the history of Italy and Milan in particular. We enjoyed touring the historical sites but also walking through the streets, being educated about the architecture and culture. We had some interesting and fun conversations along the way. Highly recommend a tour with Francesca.Milan highlights city tour
Juliana🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
8 July 2025
We had the pleasure of having Francesca as our private guide during our visit to Milan, and we cannot recommend her highly enough. From the start, she was warm, respectful, and incredibly knowledgeable about her city.
We specifically requested a focus on the more modern parts of Milan, such as Porta Nuova, and Francesca delivered beautifully. Her deep understanding of both contemporary developments and the city’s history gave us a well-rounded and engaging tour. She answered every question my friend and I had with clarity and insight, and her passion for Milan truly shone through.
What stood out even more was her relaxed and generous attitude—she never rushed us or watched the clock, even when we went beyond our scheduled time. It was clear she cared more about giving us a meaningful experience than just completing a job.
Born and raised in Milan, Francesca is the perfect guide to help you explore and appreciate this fascinating city. We’re so glad we found her!Francasca an awesomt tour guide in Milan
Carrie🇻🇮 Virgin Islands, U.S.
(About local )
6 July 2025
We loved this tour. It started with the standard highlights, with some emphasis on hidden gems then moved to modern Milan. We unexpectedly loved this part. It was so interesting. We had no idea that Milan had transformed a bad area into a successful live, work, retail area with model buildings and ecosystems that we had studied at work and school. It was amazing. Right across the street was a district that was hundreds of years old. An amazing experience. Also got valuable tips for public transportation and gelato. Salvatore is passionate about his subject. Highly recommend!Really Interesting Tour
James🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
6 July 2025
Salvatore was a fantastic guide. Calm, clear, measured and logical. The way he took us through past, present and future aspects of the city was great and the level of information provided was interesting but not overwhelming. Highly recommend!So Many Parts To Milan
Marcia
(About local )
4 July 2025
Thank you Laura for a fascinating experience and for our
Wonderful tour of the Duomo.
Your knowledge is amazing and we loved our tour with you
Kind regards,
Marcia Lucinda and DaisyMilan duomo
Jody🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
29 June 2025
We had a wonderful time in learned great things about Milan10
Lori & Jeff🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
28 June 2025
We had a wonderful experience in Milan with Francesca as our guide! She is extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and full of energy. Francesca took us to see so many different places within the city that we would never have discovered for ourselves. She answered all of our questions and went out of her way to help us with our self-guided plans. Thank you for an amazing tour, Francesca!The Best of Milan
Alarik🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 June 2025
My son-in-law arranged for Omar to be our guide for what was my first trip to Italy and Milan, in particular. He was most informative and understanding as well. I learned and experienced so much while we toured Il Duomo. He helped me decide whether to climb to its top or not since I recently celebrated my 80th birthday. I am so happy I decided to go for it! It is a magnificent structure with a wonderful history.Over the Top with Omar
Alarik🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
24 June 2025
First of all, the Duomo is fantastic, and well worth the visit.
We booked two tours with Omar -- the Duomo and also the Highlights and Hidden Gems. Omar is from Milan and an experienced guide. He was wonderful, and really made the Duomo -- which is amazing -- come to life. He knows the city like the back of his hand and was able to show us some wonderful things and really give us a feeling for their history and how they were used. We had my wife and mother-in-law for the Duomo part of things, and he was careful to make sure that my mother-in-law was OK with all the climbing. Omar is warm and funny and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.Great tour with a true local
Laura🇦🇷 Argentina
(About local )
24 June 2025
El tour es super interesante, Arianna, nuestra guía, se ocupó de hacer la caminata muy amigable, recorriendo lugares interesantisimos. Lo recomiendo absolutamente, si tienen tiempo y ganas de conocer un Milano más entretenido. Absolutamente recomendable
Matt🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 June 2025
We had the best experience touring the Duomo with Omar. His knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for the history and building was first class. We thoroughly enjoyed all the information he was able to share. Highly recommend- one of the best tours we’ve ever taken. Omar was amazing!
Babette🇿🇦 South Africa
(About local )
15 June 2025
Laura gave us a wonderful tour this morning !
