Milan is the second largest metropolis in Italy after Rome and the capital of Lombardy. It’s properly often known as being the house of high-end Italian style designers, and many individuals come to Milan only for the procuring.
Nevertheless, there’s heaps extra to do in Milan than store. The town has spectacular artworks, together with one of the vital well-known murals on this planet, Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Final Supper. It additionally has a great deal of museums, unbelievable meals, parks, church buildings, and cultural actions.
Milan additionally makes an incredible base for exploring the native area, with standard 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 concept of easy methods to spend two days in Milan.
This information will embody a instructed 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 the town. We prefer to pack in lots 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 type.
In case you’re on the lookout for extra choices, additionally try our information to issues to do in Milan. That article consists of all of the points of interest on this itinerary in addition to numerous different locations you would possibly wish to go to, particularly if in case you have greater than 2 days in Milan.
Milan Itinerary Day 1
Day one in every of our Milan itinerary has you visiting among the most well-known and standard points of interest within the metropolis, beginning with one of many world’s most well-known artworks.
Immediately the points of interest are all inside strolling distance of each other, and this present day’s itinerary is about up for somebody who’s strolling between every attraction. However do try our information to getting round in Milan in a while within the publish for different choices, as Milan additionally has an incredible public transit system and taxis are additionally simple 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 the town. I’d additionally plan your stops in an order that is smart with the bus schedule.
Additionally a observe at present that in case you are following our itinerary, we advocate bringing alongside your photograph ID (for The Final Supper tickets) and to just remember to are dressed to fulfill the varied church costume code pointers (shoulders and knees coated).
On with Day 1!
The Final Supper (Santa Maria della Grazie)
Leonardo Da Vinci is liable for among the world’s most recognizable artworks, together with the Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man. The Final Supper is one other one in every of 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.
Because the title suggests, the mural depicts the Final 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 should this announcement.
The very first thing that strikes you once you see the paintings is the unimaginable sense of perspective that Da Vinci manages to convey. The portray completely suits with the room the place it’s painted, seeming to increase it into the horizon. And the entire composition is fastidiously crafted so all of the main strains converge on the central determine of Christ.
It’s additionally superbly symmetrical, and the emotion on the faces of the varied topics appears to obviously seize how every character may need been feeling as Jesus revealed the revelation of his upcoming betrayal.
Immediately, the Final Supper is considered one of many world’s most necessary artworks, and positively one of the vital necessary that Da Vinci created.
Sadly, Da Vinci created the work utilizing experimental and unfamiliar strategies. 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 tip 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 mentioned, it’s nonetheless fairly an unimaginable sight and properly value seeing.
In case you do wish to go to the Final Supper, which we advocate, you ought to be conscious it is a very talked-about attraction and you’ll undoubtedly wish 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. A lot of these tickets are allotted to tour teams, however there’s an allocation for people to purchase tickets.
Particular person tickets might 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 shortly. The announcement for when tickets shall be placed on sale for upcoming months is printed on the web site right here.
In case you can’t discover a ticket for the dates you might be visiting Milan, your best choice is to guide a tour which incorporates the Final Supper. Tour teams have entry to a separate ticket allocation, and normally have higher availability in consequence.
While a tour goes to be costlier, it’ll take pleasure in together with an knowledgeable tour information who can clarify what you might be seeing. There may be 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 Final Supper as a part of this tour with Take Walks, one in every of 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 possibly can verify availability for his or her Final Supper tour right here, which after we took it additionally included a metropolis strolling tour and a go to to the Milan Duomo.
In the event that they don’t have availability, otherwise you’d similar to another choices, try this listing of excursions on GetYourGuide for another choices.
No matter the way you go to, ensure you flip up prematurely to permit loads of time so you may acquire your ticket and retailer your baggage, 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 might’t be taken inside.
Once we visited, we additionally wanted photograph IDs so as to acquire our tickets, so we’d advocate additionally bringing alongside your passports.
Lastly, don’t neglect to allocate a while after your go to to take a look at the small museum, present store, and to go to the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie as properly. 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
In case you have time between visiting The Final Supper and the Duomo, we advocate a cease at San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore. This church is a few five-minute stroll from the church of Santa Maria della Grazie the place The Final Supper is discovered..
