Milan Travel Guide

Helping you organise your trip in minutes 

Travelling is fun. Organising a trip not always as much. Deciding what to do in the limited time available can be stressful. 

You don’t want to miss out on all the best things to do and see in Milan, I know. That’s what your Milan travel guide is here for. To help you scan and skim through the noise. Here you’ll find a fluff-free, quick overview of what Milan has to offer. Whether you are interested in culture, shopping, dining or exploring the nearby areas, my address book’s got you covered.

Read this if you think you know all about Milan

Milan is not always love at first sight. It’s best known as the financial hub and economic driver of the country, and it’s traditionally considered by the unsavvy tourist as second best when visiting Italy after Rome, Florence and Venice. Yet, it’s Italy’s most cosmopolitan city and, as one of the world’s capitals of fashion and design, Milan boasts the best in haute couture and furniture stores, is heaven on earth for designers, a hipster’s hotspot and a gourmets’ paradise.

Forward-looking, fast-changing, business-oriented, Milan isn’t exactly old style Italy either, but offers visitors the best of both worlds. On the one hand, an ultra modern city dominated by skyscrapers. On the other, a centro storico with quaint cobblestoned streets bustling with cafés, boutiques, antique shops, art galleries and elegant neoclassical palazzi. 

Milan is the only Italian city that doesn’t depend on tourism. Indeed, all Italy looks up to it for its rich mix of attractions. So let’s browse some together.

8 Reasons why you should go to Milan this year

Da Vinci Last Supper – Leonardo’s masterpiece can be viewed only by booking. Plan your visit in time since the waiting list is months’ long. Book here to avoid paying extra commissions: https://cenacolovinciano.org/en/visit/#Prenotare

Duomo - the Gothic main Cathedral that took six centuries to build is the largest church in Italy, second largest in Europe and 4th in the world. Duomo and its golden Virgin Mary statue, known as La Madonninna, is the symbol of the city and cannot be missed. To skip the queues, buy a Fast-Track ticket online (PLAN YOUR VISIT). The views from the rooftop are unrivalled. 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II  - Italy’s oldest shopping arcade and one of the oldest shopping malls in the world. Completed in 1877, with an octagonal structure covered by arching glass and a cast iron roof with a central dome, la Galleria is the temple of luxury shopping. You can walk over its rooftops with Highline Galleria. Grab your ticket online (a walk over the Galleria in Milano) 

La Scala Opera House - inaugurated in 1778, la Scala is a world leading venue for Opera and Ballet and attending one of the soirées is a lifetime experience. The theatre also offers guided visits to the backstage, the costumes and choreography workshop,  and the museum containing memorabilia from composers, singers and dancers. Check Teatro alla Scala to walk in the footsteps of Verdi and Maria Callas.

World Class Museums - more information below.

Unparalleled shopping - in the famous Quadrilatero della Moda, designers fashion boutiques, antique shops and historic cafés line the streets of neoclassical mansions. These are the four streets where everyone who's anyone in the fashion and luxury industry must be.

Read more about shopping in Milan here.

Aperitivo - invented here, this is a milanese institution. It’s an after work drink, typically a cocktail, accompanied by generous bitings offered by the house and included in the fixed price. Less formal than a dinner, it’s an easy and relaxed way to socialize during a busy week.

Day trips and mini-breaks - Milan enjoys an unmatched geographical location that makes reaching the big lakes – Como, Garda, Maggiore, the seaside, the mountains or the Franciacorta wine region for bubbly wine tours just a short drive away.

You can read more about Lake Como here, about Lake Orta here and other interesting destinations just outside the city here.

My selection of sites for visiting Milan like a local 

8 Cultural Sites you Cannot Miss in Milan

• Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio - completed in 386 AD by St Ambrose, patron of the city, it’s one of the oldest churches in Milan. Partly reconstructed in the 12th century, it’ one of the best examples of Romanesque style in the city.

