Milan is the second largest metropolis in Italy after Rome and the capital of Lombardy. It’s nicely generally known as being the house of high-end Italian style designers, and many individuals come to Milan only for the purchasing.
However, there may be heaps extra to do in Milan than store. The metropolis has spectacular artworks, together with some of the well-known murals on the earth, Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. It additionally has a great deal of museums, implausible meals, parks, church buildings, and cultural actions.
Milan additionally makes an excellent base for exploring the native area, with in style locations like Lake Como, Lake Garda, Verona, and Bologna, solely an hour or so away by prepare.
We’ve visited Milan numerous occasions, and at present we’re going to share an thought of spend two days in Milan.
This information will embrace a recommended itinerary for every day in Milan, in addition to tips about getting round, the place to remain and the way to economize. We’ll additionally share some tips about day journeys from Milan.
2 Day Milan Itinerary
This two-day Milan itinerary is good for first-time guests to Milan, and people wishing to see the highlights of town. We prefer to pack in so much after we go to a metropolis, particularly on our first go to.
As all the time with our itineraries, we advocate utilizing this as a foundation, and adjusting it to fit your pursuits and journey fashion.
If you’re in search of extra choices, additionally try our information to issues to do in Milan. That article contains all of the sights on this itinerary in addition to numerous different locations you may need to go to, particularly when you’ve got greater than 2 days in Milan.
Milan Itinerary Day 1
Day one among our Milan itinerary has you visiting a number of the most well-known and in style sights within the metropolis, beginning with one of many world’s most well-known artworks.
Today the sights are all inside strolling distance of each other, and today’s itinerary is about up for somebody who’s strolling between every attraction. But do try our information to getting round in Milan in a while within the submit for different choices, as Milan additionally has an excellent public transit system and taxis are additionally straightforward to get.
If you’re planning on doing a sightseeing bus tour, then I’d most likely advocate doing it this morning so you can begin with an outline of town. I’d additionally plan your stops in an order that is smart with the bus schedule.
Also a be aware at present that in case you are following our itinerary, we advocate bringing alongside your photograph ID (for The Last Supper tickets) and to just be sure you are dressed to satisfy the assorted church gown code pointers (shoulders and knees lined).
On with Day 1!
The Last Supper (Santa Maria della Grazie)
Leonardo Da Vinci is liable for a number of the world’s most recognizable artworks, together with the Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man. The Last Supper is one other one among his immediately recognizable works, and also you’ll discover it in Milan.
It’s discovered painted onto the wall of the eating room of the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie, which remains to be a working church and Dominican convent.
As the identify suggests, the mural depicts the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles. It freezes the second in time when Jesus has simply introduced that one of many twelve will betray him, and captures the vary of feelings that the apostles must this announcement.
The very first thing that strikes you while you see the paintings is the unbelievable sense of perspective that Da Vinci manages to convey. The portray completely matches with the room the place it’s painted, seeming to increase it into the horizon. And the entire composition is rigorously crafted so all of the main strains converge on the central determine of Christ.
It’s additionally fantastically symmetrical, and the emotion on the faces of the assorted topics appears to obviously seize how every character might need been feeling as Jesus revealed the revelation of his upcoming betrayal.
Today, the Last Supper is thought to be one of many world’s most vital artworks, and positively some of the vital that Da Vinci created.
Unfortunately, Da Vinci created the work utilizing experimental and unfamiliar methods. This meant that it began to decay nearly instantly. Over the centuries, varied restoration makes an attempt have been made, with various levels of success. The finish result’s what you see at present, and while it’s nonetheless within the spirit of Da Vinci’s work, a lot of the unique has been misplaced.
That stated, it’s nonetheless fairly an unbelievable sight and nicely value seeing.
If you do need to go to the Last Supper, which we advocate, you have to be conscious it is a highly regarded attraction and you’ll undoubtedly need to plan your go to prematurely. This isn’t an attraction you may simply flip up and go to.
Tickets are very restricted, with solely 30 guests allowed in per 15-minute time slot. Many of these tickets are allotted to tour teams, however there may be an allocation for people to purchase tickets.
