Milan is the largest city of northern Italy, the capital of the beautiful Lombardy region, a city full of impressive architecture, high-quality cuisine, the capital of fashion, an unforgettable atmosphere, nice places and a great starting point before starting to explore the region. A vacation in Milan is suitable for a long weekend. We have collected for you all the most worthwhile recommendations for a successful visit in the stunning fashion capital of Italy.
Milan - a guide to the beautiful Italian city
Let’s start from the top! Literally! On top of the famous Duomo church, there is the beautiful roof that is open to visitors and you simply cannot miss this experience. The cathedral itself is also beautiful from the outside. As you go up and along the roof, you see the decorations and sculptures that were built and carved up close. A work of a hundred years between the 14th and 15th centuries.
The church is also very impressive from the inside. It can be said that her inner beauty competes with her outer beauty. Even though the colors and the slightly dark atmosphere are completely opposite from the exterior design, white, which may be marble. The 135 minarets are also made of them. As you walk inside between the stained glass windows and the huge arches, try to find the glowing red dot – that’s the point where a nail is stuck. That nail was part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Next to the church you will find a huge and wonderful square. On Christmas days there is a Christmas market there, on carnival days there are celebrations and on weekdays there is a space to walk around, to admire the beauty of the church, From the horse statue surrounded by the pigeons that come and go and also from the amazing gallery – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This is actually the oldest shopping center in the world, it is very impressive in its beauty, Combines ancient architecture with modern luxury brands. When you come out the other side you will find the statue of Leonardo da Vinci and around it people are sitting to rest and chat.
Recommended hotels in Milan
Bulgari Hotel Milano – a luxurious 5-star hotel in the heart of the city
Four Seasons Hotel Milano – a luxury hotel of the 4 Seasons brand
Excelsior Hotel Gallia – מלון 5 כוכבים יוקרתי עם ספא מפואר
Château Monfort – Relais & Châteaux – a luxurious 5-star hotel with a luxurious spa
Milan Suite Hotel – a charming boutique hotel in the historic center of the city
iQ Hotel Milano – a great hotel near the metro station. reasonable prices compared to Milan prices
Hotel Spadari Al Duomo – a 4-star hotel in a wonderful location. affordable prices
Urban Hive Milano – a wonderful 4-star hotel in an excellent location in Milan
Milano Verticale – a hotel with stunning style located in a pleasant and bustling neighborhood
Leonardo da Vinci statue
In the small square of the Leonardo statue, you will also see the Teatro alla Scala. Although it looks quite simple from the outside, we were surprised to discover the most famous opera house in the world. Those who are interested can take a tour inside the building and be impressed by the splendor and the atmosphere of going back in time to the days when the aristocracy came here to watch shows.
Shopping in Milan - shopping centers in the city
Since we are in the city of international fashion and since the shops in the Emanuele Gallery and the popular Via Montenapoleone are not necessarily comfortable for every pocket, here are more shopping recommendations. Most of the shopping in Milan is concentrated in the “Golden Square” (Quadrilatero D’oro) which is an area of several streets full of popular shops alongside charming boutique shops and even those who don’t like shopping can enjoy the beautiful buildings and the great Italian atmosphere. If you ask us, you don’t need to set aside special time for shopping, in Milan wherever you go the shops will accompany you left and right and will appear at any moment as part of your trip.
Starbucks Milan - a surprising attraction that you must visit
Another “attraction” in the central area of Milan is Starbucks. Yes, you heard that right – Starbucks! Apart from its impressive exterior, this is not an ordinary branch 😊 Around the world you can find several large flagship branches called Starbucks Roastery. This is not just any Starbucks! These are actually “roasteries” that present the company’s heritage and where you can see, hear and learn about the journey of coffee from the tree to the cup.
The place itself has a strong smell of coffee, the company’s products, One counter that focuses more on salty Italian snacks and the second counter (a bit long line) the coffee and a variety of delicious sweets, which are of course related to Italian cuisine.
Castello Sforzesco fortress
The Castello Sforzesco fortress is connected to the Duomo church by a nice pedestrian walkway. The street is a connection between two streets – via orefici which becomes via dante street. As you walk you can see the fortress visible in the background. When you arrive you will first see the impressive walls and the gate. When you enter the gates of the fortress (designed by Leonardo da Vinci), you will discover that there are some of the most important museums in Italy: The Museum of Ancient and Medieval Art, a collection of Renaissance paintings, an impressive collection of musical instruments and more.
Parco Sempione - a beautiful and green park in Milan
When you enter the gate you will discover an area rich in green vegetation – this is Parco Sempione, the largest park in the city with lakes, grass and street musicians. We happened to come across both a dance class held on the park stage and a really nice fair, full of facilities for children and food stalls and games for adults as well. Was really fun!
When we left the other side of the park, we reached another beautiful square – arco della pace, where many people were sitting, we looked with them at the impressive monument – the triumphal arch (which was built at the request of Napoleon), and we listened to the street performances. If you’re looking for more green lungs, check out the Giardini Pubblici Park or the Idroscalo Park with an artificial lake called the “Sea of Milan”.