• Castello Sforzesco - built in the 15th century by Milan’s Renaissance Lords, the Sforza family, as a Ducal Palace, later renovated and rebuilt, is now home to museums and art collections. The quadrangular moated building is dominated by the 70m-tall Torre del Filarete and gives access to the Sempione park through its regal courtyards.

• Arena Civica - one of the many examples of neoclassical architecture in Milan is now home to the Rugby club and minor football teams. 

• Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa - tucked away and unusual, this church is well known for its ossuary. Its little chapel is decorated with numerous human skulls and bones that couldn’t find place in the adjacent cemetery back in 1210. 

• Santa Maria Presso San Satiro - famous for its false apse, it features the first Trompe l’Oeil example attributed to Donato Bramante. 

• Horned Madonna of Portinari Chapel -  located in the Renaissance chapel within Sant’Eustorgio Abbey, this fresco is famous for the odd representation of the virgin and the child as the devil in disguise (horned).

• Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine - nestled in a tiny square in the district of Brera, this church is another beautiful example of architectural styles layered in time.

• San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore - its sober exterior hides a magnificent interior of walls entirely covered in 16th century frescos. The real masterpiece lies behind a dividing wall known as the Hall of the Nuns: the frescos here are just stunning and gained the church the nickname of Sistine Chapel of Milan. Spot the unicorns embarking on Noah’s Arc. The building also houses the Archeological Museum.

Believe it or not, 6 of the World’s best art collections are in Milan

• Pinacoteca di Brera - the gallery includes masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, Mantegna, Bramantino, Piero della Francesca, Francesco Hayez and Bramante. The Gallery shares the site with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts and the Braidense National Library, both opened in 1770. The library maintains a collections of all books published in Milan and among the library's facilities are the Maria Teresa Hall, with bookshelves designed by the architect Giuseppe Piermarini, the Sala Manzoniana with manuscripts, correspondence and editions of the Italian romantic writer Alessandro Manzoni and the Ricordi Archive, preserving the history of the classical music publishing company. Also here, the Brera Observatory that hosted astronomer Giovanni Schiapparelli for four decades and the historic botanical garden, the Orto Botanico di Brera.

• Biblioteca and Pinacoteca Ambrosiana - The Ambrosiana contains notable artworks by Raphael and Caravaggio, and the Atlantic Codex: the world’s largest collection of drawings by Da Vinci. The library, founded in 1609 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, was built through major acquisitions of complete libraries, like the cardinal’s personal one, the one from the Benedictine monastery of Bobbio (1606), famous for its manuscripts, and the library of the Paduan Vincenzo Pinelli with 800 manuscripts including the famous Ilias Picta. The library now contains some 12,000 drawings by European artists, from the 14th through the 19th centuries. The library also hosts what Lord Byron described in 1816 as the "The prettiest love letter in the world", words written by the poet Pietro Bembo to Lucrezia Borgia, a small example of an epistolary relationship that lasted 16 years. 

• Museo Poldi Pezzoli - this housemuseum is the legacy of one of the most refined art collectors of the 19th century, Count Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli, and is known for the broad collection of Northern Italian and Flemish artists. Small and just around the corner from Teatro alla Scala, it’s one the loveliest museums I have ever visited. 

• Museo del Novecento - conveniently located in Piazza Duomo, this museum offers more than 400 20th-century artworks from artists of the caliber of Andy Warhol, Kandinsky, Klee, Matisse, Picasso, the Italian Futurists, de Chirico, Lucio Fontana and Morandi. 

• Da Vinci Last Supper - painted on the refectory wall of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, this fresco is one of the most famous attractions of the city.

• Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica - the largest science museum in Italy hosts lots of Leonardo’s ingenious engineering and humanistic creations, among other things, ranginging from submarines to personal computers. 

Milan’s art scene:

• Mudec - this ethnographic museum it’s a cultural landmark in the upcoming and trendy area of Porta Genovafeaturing a permanent collection of rare artisanal pieces brought into the city by explorers and passionate collectors, a design store, an auditorium, a restaurant and a bistro. The place hosts multidisciplinary temporary exhibitions and the building is a modern architectural jewel of British architect David Chipperfield. 