Individual tickets could be purchased on the official web site right here. Tickets are usually launched 1 to 4 months prematurely, and have a tendency to promote out rapidly. The announcement for when tickets might be placed on sale for upcoming months is revealed on the web site right here.
If you may’t discover a ticket for the dates you’re visiting Milan, the best choice is to ebook a tour which incorporates the Last Supper. Tour teams have entry to a separate ticket allocation, and normally have higher availability consequently.
Whilst a tour goes to be dearer, it can get pleasure from together with an knowledgeable tour information who can clarify what you’re seeing. There is little written info within the room itself, so having a tour information (or guidebook) is de facto helpful. Our information additionally took us on a guided go to of the church afterwards.
We visited the Last Supper as a part of this tour with Take Walks, one among our favourite strolling tour corporations. We’ve taken excursions with all of them all over the world, and admire the educated guides and small teams.
You can verify availability for his or her Last Supper tour right here, which after we took it additionally included a metropolis strolling tour and a go to to the Milan Duomo.
If they don’t have availability, otherwise you’d similar to another choices, try this listing of excursions on GetYourInformation for another choices.
Regardless of the way you go to, ensure you flip up prematurely to permit loads of time so you may acquire your ticket and retailer your luggage, any meals/water, and different bigger gadgets within the on-site lockers. All meals and drinks (even bottled water) must be saved within the lockers and may’t be taken inside.
When we visited, we additionally wanted photograph IDs with the intention to acquire our tickets, so we’d advocate additionally bringing alongside your passports.
Finally, don’t overlook to allocate a while after your go to to have a look at the small museum, present store, and to go to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie as nicely. The church is free to go to and was accomplished in 1497, with the apse designed by notable architect Bramante.
Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
If you have got time between visiting The Last Supper and the Duomo, we advocate a cease at San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore. This church is a couple of five-minute stroll from the church of Santa Maria della Grazie the place The Last Supper is discovered..
This dates from 1518, and was initially a part of Milan’s largest Benedictine convent. Today, the convent is the place you can see the Civic Archaeological Museum, nevertheless, the church remains to be operational and appears a lot because it did when it was in use by the nuns.
The inside of the church is a vaulted nave which is split into two elements. One of those was the world for common worship and is the place the principle altar is to be discovered. The different space was the Hall of Nuns, and was the place the nuns would collect to watch mass by a grating.
Until the late 18th century, the nuns weren’t permitted to cross the divide into the final worship space.
The essential cause it would be best to go to the church is for the unbelievable frescoes that you can see inside. These are discovered on either side of the church in addition to on the dividing wall, and depict a wide range of spiritual scenes together with the lifetime of San Maurizio, the patron saint of Milan.
The church is free to go to however donations are in fact welcome and appreciated. As it’s a spiritual constructing, a gown code which includes protecting your shoulders and knees applies. You can see extra particulars about visiting on the web site.
Note about these occupied with archaeology, must also take into account a go to to the adjoining Civic Archaeological Museum within the former convent. The museum covers the traditional to medieval durations, together with Milan’s time as capital of the Western Roman Empire. There is an entrance price to go to.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Next beneficial cease is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which is a couple of 10-minute stroll from the Chiesa di San Maurizio. This was Italy’s first Starbucks.
Starbucks clearly needed to make an affect with their first Italian venue. Whilst Starbucks was initially impressed by Italian espresso tradition, American espresso tradition could be very totally different. It’s clear that thought went into establishing the primary Starbucks in Italy with the intention to bridge the divide.
We assume the trouble actually paid off. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery is discovered within the former Milan Stock Exchange and Post Office constructing, which is a really spectacular construction.
Inside, you’ll discover a big house the place you may watch the espresso roasting course of from finish to finish, and select from a powerful array of espresso based mostly drinks. These vary from the anticipated classics by to every little thing from pour-over coffees, espresso tasting flights, and even espresso based mostly cocktails.
There are additionally different, non-coffee based mostly drinks in addition to snacks. On-site you’ll additionally discover a retailer the place you should purchase a variety of espresso paraphernalia and Starbucks souvenirs.
