1. Checking out the high fashion on the Quad d’Oro
2. Learning not to sit down when ordering an espresso
3. Getting lost in the labyrinthine side streets
4. Tasting the local dishes, including my favorite veal milanese
5. Pizza!
6. Quiet time at Basilica Sant’Ambrogio, one of the Milan’s oldest churches
7. The addictive coffee culture
8. Picnic lunch in the Parco Sempione
9. Seeing the Duomo for the first time
10. Catching a soccer (football) game
11. Taking the one hour train ride to Bologna for some amazing food
12. Catching a show at La Scala
13. Gelato!
14. Shopping in the posh Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
15. Strolling through the artsy Brera neighborhood
16. The gorgeous and enormous central train station
17. Pasta!
18. Traipsing through one of the many museums in town
19. Climbing to the top of the Duomo
20. Pizza!
21. Exploring the often overlooked Palazzo della Ragione near the Duomo
22. If you’re there during Christmas, shopping at the Duomo Christmas market
23. Learning about regional desserts and pastries that are simply amazing
24. Nightcap along the canals of Navigli
25. Deciding it’s cute that restaurants aren’t open past 8 or 9 pm
26. Getting expert insights on a private walking tour with Walks of Italy
27. Reliving the history of the knights in the Castello Sforzesco
28. Admiring the works at the Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, the “Sistine Chapel of Milan”
29. Discovering little known churches each with hidden treasures just waiting to be found
30. Heading out to the lakes for some R&R
31. More espresso please
32. Exploring the inside of the Duomo
33. Wine!
34. Trying pantone where it was first created, even if I still don’t like it
35. Discovering the boozy aperitivo culture
36. Da Vinci’s Last Supper
37. Learning that the city used to be made up of canals not unlike Venice
38. Appreciating that ‘early’ in Milan means 10am
39. Pizza!
40. Great day trips just an hour or two away
41. Finding forgotten bits of history in the most unlikely of places
42. Standing in the Duomo Piazza at night, everything flooded with light and energy
I went to Milan for the first time a couple months ago and was really surprised how much I loved the city. I expected something industrial and run-down but instead found a city full of culture, life and energy. Couldn’t agree more with you.
It takes a couple of days to get to know, but once you did it’s hard not to love Milan.
I’ve been few times to Milano but never really liked it. After your list I think I should give it another chance and re-discover it!
I’ve been to Milan about two years ago and I actually really didn’t like it. People seemed grumpy all the time, everything was really expensive and I didn’t find a lot of beauty in this city.
I did have really bad luck: it had been amazing weather for two months, but started raining when I got there and didn’t stop until I left again. When I was back home, the amazing weather there was back…
It’s amazing the external influences that can affect whether or not we like a city. I’ve been a victim of that many times.
Hello!
I enjoyed reading your posts about Milan. Now here is the thing, I lived in Milan for a year, and honestly, have usually had a 4am morning on most nights! We worked in college till about 8, went for long elaborate dinners to the local trattoria or restaurant after. And if it was really late, then there was always a doner kebab near by. Gelaterias were always open till midnight! I agree about the breakfast thing. I love my breakfasts and it was a bit disappointing the only breakfast I got was un cafe a une brioche!
Not sure why you experienced an “Early” Milan!
Maybe it was the part of town we were in, but I swear within a 20 minute walk everything was closed LOL I was shocked too!
Hi! I’ll live in Milan starting from September and I was afraid of moving to Milan (I’m from Turkey). Blogs were not actually helping because of talking mostly about negative stuff in Milan. Thanks for writing this post! Makes me feel happy that I’ll live in Milan.