• Hangar Bicocca - this conversion of an industrial plant is an institution for the promotion of Contemporary art and one of the largest contiguous exhibition spaces in Europe that hosts solo shows, permanently houses Anselm Kiefer’s work and runs exciting exhibition programs and cultural events.

• Palazzo Reale, the former Royal Palace, standing just next to the Cathedral, is today an important exhibition venue and cultural centre used for large and international exhibitions. The program never disappoints. 

The 11 Must-See Landmarks in Milan your printed guide might not tell you about

• Loggia dei Mercanti – also known as the Whispering Gallery, this is an open-air loggia used as a market place during the medieval and renaissance period which hosts a secret communication system. Speak softly to one of the columns and the sound travels through the domed building straight to someone standing on the opposite side. 

• Colonne di San Lorenzo - this 3rd century colonnade is the gateway to the Porta Ticinese district and a popular gathering place for young crowds for evening drinks and chats.

• Arco della Pace - one of the most impressive and famous gates to the city was built under Napoleon to mark where the new Strada del Sempione connecting Milan to Paris entered the city. This neoclassical triumphal arch leads to one side to the majestic avenue of Corso Sempione and to the other to the largest park in the city,Parco Sempione, housing important monuments and places of interest such as the Branca Tower, the Palazzo dell’Arte and Giorgio de Chirico’s sculptures.

• Villa Necchi Campiglio - an icon of 30’s decor in the heart of the city and housing sensational works of art, this villa will allow you to immerse yourself in the glamorous world of Milan interwar years. 

• Casa-Museo Boschi di Stefano - this house museum hosts an astonishing art collection, walking you through the history of Twentieth Century Italian art from the first decade to the end of the Sixties.

• Palazzo Berri-Meregalli - one of the best examples of eclectic architecture in Milan, the building is full of interesting details, from gargoyles to Art Nouveau mosaics.

• Villa Invernizzi – a lovely stop for a hint of the exotic. Peep through the fence at the pink flamingos bathing in the garden pond.

• Ospedale Maggiore Ca’ Granda - Università Statale - the University is set in beautiful grounds of what was originally built by the Sforza in the 15th century as a grand hospital for the city. Out of the main tourist lists, it’s worth a visit. 

• Casa degli Atellani - Vigna di Leonardo - the home of Leonardo during the years he worked on the Last Supper. The house with its stunning frescos, the garden and vineyard, are all open to the public.

• Rotonda della Besana - completed in 1732 and a former cemetery, the late baroque building consists of an octagonal colonnade portico enclosing a garden that is now a venue for cultural and social events.

• L.O.V.E. - a giant middle finger sculpture by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan,  it’s  ironically placed in Piazza Affari, the Italian stock exchange and the milanese version of Wall Street. An ambiguous message sent to the financial world. The name stands for Libertà, Odio, Vendetta, Eternità (Freedom, Hate, Vengeance, Eternity). The meaning of the statue has never been clarified by the artist, so you can make up your own interpretation of it.

The trendiest neighbourhoods - Where you should go in Milan

Isola, Garibaldi and Porta Nuova - the newly-developed and most contemporary parts of the city. 

Isola, meaning “island” in Italian, it’s now one of the liveliest neighbourhoods, with its mix of residential buildings, workshops and a wide variety of international restaurants. Make sure you don’t miss the famous Blue Note Jazz Club. 

Corso Garibaldi, Piazza XXV Aprile and Corso Como are now fashionable areas teaming with trendy bars, independent shops and clubs, gaining the reputation of one of Milan’s major nightlife districts. Don’t miss the first Italian concept store, Corso Como 10 and in-house Galleria Sozzani. 