The Starbucks Roastery is free to go to. Even if you happen to aren’t a fan of Starbucks, we nonetheless advocate a fast take a look at the spectacular exterior and inside of this historic constructing. You can discover out extra about visiting on the official web site right here.
Of course, if you happen to would favor a extra conventional espresso expertise, we’ve got a advice for that too. There are many cafes to be present in Milan, however we might advocate Marchesi 1824. The authentic retailer is on the identical route you’ll be following, simply a few minutes’ stroll from the church.
Founded in 1824, this is likely one of the oldest cafes and pastry outlets you may go to in Milan, and the inside of the store is gorgeous. So in case you are after a fast espresso decide me up and scrumptious pastry, this is a wonderful choice. There are additionally a number of tables within the again if you happen to want a break.
Marchesi is now owned by Prada so there’s a second Milan location within the Prada retailer on the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Duomo di Milano
Fortified with espresso, it’s time to go to one among Milan’s most spectacular buildings, the Duomo di Milan or Milan Cathedral. It is a couple of 5 minute stroll from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery to the Milan Duomo.
This huge marble development is likely one of the largest cathedrals on the earth, and a must-see when visiting Milan.
The Milan Duomo took nearly 600 years to construct, with the groundbreaking in 1386 and the constructing solely being formally accomplished in 1965.
This prolonged constructing period meant that the cathedral was constructed by each the Gothic and Renaissance durations, and the design attracts on a wide range of usually contrasting architectural kinds.
As you may think, over the interval it was constructed the design fell out and in of style. Alternatively revered and criticized by the ages, we personally assume that it was definitely worth the 600 yr wait to get to the completed constructing.
Today, the Duomo is the cathedral church of Milan and an energetic place of worship. It’s the third largest church on the earth and the most important in Italy, and there’s a lot to see right here.
Inside you’ll discover the world’s largest gothic vaults, statues, altars, sarcophagi and exquisite stained-glass home windows. There’s additionally an vital relic which holds what’s believed to be one of many nails used within the crucifixion of Christ.
Underneath the Duomo, and accessed from inside, you’ll discover the Archeological Area. This is the place you may see what has been excavated of the Baptisteries of Saint John and Santa Tecla which date from the 4th century AD.
One of our favorite elements of the Duomo is the roof terrace. The roof is a big house crammed with beautiful gothic spires, and it was designed so guests might come up and admire them up shut. Rooftop entry is feasible through both stairs or an elevator.
Finally, simply throughout the Piazza from the Duomo is the Museum of the Duomo. Here you can see numerous items of artwork and parts like statues from the cathedral.
All the areas of the Duomo require a ticket to entry. Different tickets can be found relying on which areas you want to go to.
Most of the cathedral tickets embrace entry to the cathedral, the archaeological space, and the Duomo Museum. You pay further if you happen to additionally need to go to the rooftop terraces.
Tickets could be purchased right here. An choice with an audioguide is offered right here, or you may ebook a guided tour right here. The Cathedral with rooftop entry can also be included on the Milan Pass.
Don’t overlook that that is an energetic spiritual constructing, and like in most church buildings throughout Italy, a gown code applies if you happen to want to enter the cathedral. This usually means nothing too skimpy and that it’s worthwhile to have each your shoulders and knees lined. This applies for each women and men.
Note that in case you are on a decent funds, you may nonetheless benefit from the full of life Piazza del Duomo and the spectacular exterior of this magnificent cathedral without cost. It is unquestionably nonetheless value seeing even if you happen to aren’t planning to go inside.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Moments away from the Duomo, and on the identical Piazza, you can see an entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This is a big glass and metal shopping center fronted by a triumphal arch which opened in 1877.
That makes it one of many world’s oldest purchasing malls, and we’d argue it’s additionally one of many extra picturesque malls you’re more likely to go to.
The four-storey inside consists of a pair of intersecting glass-topped arcades. Where the streets intersect, there’s a large glass and metalwork dome. On the bottom is an exquisite mosaic flooring.
If you have an interest in high-end purchasing, then the Galleria is unquestionably a great place to take a look at. Designer shops together with Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada can all be discovered inside, alongside bars, cafes, and eating places.