This dates from 1518, and was initially a part of Milan’s largest Benedictine convent. Immediately, the convent is the place one can find the Civic Archaeological Museum, nonetheless, 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 in all these was the realm for common worship and is the place the principle altar is to be discovered. The opposite space was the Corridor of Nuns, and was the place the nuns would collect to look at mass by a grating.
Till the late 18th century, the nuns weren’t permitted to cross the divide into the final worship space.
The primary purpose you’ll want to go to the church is for the unimaginable frescoes that one can find inside. These are discovered on either side of the church in addition to on the dividing wall, and depict a wide range of non secular scenes together with the lifetime of San Maurizio, the patron saint of Milan.
The church is free to go to however donations are after all welcome and appreciated. As it’s a non secular constructing, a costume code which entails masking your shoulders and knees applies. You possibly can see extra particulars about visiting on the web site.
Word about these concerned with archaeology, also needs to take into account a go to to the adjoining Civic Archaeological Museum within the former convent. The museum covers the traditional to medieval intervals, together with Milan’s time as capital of the Western Roman Empire. There may be an entrance charge to go to.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Subsequent advisable cease is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which is a few 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. While Starbucks was initially impressed by Italian espresso tradition, American espresso tradition may be very completely different. It’s clear that thought went into establishing the primary Starbucks in Italy so as to bridge the divide.
We expect the trouble actually paid off. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery is discovered within the former Milan Inventory Trade and Submit Workplace 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 all the pieces 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 spread of espresso paraphernalia and Starbucks souvenirs.
The Starbucks Roastery is free to go to. Even for those who aren’t a fan of Starbucks, we nonetheless advocate a fast take a look at the spectacular exterior and inside of this historic constructing. Yow will discover out extra about visiting on the official web site right here.
After all, for those who would like a extra conventional espresso expertise, we have now a suggestion for that too. There are lots of cafes to be present in Milan, however we’d advocate Marchesi 1824. The unique retailer is on the identical route you’ll be following, simply a few minutes’ stroll from the church.
Based in 1824, this is among 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 choose me up and scrumptious pastry, this is a superb choice. There are additionally a number of tables within the again for those who 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 in every of Milan’s most spectacular buildings, the Duomo di Milan or Milan Cathedral. It’s a few 5 minute stroll from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery to the Milan Duomo.
This huge marble building is among the largest cathedrals on this planet, 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 intervals, and the design attracts on a wide range of typically contrasting architectural types.
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 suppose that it was definitely worth the 600 12 months wait to get to the completed constructing.
Immediately, the Duomo is the cathedral church of Milan and an lively place of worship. It’s the third largest church on this planet 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 delightful stained-glass home windows. There’s additionally an necessary relic which holds what’s believed to be one of many nails used within the crucifixion of Christ.
Beneath the Duomo, and accessed from inside, you’ll discover the Archeological Space. That 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 in all our favorite elements of the Duomo is the roof terrace. The roof is a big house full of beautiful gothic spires, and it was designed so guests might come up and admire them up shut. Rooftop entry is feasible by way of both stairs or an elevator.
Lastly, simply throughout the Piazza from the Duomo is the Museum of the Duomo. Right here one can find numerous items of artwork and parts like statues from the cathedral.
All of the areas of the Duomo require a ticket to entry. Completely different tickets can be found relying on which areas you wish to go to.
A lot of the cathedral tickets embody entry to the cathedral, the archaeological space, and the Duomo Museum. You pay additional for those who additionally wish to go to the rooftop terraces.
Tickets might be purchased right here. An choice with an audioguide is accessible right here, or you may guide a guided tour right here. The Cathedral with rooftop entry can also be included on the Milan Move.
Don’t neglect that that is an lively non secular constructing, and like in most church buildings throughout Italy, a costume code applies for those who want to enter the cathedral. This usually means nothing too skimpy and that it is advisable to have each your shoulders and knees coated. This is applicable for each women and men.
Word that in case you are on a good finances, you may nonetheless benefit from the energetic Piazza del Duomo and the spectacular exterior of this magnificent cathedral without cost. It’s undoubtedly nonetheless value seeing even for those who aren’t planning to go inside.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Moments away from the Duomo, and on the identical Piazza, one can find an entrance to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This can be a enormous glass and metal shopping center fronted by a triumphal arch which opened in 1877.
