You couldn’t see all of Milan’s attractions in a day, but with a local host as a GPS and guidebook, you can easily see 20 of them! From famous architecture like the 15th-century Sforza Castle, gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral, and the ancient Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio church to Milan’s more modern landmarks – like the shiny skyscrapers of Piazza Gae Aulenti or the L.O.V.E monument, a giant marble middle finger directly in front of the Italian stock exchange – Milan’s iconic sights are everywhere.

In Milan, several of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods are just a stone’s throw apart, so luckily, eight hours is just enough time for a whirlwind tour of the top sights. In the heart of Milan, the Centro Storico is a visual feast of medieval palaces, ancient ruins, and historic monuments, while the bohemian Brera district and its famous galleries, sidewalk cafes and fortune-tellers’ booths are just one mile north (and 10 minutes away from the Via Monte Napoleone, Europe’s priciest shopping street). When your day reaches its end, relaxed Navigli in the city’s southwest is the perfect place for aperitivo (or a quick risotto at a trattoria) and a sunset stroll down a tangle of gritty, graffiti-lined backstreets only a local can navigate.