The ultimate guide to Milan!

Milan is a city like no other: one moment, you’re surrounded by Roman ruins and the next, you’re gazing up at skyscrapers! I’ll be the first to admit that this metropolis isn’t for everyone – certainly if you’re looking for a typically Italian place, you might be better off visiting somewhere like Venice or Florence – but if you know the right places to go, and can appreciate a bit of diversity, you’ll have a fantastic time. Today, I’m going to be running through everything you need to know about the place if you’re planning a trip any time soon.

When to go

I’ve been to Milan three times now, and on each occasion, I was blessed with glorious weather! I've heard that the city becomes unbearably hot in the height of summer, so I’d recommend that, like me, you plan your visit either for spring (late March to early June) or autumn (September or October).

Where to stay

I’ve never actually stayed in Milan – always in towns and villages outside – and I would actually encourage you to do the same, so you can have a bit of peace and quiet, and can explore another place. However, if you are looking for accommodation inside the city, I’d recommend finding somewhere in or near the Navigli area. It’s the nicest part of town in my opinion, and has a wonderfully youthful atmosphere. Plus, there'll be cheaper rates here than anywhere closer to the centre.

What to do

Visit the Duomo

No trip to Milan would be complete without a stop at the breathtaking Duomo. Even those who know nothing else about the city will doubtlessly have seen photos of this building floating around, and no wonder, given its beauty and magnificence! Today, many tourists just go to see the façade – some stopping to feed the very tame pigeons that flock to the cathedral square – but I would recommend getting a ticket to see inside and to climb onto the roof. The cathedral's interior is spectacular, as are the views from the top. Make sure to go to the archaeological area (located underground at the west end), where you can see remains of a different church that used to stand in the same place!

Go shopping

Many will know this city as one of the world’s leading fashion capitals, and, if you decide to engage in a bit of retail therapy while you’re there, you’ll certainly see why! For all the classic brands – high street and designer – head to the streets surrounding the Duomo. Make sure, also, to pop into the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a shopping arcade where only the richest of companies can afford to rent a store. My boyfriend’s family friend, who lives near the city, and recently took us round it, reckons they’re paying at least 10,000€ a month to keep their spots!

See the Last Supper

I’ve actually never had the chance to see Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, and this is because it’s always completely booked up. I’m including this in my list simply to warn you that you’ll have to get tickets to see this masterpiece months in advance, and to tell you that everyone I know who has miraculously managed to do so has been absolutely blown away by the experience.

See some Roman ruins

Milan is full of amazing Roman ruins – some better preserved than others – and you may well find that you come across some, even if you haven’t set out in search of any! Two sights, within short walking distance of each other, that I would recommend seeing are the Colonne di San Lorenzo, and the Imperial Palace Maximian. Look out for adorable stray cats perching on the remaining walls of the latter!

Visit the city’s business district

The Porta Nuova district of Milan is definitely worth a visit, especially if you want to get up close to some skyscrapers. A lot of work is being done to make the buildings in this area as eco-friendly as possible, and you need only see the Bosco Verticale (pictured below) to get a sense of how green the area is. These two extraodinary apartment blocks are completely covered in plants, and are fast becoming one of the most popular sights in the city. I did a bit of research after visiting, and it turns out that you can actually stay in one of the apartments. Maybe one day when I’m rich and famous…

Relax in a park

Milan may be a very fast-paced city, but that doesn’t mean the locals don’t enjoy a good unwinding session once in a while. Two popular green spaces that I love – and which the inhabitants of the city clearly do, too – are the Parco Sempione, and the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli. Both are full of lovely grassy areas to sit and relax in, and have cafés and toilet facilities onsite.

Visit the Sforza Castle

After relaxing in the Parco Sempione, make sure to stop by at the Sforza Castle, which looks onto the park. Admire the façade of it, as we did, or, if you have more time on your hands, head inside the walls and visit one of the many museums housed there.

Wander along the Navigli

The nicest part of Milan, in my opinion, is the Navigli district. ‘Naviglio’ means ‘canal’, and here – you guessed it – you can find a whole network of them! This is the perfect place for evening drinks and sunset watching, and seems, for the most part, to be dominated by the younger population of the city. Look in the section below for a couple of wining and dining spots to check out in this area.

