Milan is the least Italian-looking city in Italy. Here there is business, fashion and finance, and little of the romance of Rome and Florence. Many travellers skip Milan for that reason and make a mistake, because the city has both a magnificent cathedral and the most convenient railway hub in Europe. Two days for the city, a third for Lake Como — that is how the route works. Milan is also the cheapest entry point to the rest of Italy, so flights from Baku to Milan are worth checking as the start of a route.
The Duomo and the Gallery
The Duomo took six hundred years to build and carries more than three thousand five hundred statues. The real difference begins on the roof, reached by lift or stairs, where you can walk among the marble spires. On clear days the Alps appear on the horizon. Buy the ticket online with a time slot; the roof has a separate ticket.
The Vittorio Emanuele gallery beside the square is a glass-roofed arcade and is considered one of the oldest shopping centres in the world. The shops inside are expensive, but walking through is free. Spinning on your heel on the mosaic of the bull is the local custom.
The Last Supper and the museums
Leonardo’s “Last Supper” fresco is in the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery. Only thirty-five people are let in per session and the visit lasts fifteen minutes. Tickets go on sale two or three months ahead and sell out immediately, so check as soon as you know your travel dates. It is the hardest ticket in the city to get.
The Sforza castle holds several museums, and Michelangelo’s last, unfinished sculpture is kept there. Sempione park behind the castle is comfortable for a rest. Taking the tickets and tours in advance is the practical solution on the fresco question.
Navigli, fashion and aperitivo
Navigli is the old canals district and the evening life gathers there. Milan’s own custom is the aperitivo: you buy one drink and the snacks laid out like a buffet are included in the price. It is the local way of closing the evening meal cheaply. The price is usually between 10 and 15 euros.
The district called the fashion quadrilateral is the shop window of the world’s brands, and it is worth looking at even if you do not shop. The sale season is in January and July. The outlet centres are outside the city and buses run there.
Read more: An Italy travel guide: Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi and the classic route by high-speed train
Day trips from Milan
Lake Como is an hour by train, and a ferry runs between the villages of Varenna and Bellagio. Bergamo’s old town is on a hill and is reached by funicular. Turin is two hours, Venice two and a half, and Florence an hour and forty minutes. Comparing these tickets on one screen shows the price difference between the high-speed and the regional train immediately.
Season and budget in Milan
April–June and September–October are the best months, at 18–26 degrees. July and August are hot and humid and the city half empties. Winter is cold and foggy. During fashion weeks and the big trade fairs hotel prices go up two or three times over, and checking the dates is a serious saving.
A three-star hotel in the centre is 110–170 euros, and 80–130 around the Central Station. Choosing your hotel by the metro line works well here, because the metro has four lines and is simple. The Duomo roof is 15 euros and the Sforza castle 5. Official information is on the YesMilano site.
In short
Milan is a two-day city, but it is the most comfortable door into the rest of Italy. Go up to the Duomo roof, check the fresco ticket months ahead, and close the evening with an aperitivo in Navigli. If you want to see several Italian cities in one trip, look at group tours covering Italy. For a visa and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices in this article are those at the time of publication and may change with the season.
