Milan
Italy’s second largest city is located in Lombardy and is called Milan. A city trip to Milan offers a dynamic mix of culture, architecture and culinary delights.
Come on a city break to Milan, where old stones meet new trends. When it comes to architecture, the city offers a fascinating mix of old and new. The majestic Milan Cathedral, one of the largest and most important buildings of Gothic architecture, dominates the city’s skyline. Modern architectural wonders such as the skyscrapers in the Porta Nuova district and the futuristic CityLife district provide an exciting contrast to the historical sights.
The city is a vibrant center for art, fashion and music. Visit the world-famous La Scala opera house, which offers an amazing variety of operas and ballets. The Pinacoteca di Brera and Ambrosiana are home to countless masterpieces of art. And of course, no visit to Milan is complete without a look at Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Milan is not only the financial center of Italy, but also one of the capitals of fashion. And even if you are not a fashion fan, a stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a must. Under the glass dome, you can watch the hustle and bustle and imagine how time seems to have stood still here since the 19th century. On the most expensive and exclusive shopping street, Via Monte Napoleone, you will find stores of the most famous fashion brands from Gucci to Cartier.
The traditional Lombard cuisine is hearty and rich, which is reflected in the Milanese specialties. A must-try is the “Risotto alla Milanese”, a creamy risotto seasoned with saffron, which gives it a characteristic yellow color and a unique taste. Ossobuco, a braised veal shank dish, is another well-known dish from Milan that is often served alongside risotto alla Milanese. The region is also known for its confectionery. The population loves its panettone, a sweet yeast cake with candied fruit and raisins, which is traditionally enjoyed at Christmas.
City trip Milan – Excursion tips
Right next to Milan Cathedral is another tourist destination - the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Galleria is a covered shopping arcade built in the 19th century.
You see them in many cities … the big red double-decker buses that are open in summer. They drive around the most important sights of the city and offer sightseeing tours.
We have been criss-crossing Milan and have put together some Milan tips here that you don't immediately find in every report about Milan. But I think they are definitely worth a visit.
In Milan there is the Cimitero Monumentale, the central cemetery of Milan, which you should definitely visit. Here you will find artistically designed tombs and if you look closely, you might also discover a "celebrity tomb".
On the road on the streets of Milan. Which means of transport we used and why riding a tram in Milan is something special - you can read all about it here!
Sometimes you come across something by chance and are glad afterwards that you took a closer look. Like we did with Portello Park in Milan.
When you stroll through Milan, you discover many great and interesting places. I could write long texts about every church, square or monument in Milan, but no one would read them, because it's no longer fun to be bombarded with facts.
"Go eat panzerotti in Milan!" Following a tip from a Milanese woman, we went in search of Luini's panzerotti near Piazza Duomo. We had no idea what it was, only that you could eat it.
If you read up on Milan before a trip to the city, you will mainly find pictures of the Milan Cathedral. This imposing building is the landmark and the main attraction for all tourists. I think that's right - a visit to the cathedral is simply part of a visit to Milan.
Milan does not lie on any significant and large river. Nevertheless, there are canals here, Naviglio, which are fed by the rivers of the hinterland. These man-made connections give Milan access by water to the Adriatic Sea.
The Castello Sforzesco, like the Duomo, is one of the main attractions in Milan. The castle in Milan is located on the Piazza Castello northwest of the old town. Directly behind the castle is a large park where you can take a wonderful walk.
The Parco Sempione is directly adjacent to the Castello Sforzesco. The garden is a popular meeting place and offers a lot of recreation on almost 40 hectares. Ponds and water arms criss-cross the meadows. There are cafés and numerous benches. In summer, open-air events are held here.
Even if you don't travel by train, you shouldn't miss visiting Milan's main railway station, Milan Centrale. That's right, visit it not only from the outside, but also go inside and have a look.
Discover Milan
You see them in many cities … the big red double-decker buses that are open in summer. They drive around the most important sights of the city and offer sightseeing tours.
