Milan caught me off guard. I went with almost no expectations, simply because I didn't know much about the city and it was never on my bucket list. Stop for a sec and think…what do you actually know about Milan? No cheating...don't Google it! See? How much do you know? Though I was clueless, we had friends visiting and it was an opportunity to go somewhere new. I never say no to that! I was wowed several times, and upon my visit, bequeathed it the title, "Magnificent Milan". Come find out why!
FUN FACTS: Milan has one of the world's oldest shopping malls. One of its main attractions (the Duomo) took almost 6 centuries complete!
PULL FACTORS: REASONS TO VISIT MILAN
Go if you love: Fashion, Shopping, Visual Art, Music, Architecture.
DESTINATION PROFILE: MILAN, ITALY
Overall Experience: 7/10
Location: Italy, Europe (was it just me, or did you think Milan was in Spain? 🤣Told you I was clueless)
Language Spoken: Italian, but we found it go be very English-friendly
The People: We felt quite comfortable. Locals were friendly. Politeness and good service were consistent throughout our stay. Zero issues here!
Currency Used: Euros
Visa Requirements: Schengen Visa, aside from those with passports from Europe, UK, USA, etc. (More info here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/)
How Long Should I Stay?: I recommend around 3 days
Best Suited for: I'd say Milan is well-suited for all types of travel! Hooray! It's pleasant for walks alone and felt quite safe and unintimidating for solo travels. We went with friends as a family (parents with a toddler) and had a great time. For parents, just note that if you have a stroller, using the train can be a bit of a hassle. For the most part, there are no elevators, so you will have to lift the stroller up and down the steps.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
Budget: $$$$
You'll need to show all the money for this trip! That's the main downside of Milan, from my experience. It's expensive! Food and accommodation, especially, can cost a pretty penny. Public transport is reasonably priced though. As always, I'm all about making trips affordable, so keep reading for ways to save.
GETTING AROUND IN MILAN
Transportation: We arrived at the Milan Bergamo airport, then took a shuttle bus to the city centre. It was quite a lengthy ride, perhaps about 1 hour. We then took the train, followed by a bus to get to our hotel. It was a long sojourn based on our choice of hotel, as you can tell! Overall, public transportation is efficient, quite clean, reliable and easy to figure out with Google Maps (even despite the language barrier). Nevertheless, we experienced most of Milan on foot. We were fortunate enough to have a friend living there and she showed us around, explaining that most locals walk everywhere. Walking is also a great way to see nooks and crannies you'd otherwise miss!
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN MILAN
The Duomo- I'm not sure I've ever stared at any building for so long! No matter how many pictures I took, it never felt like enough! It's hard to describe the awe that struck me as we ascended the steps from the underground train and caught the first glimpse of this magnificent building. The luxurious, spotless walls contrasted perfectly with the clear blue skies. As I came closer, I got lost in its vastness and intricate details. Guys, seriously, there are no words and the whole blog could be about this site! The Duomo is a church made of beautiful white marble that stands 354 feet high. It's enormous and such a work of art. I came across it several times during my visit, and each time, I was compelled to pause in admiration. The roof of the building has 3,400 unique statues which are so delicate, that they look like lace trimmings. You can pay to climb the roof to see the statues up close and to experience a panoramic view of the city. It's so beloved that can't remember ever seeing so many tourists in front of a tourist site (or birds either 😂). I think that proves how beautiful it is. The lines to climb the steps were endless & daunting. Pro Tip: To save time, especially if you are only visiting for a few days, definitely buy your ticket ahead on a site like: Get Your Guide.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II- if the sound of an elite shopping experience excites you, this venue will be paradise. All the high-end brands have an outlet here: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Versace, you name it. This is one shopping mall (though that term sounds so basic for the elegance of this place), that makes you feel ultra classy, just stepping in. The ceilings rival any museum, adorned with dome-like, see through panels. The sky high walls have intricate carvings and paintings. Even the flooring adds to the luxurious feel, as it seemingly glistens. As a bonus, there are a few hotels and restaurants in the building.
Pro Tip: When standing in front of the Duomo, The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is situated to the left right through the enormous arch.
• Santa Maria delle Grazie - for the art lovers, here you'll get the once in a lifetime opportunity to see Da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper".
•Sforza Castle- as you meander through the palace grounds, don't be surprised if you feel like you're starring in "Tangled". Made of colossal red stone walls and full of fortresses (and even a draw bridge) this Medieval piece of history feels like a dramatic storybook. The castle houses art pieces and over 7 museums such as The Museum of Art and the Archeological Museum of Milan. The grounds also has a café and beautiful gardens where you can unwind.
•Pinacoteca di Brera- if you need a hearty serving of visual arts, this stop is worth a visit as it is considered one of the best art collections in all of Italy. Formerly a monastery, the 38 halls of this building will satisfy your art cravings. Even the courtyard is impressive!
FREEBIES (THINGS TO DO FOR FREE IN MILAN)
You'll want to save all the money you can in Milan, especially if you're gonna make a stop at Gucci! Here are some tips:
•The Sforza Castle is actually free! You can explore the courtyard and gardens for €0. However, to view the museums and art collection, you'll need to buy a ticket.