Even if you happen to aren’t purchasing on a high-end style funds, we’d argue the Galleria is nicely value a go to. It’s free to go to, it’s proper by the Duomo, and it’s fairly a marvel to behold.
La Scala Theatre
Just a minute’s stroll from the Galleria is the Teatro alla Scala, often known as La Scala. This is likely one of the world’s most well-known opera homes. It dates from 1778, though it has been expanded and modernised through the years.
The theatre is totally operational, so you may in fact go to for a efficiency must you want. There are common ballet and opera performances, and if that is of curiosity you may see the schedule of performances and ebook tickets on the official web site right here.
However, you don’t have to soak up a efficiency to go to the theatre. There is a small museum on web site, or you may take one of many hosted guided excursions that the theatre runs.
Museum entry provides you entry to a number of the containers, so you may see the theatre itself. This relies in fact on the rehearsal schedule, which you’ll be able to verify on-line earlier than you go to.
Alternatively, you may take one of many guided excursions. These have fairly restricted availability, so do ebook prematurely if you wish to do one among these. They provide excursions in each Italian and English. On a tour you get to see behind the scenes of how the theatre works. They are a bit dearer than the museum entry, however you additionally get a way more in-depth expertise.
You will need to verify tour occasions as they’re restricted, and it’s possible you’ll want to regulate this itinerary accordingly relying on the guided tour time.
You can see tour occasions and costs, in addition to museum entry occasions and costs on the museum web site right here. Access to the Museum can also be included on the Milan Pass.
Nighttime choices
After a full day of sightseeing, it’s possible you’ll be questioning what to do within the night. Now you have got numerous choices.
Of course, you might have dinner and head again to your resort or condo to calm down. You’ve actually earned it. Check out some concepts for Milanese dishes to strive in our information to issues to do in Milan.
In the nice and cozy climate months, there are many bars and eating places with out of doors tables arrange which can be excellent for having fun with an aperitivo and/or meal and watching the world go by.
However, if you happen to did need some night leisure there are in fact loads of choices.
First, you might take an night meals like this, or an night aperitivo tour like this. Or simply head out to a neighborhood bar for a drink and to get pleasure from native life.
If you would favor to sightsee within the night, there are additionally night strolling excursions like this, though it’s possible you’ll need to regulate your itinerary for the day as these do revisit a number of the similar areas you’ve already been.
Another choice can be to attend a night efficiency of reside music, opera or ballet. You can see a number of the reside performances out there and ebook tickets right here.
Milan Itinerary Day 2
For your second day in Milan, you have got a number of choices. First, you might take a day journey out of town. Milan is nicely positioned for exploring the native space, with quick prepare journey opening up a wealth of prospects.
We have numerous ideas additional on within the submit for day journeys from town, however one nice choice can be to take a day journey to Lake Como, which is simply an hour north of town.
You also can go to locations together with Verona, Florence, Bologna and even Venice from Milan.
Another choice can be to bask in a day of purchasing. We’ve included purchasing suggestions on this itinerary, however you’re welcome to dedicate the entire day to purchasing in fact. For instance, if you wish to go to the outlet village you’d most likely need to spend a lot of the day there.
Of course, there may be nonetheless heaps extra to see in Milan, so listed here are some recommended stops for a second day within the metropolis.
Castello Sforzesco
Your first cease in your second day in Milan is the imposing Castello Sforzesco.
This was constructed because the residence of the highly effective household ruling Milan within the mid fifteenth century, they usually spared no expense in making it into fairly the construction.
It needed to be constructed for 2 functions, defensive and residential. Italy on the time was divided and dominated by totally different households, and conflicts weren’t unusual. So the Castle needed to be constructed to be extremely defensive.
Presumably nevertheless, no-one needed to reside in a fort that wasn’t additionally aesthetically pleasing. To clear up this drawback, the best artisans of the day (together with Leonardo Da Vinci), have been employed to make sure it was additionally a grand place to reside and entertain.