That makes it one of many world’s oldest procuring malls, and we’d argue it’s additionally one of many extra picturesque malls you might be prone to go to.
The four-storey inside consists of a pair of intersecting glass-topped arcades. The place the streets intersect, there’s an enormous glass and metalwork dome. On the bottom is an exquisite mosaic ground.
If you’re concerned with high-end procuring, then the Galleria is unquestionably 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 for those who aren’t procuring on a high-end style finances, we’d argue the Galleria is properly 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
Only a minute’s stroll from the Galleria is the Teatro alla Scala, also referred to as La Scala. This is among the world’s most well-known opera homes. It dates from 1778, though it has been expanded and modernised over time.
The theatre is absolutely operational, so you may after all 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 guide tickets on the official web site right here.
Nevertheless, you don’t have to absorb a efficiency to go to the theatre. There’s 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 among the containers, so you may see the theatre itself. That is dependent after all on the rehearsal schedule, which you’ll verify on-line earlier than you go to.
Alternatively, you may take one of many guided excursions. These have fairly restricted availability, so do guide prematurely if you wish to do one in every of 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’re a bit costlier than the museum entry, however you additionally get a way more in-depth expertise.
You’ll want to verify tour occasions as they’re restricted, and you might want to regulate this itinerary accordingly relying on the guided tour time.
You possibly can see tour occasions and costs, in addition to museum entry occasions and costs on the museum web site right here. Entry to the Museum can also be included on the Milan Move.
Nighttime choices
After a full day of sightseeing, you might be questioning what to do within the night. Now you’ve gotten numerous choices.
After all, you possibly can have dinner and head again to your resort or house to calm down. You’ve actually earned it. Take a look at some concepts for Milanese dishes to attempt in our information to issues to do in Milan.
Within the heat climate months, there are many bars and eating places with outside tables arrange which might be excellent for having fun with an aperitivo and/or meal and watching the world go by.
Nevertheless, for those who did need some night leisure there are after all loads of choices.
First, you possibly can take a night meals like this, or a night aperitivo tour like this. Or simply head out to a neighborhood bar for a drink and to take pleasure in native life.
In case you would like to sightsee within the night, there are additionally night strolling excursions like this, though you might wish to modify your itinerary for the day as these do revisit among the identical areas you’ve already been.
An alternative choice could be to attend a night efficiency of reside music, opera or ballet. You possibly can see among the reside performances out there and guide tickets right here.
Milan Itinerary Day 2
In your second day in Milan, you’ve gotten a number of choices. First, you possibly can take a day journey out of the town. Milan is properly positioned for exploring the native space, with quick prepare journey opening up a wealth of potentialities.
Now we have numerous options additional on within the publish for day journeys from the town, however one nice choice could be to take a day journey to Lake Como, which is simply an hour north of the town.
You may also go to locations together with Verona, Florence, Bologna and even Venice from Milan.
An alternative choice could be to take pleasure in a day of procuring. We’ve included procuring suggestions on this itinerary, however you might be welcome to dedicate the entire day to procuring after all. For instance, if you wish to go to the outlet village you’d most likely wish to spend a lot of the day there.
After all, there’s nonetheless heaps extra to see in Milan, so listed below are some instructed 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 completely different households, and conflicts weren’t unusual. So the Fort needed to be constructed to be extremely defensive.
Presumably nonetheless, no-one needed to reside in a fort that wasn’t additionally aesthetically pleasing. To resolve this downside, the best artisans of the day (together with Leonardo Da Vinci), had been employed to make sure it was additionally a grand place to reside and entertain.
The general end result was fairly 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 most effective of each worlds.
Immediately, nearly all of the fort has survived, with a lot of it used to deal with numerous fascinating museums. These cowl a spread of topics together with Renaissance artwork, archaeology, musical devices, and historic artwork. There’s even an unfinished marble sculpture by Michaelangelo.
You possibly can go to the fort grounds without cost, however entry to the Fort Museums is ticketed. One ticket covers all of the museums throughout the fort. We expect it affords nice worth contemplating how a lot it consists of. Simply you’ll want to hold your ticket inside attain as you’ll need it as you go alongside to completely different sections of the fort.