•Arco della Pace- close to the palace, you will find an inviting green area complete with an arch that reminded me of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It's free to enter and a lovely place to take a rest.
•The Courtyard at Pinacoteca di Brera is free, so are the gardens.
HOW TO MAKE MILAN AFFORDABLE
•Food: to save here, I would advise booking a hotel with a hearty breakfast included (check out ours, below). Then pick up an easy lunch at a supermarket (or see the Food section below for some inexpensive lunch ideas). This allows you to save enough to enjoy a delicious Milanese dinner.
•Panoramic Views: In the area of the Duomo, there are restaurants where you can dine and enjoy views of the city. They are expensive. Instead you can visit the McDonalds (hear me out here) at the rear section of the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II. Opt to sit upstairs and enjoy pleasant views for much less! Saving money? I'm lovin' it!
•Accommodation- if you don't mind travelling around for longer, opt to stay outside the city center and you'll likely save a lot on your hotel stay!
•Transportation- save on taxi fares, a tour bus, or an all day ticket. Once in the center, opt to walk around the city to see the famous sites.
JO'S SECRET: THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN MILAN
Well, it isn't really my secret, it was our tour guide's (Toni's) secret. She showed us a great spot that most tourists miss because it's somewhat off the radar. What people don't know is that Venice isn't the only place in Italy with picture worthy canals. She took us to the Navigli canals (actually designed by Da Vinci). We went for dinner there and it was perfect! The canals are surrounded by restaurants and the waters glistened in the evening as they reflected the surrounding lights. It's an enchanting feeling! Put this place on your list for one of your dinner experiences!
WHAT TO EAT IN MILAN:
•Risotto- you'll find this all over Milan, as it's one of the most popular dishes. Try Risotto alla Milanese to make it official. It's a moist, gooey rice dish flavoured with cheese, white wine and saffron.
•Panzarotti- this is a fluffy, delicate dough encasing various fillings. Think pizza, in a more exciting form. It's affordable and you can pick up one (along with yummy local pastries) near the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II at a hole in the wall restaurant, Luini's. Prepare for a line though!
-Piadina- again, we discovered this compliments of our tour guide, Toni. She explained that it's a popular choice with locals for lunch. Ours cost about €5 - no complaints there! It's a folded flatbread with your choice of fillings: meats, veggies and cheese.
-Cotaletta alla Milanese- similar to a cutlet of veal that's breaded and fried in butter. Nice choice for dinner!
-Gelato- well, it's Italy, so why wouldn't you want to try creamy, rich ice-cream?
WHERE TO EAT IN MILAN:
-By the Navigli Canals is my biggest recommendation. It's romantic, relaxing and charming. We found an affordable pub there, it was casual, but great for cutting costs.
Other restaurants to try are:
-Pavé (great for breakfast) via Felice Casati, 27, 20124 Milano MI, Italy
-Vinoir and Vinello (good dinner options)
-Pasta Fresca Da Giovanni
WHERE TO STAY IN MILAN:
I'd recommend our hotel: Grand Hotel Duco di Mantova (approximately €51 per room, per night). It was a classy, four star accommodation; clean, comfortable, affordable and we received great customer service. It was also fine staying with a kid here. It wasn't terribly kid-friendly, but we didn't feel unwelcomed. We also got a free toddler bed, though that seems pretty standard in Europe. The downside is that this hotel is about 30 minutes from the city centre and the entrance was hard to find (we had to walk through the shopping mall and take an elevator up to the roof). We loved the all you can eat breakfast buffet and the convenience of having affordable food options and a supermarket close by.
If you'd like somewhere close to the centre, here are some suggestions:
•Grand Hotel Barone de Sassj (our friends who had a higher budget stayed here and it was impressive)
• Hilton Garden Inn Milan North
BEST PHOTO OPPS IN MILAN
-The Duomo and the surrounding area
-Sforza Castle (especially in front of the fountain)
-Arco della Pace
-Courtyard of Pinacoteca di Brera
-In front of all the high-end stores (duh!)
HELPFUL TO KNOW:
-To my shock, the panini I ordered was not grilled! So ordering this dish might feel anticlimactic if you're passionate about the grilled alternative.
-If you lose your hotel key, you likely won't have to pay for it! We learned this the hard way. After searching for about 30 minutes and risking being late for our return flight, we found out there was no added charge.
-A great way to see Milan, especially if you are only spending a few days, is a hop on hop off bus tour. This takes you to the most popular sites with just one ticket. It takes away the hassle, because you won't have to figure out public transportation and you avoid getting lost, using data etc. As the name implies, you get on and off as you like when you reach a point of interest, without having to pay to board again. This is available in most European cities and tickets usually last 24 or 48 hours.
SUMMARY:
What I Liked about Milan:
-The Duomo!!!!
-The classy, sophisticated feel of the city
-The metropolitan experience. Milan is quite an international city, so you are likely to blend right in and feel welcome.
What I Didn't Like about Milan:
-Peddlers in front of tourist sites trying to offer "free" bracelets made from thread. It was annoying and they tried forcing me to take one.
-The high prices of everything!
Did Milan peak your interest? If so, which 2 sites fascinated you most? I'd love to hear in the comments! Feel free to drop any questions you might have!
Check out my video on this topic:
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