The total consequence was slightly spectacular. When accomplished, it was one of many largest fortresses in Europe, with massively thick defensive partitions and towers that additionally occurred to have interiors designed by Da Vinci and Bramante. The better of each worlds.
Today, the vast majority of the fort has survived, with a lot of it used to accommodate numerous attention-grabbing museums. These cowl a variety of topics together with Renaissance artwork, archaeology, musical devices, and historic artwork. There’s even an unfinished marble sculpture by Michaelangelo.
You can go to the fort grounds without cost, however entry to the Castle Museums is ticketed. One ticket covers all of the museums throughout the fort. We assume it gives nice worth contemplating how a lot it contains. Just be sure you preserve your ticket inside attain as you will want it as you go alongside to totally different sections of the fort.
You can spend a lot of the day exploring all of the museums right here (there’s a lot right here), so we’d advocate allocating no less than a few hours right here.
You can see costs and opening occasions right here. It’s additionally included on the 3-day Tourist Museum Card.
Parco Sempione
Found adjoining to Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione gives 95 acres of park land and spectacular views of the fort. In reality, it was in-built 1888 particularly with the aim of giving park guests a panoramic view of the fort, a aim we expect it achieved.
After a number of hours exploring the museums and grounds of the fort, the park makes for a welcome place to calm down for some time. There are sculptures and ponds to admire in addition to shaded garden to calm down on. You’ll additionally discover ice-cream distributors and there are sometimes musicians performing right here as nicely.
If you’re hungry, you may cease and seize some sandwiches or pizza and have a picnic on the park.
If you need a good view of Milan, the park can also be dwelling to the 108 meter (354 ft) excessive Branca tower. This panoramic viewing tower gives a number of the finest views of town, and it’s additionally served by an elevator making it a simple viewpoint to get to.
It’s ticketed, and you should purchase your ticket on-line prematurely right here.
Pinacoteca di Brera
Milan has a wonderful collection of museums, protecting a wide range of topics. One of our favorite artwork museums in Milan is the Pinacoteca di Brera, which is only a 10-minute stroll from Parco Sempione.
This gallery focuses on work by Italian artists, protecting the thirteenth century by to the twentieth century. These artists embrace Raphael, Bramantino, Mantegana, and Canaletto, amongst many others.
There’s a price to go to, and after we visited you wanted to pre-book your ticket on-line prematurely to go to. You can learn extra about opening occasions and costs on the official web site right here.
Of course, there are various different museums to select from in Milan relying in your pursuits, which you might go to as an alternative of or in addition to the Pinacoteca di Brera.
As nicely as the numerous museums in Castello Sforzesco, take into account testing:
We assume you must discover one thing to fit your pursuits from this collection of museums in Milan!
Shopping on the Quadrilatero della Moda
One of the numerous causes that folks go to Milan is for the unbelievable purchasing alternatives right here, so in your second day in Milan you might undoubtedly bask in some retail remedy. Or just a few wallet-friendly window purchasing.
Pretty a lot each high-end Italian style label has a retailer within the metropolis, so if you happen to needed so as to add to your wardrobe, Milan can undoubtedly type you out.
If you’re wanting to buy high-end designer put on in Milan, then we advocate you head to the Quadrilatero della Moda, which accurately interprets as style sq.. It is often known as the Via Montenapoleone style district, This is round a 10-minute stroll from the Pinacoteca di Brera.
Here you can see the best focus of Italian design homes and boutiques. Milan is not only about high-end style in fact. You’ll additionally discover shops catering to a variety of budgets and kinds. You’ll additionally discover a lot of international manufacturers right here, not simply Italian ones.
If you’d prefer to study extra about style in Milan, you may additionally take into account taking a tour like this with a mode information. They’ll information you thru the choices and also you’ll study concerning the historical past of style, what a Made in Italy label means, and go to a designer’s studio.
If you’re extra seeking a cut price, then you definately may take into account heading out of town to go to the Serravalle Designer Outlet centre. With over 200 shops, together with Versace, Gucci, Nike, Armani, Calvin Klein, Prada, Celine, Levis, Burberry, and The North Face, this huge purchasing centre is situated about an hour from Milan.
