City trip Milan

Europe

We would love to see all the sights of a city from top to bottom, but when you are short on time, what choices do you make to still get the most out of your visit? Do you climb Milan's Duomo, stroll through the hippest artists' quarters, taste delicacies non-stop or go to a football match at the famous San Siro stadium? Luckily, you can see all these highlights of Milan within a day and a half! How? Read it in this blog.

To be honest, our expectations of Milan were not very high, but it was perfectly on our route, so we paid the city a visit. Because we had driven to Italy by car, we chose to stay at a campsite just outside the city. The location was great, the campsite itself a flop… But for 2 nights we are not too fussy. We set aside one evening and one full day to discover Milan, and that is very doable.

Duomo di Milano

From our campsite we took the metro to the centre of Milan. The moment we stepped out of the metro at the cathedral square in front of the Duomo, our jaws dropped at its beauty. What a sight. The Duomo is the largest cathedral in Italy and one of the largest in the world. We wanted to climb it, so no sooner said than done. You can buy tickets at the side of the cathedral, but the easiest way is to buy your tickets online in advance. We chose a ticket that gave us access inside the cathedral and onto the roof. Both spectacular and impressive. The way up to the roof is a tough and narrow climb, but the view is beautiful. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered to enter the cathedral.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Bordering the cathedral square you will find a spectacular gallery: a luxurious shopping street completely covered by glass. This is where you will find the most expensive shops. You get a fun contrast here between tourists in hiking boots and Milanese in tailored suits. The Milanese look absolutely immaculate (even the older generation), enough to make you jealous. The Milanese come here to see and be seen. So it is definitely fun to take a walk through the gallery.

Brera

The nice thing about the centre of Milan is that you can easily get everywhere on foot. From the gallery we walked on to one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Milan, the artists' quarter of Brera. Everywhere you come across colourful houses with shutters, and on every street corner you can flop down on a pleasant terrace for an aperitivo. You will also find many galleries, sculpture gardens, art museums and libraries here. You can easily spend the whole day here. In the evening, this neighbourhood is the buzzing heart of the nightlife.

Castello Sforzesco

End your walk through the centre at Castello Sforzesco, which you will find next to the Brera district. The castle is free to visit, but if you want to see the museum inside the castle you pay €5.00. The castle was originally built for the Visconti family. In the 15^th century, Leonardo da Vinci was asked to unleash his artistic talents on the castle. You will also find work by Michelangelo here. Unfortunately not all the paintings have survived the decay, but the castle is still worth a visit. Bordering the castle is Sempione Park, a pleasant park with ponds and fountains. Lovely for a walk or a picnic. At the end of the park you have a view of the Arco della Pace, a triumphal arch built at Napoleon's request.

Food paradise

On a city trip, visits to places to eat cannot be missing, and certainly not in Italy.

One street behind the gallery we got a delicious ice cream at Venchi Cioccolato e Gelato.
At Panzerotti Luini, a centuries-old bakery, you can get a kind of fried stuffed pastry filled with ham and cheese, or mozzarella and tomato. Incredibly tasty and incredibly popular. You will find it behind the Duomo.
For an aperitivo (a snack and a drink), Il Crestino in the Brera district is a good choice.
Would you rather have something healthy? Then go to L'Orto di Brera for your daily vitamin boost.

San Siro Stadium

While you are in Milan, you might as well see whether you can catch a football match.
The San Siro Stadium is home to the football clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan. Getting tickets was fairly easy and not expensive. The public transport connection to the stadium is fine, and from the campsite where we stayed it was even walkable. During our visit to Milan, AC Milan played Lazio Roma. We paid €20 per ticket, which gets you a seat somewhere near the top. If you choose the upper ring, do not choose the first rows of the upper ring, because you will be looking at a glass wall. So choose seats as high up as possible: you will get the best atmosphere, see the match well and have a great view over Milan. Before the match starts there are all kinds of stalls and food trucks around the stadium, and the atmosphere is often already great. At one of the stalls we picked up an AC Milan sweater and T-shirt. Then you can enter the stadium. When we went there was a long queue outside and it took a while before we were in. Once inside the stadium, the atmosphere is fantastic and goosebump-worthy. It became an unforgettable evening, because AC Milan brought on Ibrahimović and won 2-0.

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Practical tips for Milan

Preparation

How much time do you need?With one evening and one full day you will see the main highlights

Buy Duomo tickets in advanceOnline is easiest; we chose access to the cathedral and the roof

Clothing for the DuomoCover your shoulders and knees to be allowed into the cathedral

Football at San SiroGetting tickets was easy and not expensive; we paid €20 per ticket

On the spot

On foot through the centreThe Duomo, Galleria, Brera and Castello Sforzesco are within walking distance of each other

MetroIf you sleep outside the city, take the metro to the cathedral square

Castello SforzescoThe castle is free; the museum inside the castle costs €5

Food and drinkIce cream at Venchi, panzerotti at Luini and an aperitivo at Il Crestino in Brera

Frequently asked questions about a city trip to Milan

How many days do you need for Milan? +

With a day and a half, for example one evening and one full day, you will see the main highlights of Milan.

What should you see in Milan? +

Climb the Duomo, walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, discover the artists' quarter of Brera and visit Castello Sforzesco with Sempione Park and the Arco della Pace. If you love football, catch a match at the San Siro Stadium.

Can you climb Milan's Duomo? +

Yes. You can buy a ticket for the cathedral and the roof. The climb to the roof is tough and narrow, but the view is beautiful. The easiest way is to buy tickets online in advance, and make sure your shoulders and knees are covered.

Can you explore Milan on foot? +

Yes, in the centre you can easily get everywhere on foot. From the Duomo you walk via the Galleria to Brera and Castello Sforzesco.

Is Castello Sforzesco free? +

The castle itself is free to visit. If you want to see the museum inside the castle, you pay €5.

Where to eat well in Milan? +

Get an ice cream at Venchi Cioccolato e Gelato behind the gallery, try a panzerotto at the centuries-old Luini bakery behind the Duomo, have an aperitivo at Il Crestino in Brera or go for something healthy at L'Orto di Brera.

How do you get tickets for a match at San Siro? +

Getting tickets was fairly easy and not expensive for us: we paid €20 per ticket. The stadium is easy to reach by public transport.

Where are the best seats in the San Siro Stadium? +

If you choose the upper ring, do not sit in the first rows, because you will be looking at a glass wall. Sitting as high as possible gives the best atmosphere, a good view of the match and a view over Milan.