A Guide To A Day Or Two In Milan, Italy

I don't really know anyone who has never dreamed a little about exploring Italy. Or, if you're like me, dreamed A LOT about exploring Italy — and Milan was at the top of my list.

Italy is known for its delicious food, rich history, and pretty views. You can get that and more in the city of Milan, a spot in Italy known for high fashion and gorgeous architecture. Milan has a quieter feel than some of the other Italian cities that may be on your bucket list (which I personally love). It's also a fantastic jumping-off point to some of my other favorite spots in this country, like Lake Como. Plus, you can often find really good flight deals to Milan! I put this guide together to help you choose what to do, what to see, and where to eat, depending on how long you have in this iconic city! 

Looking for other great European destinations?
Check out of guide to our favorite places in Europe!

Because some of you may be hanging out in Milan just for a day or two, you'll want a streamlined version of the top things to experience before hopping off to another city. Here's what you need to know about a quick trip to Milan:

• What To See And Do
• What To Eat
• How To Get There (Info On Flights + Nearby Trips)
• How Long and Where To Stay
• How To Get Around

What To See And Do

Duomo Di Milano

This is the cathedral you'll see when you look up just about anything Milan related, and wow, is it beautiful! You simply can't explore Milan without walking through the Duomo. Not only is it beautiful, but it's essentially the heart of the city and so many other places that you'll want to see are nearby. If you're out on foot exploring the city, this is the best place to start.

The Duomo Di Milano is actually the largest church in Italy and the fifth largest in the world! Inside, you will find gorgeous stained glass windows, beautiful stonework, and breathtaking artwork, all constructed in a classic Gothic theme. It's unreal.

Take the stairs or an elevator to the top to see amazing views. On a clear day, you can actually see the Alps, so keep an eye out for those!

Tip:  Make sure you are covered up when you go. This is a church and they request no shorts and sleeveless tees.

Hours: The cathedral is open from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day, but the last ticket is given out at 6:00 PM, so plan accordingly. *Closed on Wednesdays!*

Get ticket info here 
Check out their website for updates 

Getting There: Find it on Google Maps

The Navigli District

The Navigli is one of the coolest parts of the city and you'll want to set aside good amount of time for exploring. The Navigli is home to Milan's canals (just like in Venice!). The canals are lined with artists, thrift shops, art galleries, and many other unique booths. This is a great place to grab a souvenir to remember Milan while soaking in the pretty views (especially at sunset).

Don't be nervous to dance to the live music with your fellow travelers. Those little moments are what make the best memories! 

Check out this post on how to find it!

Galleria

The Galleria is essentially a mall full of Italian designers — hello Prada and Gucci! Even though you may not be in the market for expensive shoes or a purse, be sure to check the Galleria out. It is a beautiful building and has even been said to bring good luck. Find the bull on the ground of the Galleria, turn your heel on it, and good luck is said to follow. 

This is right by the Duomo, so you can just walk over after you check out the cathedral.

Getting there: Find it on Google Maps

Vigano Milano 1919

Our ILP volunteers have been raving about this little boutique that they found that has the sweetest charm bracelets! This is the perfect place to make a personalized souvenir for yourself at an affordable price. It's within walking distance from the Duomo (just a few blocks away), which makes it really convenient if you want to stop by and check it out.

Getting there: Find it on Google Maps

Cenacolo Vinciano Museum

Da Vinci's Last Supper — AKA one of the most famous paintings in history — is found in Milan!

Even if you're not an art fanatic, you're still going to want to make this stop just so you can say you've seen Leonardo's masterpiece in person.

Good to know: They limit your visit to 15 minutes in smaller groups of people to help with protecting this piece of history. You'll need to plan ahead and buy tickets online to reserve your visit. Last minute tickets typically aren't available.

Check out their website here for more info.

Getting there: Find it on Google Maps

Sforzesco Castle

This castle dates back to the 1300s and is another iconic part of Milan's architectural history, not far from the Duomo. Much thought went into the construction with famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci taking part in the design work. If you love photographing architecture, this is a great spot to explore.

Get all the details here on their site.

Getting there: Find it on Google Maps

What To Eat

There's a reason Italy is known for its food ... it's magnificent! Pizza was one of my favorite things I had in Milan because everything was so fresh. You'll fall in love with that thin, wood-fired crust and the mounds of gooey mozzarella. Yum. Oh, and then there is the gelato. It's 100% better than ice cream and you'll want to eat it every day you're in Italy, as you should!  

Feel free to find your favorite places, but here are a few recommendations, many of which come recommended by our very own ILP volunteers.

Pinkeri

Pinkeri is a darling restaurant that is described as "Instagrammable" because of its detailed decor, live music, and more. We also can't go on any longer without mentioning that the pasta here is pink! Our ILP volunteers loved their time eating pizza, pasta, burgers, and more at this pretty place.

Pasta D'Autore

This restaurant is bound to satisify your cravings for not only pasta, but pizza too! Our ILP volunteers highly recommend the margherita pizza — "they're the BEST!" All of the food is made fresh, including the pasta! You will definitely want to check this place out while you're out exploring.