You can go to the purchasing outlet by prepare, or you may ebook a handy spherical journey shuttle switch right here.
Shoah Memorial
Our subsequent beneficial cease is the Shoah Memorial which is situated subsequent to the Milan Central prepare station. The best strategy to get right here is to take the metro from the style district to the prepare station, which takes about quarter-hour. There can also be a hop on hop off bus cease at Milan Central station, in addition to trolleybus companies you may take.
During the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of Jews in addition to different teams deemed by the Nazis to be inferior have been systematically murdered.
Milan performed a job on this genocide. The Milan Centrale prepare station was the deportation facility for the Jews of Northern Italy. Here, they have been loaded onto trains and despatched to the focus camps, the place the vast majority of them have been killed.
This befell within the underground space of the prepare station, which was designed for freight processing and transport. It was underground in order to keep away from disruption to passenger companies.
The underground location meant that processing and loading of prisoners onto the livestock freight automobiles might occur in secret. Once loaded, the automobiles have been raised through elevator onto the tracks and dispatched to the focus camps.
For a long time, the underground Platform 21 was largely forgotten. However, it has now been renovated and restored as a shifting public memorial, and it opened because the Memoriale Della Shoah Di Milano in 2013.
Here the go to begins with an introduction by a employees member and inside you will note the deportation platform, a railway automotive used for deportation, the wall of names, testimonials, and locations of reflection.
There’s a price for visiting, and you’ll find out extra about opening hours and costs right here. It is closed on Fridays. Guided excursions are usually out there on weekends and it’s endorsed that if you happen to want to do a guided tour, that you just ebook these prematurely.
Be positive to verify their opening dates and occasions earlier than planning your go to. There can also be a library and bookshop situated right here.
Navigli District
To end off your second day in Milan we advocate heading to the favored Navigli District. This is within the south of town, and is definitely reached by metro, with the closest cease being P. TA Genova FS.
It’s round a 25-minute journey from the Shoah Memorial or 20 minutes from the style district. There are additionally hop on hop off bus stops within the Navigli district.
Here, you’ll discover what stays of Milan’s canal system. Originally, Milan had 5 canals, which have been used to move items to and from town. The marble used to assemble the Duomo for instance would have arrived by canal.
Today, solely two of the canals stay, the Naviglio Grande and the Naviglio Parvese. These type a triangle that’s at present generally known as the Navigli district.
This is a highly regarded place to whereas away a night over an aperitivo or meal. There is a big vary of eating places and cafes to select from, and there are additionally artwork galleries, ebook outlets and design shops to peruse.
It is value noting that costs within the Navigli district for meals and drinks are normally a bit of increased than in different elements of town because of the reputation. But it’s a pretty location and we all the time come right here for a drink and meal when in Milan.
In the spring and summer season months you may additionally take into account taking a canal cruise, which you’ll be able to ebook right here. A canal cruise can also be included on the Milan Pass.
You also can go to the Navigli space on a guided tour like this, and on an aperitivo tour like this.
2 Day Milan Itinerary Summary
Here’s an outline of this two-day Milan itinerary.
- Day 1: The Last Supper, Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala Theatre
- Day 2: Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione, Pinacoteca di Brera, Shopping on the Quadrilatero della Moda, Shoah Memorial, Navigli District
Map of Milan Things to Do
To assist you visualise our Milan itinerary and plan your day we’ve put collectively this map of the sights on every day. You also can see this on Google Maps right here.
Day Trips from Milan
There is so much to see and do in Milan itself, however the metropolis additionally lends itself nicely to being a base for day journeys to the encompassing space.
Italy has a wonderful excessive velocity rail system, so you might simply put collectively your individual day journeys. Cities and cities like Verona, Bologna, Turin and Modena can all be reached by prepare in below 90 minutes.
You also can get to in style locations like Lake Como and Lake Garda simply. One of our favorite day journeys from Milan is Lake Como, the place you may simply hop between the picturesque lake entrance villages on the ferry companies.
There are additionally numerous corporations providing guided excursions from Milan to close by sights. These usually embrace spherical journey transport and the companies of a information. Some additionally embrace extras like meals and attraction entry.