Do a day trip

Milan is a fantastic city, and I’m sure you won’t be short of things to do, but just in case you fancy a change of scene, there are loads of towns and cities nearby that are worth visiting for the day. Places I’ve been to and loved include Cinque Terre, Como, and Turin.

Where to eat

Marchesi 1824

If you want to eat cake in style, be sure to head to Marchesi 1824! There are now three Marchesi bakeries in the city – one is actually owned by Prada! – but I’d recommend going to the original one on Via Santa Maria. Even from the outside, you can tell it's a fancy place (see the intricate façade below), and when you enter, it certainly doesn’t become any less so. Food is, unsurprisingly, pretty pricy here, but I promise it’s worth the splurge. Sit at a table in the elegant dining area at the back of the shop, or take a treat away to enjoy later. Be sure to try their exquisite chocolate cake, if they haven't already run out for the day!

That’s Vapore

If you’re in the Nuova Porta part of town, and looking for a bite to eat, be sure to check out That’s Vapore in the CityLife Shopping District! Here, you can choose from a whole range of healthy meals – I ordered chicken nuggets (accompanied by couscous and vegetables), and they were the most nutritious I've ever tried!

Greek Fusion

As I’ve said already, the Navigli district is my favourite part of Milan, and it’s one of the best places to get dinner, since the canals are lined with hundreds of different food vendors. My favourite of the ones I’ve been to is Greek Fusion. You may not be indulging in any local delicacies here, but you’ll certainly have a good – and reasonably priced – meal. My boyfriend and I both went for pita rolls, which were difficult to eat in a non-messy way, but still absolutely delicious!

Blues Canal

If, like me, you fall in love with the Navigli, and want to stay in the same area after your meal, enjoy some drinks and live music at Blues Canal! When my friend and I went, we were treated to traditional Brazilian songs, and excellent cocktails. Get there a few minutes early (just before 8), and bag the best seats in the house!

Caffè d'ElBrellin

Another of my favourite drinking spots in the Navigli area is the cosy Caffè d'ElBrellin. My friend and I were drawn in after seeing a delightful Campari poster on the wall, and must have spent about three hours there! If you go, try to nab a seat at the bar: the staff are all really friendly (we actually went to a club with some of them once their shift was over!) and it’s great fun watching them prepare all the drinks. Order a mojito – the alcohol ratio will be very generous – or ask to try one of their fantastic grape-flavoured gin shots.

Puccia’s Brothers

My friend and I stumbled across this little restaurant on our way to the nearby Parco Sempione, and were very pleasantly surprised by our meal there. ‘Puccia’ is the name of a Pugliese sandwich: essentially a bread roll with fillings of your choice. I ordered a delicious one with tuna, olives, spinach, mozzarella, and tartare sauce! We enjoyed our lunch at a table there, but if you're pushed for time, you can also take away your food. Just remember not to call these buns 'panini' under any circumstances – the menu clearly states that this is a grave error!

Starbucks

This may seem like a bit of an odd recommendation – and in a way it is silly to come all the way to Italy just for a Starbucks – but this is actually the only branch in the country, and one of just five roasteries worldwide! The Italians are very proud of their coffee, so it took a lot of convincing to get this place up and running, and they certainly made a big deal of decorating it. In fact, the company said this was the most beautiful of their twenty-nine thousands shops. Head inside to judge for yourself, and enjoy the best Starbucks of your life!

Getting around

The easiest and most popular form of transport in Milan is the metro. You can either buy tickets at the machines in each station, or use a Contactless card to get through the barriers. Maps are clearly displayed, and a lot of stations paint the walls of their tunnels to correspond with the colours of the different lines. This form of transport does get pretty packed at rush-hour, though, so if you’d rather travel overground at this time, take a bus or tram.

Milan also has multiple train stations, so if you’re going on a day trip, or heading to the airport, make your way to one of these. Milano Centrale station is also a great place to do a bit of shopping – it’s got three floors full of popular high street stores! This is also the perfect place to store luggage cheaply, if the need arises.

Finally, if you’re coming to Milan by car, I’d recommend parking somewhere outside the centre and getting the metro in. We left our vehicle at the Parcheggio di Lampugnano, and fifteen minutes later, we were standing in front of the Duomo!

That’s all, folks!

So there it is: my ultimate guide to Milan! Have a fantastic time if you manage to go any time soon – I Duomo how you couldn't! Sorry: that was bad...

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