Porta Nuova is the “new Milan”, where most of the marvels of contemporary architecture are, from the 231 meters Unicredit Tower designed by César Pelli with its distinctive pinnacle reaching up to the sky, to the Feltrinelli Porta Volta by Herzog & de Meuron’s, imagined out of a former garden nursery, to Diamante Tower, Solaria Tower and Lombardia Palace and the famous Bosco Verticale by Stefano Boeri. Piazza Gae Aulenti, Piazza Alvar Aalto and Piazza Lina Bo Bardi are not to be missed with their systems of gardens (the Library of Trees is the main one) and footbridges. Featuring the country’s tallest skyscrapers, this is Milan’s mini Manhattan, one of the richest districts, a business hub and Italy’s most high-tech and international neighbourhood.

• Tortona – Savona - These old industrial areas have been turned into vibrant and upcoming streets, hosting the Fuorisalone of the Design Week. With many dismissed factory buildings available, designers, artists and other professionals found ideal spaces for showrooms, exhibition spaces and operational headquarters and brought new life into the area that is today the design district and a vibrant shopping and nightlife part of the city. 

• Navigli District - The area is full of charm thanks to the system of canals and is the recognised nightlife hotspot of the city. The neighbourhood dates back to the 1100 when the city started building the canals to connect Milan to the great lakes and transport the marble from Candoglia used to build the Duomo. It’s believed Leonardo helped renovate the canal network later on. For more info on the Navigli district, check this blog post here.

• Brera - old Milan, cobbled streets full of charm and lined with trattorias, antique shops and upcoming designers’ boutiques, Brera is certainly my favourite area of town. Let the fortune tellers filling the streets at night read your future and explore the little shops for a not-on-the-highstreet shopping experience. 

Unmissable stops for Fashion and Design Lovers visiting Milan

• Fondazione Prada, carved out of a 1910’s gin distillery, is a large exhibition space displaying permanent and temporary projects.  

• Armani Silos is a space where you can admire a selection of the designer’s creations from 1980 till today, plus temporary exhibitions. A walk through the history of fashion and a must-see for the lovers of the designer’s aesthetics.

The insider’s address book to the best of Milan in 2020

Where to stay in Milan 

-           Palazzo Parigi - hotel and spa in Porta Nuova

-           Grand Visconti Palace -  5 stars hotel in Porta Romana

-           Excelsior Hotel Gallia - next to the Central Station 

-           Principe di Savoia - Grand Hotel in Piazza della Repubblica

-           Chateau Monfort – Relais & Châteaux -  an Art Nouveau jewel with a visionary atmosphere 

-           Grand Hotel de Milan - 150 years old, next to La Scala 

Historic cafés and patisseries

All serving breakfast, afternoon tea, light lunches, aperitivo and anything in between: 

-           Marchesi

-           Cova

-           St. Ambroeus

-           Taveggia

-           Bastianello

Aperitivos’ temples and the trendiest cocktail-bars of Milan

-           Camparino in Galleria - serving aperitivo since 1915 

-           Terrazza Martini - lounge on Milan’s rooftop terrace

-           Bar Basso - wine and dine where the Negroni was invented

-           Miss Sixty Café, a pink secret hidden in the flagship store of the brand

Gelaterie and Chocolateries in Milan All serving artisanal ice cream:

• Sweet Melodies - the best kept secret address for ice cream

• Gelateria Marghera

• Viel - historic smoothies bar

• Chocolat Milano

• Venchi

• Knam

Wine and Dine

• La Taverna degli Amici - $$ - convivial, rustic and delicious

• Trattoria da Angelo - $$ - the best fiorentina (t-bone steak) in Milan

• Trattoria Masuelli San Marco - $$, traditional milanese menu

• Bice - $$$$ - Elegant, traditional eatery serving Tuscan & Milanese fare

• Aimo e Nadia - $$$$ - famous for tasting menus & upscale modern Italian cuisine