Address: Find it on Google Maps

Gino Sorbillo

Known for its Neapolitan Pizza, Gino Sorbillo can't be beat. They only make 400 pizzas a day, so be quick and get there as soon as they open —  they go fast! We love the simplicity of their scrumptious pizzas. 

La Gelateria della Musica - Gelato

The ambiance of this place is unmatched. You will quickly see that every flavor of gelato is named after a famous musician or iconic song. Try their most memorable flavors like salty pistachio, strawberry, grape, or cheesecake, but don't forget to try out ILP volunteers' favorite flavor: Stracciatella! Oh, and did I mention that part of the ambiance is the music that fills the shop? It's so charming!

How To Get There (Info On Flights + Nearby Lakes)

We're all about cheap flights in Europe. Other than to teach English or to volunteer in an orphanage, that is one of our ILP volunteers' biggest draws to volunteering there! One of the greatest things about going to Milan is how cheap you can find flights to get there, making it a great option for our volunteers in Europe who are planning their vacations. 

Prices will vary quite a bit depending on what days you are going and what city you're coming from, but check back frequently because prices will change. Heads up — Milan has two main airports: Linate airport and Malpensa airport.

You may also see flights into Bergamo's Orio al Serio airport (45km East) and Parma airport (100km South) but you will need to factor in travel time because Orio al Serio is 27 miles away from Milan and Parma is 62 miles away from the city. 

Start by looking at Ryanair and Wizzair

Some Nearby Adventures 

La Garda

La Garda is one of the most popular destinations for a holiday in Italy and is home to some of the best things this country has to offer: think Roman ruins, spas filled with thermal springs, sunny beaches, colorful cities stuffed with gelato shops, patisseries, and more. The lake is surrounded by dozens of little lakeside towns, making it easy to hop around and explore every few days, or for a week or two if you have the time.

And the best news? It's just a couple of hours away from Milan! You can easily make a day trip here, or stay longer if you'd like to soak up the sights over the weekend. 

You can learn more about La Garda here, and read other pointers to help you plan the most perfect trip to this gem of a city. 

Lake Como 

If you want a taste of luxury, hop over to Lake Como, tucked away in Italy's picturesque lake district. It's long been famed as the most beautiful lake in Italy and is home to beautiful villas that frame the turquoise water at the foot of the Alps. Sounds pretty captivating, doesn't it? Lake Como is just a short ride from Milan, making it an easy addition to your dreamy Italian itinerary while you're touring Europe.

Our ILP volunteers say it's a super easy day trip, but to have warm clothes. It can get chilly here even in the middle of September! Also, if you're interested in participating in any of the ferry rides, be sure to get in line early. Tickets sell out fast!

How Long and Where To Stay

How Long To Stay

Milan is a great city and you can find a lot to do. That being said, a weekend trip is the perfect amount of time to spend here. If you don't have time for that, a full day in Milan is just fine if you can fly in in the morning then head out at night. If you're staying just for the day, we'd recommend hitting the highlights above.

If you are staying longer, maybe plan on a few more museums. We've heard that the Leonardo Da Vinci museum is interesting (with replicas of his sketched inventions), but not something that you should try to squeeze in if you're here just for the day, you know? 

If you're trying to decide how much time to spend in other Italian cities, this blog post has what you're looking for. 

Where To Stay

Your best option of places to stay in Milan will be hostels. Check out HostelWorld when you are booking — they make it so easy to find budget-friendly options. Here are a few hostels with great reviews we'd recommend checking out as you are looking:

Madama Hostel: This hostel is in an old police station and also has a cute little bistro attached. The decor is super rad and everything is nice and clean. Rooms prices vary depending on if you want a private room or a shared room.

Queen Hostel is simple but has everything you need. It's only about a 15-minute walk to the heart of the city and the staff is super helpful. And, they advertise there is free wifi "even in the bathrooms". See, everything you could need!  Room prices vary.

Babila Hostel: You'll quickly fall in love with this hostel's charm. It's modern, simple, and clean. Very close to the main attractions you'll be visiting and has safe reviews. Room prices vary.

How To Get Around

You can get around Milan several different ways. There are trams, metros, buses, and more. Make sure to give yourself lots of time when taking unfamiliar public transportation. It can be confusing as a tourist. Here are the best ways we've found :

By Foot: Walk around on foot as much as possible in Milan; you will find hidden gems you otherwise would have missed if you were on a bus. You can get most anywhere on foot. Our ILP volunteers walked 25K steps in one day, so make sure you have comfy shoes!

Metro/Tram: For longer stretches of travel we'd take the metro or tram. These can get you anywhere you need around the city and are affordable — Here's more info about their systems. Our ILP volunteers found the tram to be easier to navigate!

Quick Tip: Avoid taxis! They are pretty expensive and you really can get around with out them if you're just staying in the city center.  Uber is another option where you can be more aware of the price fluctuations. 

Have questions about a semester abroad in Europe with ILP?

Talk to someone who has been! They can give you all the details of what a semester is like, and all the opportunities available for you. Click the button below to get connected with a representative in the ILP office.