The Last Supper - Cenacolo Vinciano
It is impossible to visit Milan without seeing one of the most famous works in the world, and this is of course Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” (Cenacolo Vinciano), which you can see inside the church of Santa Maria della Grazia. The impressive painting can be seen by reservation in advance and for fifteen minutes only, so that the place can handle the load of visitors. But the time limit is definitely enough. Don’t wait until the last minute to order because otherwise you might be stuck outside and the audience will only have a picture of the backyard of the building, which is a shame 🙂
Navigli - Milan's canal district
Although it is impossible to compare Milan’s canals with the famous canals of Venice, nevertheless it is a great experience to walk by the water, sit in one of the places along the canals and even find a gondola! Start with a pleasant stroll along the main canal, sit on a bench in the caressing sun and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the weekend. From there continue to the small streets which are simply charming, you will see all the tourists sitting all along the canals in the cafes and restaurants drinking an Aperol spritz of lunch.
Besides that, the whole district is full of galleries, graffiti, two famous churches – Chiesa di San Lorenzo Maggiore, and the amazing Chiesa di Sant’Eustorgio, And to end the day, just choose from one of the many lively bars. It is also a cheaper area to hang out than in the city center!
Museums in Milan - the important ones you should know
it is impossible to cover all the museums of Milan, but if you want to touch mainly on each subject, you will probably choose one of the following:
Pinacoteca di Brera is located in the heart of the wonderful Brera district, which in any case is recommended to walk around. The selection of art displays is large and the building is beautiful and impressive.
In the Science and Technology Museum, Museo Nazionale Scienza E Tecnologia, In memory of Leonardo da Vinci You will learn about the development of science and enjoy models based on Leonardo’s drawings.
If you are a nature lover, Milan Natural History Museum, fascinatingly presents the process of evolution and a huge display of animals, including dinosaurs.
If you are a fan of sports, you will probably choose the San Siro Stadium tour, which is the largest in Italy and also has the soccer museum.
Fans of modern design will love the Triennale Milano design museum, where the exhibitions change, so it’s worth checking the website if you’re considering a visit.
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is the oldest gallery in Milan, where you will find works by famous artists.
The Royal Palace – Palazzo Reale, will provide you with a glimpse of changing and prestigious exhibitions,
And if you haven’t exhausted it yet, then take a look at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Teatro alla Scala Museum and much more.
Markets in Milan - THE BEST Flea & Street Markets
Milan is full of diverse markets, some permanent, some seasonal, some according to certain days and hours, and of course there are sometimes changes due to holidays and special dates, so we always recommend visiting the market’s website to check the hours of operation. It’s not so nice to see a closed market 🙂
Via San Marco Market is small and ideal for fashion lovers who like to rummage and find bargains on luxury clothes at affordable prices.
EATALY Milano offers a wide selection of Italian culinary products that you can fill your suitcase with, all from high-quality raw materials, and of course it is recommended to walk around and taste the various delicacies in the market.
Fauche market is full of locals who like to buy fresh and traditional food, fruits and vegetables, as well as beautiful flowers and even fashion stores for shopping enthusiasts.
In the East Market you will find clothing and home items in vintage style, and it also has a large food court with various carts. If you want to visit the flea market, the place for you is – Fiera di Sinigaglia, which takes place on Saturdays and is a real institution in the city. Dozens of stalls are spread along the river between Via Paoli and Via Barsanti, and the products are very diverse.
The antiques market – Mercato dell’Antiquariato is only held once a month, but it is very interesting for lovers of nostalgia, history and even collectibles that are scattered around four hundred stalls
The Viale Papiniano market is very popular and has a large variety of food as well as art and clothing.
Christmas market in Milan – if you are lucky and you are in the city during Christmas time, then the largest and most famous Christmas market is – Fiera degli Oh bej or by its other name Fiera di Sant’Ambrogio. It is characterized by an amazing holiday atmosphere, during the day and during the night when the Christmas lights are turned on. Buy yourself a glass of mulled wine and get into the atmosphere, snack on roasted chestnuts and enjoy the special holiday vibes.
The ancient cemetery in Milan
This may not be a conventional tourist attraction, but a very special one. The cemetery in Milan is one of the oldest in the world,
Full of very impressive buildings of many kinds, beautiful and sad statues, a huge statue of the “Last Supper”, Trees and neat paths that are pleasant to walk around and admire the works of art.
Already at the entrance, you can walk through the corridors with a special atmosphere, see how the graves are arranged vertically and sometimes decorated with flowers on the wall itself.
The cemetery is indeed Catholic Christian, but there is a special section for other religions and also a separate section for Jews according to Jewish burial laws. The Jewish plot has a separate entrance and is surrounded by a wall. In the central building you will find a wall dedicated to the 800 citizens of Milan (mostly Jews) who resisted the Nazis and were murdered.
The article by Noam Gutkin – a travel addict, the tourism reporter for Romitravel magazine.