• La Terrazza di Palestro - $$$ - superb dehors in the city centre

Milan Swanky Night Clubs

-          Just Cavalli - dance immersed in the beautiful Parco Sempione 

-           Fabrique - huge venue for concerts and international artists

-           Hollywood - vips and footballers hangout

-           Old fashion - in Sempione area, an historic club to dance and dine

Shopping in Milan

Books

-           Hoepli, THE library in Milan

Fashion

-           Armani Megastore needs no introductions

-           Arabesque, for Chichi Meroni 50’s inspired collections

-           Profumeria Mazzolari, historic perfume and beauty shop

-           Tearose Boutique, a unique combination of scents, lights, flowers and couture

-           Fontana Milano 1915, the best artisan handbags in town

-           Borsalino, historic stop for hats and headwear

Design

-           Fornasetti, the artist store where you can find all his collections

-           Raw, the trendiest cabinet of curiosity

-           Cargo, industrial furniture and homeware

Food and delicatessen

-           L’Arte del Te, for the best tea selection

-           Peck, historic delicatessen shop 

-           Princi, award winning bakery

-           Rossi & Grassi, salumeria and formaggeria taken to the next level

Milan on a budget - Tips + affordable accommodation and eateries

Is Milan expensive for tourists? The answer is no, if you get smart about it. Read on for a few money saving ideas. 

• Dine with Aperitivo - Normally served after work until dinner time, you can easily get a full evening meal out of it.

• Move out of central areas for food and accommodation and avoid the taxis. Hop on the most efficient public transport system in Italy and get everywhere within minutes, no fuss for traffic, parking or limited-traffic zones.

• Get the city pass - the MilanoCard offers free public transportation, free audio guide and free or discounted entry to over 500+ Milan tourist attractions, https://www.milanocard.it 

• Drink tap water - it’s safe and free. There are also many fountains around town called Vedove (widows) where you can drink.

• Walk the neighbourhoods - Milan is relatively small and easy to navigate. Attractions are in walking distance if you organize your visit district by district.

• Avoid Fashion and Design Week  - prices skyrocket. If you can, come another time.

• Plan around the SALES - they are normally twice a year and you can get good bargains as long as you shop when they start.

Are Milanese a strange breed of Italians? A brief expert’s guide to navigate Milan’s culture and customs 

• Dress up - elegance is a way of life in the city of fashion and design. Don’t be shy and join in.

• Tips are not mandatory - tips aren’t expected and they don’t have to be a specific percentage. 

• Let’s talk COFFEE. There is no such thing as a single or double espresso. Coffee is just coffee.

• Cappuccino is for breakfast - not for after lunch or after dinner. That’s so not Italian.

• Cappuccio or cappuccino? In a go-go-go city like Milan things get often abbreviated. No difference implied.

• A latte is MILK ONLY - yes, just heated milk, so don’t expect Starbucks drinks in Milan. We keep it simple. 

• Standing or sitting? Most bar consumption in Milan is done at the counter because it’s meant to be a quick stop on a busy day. When you want to take it slow and sit down, bear in mind prices can differ to include table service.

• Pay at the cashier please - When you are done, just go to the paying till with your table number or bill and pay there.

• Feel free to pay by card - Debit/Credit cards are accepted everywhere. By law, all shops and public establishments must accept card payments.

• Negroni Sbagliato - this is Milan’s aperitivo by excellence. I say no more. You just have to try it. By the way, sbagliato means “wrong” in Italian...

How to get to Milan and a few options you might have not considered

FLy TO MILAN

There are three major airports serving Milan: Linate, is the closest to town, while Malpensa and Orio al Serio both around 45 minutes away cater for intercontinental and low-cost flights. 

All three city airports are served by an inexpensive shuttle service which I highly recommend. Buses leave approximately every 30 minutes and you can board them at the Central Station and in a few more spots in town on your way back. 

Trains to Milan

Milan Central Station is one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe. Most long journey trains leave from here, including the Eurostar from Paris and London. Yes, Milan can be reached by train from London St Pancras via Paris Gare du Nord in 13h 26m for as little as 80 euros. 