You possibly 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 a minimum of a few hours right here.
You possibly can see costs and opening occasions right here. It’s additionally included on the 3-day Vacationer Museum Card.
Parco Sempione
Discovered adjoining to Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione affords 95 acres of park land and spectacular views of the fort. In reality, it was inbuilt 1888 particularly with the aim of giving park guests a panoramic view of the fort, a aim we predict 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 properly.
If you’re hungry, you would possibly cease and seize some sandwiches or pizza and have a picnic on the park.
If you’d like view of Milan, the park can also be dwelling to the 108 meter (354 ft) excessive Branca tower. This panoramic viewing tower affords among the finest views of the 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 choice of museums, masking a wide range of topics. One in all 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, masking the thirteenth century by to the twentieth century. These artists embody Raphael, Bramantino, Mantegana, and Canaletto, amongst many others.
There’s a charge to go to, and after we visited you wanted to pre-book your ticket on-line prematurely to go to. You possibly can learn extra about opening occasions and costs on the official web site right here.
After all, there are a lot of different museums to select from in Milan relying in your pursuits, which you possibly can go to as a substitute of or in addition to the Pinacoteca di Brera.
In addition to the numerous museums in Castello Sforzesco, take into account trying out:
We expect you need to discover one thing to fit your pursuits from this choice of museums in Milan!
Procuring on the Quadrilatero della Moda
One of many many causes that folks go to Milan is for the unimaginable procuring alternatives right here, so in your second day in Milan you possibly can undoubtedly take pleasure in some retail remedy. Or simply some wallet-friendly window procuring.
Just about each high-end Italian style label has a retailer within the metropolis, so for those who needed so as to add to your wardrobe, Milan can undoubtedly type you out.
In case 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 usually often known as the Through Montenapoleone style district, That is round a 10-minute stroll from the Pinacoteca di Brera.
Right here one can find the very best focus of Italian design homes and boutiques. Milan isn’t just about high-end style after all. You’ll additionally discover shops catering to a variety of budgets and types. You’ll additionally discover plenty of world manufacturers right here, not simply Italian ones.
In case you’d prefer to be taught extra about style in Milan, you might also take into account taking a tour like this with a method information. They’ll information you thru the choices and also you’ll be taught in regards to 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 definitely would possibly take into account heading out of the 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 procuring centre is positioned about an hour from Milan.
You possibly can go to the procuring outlet by prepare, or you may guide a handy spherical journey shuttle switch right here.
Shoah Memorial
Our subsequent advisable cease is the Shoah Memorial which is positioned subsequent to the Milan Central prepare station. The simplest method to get right here is to take the metro from the style district to the prepare station, which takes about quarter-hour. There may be additionally a hop on hop off bus cease at Milan Central station, in addition to trolleybus providers you may take.
In the course of the Second World Conflict, thousands and thousands of Jews in addition to different teams deemed by the Nazis to be inferior had been systematically murdered.
Milan performed a task on this genocide. The Milan Centrale prepare station was the deportation facility for the Jews of Northern Italy. Right here, they had been loaded onto trains and despatched to the focus camps, the place nearly all of them had 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 providers.
The underground location meant that processing and loading of prisoners onto the livestock freight vehicles might occur in secret. As soon as loaded, the vehicles had been raised by way of elevator onto the tracks and dispatched to the focus camps.
For many years, the underground Platform 21 was largely forgotten. Nevertheless, it has now been renovated and restored as a shifting public memorial, and it opened because the Memoriale Della Shoah Di Milano in 2013.
Right 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 charge for visiting, and you could find out extra about opening hours and costs right here. It’s closed on Fridays. Guided excursions are usually out there on weekends and it is strongly recommended that for those who want to do a guided tour, that you simply guide these prematurely.
Make sure you verify their opening dates and occasions earlier than planning your go to. There may be additionally a library and bookshop positioned right here.
To complete off your second day in Milan we advocate heading to the favored Navigli District. That is within the south of the town, and is well 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.
