All the glitz and glamor of the fashion world can be found in Milan, along with some beautiful structures and agriculture. And don’t forget about the amazing food, tasty gelato, and hot espressos at every corner. Need I say more? Come along with me to our next adventure as we rover around the northern part of Italy, where you’re sure to fall in love with the culture, country, and probably everything in sight. Cue the “Sara Perche Ti Amo” song.

I spent a total of 3 days in northern Italy during the first week of September in 2023. The weather was perfect for a southern girl like me, staying around mid 70s ^oF during my time there. In the next few blogs, I’ll be taking you through Milan, Lake Como, and Venice. On this trip, we’ll be venturing through Milan. So, you know the drill, lace up your walking shoes cause we’re off to another adventure.

How to Get to Milan

I booked a 5 hour train from Interlaken Ost., Switzerland to Milan. TIP: Be sure to purchase a ticket before hand and keep your passport available if you are asked by a train conductor for any proof of ticket and, well, because you’re crossing the border to another country. If you’re not coming from a nearby country, you can also fly into their international airport, MXP, just keep in mind that it is a 50 min train ride into the actual city from there.

Transportation

Like most of Europe, Italy has an efficient metro system. That’s how my friends, husband, and I got around the city. The metro system was always timely, with short delays, if there were any, and clean. Overall, I was very impressed with their stations during my visit. My group and I purchased a 2 days Milano Card, which allowed us unlimited rides around the city for 48 hours and discounts to some of Milan’s top attractions. The Milano Cards are also offered as 1, 3, and 4 days passes, so you can select the option that best suits your itinerary. TIP: I recommend purchasing the tickets ahead of time through their website and selecting a nearby authorized seller/station to pick up your card. Your time for the pass starts with the first swipe at any public transit.

Other ways to get around Milan is through taxi or renting an electrical scooter/bike. Taxis are obviously more expensive but will get you to your destination quicker than the metro and the electrical scooters and bikes would be better for shorter distances. However, I found Milan to be mostly walkable, that is, after getting off at the nearest station.

Where to Stay

My group and I booked an Airbnb near the Turro Metro, which was honestly too far from the city for our liking. It was a 25 min metro ride from our stay to the main city, that included a 10 min walk from the nearest station to our Airbnb, so it wasn’t totally convenient for us.

We would have liked to booked a place closer to the center but we ended up visiting when the Formula 1 race was taking place in Italy. So, there weren’t many options left for us to choose from, but if I were to go back to Milan, I would definitely stay closer to the city center.

Things to Do

Fresh off the train with just a day and a half in Milan, my first stop was to Navigli. The Navigli area were once intertwined canals used for transporting goods and is now filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. Walk through the area to immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere, pop into a bookshop, grab a bite to eat, or just people watch. I was so impressed by the energy oozing out of this area that walking around it made me feel like I was wondering around in a festival.

The next morning, I headed towards the Duomo. This is basically the center point of Milan, and definitely a must see, even if you don’t go inside. But, if you have the time I highly recommend purchasing a ticket to visit the terrance. The architecture you will discover on the terrance is immaculate and the details of it will really take your breath away. The views from the terrance are just okay in my opinion but the structure of the building will leave you in awe. You could even sneak a peak into the church if there is a service going on from above. The Duomo is definitely worth a visit and their website offers different combos to choose from. I selected the “Combo Lift” option, which includes a lift to the terrance. And trust me, you’ll want to purchase that ticket for the lift instead of going up all those stairs. This combo also includes tickets to the museum that’s located on the side of the Duomo. The Duomo Museum is interesting to view but I wouldn’t say it’s a must visit. If you are in a time crunch, I would skip the museum and just visit the Duomo and the terrance. Let’s face it, not visiting the Duomo on your first visit to Milan is like not going to see the Statue of Liberty in New York, like what’s the point?

Literally a 1 minute walk from the Duomo, you can shop until you drop at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Here, you’ll find all the luxury shopping you can think of with restaurants and cafes to fill your shopping needs. Once inside the domed shopping center, be sure to find the mosaic bull. It shouldn’t be hard to find, if you can spot a crowd with a person spinning in the center. Legends has it that if you spin three times on your heel on the bull, it will bring you good luck.

To all my science and technology lovers, a visit to Museo nazionale scienza e tecnologia Leonardo Di Vinci is a must. Reserve your time slots online but allow yourself at least 2.5 hours here. I went with my husband and friend and felt that we could have easily spent the whole day exploring. During your visit, you can learn about how technology has evolved throughout the years, different sources of energy, and get hands-on in their “play labs.” There’s even a submarine and a space craft for you to visit. This museum really exceeded my expectation and is a great stop for people of all ages.