Milan travel: getting around town

Taxi 

There are many taxi stations in town and you can easily order a cab by phone or with an app. Not the cheapest way to get around but certainly convenient and pretty fast (in many areas taxis have a preferential lane to avoid queues).

Public Transport 

Well organised, fast and quite economical. You can get anywhere within the city and outskirts. Check the ATM app for more information or Google Maps.

There are many fees options you can choose from:

• Biglietto Urbano - 1 way ticket to travel within the city, valid 90 minutes and costing 2 euros

• Day ticket: 4.40 euros 

• Two-days ticket: 8.25 euros

• Carnet - 10 tickets for a slightly cheaper price than if bought individually

• Contactless credit card payments - subway stations accept credit cards so you don’t need to buy a ticket. Most buses and trams don’t. Where To Buy Tickets ATM, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi 

• Take the Radiobus at night if it’s late for public transport. You can travel safely and comfortably at night time within 14 districts. Check the website for more information - https://www.atm.it/en/ViaggiaConNoi/Radiobus/Pages/Radiobus.aspx

Rent a bike, motorbike or a car-to-go?

The number of sharing services multiplies by the day. Most require an online registration and a credit card. Pick your vehicle from your nearest location and leave it wherever you don’t need it anymore. A convenient way to get around. 

You can even hire a scooter for the day - just be careful that Italians call small motorbikes, Vespa style, scooters. Ask for a monopattino instead.  

When to go to Milan and when to run away

Avoid August - it gets HOT and most residents leave the city for the country, the mountains or the seaside. Milan slowly empties and most businesses are closed too. You will find a sweaty, stuffy and empty ghost city. 

Weather in Milan

The climate is moderately continental, with cold, damp winters and hot, humid summers. For more information on temperatures, check: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/italy/milan

A Milan Guide for Winter 

Saint Ambrose Fair aka Fiera degli Obej Obej - the most important traditional Christmas fair starting every year on December 7th. You’ll find sweets and winter delicacies, artisanal goods and bric-a-brac. Super crowded and popular is a town institutional event not to be missed if you happen to be around.

Fashion week, held twice a year in February/March and September/October to present the new collections, is part of the Big Four fashion weeks, the other three taking place in New York, London and Paris. With more than 40 shows around town in prestigious locations, it’s a week of cat walks, events and obviously, glamour!

La Rinascente  - A one stop for your Christmas shopping, La Rinascente in Piazza Duomo, an 150 years old establishment, is a high-end department store on the likes of Galeries Lafayettes in Paris or Harrods in London.

La Scala Premiere - Every year the Opera season opens on 7 December with La Prima delle Scala, on Saint Ambrose’s day. Most seats are reserved for invited guests of the high society who make a grand entrance and gather in the elegant foyer for drinks and press coverage. 

Best things to do in Milan In Spring

Design Week - Il Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone - This is the most important event in the world for design (furniture, lighting and other home furnishing). The term Fuorisalone describes all events and exhibitions that take place outside the exhibition hall and animate the city during the entire week. What happens outside is as interesting as what happens inside, and sometimes even more.

Walk or bike down the Naviglio della Martesana - Strictly pedestrian and with a dedicated cycling path, this is a beautiful walk along one of the less known canals of the city. Inaugurated in 1465 and also known as Naviglio Piccolo, it provides beautiful views on old houses and buildings.

Hang Out in Parco Sempione - Established in 1888 and designed on the model of the Romantic English Parks, the park is dotted by pretty artificial lakes and some remarkable buildings and landmarks like Palazzo dell’Arte, home of La Triennale Design Museum, promoting fine art and Italian avant-garde architecture, The Civic Aquarium (free entrance), the Arena and the Arco della Pace. The Sforza Castle is just outside and Brera district is a stone’s throw. 

