Milano

Milan Travel Wiki

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Travel to Milan

Milano, which is also widely known just as Milan, is the second largest city in Italy and it is also one of the largest metropolitan areas of the entire European Union. With commuting sectors including, it is estimated that up to 9 million people get to enjoy the pleasures of the beautiful city in some way every day.

Much of its expansion occurred in the two decades after World War II and today much of its industry is focused on fashion and design. Are you visiting Milano in the near future? Here are some recommendations to consider adding to your itinerary to make your visit even more pleasurable!

Milano Is Filled With Numerous Archaeological Treasures!

More than 2 million people travel to Milano every year just to experience the many archaeological and artistic wonders that this city offers. One of the top sites to see is the Milan Cathedral, which is one of the largest cathedrals in the entire world. It took nearly 600 years to fully complete and its spires are known throughout the world.

Don’t just settle for visiting the cathedral during your visit, however, because you’ll miss out on something special: the Santa Maria delle Grazie. It is a Dominican convent that is part of the very heart of this city. Many treasures from Leonardo da Vinci are located here at the Holy Mary of Grace, the most famous of which is mural of The Last Supper.

Forget Fashion Week – Come For Furniture Week!

Millions in revenue is generated by the world famous Fashion Week that Milano hosts every year, but a lesser known trade fair that is held annually is affectionately known as Furniture Week. It is the world’s largest trade fair and it is usually held in April, the perfect time to explore the city and the surrounding Italian countryside.

You’ll find numerous opportunities to see the future of interior design throughout the week. An emphasis on artistic lighting can be seen at many locations in Rho, where much of the festival is held. Rho in itself is a wonderful part of the Milano metropolitan area, having nearly 2,000 years of history to explore.

Don’t Forget To Explore Royalty!

The spires on rooftops will surround you throughout Milano, tempting you to explore virtually everywhere for a hidden gem. The best place for exploration in this city centers around the Royal Palace. Museums, galleries, food stands, and some of the city’s best coffee bars are all situated right around this area, giving you the chance to experience the culture of this city in an all-encompassing way. The costs here may be a little higher than elsewhere in the city, but you will find value in the cost thanks to the unique atmosphere.

Milano is an incredible city that has much to offer. Be sure to add these items to the itinerary of your next visit so that you can experience this city in a unique way! Maybe the best part about a visit to Milano is the fact that there is always something new to see, which means this city will call you back time and time again.

Travel and vacation in Milan, Italy

Here you can find information about travel and holiday trips to Italy. You will find travel deals as well as general travel information, guides, “good to know” and facts about Italy. We try to find the best travel video about the city and its surroundings and we write about the best sights, shopping and things to do. You will also find updated current weather and forecasts. The current exchange rates are also updated many times a day.

Best of Milan

What to see and do in Milan ?

Shopping and sightseeing

There are a lot of things to see in Milan – fine cathedrals, palaces, museums, world class opera houses, striking buildings, and lovely streets and squares. However, not all of them are right in the city centre – some of the most can be found near the outskirts or even outside of Milan.

The largest and most important example of Gothic architecture in Italy is the Duomo, Milan’s Cathedral, and, as Milan’s number one attraction, it should be visited early to avoid the queues. The cathedral reflects the city’s creativity and ambition. It was started in 1387 and finished nearly 600 years later, with its 135 spires and 3200 statues, and huge interior punctuated by the largest stained glass windows. Canals had to be dug to bring the marble to the city and new technologies were invented to cater the colossal scale of the cathedral.

Many of Milan’s cathedrals and churches are free to visit: aside from the Duomo, others include the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, the Chiesa di San Maurizio and the Chiesa di San Marco (from to 1254).

The city is home to some of the most famous paintings in the world: Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, Caravaggio’s ‘Basket of Fruit’ (Pinacoteca Ambrosiana), and his ‘Supper at Emmaus’ (Pinacoteca Brera).

Da Vinci’s ‘Last Supper’ is hidden away on a wall adjoining the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie. Viewing time limited to 15 minutes, and English-language guided tours take place at 9.30am and 3.30pm – make sure you book ahead.

For shopping, there is the ‘Golden Quarter’ (Quadrilatero D’Oro), made up of Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant’ Andrea, Via della Spiga and Via Alessandro Manzoni, has the most ornate stores and upmarket shopping area in the city. Famous buildings include the Palazzo Belgiojoso, former residence of Napoleon, the Porta Sempione (Sempione Gate), and the Palazzo del Governo. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a passage covered by an arching glass and cast iron roof, connects Piazza del Duomo to the square at La Scala opera house. It has a stunning mosaic floor, and a glass roof and cupola.