We are most grateful for the morning filled with information
Would highly recommend Laura!!!
Thank you!!Wonderful morning
Jennifer L🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
14 June 2025
Omar provided my daughter and I with an outstanding personalized tour of the Duomo in Milano. He brought his personal experiences, knowledge, and insights into a tour of an absolutely stunning structure. I highly recommended private tours that allow you to skip the line. It’s saves your precious vacation time and takes the stress out of the process of visiting the Duomo. In addition a private tour with Omar will provide you with education on the Duomo from a unique perspective. Thus tour included visiting the terraces if the Duomo allowing one to physically walk on the roof of the Duomo, see a view of the city, and view these beautiful and magical terraces up close, a not to be missed opportunity.
Jennifer LK (United States)Simply the Best
Neil🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
10 June 2025
Salvatore provided a great foundation for our visit to Milan. He introduced us to much of the geography of the City and also its history. And he imparted much local knowledge about traveling around Milan.Excellent Foundation for Milan
Tracy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 June 2025
Omar went above and beyond to ensure a great tour! He was friendly, professional, and funny, which made for a fun and engaging experience! I would 100% use Omar again for a tour in the future! The Best
Josefin
(About local )
7 June 2025
Arianna war ein sehr freundlicher und liebenswerter Guide, der mit uns durch die Straßen der Stadt schlenderte. Zu fast jedem Haus hatte sie eine Anekdote. Wie sie die Stadt als Kind in Erinnerung hatte und wie sich alles verändert hat. Während der Tour verriet sie uns kleine Verstecke abseits des Mainstream-Tourismus, die man entdecken kann. Sie war sehr flexibel beim Umgehen von Menschenmaßen und hat auf jede unserer Ansinnen reagiert. Wir können die Tour jedem empfehlen, der die Stadt kennenlernen will, wie sie jetzt ist. Arianna kennt jeden Winkel! Jetzt auch mehr vegane Restaurants als vorher, danke für die Recherche. ;D
Noch ein Tipp von uns: Pit'sa (Via Cadore 31)
Sagen wir es mal so, wir waren öfter dort, weil die vegane Pizza dort wirklich grandios ist.Mailand im Wandel der Zeit
Arlene & Derek🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
6 June 2025
We had an excellent 3 hours with Salvatore. We only had one day in Milan so needed an expert to show us the highlights in a short space of time. Salvatore did just that and told us amazing history and stories to bring things to life. He also takes amazing photos! We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. It was interesting factual and Salvatore had amazing knowledge along with restaurant recommendations which were spot on! An excellent way to see the main sites
Michael🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
4 June 2025
We really enjoyed our afternoon with Francesca! The tour, food, and conversation was all great! Highly recommend booking with her!Great Day with Francesca!!!
Felix
(About local )
2 June 2025
Wir waren 14 Erwachsene und sie hat unseren Abend in Navigli Quartier sehr gut organisiert. Mit viel Liebe und Herzblut ist sie bei der Sache und konnte uns einige spannende Dinge erzählen.
Als Steinliebhaberin hat sie bei uns „Ein Stein im Brett“
FelixFrancesca liebt ihren Job
sue🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
1 June 2025
Salvatore walked us through the three faces of Milan. He told us things we wouldn’t have found on our own. We found the Metro very extremely efficient and very clean.
Great walk with a great guide!Milano through different eyes
Greg🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
29 May 2025
My wife and I only had one day to see many of the important sites in Milan. Our goal was to see the Duomo interior and rooftops, Sforza Castle, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and La Scala. Francesca and I messaged multiple times as we created a plan. She was always prompt and polite.
The tour itself was wonderful. Fast and efficient. Francesca knows her way around the city and the made sure we hit the highlights are every stop. At La Scala, we were fortunate to see the beginning of an Opera rehearsal. Francesca is an experienced and excellent guide. I would definitely use her again. Milan Highlights
David🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 May 2025
Salvatore is a friendly, knowledgeable and professional guide for a food- lover like me.
He took us for a very interesting walking tour of Milan and provided excellent advice on restaurants choices and attractive locations.Great visit
Becky🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
22 May 2025
Mature, energetic, engaging walking you of Milan. Arianna knew all of the secret places to go to experience non-tourist Milan.