Other places to visit in Milan are Castello Sforzesco, which is free to visit, Chinatown, and San Bernardino alle Ossa. The later is a church known for its ossuary, a room filled with human bones. TIP: To enter the church, you will have to provide some kind of offering; my friend who went gave a few euros to enter. If you’re looking for something more relaxing, book a spot at the viral Tiktok spa, QC Termemilano. Treat yourself to a massage, time in the sauna, or immerse yourself in their infamous rain room. But if you’re looking for the exact opposite, you can surround yourself with local sport fans and cheer on the AC Milan soccer team at the San Siro Stadium. And most importantly, don’t forget to wonder around the city. You’ll never know what you’ll stumble upon.

Food to Try

Italy itself is known to have some of the best food in the world, which can make it overwhelming to find a place to eat. Trust me, I know. So when we found Pasta d’Autore it was like hitting the jackpot. This restaurant offers handmade pasta and pizza that is to die for. It was so good, my group and I went there twice; big hitters for my group were the pesto and Bologna sauce. We were really impressed by the different types of pastas to choose from and with the option to add fresh burrata on top of your dish. Pasta d’Autore is a great place to try authentic pasta dishes and I highly recommend it. TIP: Try to get there early because there is usually a line outside of the restaurant but it moves fairly quickly considering how cozy the place is.

A place that I am still day dreaming about to this day is Pizza AM. Oh my, I think that is hands down one of the best pizza I have ever had. When I visited, there was a long wait to get a table, so I ended up ordering a margarita pizza to-go and eating it outside the restaurant. And my gosh, it was delicious. The crust was thin and made to perfection, the sauce was the perfect amount of sweetness, and the cheese and basil were extremely fresh. It was a party in my mouth. My biggest regret on this trip was not going back for more. Truly, if you had time for only one place to try, it should be Pizza AM.

If you’re around the Duomo and looking for a quick bite to eat, Panzerotti Luini is the perfect spot. Grab a sweet or savory panzerotti turnover and sit on the curb with all the other customers enjoying their pastry. I had their spinach and ricotta panzerotti and I could have easily scarfed down 2 more of it, it was so good. Don’t be intimidated by the long lines, there are several of them and the lines goes by very quickly. I think I was able to order 3 panzerotti in less than 10 mins.

Since my trip was very much “on the go,” I didn’t have much time to sit in a cafe to enjoy a cup of coffee, unfortunately. However, the one morning that I did, I was so glad it was at Orsonero Coffee. I arrived there about 10 mins before it opened, and there was already a line. I guess that’s when you know it’s good, right? And boy, was it good. (Cue the drooling.) I ordered a cappuccino with a chocolate croissant and it was easily one of the best cups I have ever had. The cappuccino was superb and the croissant was buttery and flaky. I tried my very best to go back for another cup, but I just didn’t have the time from catching the early trains out to another city. Lots of food regrets going on here.

Last and certainly not least, a must try in Italy is the gelato. I mean, it’s the birthplace of the best frozen dessert in the world, so why wouldn’t you have 1 or 2, sometimes 3 cones in a day? I wouldn’t bore you with all the gelato places I tried during my time in Milan, because it could be a whole blog on its own, so I’ll just tell you my top 2 spots that left the best impressions on me. First, and to no one’s surprise is Oggi. It is my FAVORITE gelato shop ever, and I can only seem to find them in Europe. Oggi was 30 mins from my Airbnb, but that did not stop me from visiting them twice. Seriously, you gotta try the hazelnut and pistachio. The second gelato place that really impressed me was Ciacco. It’s located within walking distance from the Galleria shopping center and the line outside the shop is definitely worth the wait. They offered unique flavors, while capturing the freshness and intensity of their ingredients. The gelato was smooth, as it should be, and delicious. A must try if you are in the area.

Overall

Milan is a beautiful city and definitely one that you can explore in 2 days. I wouldn’t recommend more than 2, maybe 3 days in Milan if you’re doing a more relaxed trip. Personally, I would book a train to another nearby city, which I did in my upcoming blogs. Nonetheless, Milan is a great place to visit. I loved the architecture and the food that’s offered here. It was all so charming and had a more city-like vibe to it than I expected. So, until next time, Milan. Cue the “Bella Caio” song.

I hope that you had a great time with me on this adventure and wish you the best for your upcoming trip! If you’ve been to Milan or have any questions, don’t forget to leave a comment below.

As always, thank for being here!

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