For industrial scale shopping, try the Terravalle Scrivia, Via della Moda, off theMilan – Genoa autostrada. It’s one biggest shopping outlets in Europe with 180 stores, and has names, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Cavalli, Ferragamo, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Prada, Geox, Swatch, Bulgari, Swarovski, and at bargain prices)! T

Sport

Milan has two world-famous Serie A football clubs: A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale who both play at the San Siro Stadium, one of Europe’s largest stadiums. Monza Formula One circuit is located near the city, in a suburban park, with capacity over 113,000, generally full of Ferrari F1 fanatics, called ‘tifosi’.

Recommended restaurants in Milan

Milan lies in Lombardy, a region with rich culinary fare, with meat a big feature. Make sure you try the local dishes at informal, often family-run trattoria where the authentic flavours truly come to life.

There are trattorias, enoteche (wine bars) and restaurants everywhere that offer traditional Milanese and Italian dishes to eat. This city’s traditional cooking is based on dishes like osso buco (veal shanks) and risotto alla Milanese (risotto with saffron). Rice plays an important part in Lombardy, but in winter polenta is served, often accompanied by hearty stews. Mondeghili are Milan meatballs introduced to Milanese cuisine in the 16th century by the Spaniards, made of sausage, salami with bread soaked in milk, egg and cheese and fried till golden appearance.

Lunch generally served between 12:30PM and 2:30PM and dinner from 7:30PM to 9:30PM. With so many eateries, it hard to pin down where to start. Try it Osteria dell’Acquabella La Dogana del Buongusto offers hearty traditional Milanese dishes in a laid-back informal setting. For real Milanese cheap food, go to Luini near Galleria Vittorio Emanuele for a Panzerotti just on Via San Radegonda.

For breakfast, do as the locals do, and have a café espresso, cappuccino and a brioche for as little as €2.

Lombardy is also one of Italy’s largest cheese-making regions: try Gorgonzola, creamy mascarpone and parmesan-like Grana Padano. The Osteria dei Formaggi on the Grand Canal serves excellent cheese dishes in a dining room heavily decorated with cows!

Recommended hotels in Milan

Milan Central station area is where many of the decent budget hotels are located, as well as international hotel chains. South of the station is the business and local government area. Milan has plenty of accommodation; however, as the engine room of Italy’s economy, it is not driven by tourism, unlike Rome or Venice. Stylish but cheap accommodation can be hard to find.

The best places to stay in Milan are near Piazza del Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Via Montenapoleone and the Castello Sforzesco, and Teatro alla Scala.

For something differen, try the Ariston Hotel. It is is centrally located in Milan, close to La Scala Theatre. The hotel was created on ecological principles with herbal tea made with purified water, organic breakfast, natural filled mattresses, soaps and shampoos made with natural ingredients, and even freely loaned bicycle at the door. All rooms feature air conditioning, a satellite TV, and a minibar.

Check out the Antica Locanda Solferino, a two star hotel with a difference, attracting a more bohemian type. It has  11understated  rooms and decorated in a bygone style. It is set in Milan’s artistic Brera district, there are a number of art galleries and museums in the neighbourhood, as well as theatres, clubs and restaurants.

Explore the surroundings

The city is the second largest city in Italy. Milan is the main industrial, commercial and financial centre of Italy, host to the Italian Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the largest banks and companies. Milan is also a sporting, fashion and cultural centre, with world famous attractions such as La Scala Opera, Milan Fashion Week, two football teams, Inter and AC, as well as the Monza F1 race track.

Milan remains the marketplace for Italian fashion – fashionistas, supermodels and paparazzi arrive into the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs. Its also the home  to La Scala, one of the greatest opera houses in the world, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, the glamorous shopping arcade, the Brera art gallery, with some of the finest art works in Europe, the Pirelli tower, a living example 1960s modernist architecture.

Milan is bustling, busy, business capital – and feels in stark contrast to other Italian cities. Visit Via Montenapoleone to high fashion in action. It contains many of the biggest names in fashion, and some of the trendiest and famous stores in the world.   Via Dante is a beautiful pedestrian avenue which goes from the Piazzale Cordusio, all the way to the Largo Cairoli and is full of restaurant and cafe tables.

Lake Como

Explore the fashionable lakeside town of Como with its stunning scenery on a day trip from Milan, just an hours drive away. The lake is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and picturesque villas. If you can, take along the lake and stop Bellagio or take the funicular up to Brunate for a panorama of the lake below. See if  you can post George Clooney along the way!

Swiss Alps

Take a ride on the Bernina Express, the train journey takes you along a UNESCO World Heritage Site – through the Bernina Pass to St Moritz. The Bernina Express bright red rail car, passes through towering peaks of the Swiss Alps climbing up to 7,330-foot (2,235-meter) high. A coach leaves Milan at 7am and brings you to Tirano where you board the train to  St Moritz enjoying eye-popping vistas of stunning scenery from your seat.