Thank you’Enjoyed our time with Arianna!
mcooperman
(About local )
19 May 2025
Our tour with Salvatore was great! He was super knowledgeable and answered a slew of questions. We saw a variety of areas in Milan, including old town, the new development, the canal area and more. And as promised he showed us several hidden gems. Highly recommended!
Ruth 🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 May 2025
We had the best time with Omar visiting the Duomo in Milan. He was professional, kind funny and so full of knowledge. His English was excellent and he was a pleasure to be around. He made me want to know more and more about the Duomo and Milan the city he loves. One of my favorite parts of our trip!Amazing Omar!
Unknown
(About local )
17 May 2025
We loved the pace he took us round this city that he clearly loves.
Knowledgeable, considerate, excellent English with quiet, dry sense of humour.
Hope we get to go walking with Salvatore again some day!!Just wonderful…
Alan🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
15 May 2025
Francesca is knowledgeable and a lot of fun. We were only in town for a day, so were looking to hit the highlights, and our tour was perfect for that. But on a longer visit, it would also have been a great tour to orient yourself before setting out to explore on your own.
Francesca managed to balance the interests of a 55-year-old and a 19-year-old. I highly recommend both her and Milan! Lovely Day in Milan
Katriana🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
6 May 2025
We had such an amazing day with Arianna!!! She took us to places I never expected to see and we also saw all the highlights of the city!! I am so happy we chose this tour! It was fab! Thank you!!Milan with a local
Sharon
(About local )
4 May 2025
Francesca was a perfect guide. She knew so much and was very kind and fun to be with. She even followed up later with a few more suggestions for our interests. Excellent!
Michael🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
2 May 2025
Edmund 🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
30 April 2025
We enjoyed our time with Francesca exploring and learning about Milan and its history. Francesca showed us hidden spots that you would walk right by without a guide. She was very informative, and gave us recommendations for the rest of our trip. Would definitely recommend a tour with Francesca to people coming to Milan! Great tour of Milan!
Nikki🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
26 April 2025
We had a brief stop over in Milan and when researching had found little other than Da’vinci’s Lords Supper of interest. We decided to try a kick start tour with Salvatore and it was fantastic. The tour covered the new and old Milan, the Sforzesco castle and canals we did not know existed. Salvatore was an excellent host and introduced us to an unexpected side of Milan.A great introduction to Milan
Annette🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
26 April 2025
Despite Salvatores good knowledge about the city and places we visited it was not what we expected or booked. We booked a Navigli tour to get to know the area we were staying in but Navigli only was a very small part of the tour and it felt like Salvatore wasn’t really into the area, only telling us what we could have found online. The restaurant he recommended didn’t meet the expectations at all, felt like a tourist trap. Salvatore was very eager to visit a part of town we didn’t especially liked nor wanted to visit. It would have been better if he discussed the change of plans properly before the tour started. Not what I booked for
Kateryna
(About local )
25 April 2025
Auf jeden Fall zu empfehlen! Salvatore war sehr professionell und freundlich. Die Führung war interessant und inhaltsreich.
Sehr schöne und inhaltsvolle Führung
Blanca🇪🇸 Spain
(About local )
17 April 2025
Fantastico paseo por Milan, en solo 3 horas pudos ver las tres caras de Milán con las explicaciones de SalvatoreTour muy completo
Mark🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
16 April 2025
My wife and I had a lovely tour with Francesca! Having toured parts of Milan on a previous visit, we decided to take her "Off the Beaten Path" tour and explore the Navigli district. She was flexible to meet us at a convenient location and provided such an insightful and informative tour. We met some wonderful local artisans that with which Francesca has a warm relationship, which made for a special and insightful tour. Charming and Knowledgeable Guide!
Jawaher
(About local )
16 April 2025
We loved spending the day with her
My daughter loved her
And she was kind and interactive and very helpful Kind and patient
Myriam🇫🇷 France
(About local )
10 April 2025
Super hôte avec une visite hyper agréable et Francesca s'adapte aux exigences, elle a été adorable et de très bons conseils
Merci Francesca Super hôte
Irma🇪🇸 Spain
(About local )
6 April 2025
Hemos visitado todos los rincones de Milán, aprendido muchas curiosidades y conocido todos los contrastes de esta ciudad.