Some excursions we propose from Milan embrace the next.
- This full day tour which embrace Lake Como, Bellagio, and Varenna, in addition to a cruise on the lake
- This full day tour which has you driving the Bernina prepare by the Swiss Alps and visiting the well-known luxurious resort St. Moritz
- This full day tour to Lake Como, Bellagio and Lugano, which additionally features a cruise on the lake
- A full day tour to Cinque Terre from Milan
- This full day tour to Verona and Lake Garda from Milan, which features a boat tour on the lake
- This full day tour to the Ligurian coast, visiting Genoa and Portofino, with a sail boat trip included
Tips for Visiting Milan
Our essential tip for visiting Milan is to resolve nicely prematurely which sights you actually need to see, and look into if it’s worthwhile to ebook advance tickets or a tour.
The hottest attraction in Milan is the Last Supper, which additionally has essentially the most restricted tickets. So if that is in your listing of sights to see, you’ll undoubtedly need to verify when tickets turn out to be out there on the official web site so you should purchase them as far prematurely as potential.
Alternatively, look into the strolling excursions, such because the strolling tour we did which included the Last Supper. Walking excursions are inclined to have higher availability nearer to the time, so that is additionally a great fall again choice if tickets will not be out there in your most well-liked date.
Another tour which could be very in style and has restricted availability is the guided tour of La Scala Theatre. So once more, it would be best to verify the official web site to verify when tickets turn out to be out there and make an observation in your diary to ebook them.
Other sights are inclined to have higher availability, however it’s nonetheless value checking which require advance ticket purchases. On latest visits to Milan, we’ve needed to ebook prematurely to go to museums just like the Pinacoteca di Brera and for rooftop entry to the Duomo for instance.
The additional prematurely you ebook, the higher your probabilities of securing a timeslot that works to your itinerary, and the decrease the probabilities of disappointment.
The different factor to bear in mind when visiting Milan, as with different Italian cities, is that most of the sights are locations of worship. As such, they usually have a gown code which might be enforced.
The gown code usually requires women and men to cowl their shoulders and their knees. Men are additionally required to take away any hats.
If you’re visiting Italy within the cooler months, then this gown code will most likely be straightforward to stick to. However, in the summertime months it is vitally frequent to see guests being turned away as a result of they don’t seem to be appropriately dressed.
If you don’t need to put on lengthy sleeves or pants, then you definately may need to journey with a light-weight journey wrap so you may cowl your self when mandatory, after which pack it away when not in use.
Where to Stay in Milan
Milan has loads of lodging choices to select from. Here are some recommended choices, ordered roughly by funds from low to excessive.
- Ostello Bello – if you happen to’re in search of a centrally situated funds choice in Milan, this can be a nice choice. Just 10 minutes’ stroll from the Duomo, Ostello Bello gives each personal and dormitory lodging, with each dinner and breakfast included.
- Babila Hostel & Bistrot – one other nicely reviewed and centrally situated hostel, Babila Hostel has each personal rooms and dormitory fashion lodging. Breakfast is included.
- Hotel Star – a wonderful worth and nicely reviewed 3* resort inside shut strolling distance of town centre sights. En-suite rooms with breakfast out there.
- Rooms Milano Duomo – 2 minutes stroll from the Duomo, this can be a good 3* property with glorious evaluations. Rooms are en-suite, some with metropolis views, and include tea/espresso making amenities
- Hotel Bristol – If you’re touring by prepare, this 3* resort is a wonderful alternative. It’s proper by Milan central station, that includes en-suite air-conditioned rooms
- Brunelleschi Hotel – A nicely rated and good worth 4* resort simply moments from the Duomo and different city-centre sights. Rooms are all en-suite, and a breakfast buffet is included.
- Matilde Boutique Hotel – a really nicely rated 4* boutique resort just some moments stroll from the Duomo. There’s a restaurant and bar on web site, breakfast is included, and rooms are all en-suite.
- Room Mate Giulia – one other extremely rated and centrally situated 4* resort. Rooms are fashionable and en-suite, and breakfast is offered.
