Travel Guide: Milan
About}
Of the larger cities in Italy, Milan is my favorite for a number of reasons, but chief among them is the fact that it is so manageable. Compared to Rome and Venice which are driven by tourism, Milan is filled wth Italians who actually live in the city and work across a variety of industries, giving it a much more authentic feel. The public transit system works well, it is comparatively easy to find good deals on hotels and restaurants, and of course the fashion, art and design scene is top notch! Also, proximity wise, if you're looking to get out of the city for a bit, Milan is ideally situated to give you access to the lakes, the coast and the mountains.
{Get There}
Most International flights arrive at the larger Malpensa airport which is an easy train ride away from the city. The train station is directly attached to the airport terminal and from there you can get a train to Central station or Cardosa station depending on your destination within the city. Linate is the smaller airport and is an easy taxi ride from most destinations.
Taxis can be found at stands throughout the city and hotels can call them for you. When a hotel calls a taxi for you they give you a littler receipt that has the number of your taxi on it, that number will be on the door of the taxi. Central Milan is incredibly walkable but I would also recommend having a few metro tickets on hand, you can buy them as a 10-pack which should work nicely for a few days visit, in case you want to hop on one of Milan’s iconic trams or need to take the metro or bus to get to a location farther afield.
This trip we stayed at the delightful Senato Hotel. Located on the northern edge of the main downtown and shopping areas, the location can’t be beat and the interiors are seriously chic. We were given a nice upgrade to a junior suite, which was a lovely surprise. There are two suites on the top floor which have amazing natural light and tiny rooftop terraces. I could have seriously stayed forever! Breakfast in the back garden courtyard also isn’t to be missed.
{See & Do}
Main Highlights:
The Duomo
Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle
La Scala Opera House
Prada Foundation
Mudec Museum
Neighborhoods to Visit:
La Brera art and design district
Porta Nuova
Navigli
{Eat & Drink}
Bar Luce at the Prada Foundation
LuBar
Bar Bosco
Dry
Cocotte
Princi Bakery
Fioraio Bianchi Cafe
Pause Cafe
Pasticceria Sissi
Cafe Mag
Carlo e Camilia
Macha Cafe
Department Stores
La Rinacente is the grande dame of Milanese shopping and not to be missed!
Excelsior
Flagship Stores
In the so called 'Golden Triangle' area you will find gorgeous high-end shops for many Italian and International brands. Gucci, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce and Gabanna, Moncler, Zenga, Armani and more.
Concept shops
10 Corso Como
Wait and See Srl
{Things to Know}
Aperitivo, or the much more elegant cousin to Happy Hour, is a Milanese staple. Make your way to any cafe, bar or restaurant staring around 5 or 6 pm and when you order a drink, and you’ll be treated to a spread of snacks on the house. In the summer you can’t go wrong with a Spritz! Some locations will bring you a few plates of snacks and others have a small buffet set up near the bar and you can help yourself.
{What to Pack}
Milan is a fashion capital so don’t be afraid to pack your fashion forward looks, but be sure to leave some room for purchases!