Milan and Venice are two of the most visited cities in Italy. Milan is an industry and financial leader in Italy which makes it a very bustling city. Venice is a much smaller city but it still feels quite busy much of the time because of the large number of tourists trying to explore the city. If you are trying to decide between visiting Milan or Venice, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city to visit.
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Milan or Venice Overview
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy with 1.4 million people living in the city and a much larger metropolitan area. It is also the top financial and manufacturing city in the country. The only city in the EU with a higher GDP is Paris. Milan has also evolved into one of the leading cities in the world for fashion which led to it becoming one of the four fashion capitals in the world.
Some of the most famous pieces of art in the world are located here, including “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci. The city is also home to some of Italy’s most iconic landmarks and buildings. Milan is also just south of the Alps which is why the 2026 Winter Olympics will be co-hosted in Milan.
Venice
Venice is a city spread out over 118 small islands located in Northeast Italy. It is known all over the world for having picturesque canals and bridges. The city is often referred to as the “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, and “City of Bridges”.
For centuries it has been seen as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In recent years, over 60,000 tourists visited the city every day making it extremely overcrowded. They now have restrictions on the number of cruise ships that can dock there.
Places to See
Milan
Duomo Di Milano, or Cathedral of Milan, is one of the most recognized cathedrals in the world and took nearly 6 centuries to complete.
Sforzesco Castle is one of the largest citadels in Europe. Construction started in the 1300s but was continually added to until 1862.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest continually used shopping mall in Italy. It was completed in 1877.
Teatro alla Scala is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It opened in 1778.
Sempione Park is a large park in the center of Milan and is surrounded by some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Venice
St. Mark’s Square is one of the most famous squares in the world. This is a must for any trip to Venice.
Doge’s Palace is a Venitian Gothic palace that was the former residence of the Doge of Venice.
St. Mark’s Basilica is the most famous of the churches in Venice. It is known for its beautiful gold mosaics.
The Grand Canal is the equivalent of the main road in Venice.
Murano is an island within the Venitian Lagoon that is just a short boat ride from the main island of Venice.
Food
Milan
Traditional cuisine in Milan is not you’re typical Italian dishes, they are oftentimes heavily meat-based. One of the most traditional dishes here is Risotto alla Milanese which is a rice-based dish made with saffron, cheese, and many times bone marrow. Ossobucco is a classic meat-based dish with most of the dish being veal and served with onions, tomatoes, carrots, and celery. Milan is said to be the birthplace of the world-famous Christmas fruitcake or Panettone in Milan.
Mogens Engelund
Venice
Being the “City of Water”, seafood has always been a staple in the diet of Venetians. Sarde in saor was a dish that was originally made to last long periods of time at the sea. Today, Sarde in saor is still a popular appetizer. Moleche is another popular dish here. Moleche are small crabs found that are usually deep-fried. Basically, when you visit Venice you should try to have some seafood! Baicoli is Italian biscuits that originated in Venice and are still eaten with a cup of coffee.
Getting Around
Milan
If you only want to see the historic center or the area around the cathedral, you probably won’t need to use public transportation. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other and located in the center of the city. If you want to see landmarks like Porto Ticinese, Monumental Cemetery, or Gae Aulenti Square you will want to use public transportation. You have the option of buses, trams, and the metro to get around Milan. I would recommend investing in the MilanoCard because you get unlimited use of public transportation, hop on hop off city tour, and save up to 100% on some of the city’s most popular attractions.
Venice
Since the main island of Venice doesn’t have cars, you will probably be taking the Vaporetto boat. Vaporetto boats are larger passenger boats that travel down the Grand Canal and they will also take you to other islands within Venice like Murano, Lido, and Torcello. Most of the main islands can easily be explored on foot.
Nightlife
Milan
Milan is known for having one of the best nightlife scenes in Italy and is considered to be one of the best in Europe as well. The area of Navigli is known to have some of the city’s most lively bars and pubs. The area around Colonne di San Lorenzo is full of bars and cafes and tends to be more of a laid-back atmosphere.
Corso Como is another great place to check out depending on which part of the city you are staying in. Some of the best nightclubs in the city are located in Corso Como, including Hollywood Rythmoteque and Tocqueville 13. Like always, make sure you do your research on which club/s you want to go to because there is no need to waste money at the door for an experience that doesn’t fit your vibe.
Venice
The main island of Venice is not known for being a great place for nightlife. There are quite a few bars but you also might want to find a restaurant and get some drinks there. If you want a better nightlife scene you might want to consider staying in Lido. Lido is just a boat ride away and it has a lot more options when it comes to bars and clubs.
Day Trips
Milan
Lake Como is just 30 minutes north of Milan. The town of Bellagio is one of the most picturesque towns you could imagine.
Lecco is another lake town to the northwest of Milan.
Bergamo is a city to the northwest of Milan. It is known for its medieval architecture and fell.
Venice
Verona is only a little more than an hour away from Venice. If you have a day or two to spare, you should definitely make the trip to Verona.
Venice Lido is a 7-mile barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon. If you want to escape the city for a day on the beach, Venice Lido is a great option.
Vicenza is a city with rich history and culture, less than an hour from Venice.
Italy is jam-packed with fantastic cities to visit. Turin and Genoa are easily accessible from Milan. If you go to Venice, you should consider going down the road to Bologna which is less than two hours away.
Overall
Milan and Venice are very different cities but are still two of the most visited cities in Italy. Milan is the industrial and financial center of Italy which makes it a bustling city. Venice is much smaller but might seem just as busy at times because of the vast number of tourists wandering around the city.
If you only have two days to spend in a city, you should go to Venice because Venice is small and very easy to see the main sights. If you have three or more days you want to spend in a city, you should choose Milan because there is more to see and Lake Como or Lugano is just a short ride from the city.