- Galleria Vik Milano – discovered throughout the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this nicely situated 5* resort gives excessive finish lodging. Some rooms have views of the gallery, breakfast is included, and naturally rooms are en-suite with espresso machines.
Hopefully this offers you loads of choices – no matter your funds.
How to Get Around Milan
Whilst Milan is a big metropolis, a lot of the sights that guests will need to see could be discovered in direction of the centre, inside strolling distance of one another. In addition, we’ve arrange this itinerary in as logical a approach as potential, to minimise journey time and maximise sightseeing.
That stated, you may nonetheless need to reap the benefits of the general public transport system to get to and out of your resort, or to go to areas just like the Navigli district.
The excellent news is that Milan has a wonderful public transport system which incorporates an underground metro, trams, trolleybuses, and buses. There are additionally hop on hop off buses that cowl the principle customer sights, in addition to e-scooters and bikes which could be rented through smartphone apps.
Normally we use the underground metro as we discover it to be quick and price efficient, and the 5 metro strains cowl a lot of the metropolis.
To trip the general public transport system, you should purchase both single use tickets, or you should purchase a single day or three-day ticket. Obviously one of the best worth will rely upon how a lot you intend to make use of public transport throughout your keep in Milan.
Suggested Walking Tours in Milan
One of our favorite methods to discover a brand new metropolis is on a strolling tour. We’ve taken a variety of strolling excursions in cities internationally and a great deal of them in Italy.
- This 3 hour strolling tour gives most of the highlights of town in addition to Last Supper tickets and entry to the Milan Duomo. This is the strolling tour we took in Milan that included our Last Supper tickets and tour.
- There are related excursions to the above, so if that one doesn’t have availability, try both this 3 hour strolling tour which incorporates skip the road entry to the Duomo and tickets to The Last Supper or this tour which incorporates the Last Supper.
- This personal style tour with a mode information can have you studying all concerning the historical past of style and visiting a few of Milan’s most well-known designer shops
- This small group connoisseur meals tour contains stops at numerous areas with tastings and drinks
- This night aperitivo tour focuses on the late afternoon custom of aperitivo, with drinks and avenue meals fashion snacks within the stylish Navigli space
- This meals and strolling tour of the historic Brera district contains numerous conventional regional dishes and wines
- This 1.5 hour tour of Cimiterio Monumentale is an effective strategy to go to the cemetery and see a number of the extra attention-grabbing areas
- This strolling tour of the Navigli space contains info on the historical past and design of the canals and the evolution of the world
- If you favor to see Milan at evening, this 2 hour night tour takes you across the historic heart of Milan at evening and shares tales of town.
Hopefully you can see loads of choices for excursions in Milan if that’s of curiosity to you.
Saving Money with Milan Attraction Passes
When we go to a metropolis, we all the time verify to see if there’s a metropolis sightseeing cross which may save us cash. These usually embrace free or discounted entry to sights, and in addition usually embrace public transport.
The essential passes which can be out there for Milan are:
- The Milan Pass. This 48-hour metropolis cross features a hop on hop off bus, free entry to varied museums together with La Scala, Duomo with rooftop entry, in addition to the choice to incorporate public transport.
- The Milano Card. This card contains free public transport and reductions on numerous museums and sights. Available for 1, 2, or 3 days.
- The Tourist Museum Card. This three day card contains entry to the civic museums of Milan, which incorporates the 8 museums in Castello Sforzesco in addition to 5 different museums. It’s an excellent worth card if the museums it covers are in your itinerary.
For most guests we expect Milan Pass makes essentially the most sense because it contains free entry to the most well-liked sights in Milan together with the rooftop of the Duomo. It additionally contains the hop on hop off bus and a Navigli Canal Cruise (seasonal).
If you’re extra occupied with public transport and visiting some sights with a reduction, then the Milano Card may make extra sense.
Further Reading
We’ve visited Italy many occasions, and have explored a lot of the cities and areas that the nation has to supply. Here are some extra posts we expect you’ll discover helpful that can assist you plan your journey.
And that’s it for our information to spending 2 days in Milan! As all the time, when you’ve got any questions or feedback, simply pop them within the feedback part under and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.
