Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Not only that, they have great coffee (though I might argue that Sicily’s is better), and the architecture is amazing. Disclaimer: you could spend a week in Milan and not run out of things to see, eat and do. That being said, if you have a long layover, or can day trip to Milan, there’s still a lot to see!
Getting downtown Milan
- From the Malpensa Airport: ~ 1 hr both by metro and by car.
- From the Milan Central Stations: ~ 10 min by metro and by car.
Recommendation: I took the metro, and not only was it 1/4 the price, but it was very easy to navigate. I also think you end up avoiding the whole “is this taxi ripping me off?” problem. Don’t bother getting your ticket at the machines, when we went there we HUGE lines. We zipped over to the “tabacchino” and bought our tickets in minutes.
Attractions
Luckily, all of Milan’s main attractions are within a mile radius, which makes a sightseeing trip pretty easy.
1 . Start at the Duomo
The Duomo is the city’s number 1 attraction. We got there at 9 AM and it was a complete chaotic ZOO. If possible, arrive around 7:30/ 8 AM to beat the crowds and get some good photos! If you’re on a time crunch, going inside isn’t really an option. You’ll need at least 45 minutes- 1 hr to properly visit. But if you do have time: the rooftop is amazing and the interiors are breathtaking!
Hours:
- Cathedral: Daily from 8 am – 7 pm
- Rooftop terrace: Daily from 9 am – 7 pm
- Museum: Thursday to Tuesday from 10 am – 6 pm
Entrance: There are quite a few different ticket types, so be sure to visit the Duomo site for details. If you do plan to go inside, buy your tickets in advance! When we arrived, the line (without tickets) was over an hour long.
Photography:
If you get there a little later, hoping for that million dollar Instagram photo, you’ll have tons of people in the background (see above). However, don’t get discouraged! While walking around, we saw the Duomo from different vantage points, and found a cute spot that didn’t betray the fact that there were tons of people everywhere!
2 . Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The famous Galleria is directly on the left when facing the Duomo. You may have scrolled past it on Instagram. Even if you’re not going to do some shopping (Louis Vuitton or Prada, anyone?), it is still worth walking through to enjoy the beauty. You can also grab a coffee, breakfast, or lunch – but locals don’t recommend it. You’re going to get those sky high prices. BUT if you’re on a time crunch and looking for ambiance, it fits the bill.
4. Teatro La Scala
Walk through the Galleria, and eventually you’ll pop out at La Scala. There are a couple of different exits however, so you’ll want to ask someone or use the maps app. La Scala is Milan’s opera house, opened in the 1770s. Inside there is the museum, and you can also take a guided tour. We opted to just check it out from the outside. Get more information on visiting hours and ticket sales here.
4. Starbucks Reserve
The Starbuck’s Reserve, located inside the old Post Office, as a major topic of controversy. A lot of Italians are afraid that the arrival of Starbucks means the death of all the little family-run shops. While I didn’t get a coffee (let’s be real, you can get a fabulous cappuccino for 2 euros everywhere else), it is worth taking a walk on the inside and checking out the facade of the building.
You’ll have to take a little walk (about 10 minutes) to get to the Reserve. And if you keep walking past the reserve, you’ll hit the Castello Sforzesco, which is recommended, but would only be do-able during a longer trip.
Bonus:
To eat & drink
At some point you’ll at the very least need a snack! To be completely honest, it’ll be hard not to find a cute spot, with good coffee and a cornetto (an Italian croissant). I came across Ecocooking which had an nice heated outdoor seating area. This article has some good suggestions near the Duomo.
Shopping
If you have time, stop by the flagship La Rinascente store near the Duomo. Think of it as Italy’s version of Nordstrom or Bloomgindales. There are also some other shops along that same street in between the Galleria and the Duomo for the fashionistas out there. But let’s be real, shopping in Milan takes at least a day by itself!
This was a quick little guide to the city. I of course feel the need to go back and do a more extensive tour – a lot of museums, restaurants, and things are missing!
Beautiful! You can do so much in a few hours based on your tips.