Right here, you’ll discover what stays of Milan’s canal system. Initially, Milan had 5 canals, which had been used to move items to and from the town. The marble used to assemble the Duomo for instance would have arrived by canal.
Immediately, solely two of the canals stay, the Naviglio Grande and the Naviglio Parvese. These type a triangle that’s at present often known as the Navigli district.
This can be a very talked-about place to whereas away a night over an aperitivo or meal. There’s a enormous vary of eating places and cafes to select from, and there are additionally artwork galleries, guide outlets and design shops to peruse.
It’s value noting that costs within the Navigli district for meals and drinks are normally somewhat larger than in different elements of the town as a result of reputation. However it’s a beautiful location and we all the time come right here for a drink and meal when in Milan.
Within the spring and summer season months you may also take into account taking a canal cruise, which you’ll guide right here. A canal cruise can also be included on the Milan Move.
You may also go to the Navigli space on a guided tour like this, and on an aperitivo tour like this.
2 Day Milan Itinerary Abstract
Right here’s an outline of this two-day Milan itinerary.
Day 1: The Final 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, Procuring on the Quadrilatero della Moda, Shoah Memorial, Navigli District
Map of Milan Issues to Do
That can assist you visualise our Milan itinerary and plan your day we’ve put collectively this map of the points of interest on every day. You may also see this on Google Maps right here.
Day Journeys from Milan
There’s a lot to see and do in Milan itself, however the metropolis additionally lends itself properly to being a base for day journeys to the encircling space.
Italy has a wonderful excessive velocity rail system, so you possibly can simply put collectively your personal day journeys. Cities and cities like Verona, Bologna, Turin and Modena can all be reached by prepare in underneath 90 minutes.
You may also get to standard locations like Lake Como and Lake Garda simply. One in all our favorite day journeys from Milan is Lake Como, the place you may simply hop between the picturesque lake entrance villages on the ferry providers.
There are additionally numerous corporations providing guided excursions from Milan to close by points of interest. These usually embody spherical journey transport and the providers of a information. Some additionally embody extras like meals and attraction entry.
Some excursions we advise from Milan embody the next.
This full day tour which embody 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
Suggestions for Visiting Milan
Our predominant tip for visiting Milan is to determine properly prematurely which points of interest you actually wish to see, and look into if it is advisable to guide advance tickets or a tour.
The most well-liked attraction in Milan is the Final Supper, which additionally has probably the most restricted tickets. So if that is in your listing of points of interest to see, you’ll undoubtedly wish to verify when tickets change into out there on the official web site so you should purchase them as far prematurely as attainable.
Alternatively, look into the strolling excursions, such because the strolling tour we did which included the Final Supper. Strolling excursions are inclined to have higher availability nearer to the time, so that is additionally fall again choice if tickets should not out there in your most popular date.
One other tour which may be very standard and has restricted availability is the guided tour of La Scala Theatre. So once more, you’ll want to verify the official web site to verify when tickets change into out there and make a remark in your diary to guide them.
Different points of interest are inclined to have higher availability, however it’s nonetheless value checking which require advance ticket purchases. On current visits to Milan, we’ve needed to guide prematurely to go to museums just like the Pinacoteca di Brera and for rooftop entry to the Duomo for instance.
The additional prematurely you guide, the higher your possibilities of securing a timeslot that works to your itinerary, and the decrease the possibilities of disappointment.
The opposite 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 costume code which shall be enforced.
The costume code usually requires women and men to cowl their shoulders and their knees. Males are additionally required to take away any hats.
If you’re visiting Italy within the cooler months, then this costume code will most likely be simple to stick to. Nevertheless, in the summertime months it is vitally widespread to see guests being turned away as a result of they don’t seem to be appropriately dressed.
In case you don’t wish to put on lengthy sleeves or pants, then you definitely would possibly wish to journey with a light-weight journey wrap so you may cowl your self when crucial, after which pack it away when not in use.
The place to Keep in Milan
Milan has loads of lodging choices to select from. Listed below are some instructed choices, ordered roughly by finances from low to excessive.
Ostello Bello – for those who’re on the lookout for a centrally positioned finances choice in Milan, it is a nice choice. Simply 10 minutes’ stroll from the Duomo, Ostello Bello affords each personal and dormitory lodging, with each dinner and breakfast included.
