Milan Travel Guide

A destination with rich history and cultural importance, Milan brings a flavour of fashion and design to the north of Italy.

In this Milan Travel Guide I will be sharing how to make the most out of a visit to this beautiful city, with information on the best locations to visit, where to stay, and how to navigate around the region.

Why Milan?

Milan comes with its own degree of expectation, world renowned as a capital of fashion, it contains more than meets the eye. This city offers a diverse range of cultures woven within its cosmopolitan influences. Doubling up as a key financial district and economic region, it blends its historic past and futuristic present through the dynamics of the architecture found throughout the city.

Often known for a vibrant lifestyle, Milan also offers a degree of urban experiences and a popular nightlife scene, perfect for those who enjoy pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and like to spend their time with others. Naturally, you can’t talk about anywhere in Italy without mentioning its famous selection of cuisine, and Milan is no different.

Furthermore, given its central location in northern Italy, Milan also acts as a great base for a selection of day trips out of the city if you have the time.

When to Visit

Milan offers a great experience all year-round, regardless of the season. However, the best time to visit Milan naturally depends on preferences and your plans during the visit. During Spring and Autumn you can expect pleasant weather and fewer crowds, with events such as Milan Fashion Week and other outdoor events taking place throughout the city.

Alternatively, visiting during the summer means stunning weather with high heat throughout, however that comes with the added burden of larger crowds. On the flip side, visiting Milan in the winter allows you the opportunity to experience a winter wonderland, with the city at times being covered in blankets of Snow, with the guarantee of lower prices around this time, and fewer tourists.

How Long & Where to Stay

A visit to Milan itself can be done as a long weekend or a similar short visit, once again depending on your plans. However, if you have the time available, planning to spend the week in the city also gives you the opportunity to visit alternative locations in Italy, most of which are within a short distance of Milan.

For the first time visitor, I would suggest staying in the Centro Storico. This is because this area is a prime location which features many of the cities iconic and famous attractions such as the Duomo and Galleria, meaning basing yourself here lets you be right in the thick of the action, all of the time. Alternative areas such the Quadrilatero district will satisfy your high-end shopping and dining needs, whereas if you’re after local vibe, the district of Porta Venezia will give you a taste of a authentic local experience.

Getting Here & Around

Milan is a central location within Europe which therefore allows it to have and utilise a large number of transport routes and connections. Milan has 3 main airports that serve the city and the wider area, with Milan Malpensa being the international and most important airport that handles and serves long-haul flights located 45km outside the city centre. Both Milan Linate and Milan Bergamo serve domestic and European airlines, with them being just 7km and 50km away from the city centre respectively. All three airports have easy transportation links to the city.

Once you’re in the city, you’ll find why Milan is well known as one of the most walkable cities in the world with key attractions and sights in close proximity. In addition to this, the city also has an extensive transportation system which includes the subway, buses, and trams. To make the most of this, it is possible to purchase daily, weekly, or even monthly passes which allows for unlimited travel on all within the time period selected.

Photography

The city of Milan offers a wide range of unique and distinct photography perspectives, largely owing to its dynamic mix of past and present. If you’re a fan of architecture and still-life photography then this makes Milan a dream to visit, with the historic landmarks and modern buildings creating a distinct blend throughout the city. In the city centre you can engage with the bustling day-to-day life through the application of street photography, whereas heading to the outskirts and more local areas will allow you the opportunity to capture the calm and still-life.

Centro Storico

Milan is a city full of beauty and adventure, capturing the hearts of many straight from the start. To begin your time in Milan, I suggest starting central and making your way to the Centro Storico, and more specifically the Piazza del Duomo. The Piazza lies in the middle of it all, and marks a key location within the city. The square is dominated by the stunning architecture of the Duomo Di Milano, the Cathedral of Milan towering over the cosmopolitan public below.

The Cathedral which first began construction in 1386, is a symbolic emblem of the city of Milan, with its Gothic architecture a standout feature, expressing a unique and stunning design throughout the exterior. If you’re interested in exploring more of the Cathedral and diving deeper into learning about the history behind the location, it is possible to enter through the purchase of a ticket. The ticket allows for access inside, taking you up the stairs (or lift) to the rooftop. From here, as well as witnessing the exterior up-close, the rooftop gives you some of the best views available across the city.

Once you’ve finished admiring the stunning views from above, make your way back down and into the heart of the Cathedral, this time allowing you to walk through and inspect the incredible architecture and design from within.

From here, the oldest mall in Italy, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II awaits. Sat beside the Cathedral, chances are if you’ve researched Milan in the past, you would have seen photos of this location. Inside you will find luxury stores and restaurants full of Italian charm, but once again it is the architecture which truly takes centre stage.

The mall really is a incredible landmark to witness, even if you don’t plan on shopping, wining or dining, it is still well worth the visit to view the mosaic marble floors and incredibly detailed designs above.

The Centro Storico is the main hub and heartbeat of the city, and in turn gives you unlimited options in regards to eating choices or shopping delights. From high end luxury brands, to the internationally known companies we all know and love, Milan has a variety of options for all. Of course, you can’t visit Italy without sampling the delightful range of exquisite food and drink the country provides. Personally, whenever I visit Italy I find myself living on a diet of Pizza, Pasta, and Ice Cream, they are always too hard to resist.

Elsewhere in the city centre, there are still plenty of landmarks and locations to find and explore. A short walk away from the main square and Piazza you will find Sempione Park, which in turn is littered with iconic landmarks. The park itself presents a joyful breath of fresh air to wander, especially on a hot summer day.

One attraction that cannot be missed here is the sizeable Sforzesco Castle, complete with its huge outer walls and castle grounds. Built in the 15th century, the castle is now home to various museums and art collections. Even if you’re not a fan of art, it is still worth visiting to explore the grounds, which is subsequently free. After exiting the castle, venture further into the park until you reach the famous monument of Arco della Pace.

If you’re a fan of all things art, then the city centre of Milan has numerous galleries to keep you occupied. The most known of which is the Santa Maria delle Grazie, home of the famous artwork ‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo Da Vinci. For this, I suggest booking tickets in advance. Other gallery options include the Ambrosian Library, Palazzo Reale di Milano, and the Pinacoteca di Brera.

Navigli

In order to experience a different side of Milan, I highly recommend visiting the historic district of Navigli. Known for its collection of charming canals and vibrant atmosphere, the district brings a wealth of characteristics to the fore.

Alongside the canals you will find a host of delightful restaurants, bars and cafes to cater to everyone’s liking. The area brings a quicky charm, creating a unique blend between locals and tourists alike. Water Taxis are available to ride along the canals, allowing you to view Navigli from an alternative perspective. It is during the evening when the district really ignites with energy, with a lively atmosphere all along the canals.

In addition to this, it is well worth taking the time to explore Navigli in further depth if possible. It is here where you will discover a more local experience on the outer parts of the city centre. Away from the canals you will find a much slower pace, with locals going about their day-to-day life in their favourable fashion.

In an almost complete contrast to the centre of the city, you would be right to think if you were actually in Milan. Still-life and historic town-house style architecture are a common theme here, a welcome and delightful change to the bustling dynamics elsewhere.

Day Trips from Milan

Due to its favourable and prime location in the northern Lombardy region of Italy, Milan is also an amazing location to base yourself in order to explore further in the area and beyond.

Partly in thanks to the extensive rail network Italy has in use, the country is easy and achievable to get around. From the stunning scenery of Lake Como, to the food capital of Italy that is Bologna, and the Canals of Venice, these locations are just a number of options available to visit on a day trip from the city.

To find out more about these areas and other day trip options from Milan, please visit the accompanying travel guide here.