Salvatore no ha explicado todo sobre la ciudad y su historia y nos ha recomendado un montón de tips para el resto de nuestra estancia :)
Súper recomendable sin duda!
Muchas gracias Salvatore!!!Super! +++
Charles (Brad)
(About local )
29 March 2025
Very knowledgeable and well spoken. Can’t get a better guide for the Domuo
Charles (Brad)
(About local )
29 March 2025
We enjoyed our time and the information provided.
Unknown
(About local )
29 March 2025
My grandson (11) and I had a rainy day tour with Salvatore and it was a little difficult to hear with our rainhoods over our ears. Nevertheless, he provided interesting facts about Il Duomo, the Galleria, and the Castello Sforcesco. The highlight was Navigli, an area we did not know and thoroughly enjoyed. Salvatore was accommodating, accompanying us to Decathlon to buy soccer balls for my grandson and skipping part of his planned tour that would not have interested him. Interesting Tour
Bas
(About local )
28 March 2025
Well organized and fun city tour. Easy communication upfront and always willing to assist with other requests (advice restaurant for the group)!Go’s the extra mile!
marci.mcmullen
(About local )
24 March 2025
My husband and I had a great experience on our walking tour with Salvatore. He had three rules, if we had a question to ask, if we needed or wanted to stop for something let him know, if there was anything specific we wanted to see let him know.
Salvatore had many surprise viewing points throughout the tour that he had carefully curated for funny or historical stories…or both. He took a number of “Instagram worthy pictures” for us, and took us on the oldest tram in the city and the metro. He made sure to explain where we were going, how to use the transit, how much it cost and took the time to explain how we could get back to our hotels with transit or by foot. He even suggested an awesome bar for aperitivo and an additional attraction to see if we walked home.
I would highly recommend Salvatore if you are up for an entertaining and educational tour of Milano! Great tour of Milano with Salvatore!
sallyv69
(About local )
22 March 2025
We had a great time with Salvatore walking the 3 phases of Milan
We would never have seen these places in our short time on our own
Very informative and interesting Great walking tour
Stefan🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
22 March 2025
We booked two tours with Francesca ("Full Coverage" and "Off the Beaten Track"). It was wonderful. Francesca knows Milan very well, has a high level of historical and cultural knowledge, and conveys it excellently. She was very flexible, and especially during the "Off the Beaten Track" tour, we saw places in Milan that we wouldn't have found otherwise. We highly recommend Francesca. Thank you!It was a blast with Francesca
Ali
(About local )
17 March 2025
This was a fantastic and unique walking tour with Arianna
visiting the hidden gems of Milan. She was very responsive
when I set up my trip and texted me updates throughout. She
met me at Central Station, offered options as to what I wanted
to see and learn and always had interesting information about
the districts we visited. We rode the metro and the tram
together, seeing the sights, as well as walking through
beautiful and out-of-the-way streets. I felt I saw so much more
than I would ever have been able to solo. Plus, Arianna is a
warm, personable, guide and I learned a lot about local
culture and the city . I can highly recommend this trip with
Arianna as your guide! Thank you, Arianna, it was such a
pleasure touring with you!Milan-personal tour with Arianna
Kirsten🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
13 March 2025
We had a wonderful walk around the Navigli area with Francesca.
Francesca is very sweet, super flexible with regards to meating point and in providing the information that we sought. We have visited the area many times before, but never focused on the historic and cultural aspects of Navigli. Now more enlightened, we look forward to returning another time.
Would definitely recommend joining Francesca for at stroll around the area. Tour of Navigli with Francesca
Withlocals experiencesare always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.
Other City highlight tours in Milan
-
Enjoy Milan with a host of your choice
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Milan
545 reviews • €46.19 pp • 3 hourscity highlight tourInstantly Confirmed -
Enjoy Milan with a host of your choice
Withlocals Your Way! - Milan City Tour
122 reviews • €51.49 pp • 3 hourscity highlight tourInstantly Confirmed -
Enjoy Milan with Francesca
The Beauty of Milan by Bike Tour
489 reviews • €65.07 pp • 3 hourscity highlight tour