On the road on the streets of Milan. Which means of transport we used and why riding a tram in Milan is something special - you can read all about it here!
Even if you don't travel by train, you shouldn't miss visiting Milan's main railway station, Milan Centrale. That's right, visit it not only from the outside, but also go inside and have a look.
Food & Drink
"Go eat panzerotti in Milan!" Following a tip from a Milanese woman, we went in search of Luini's panzerotti near Piazza Duomo. We had no idea what it was, only that you could eat it.
Even if you don't travel by train, you shouldn't miss visiting Milan's main railway station, Milan Centrale. That's right, visit it not only from the outside, but also go inside and have a look.
Book accommodation
Milan travel information
Arrival
By plane
There are two airports in the immediate vicinity of the city, which are served by many international and national airlines.
Linate airport is slightly smaller and closer to the city centre. From there you can take bus 73 or express bus X73 into the city. There are also shuttle buses that go to the main railway station.
Malapese airport is about 50 kilometres from the city centre. Shuttle buses run between Milan Central Station and the airport for a fee. There are several providers that charge the same price. In addition, there is the Malapese Express, a train connection from the station at Terminal 1 towards Milan Central Station. The ticket prices are slightly more expensive than the bus fares.
There is also the airport in Bergamo, which is served by Ryanair. From there you can easily get to Milan by bus.
By train
There are some direct train connections to Milan from Germany and Switzerland.
The main train station is relatively central and there are some buses in the city that go to the station.
By car
A ring road system runs around the city, the North Ring A52, the East Ring A51 and the West Ring A50. There are 45 junctions into the city in each direction. Parallel to the North Ring runs the A4 towards Venice and Rome.
There are also numerous other motorways and provincial roads leading into the region around Milan.
On the way in Milan
By car
At first glance, the traffic in the city seems wild and disorderly. During rush hour, you should avoid the main roads.
The city zone, which is monitored by 187 cameras, is marked AreaB and covers over 70% of Milan’s territory. In the inner city area AreaC, an entry fee, city toll, is charged. This amounts to:
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- Cars from Euro Diesel 5 and petrol pay 5 € for the day ticket.
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- Methane and LPG vehicles pay €5 for the day ticket.
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- Electric and hybrid vehicles are exempt.
The AreaC ticket is valid from Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. On weekends and public holidays, entry is free.
Have no entry into the city centre:
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- Vehicles diesel Euro 0, 1, 2, 3 and Euro 4 without particle filter
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- Vehicles petrol Euro 0
The city toll can be purchased at various points of sale, including ATM ticket outlets, ATM points, newspaper and tobacco stores and electronic entry checkpoints. It is also possible to book the toll ticket online and activate it before entering the toll zone
By public transport
Milan has a well-developed metro network, trams and buses. Tickets are available in many bars, newsstands, tobacco shops and at all metro stations.
The fare system has been somewhat simplified. You can use all means of public transport with one ticket: Metro, train, bus and Trenord suburban trains in 21 towns around Milan (fare zones M1 to M3). It is possible to interrupt the journey and make a return trip in the 90 minutes.
Parking
There are only a few public parking spaces in Milan. Blue marked parking spaces are timed parking spaces, yellow marked spaces are for residents.
It makes sense to park the car in public garages. These are marked with a large “G” and are usually located in the middle of the blocks.
Best time to visit
Spring (March – May)
Spring is a great time to visit Milan. Temperatures are between 15°C and 25°C and there are around 8 to 10 rainy days per month.
Summer (June – August)
Summer in Milan can get very hot, with average temperatures of 27°C to 31°C. Rainy days are reduced to around 5 to 7 per month during these months. Although it can be hot, this is the busiest time for tourists and the city is full of energy and activity.
Fall (September – November)
Fall is another pleasant time to visit Milan. Average temperatures range between 15°C and 24°C, and the number of rainy days per month rises to around 7 to 9.
Winter (December – February)
In winter, average temperatures drop to between 5°C and 8°C and the number of rainy days per month is around 6 to 9.