Babila Hostel & Bistrot – one other properly reviewed and centrally positioned hostel, Babila Hostel has each personal rooms and dormitory type lodging. Breakfast is included.
Resort Star – a wonderful worth and properly reviewed 3* resort inside shut strolling distance of the town centre points of interest. En-suite rooms with breakfast out there.
Rooms Milano Duomo – 2 minutes stroll from the Duomo, it is a good 3* property with glorious evaluations. Rooms are en-suite, some with metropolis views, and include tea/espresso making services
Resort Bristol – If you’re touring by prepare, this 3* resort is a superb selection. It’s proper by Milan central station, that includes en-suite air-conditioned rooms
Brunelleschi Resort – A properly rated and good worth 4* resort simply moments from the Duomo and different city-centre points of interest. Rooms are all en-suite, and a breakfast buffet is included.
Matilde Boutique Resort – a really properly 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 positioned 4* resort. Rooms are fashionable and en-suite, and breakfast is accessible.
Galleria Vik Milano – discovered throughout the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this properly positioned 5* resort affords excessive finish lodging. Some rooms have views of the gallery, breakfast is included, and naturally rooms are en-suite with espresso machines.
Hopefully this provides you loads of choices – no matter your finances.
Easy methods to Get Round Milan
While Milan is a big metropolis, a lot of the points of interest that guests will wish to see might be discovered in the direction of the centre, inside strolling distance of one another. As well as, we’ve arrange this itinerary in as logical a manner as attainable, to minimise journey time and maximise sightseeing.
That mentioned, you would possibly nonetheless wish to make the most 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 points of interest, in addition to e-scooters and bikes which might be rented by way of smartphone apps.
Usually we use the underground metro as we discover it to be quick and value 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. Clearly the perfect worth will rely upon how a lot you intend to make use of public transport throughout your keep in Milan.
Advised Strolling Excursions in Milan
One in all 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 affords most of the highlights of the town in addition to Final Supper tickets and entry to the Milan Duomo. That is the strolling tour we took in Milan that included our Final Supper tickets and tour.
There are comparable 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 Final Supper or this tour which incorporates the Final Supper.
This personal style tour with a method information could have you studying all in regards to the historical past of style and visiting a few of Milan’s most well-known designer shops
This small group gourmand meals tour consists of 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 type snacks within the fashionable Navigli space
This meals and strolling tour of the historic Brera district consists of numerous conventional regional dishes and wines
This 1.5 hour tour of Cimiterio Monumentale is an efficient method to go to the cemetery and see among the extra fascinating areas
This strolling tour of the Navigli space consists of info on the historical past and design of the canals and the evolution of the realm
In case you choose to see Milan at evening, this 2 hour night tour takes you across the historic heart of Milan at evening and shares tales of the town.
Hopefully one can find loads of choices for excursions in Milan if that’s of curiosity to you.
Saving Cash with Milan Attraction Passes
Once we go to a metropolis, we all the time verify to see if there’s a metropolis sightseeing cross that may save us cash. These typically embody free or discounted entry to points of interest, and in addition typically embody public transport.
The primary passes which might be out there for Milan are:
The Milan Move. This 48-hour metropolis cross features a hop on hop off bus, free entry to numerous museums together with La Scala, Duomo with rooftop entry, in addition to the choice to incorporate public transport.
The Milano Card. This card consists of free public transport and reductions on numerous museums and points of interest. Out there for 1, 2, or 3 days.
The Vacationer Museum Card. This three day card consists of entry to the civic museums of Milan, which incorporates the 8 museums in Castello Sforzesco in addition to 5 different museums. It’s an incredible worth card if the museums it covers are in your itinerary.
For many guests we predict Milan Move makes probably the most sense because it consists of free entry to the preferred sights in Milan together with the rooftop of the Duomo. It additionally consists of the hop on hop off bus and a Navigli Canal Cruise (seasonal).
If you’re extra concerned with public transport and visiting some sights with a reduction, then the Milano Card would possibly make extra sense.
And that’s it for our information to spending 2 days in Milan! As all the time, if in case you have any questions or feedback, simply pop them within the feedback part beneath and we’ll get again to you as quickly as we will.