Milan is widely known as the fashion capital of the world. But the most fascinating aspect of Milan is the historical, cultural, and architectural heritage of the city, testified by the majestic Gothic Duomo di Milano Cathedral (above), the marvelous La Scala theater, and the magnificent Vittorio Emanuele II shopping gallery. This article is dedicated to convincing you to make Milan your next travel destination.
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HOW TO GET THERE
We spent a day in Milan and we are so glad we did. If Milan is your first destination, you can take a flight to Malpensa airport, which is the main international airport in Milan. But if you are traveling within Europe, traveling by train is the most recommended method. Italy and Europe, in general, have the best railway network that is fast, convenient and offers spectacular views. We took a Frecciarosa train, the high-speed train of the Italian national train operator, Trenitalia, from Rome to Milan, reaching speeds of up to 190 mph or 300 kmph.
We highly recommend booking train tickets online well in advance to get the best deals from trainline or omio. Once booked, you can access your electronic tickets on your phone by downloading their respective apps.
We booked second-class tickets to get the cheapest deals, but, even second-class train travel in Europe feels like first class. There is no dearth of comfort. We arrived at the Milan Centrale station and then took a metro or subway to arrive at the hotel. Metro trains in Milan are highly organized and the best mode of transport to explore the city. You can purchase a 1-day or 3-day metro pass from one of the kiosks at the Milan Centrale station which gives you unlimited access to the metro trains.
ACCOMMODATION
If you read my previous blogs, you'd know that we highly recommend booking.com for all hotel reservations. We also like to browse hilton.com which has a chain of almost 6000 hotels around the world. Both these websites offer numerous options for all budget categories as well as free cancellation options for any last-minute emergencies. We stayed at UNAHOTELS Scandinavia Milano, with an excellent location, easy access to the supermarket that was right across the street, and we traveled by metro all the time which was 4 minutes walking from the hotel. Metro turned out to be an extremely convenient option for us to explore restaurants and bars, all within 15-20 minutes of the hotel, and other attractions in Milan.
DAY 1- NAVIGLI DISTRICT
Navigli is the perfect combination of the historical heritage of Milan due to Venice-like waterways and the upscale, modern, riverside bars, restaurants, and boutiques that make it an excellent dining and shopping location coupled with a lively and happening nightlife.
While strolling the banks of Naviglio Grande (The Grand Canal), dating back to the 12th century, we enjoyed phenomenal sunset views from the bridges of the Naviglio Grande. Located on either side of the canal are a plethora of gourmet restaurants and bars offering the best outdoor dining experience with stunning riverside views. By night, the place is teeming with club-hoppers making it the coolest spot to enjoy the best of Milan nightlife.
DAY 2- MORNING
DUOMO DI MILANO
VITTORIO EMANUELE II GALLERIA
TEATRO ALLA SCALA
SFORZA CASTLE
DUOMO DI MILANO- After having an early breakfast at the hotel, we traveled by metro to visit Duomo di Milano Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in Italy and Europe. The gates open at 9 am but we recommend going in really early to take beautiful pictures of the front of the Cathedral before the crowds start swarming in.
It is a magnificent piece of architecture, that took almost 700 years to complete, symbolizing the prolific historical phase, and marked by a stunning architectural framework. We booked a fast-track duomo pass with access to the rooftop by lift online from Duomo di Milano website. The fast-track pass by lift gives you access to the cathedral, rooftop-by-lift, archaeological area, and the Duomo museum. The museum is closed on Wednesday.
Inside the cathedral, you will be in awe of the stunning stained glass windows, tapestries, and sculptures of the 14th century. The rooftop (highly recommended by the lift/elevator), built using Candoglia marble, offers spectacular panoramic views of the city (picture above) that will amaze you to the core.
The archaeological area consists of the remains of the S. Giovanni alle Fonti Baptistery and S. Tecla.
VITTORIO EMANUELE II GALLERIA
This is a 19th-century shopping arcade named after Victor Emmanuele II, the first king of Italy. Standing next to Duomo di Milano, this shopping arcade is home to numerous luxury emporiums, international chain and department stores, and trendy gourmet eateries. Considered to be the symbol of Milanese style and wealth, it is the oldest shopping center in the world and the most famous shopping destination in Italy.
TEATRO ALLA SCALA THEATER AND MUSEUM
Also known as La Scala, this theater is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Since its inception in 1778, the theater has hosted some of the best composers, singers, and artists of the past 200 years. Regardless of whether you are an Opera fan or not, a visit to the La Scala is a must to admire the theater's famous stage, the grand foyer, enormous auditorium made of wood and covered in red velvet, and the large collection of paintings, costumes, and statues related to opera and theater. We highly recommend booking your ticket online from getyourguide.com which gives priority access to the museum and theater along with an audio guide in seven languages.
SFORZA CASTLE
It is a grand medieval fortification, built in the 15th century, by the Duke of Milan, on the ruins of the 14th century fortification and later renovated and enlarged in the 16th and 17th centuries to become one of the largest citadels in Europe. This complex is free to visit and is a must to witness and experience the prominent artistic and cultural history of Milan. While the large open space is used to organize exhibitions and music festivals, the complex is home to a beautiful art gallery, an Archaeological museum, and a library.
DAY 2- EVENING
PORTA NUOVA DISTRICT
In the evening we explored the Porta Nuova district, a vibrant and futuristic district, located close to more traditional neighborhoods of Milan, covering approximately 300,000 square meters of the urban area. This district symbolizes modern Milan, characterized by stunning contemporary architecture, skyscrapers, and beautiful futuristic buildings. There is a large raised square in the center of the area, that is surrounded by glass skyscrapers, one of them considered to be the tallest in Italy. There is a plethora of hi-tech stores, bars and cafes, pizzerias, and discotheques that make Porta Nuova the ultimate spot to explore the soul of modern Milan. It is located close to the Garibaldi metro station and is easily accessible by metro.
There you go. Your perfect Milan itinerary. On our way back to the hotel, we saw a live music performance at a Milan metro station with people of all ages dancing and having a gala time. What a sight! Metro station transformed into a dance floor. Milan never ceases to amaze you. We would visit Milan again and hopefully, you will visit as well. Save this post for the future and put Milan on your travel bucket list. Please like and comment below. Thanks for reading.
PS-: All pictures shot on Samsung Galaxy S22.
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