MILAN, ITALY
Milan is known by many as the fashion capital of the world! This is on full display when walking through its city streets, with Neoclassical buildings on one side and high-end department stores on the other. Milano’s metropolitan feel is much more palpable when compared to other popular tourist destinations within the country, making it a great place to visit for those seeking to experience Italy’s contemporary side!
Attractions:
Duomo di Milano: This iconic cathedral is located in one of the city’s busiest piazzas. Like you, this church is gorgeous both on the inside and out! For those who enter, be sure to seek out the unique sculpture of a skinned St. Bartholomew; it is quite intriguing! The church is open daily from 9:00am-7:00pm and costs €5 to enter. Access to the rooftop (via stairs) costs an additional €10.
Piazza Mercanti & Piazzale Loreto: Piazza Mercanti is a quiet public square with many beautiful medieval buildings in Central Milan. It is an ideal spot to sit down, read a book, or catch your breath! If you find yourself in Northeastern Milan, be sure to stop by Piazzale Loreto. It is the famed location of the public display of Benito Mussolini’s corpse on April 29, 1945.
Sforzesco Castle: This castle, built in the 14th century, is one of the most historic structures in Milan; its exemplary red brick is a symbol of the city’s Renaissance period. Today, it houses multiple art galleries and museums. The castle is free to enter and open daily from 7:00am-7:30pm. While you are in the area, be sure to stop by the largest green space in town, Sempione Park!
Serie A Soccer Match: The Italian professional soccer league is one of the world’s finest! If you visit between August-May, try to catch an AC Milan or Inter Milan home game; even better if they are playing each other! The atmosphere is incredible!
Santa Maria delle Grazie Convent: This church is home to Leonardo Di Vinci’s, The Last Supper. It is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8:15am-7:00pm. Tickets cost €25 and I recommend booking them a few days in advance!
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: Calling all window shoppers! Italy’s oldest active shopping mall is open 24/7 and a lovely area to walk through. The ceiling work is truly unreal!
Lake Como: Lake Como’s beauty is incomparable! Surrounded by mountains, this lake is a photographer’s paradise. Many say it is the most scenic and relaxing place in the entire country! By car, the ride from Milan is 1 hour. By train, the ride is 40 minutes and costs €5. In the town of Como, the most popular beach is Lido Villa Olmo, which is 25 minutes walking from Como’s train station. Another option is Bellagio Public Beach, 45 minutes north of Como by car. For those with a vehicle, a road outlines the entire lake, connecting all of the surrounding towns to one another.
Cinque Terre: Although Cinque Terre can be experienced as a day-trip from Milan, I highly recommend spending a few days there instead. It gives Lake Como a run for its money as the most scenic and relaxing place in Italy! By car, Cinque Terre is 3.5 hours south of Milan. By train, the ride is 3 hours and costs €20. See my Cinque Terre travel guide for more information!
Other spots to check out include: Teatro alla Scala, Columns of St. Lawrence, and Pinacoteca di Brera!
Accommodation:
Hotel - NH Milano Palazzo Moscova: Part of the famed NH Hotel Group, travelers who stay here can be assured they will be taken care of. Palazzo Moscova is located in the stylish Porta Garibaldi neighborhood surrounded by clubs, bars, and upscale fashion shops. It is a 10-minute metro ride or 25-minute walk from the city center.
Hostel - Ostello Bello: This place is oftentimes recognized not just as the best hostel in Milan, but in all of Italy! With a free breakfast buffet, nightly “aperitivo” hour, and terrace full of hammocks, it is not hard to see why! It also has a perfect location, just 10 minutes walking from the Duomo di Milano. Via the city’s metro, Milano Centrale Train Station is a 15-minute ride and Lampugnano Bus Station is a 25-minute ride.
Transportation:
Milan’s main train terminal is Milano Centrale Train Station; all trains below leave from here. The main bus station is Lampugnano Bus Station; all buses leave from here.
Florence is 2 hours by train from Milan and costs €46. The bus ride is 4.5 hours and costs €27.
Venice is 2.5 hours by train from Milan and costs €39. The bus ride is 3.5 hours and costs €37.
Rome is 3.5 hours by train from Milan and costs €79. The bus ride is 8 hours and costs €50.
Lucerne, Switzerland is 4 hours by train from Milan (indirect) and costs €66. The bus ride is 4 hours and costs €20.
Naples is 5 hours by train from Milan and costs €84. The bus ride is 9.5 hours and costs €62.
Paris, France is 7.5 hours by train from Milan and costs €86. The bus ride is 12 hours and costs €50.
Munich, Germany is 8.5 hours by train from Milan (indirect) and costs €110. The bus ride is 9 hours and costs €62.
Milan’s three international airports are Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. Below is transportation information for each:
Malpensa International Airport (MXP) is 50km (31 miles) northwest of the city center and accessible via bus, train, and taxi. All below transit routes run between MXP and Milano Centrale.
Linate International Airport (LIN) is 9km (6 miles) east of the city center and accessible via local bus, shuttle bus, and taxi.
#73 or #X73 Bus: The ride from LIN to San Babila (Line 1) metro station is 30 minutes and costs €1.50; buses run every 10 minutes from 6:00am-12:30am.
Linate Shuttle Bus: The ride from LIN to Milano Centrale is 25 minutes and costs €5; buses run every 2 hours from 8:30am-8:30pm.
Taxi: The ride is 15-20 minutes and costs €30-€40 depending on the time of day.
Bergamo Airport (BGY) is 55km (34 miles) northeast of the city center and accessible via shuttle bus and taxi. All below transit routes run between BGY and Milano Centrale.
Terravision Bus: The ride is 1 hour and costs €8; buses run every hour from 8:45am-11:45pm.
Taxi: The ride is 45-60 minutes and costs €110-€120 depending on the time of day.
The majority of the photos on this page were taken by my sister, Antoinette. Thank you!!