A weekend in Milan - Best Things to do in Milan on Sundays and weekends

• Mercatino dell’antiquariato in Navigli District -  Historic Antique Market taking place every last Sunday of every Month 

• Mercatino dell’antiquariato di Brera - Gorgeous and characteristic tiny market in the street of the Brera District happening every third Sunday of every month 

• Free admission in most museums every first Sunday of every month

• East Market Milano –  for Vintage, Oddities and Collectibles - www.eastmarketmilano.com

• Chinatown - explore this unusual part of the city with its pedestrian only streets and countless shops and restaurants

How many days do I need to visit Milan? Milan best itineraries’ ideas that will answer your question

24 hours in Milan – The must-see and do list 

A day in the city is quite short and the best option is probably to hang out in the Duomo area and venture towards Brera for the evening. You will see most of the must-see sites of the city and enjoy some good cafés and dining options.

48 hours in Milan – Art, Fashion and Design crush tour – The perfect weekend in Milan

In 48 hours you can see the must-see sites and landmarks and enjoy the shopping or one of the many museums.

72 hours in Milan – A master class in stylish living

Three days are a better option for covering all you could in two and venture out to the trendy neighborhoods of Isola, Porta Nuova, Garibaldi and Corso Como, maybe attend an Opera show at La Scala or go to one of the fashionable nightclubs if that’s more your thing. 

Tips from a local – What do I need to know before visiting Milan

• Snow tyres are mandatory in winter.

• Motorway payment can be made by cash or card. France, Spain, Portugal and Italy are now working on a telematic system to pay all highways, parking fees, etc. If you live in one of these countries, check with your local provider if the Telepass service is available. Check for ZTL areas and AREA C - traffic is restricted and you may have to pay a toll to drive through.

• Most restaurants are closed between 2:30 and 7 pm. Plan your meals accordingly if you want a dining experience or opt for bars and other more casual solutions if you are hungry in the afternoon.

• Toilets in public places - by law all public stores must have a toilet you can use even if you aren’t a customer. Most places though will highly appreciate it if you buy something after using the toilet. It’s a matter of common sense. Just think if you were running the bar and serving as a public toilet for no profits. How would you feel?

• Currency: Euro

• Electricity Type L (three-prong plug) and Type F (two-prong plug)

• Language: Italian - English, Spanish and French are widely spoken

Milan vacation ideas - Day trips from Milan 

Milan strategic location allows you to reach many attractive places in just one to two hours, from the great lakes of North Italy: Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake d’Orta, Lake d’Iseo, to the Franciacorta region, the land of Italian sparkling wine, Spumante and a beautiful hilly country area perfect for wine tours and relaxing holidays, to major cities like Turin, Genoa and Bergamo and historic landmarks like the Abbazia of Chiaravalle and the Ligurean seaside (Portofino). 

You can read more about Lake Como here, about Lake Orta here and other interesting destinations just outside the city here.

No more dilemmas

Are you still wondering, “why should I go to Milan?”, “is Milan a good place for tourists? Of course not. I also believe we’ve answered the other question that I know was in your mind: “Should I skip Milan when visiting Italy?” No way. There’s plenty to see and countless day excursions, remember? If Hollywood’s establishment can choose the Lakes for their holiday homes, there must be a reason, right? If the International jet set regards the city as a reference point for fashion, design and innovation, then that should say something too. 

Why not make it your start of the journey before heading south for example? The Ultimate Milan travel guide is now in your hands to help you plan, to understand where you should go in Milan and how many days you need to visit Milan based on what you’ll like to do.  If budget is a concern, affordable accommodation is available on Airbnb and similar platforms. Bars and little osterias will keep you well fed without breaking the bank and cultural attractions are relatively cheap in Italy. Not to mention all the low cost flights you can take from most European Cities.  

Whatever you’re into, from cultural tourism to shopping, laid back or active holidays, then this area of Italy is a winner. What are you waiting for? Book your flight and see you soon. 

For more on Milan, check out this blog post.

P.S. If I’ve omitted something that matters, pop your question down in the comment section and I’ll be glad to help.