Hello Life Hopper! It’s great to find you searching for information about this magnificent Italian city, and it’s lovely to be able to help you put together a checklist of the 10 best things to do in Milan.
I’ll be honest with you: before traveling to Italy, I had zero expectations of Milan. In my mind, it was a “normal” city known for fashion and a few “monuments”.
But… How wrong I was! From the moment we arrived, I fell in love with Milan. Although there aren’t as many sights to see as in other Italian tourist cities, it’s a very beautiful, sophisticated, and luxurious city, perfect for exploring and strolling around.
Although I visited it in a day, covering its main places, there’s much to do if you plan to stay for several days.
That said, let’s start exploring Milan’s must-see places!
Hop on!
- Duomo di Milano and Piazza del Duomo
The Duomo is one of those places that leaves you speechless. Although I had seen photos and read about it beforehand, standing in Piazza del Duomo and looking up to see the cathedral with all its details is truly amazing. It was my first impression of Milan, and I definitely loved it.
I highly recommend going up to the Duomo’s terraces; the views it offers of the city are worth it and it’s an unforgettable experience.
As the most iconic point in Milan, there are some considerations to keep in mind when visiting it:
- Go early in the morning and buy tickets online in advance.
- If you visit Milan in the summer, remember that you need to enter covered; otherwise, you’ll have to pay for a cover.
If you want to continue admiring the Duomo after visiting it, I recommend having an Aperitivo at a terrace near the Duomo, such as the Terrazza Aperol (on the second floor of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele) and Duomo 21.
2. Gallería Vittorio Emanuele II
Next to the Duomo di Milano is this iconic gallery: one of the oldest and most original shopping centers in the world.
Inside, there are several luxury shops and restaurants where you can enjoy a stroll. We had lunch at Biffi, a restaurant at the entrance of the gallery, and the food was delicious.
3. Teatro Alla Scalla and Piazza della Scala
On the other side of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the Teatro Alla Scala, one of the most important theaters in Europe, where you can enjoy opera performances.
4. Starbucks Reserve Roastery
If you’re a Starbucks fan like me, you probably know that there are few Reserve Roasteries in the world. Currently, they are in Seattle, Shanghai, New York, Chicago, Tokyo, and Milan. If you like Starbucks, you can’t miss the chance to visit it!
Unlike a regular store, Starbucks Reserve Roasteries are located in spectacular spaces, offering a huge variety of coffee and food, as well as showing the coffee-making process and offering merchandise from the place.
The store is a few blocks from Piazza del Duomo, on Plaza Cordusio. However, since it’s one of the few Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in the world, I recommend going early and preparing for lines. It’s worth it!
5. Navigli
A delightful stroll through an artistic neighborhood of Milan. It has a canal and venues on both sides where you can walk, have a coffee, or an aperitivo.
6. Porta Nuova District
One of the most modern areas of Milan where you can find the tallest skyscrapers, including the Bosco Verticale building, the Unicredit Tower, and the Palazzo Regione Lombardia, which stand out in Milan’s landscape.
The Porta Nuova District is a good area to visit after seeing the more classic and important areas of Milan.
7. City Life District
Another modern district of Milan where Zaha Hadid built a series of luxury residential complexes. Among them is the apartment where Chiara Ferragni and Fedez live.
8. Castello Sforzesco
The castle located in the old town of Milan now consists of museums but is a nice place to go and enjoy the greenery. Among the museums in the castle are the Museum of Ancient Art, the Pinacoteca, the Egyptian Museum, among others.
9. Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper
This famous work is located in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and to visit it, you need to get tickets in advance.
10. Excursion to Lake Como and Bellagio from Milan
Finally, if you’re thinking of visiting Milan and staying for several days, I recommend taking a trip to Lake Como and Bellagio, beautiful places to connect with nature and get away from the city. You can get there from Milan by train, which takes 1 hour.
I hope you enjoyed the 10 must-see points of Milan, and that you can visit this divine city soon! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write to me!
Good luck and hop on!
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