30 Hours in Milan

Getting to Milan from Rome is now a breeze with the fast-speed train. In just under 3 hours, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the city, making Milan an easy weekend getaway. As we can only get away at the weekends, our trips to Milan have always been short and sweet.

After each visit, I love Milan even more. The energy, the modern buildings, and the diversity of the city make for a refreshing change. I’ve been raving about the city to family and friends, and they are now convinced that their next visit to Italy would include a short stay in Milan. The following is an itinerary that I would recommend for first-timers to the city.

Tip: If you book your train tickets in advance, you are likely to find better deals.

30 Hours in Milan

DAY 1
You don’t even have to leave crazy early from Rome. A 9.00am train will get you in Milan by noon.

Both the train stations, Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi are situated in the city and by taking the metro, you can get about anywhere in Milan no time. If you are traveling light, it’s also an easy walk to the Duomo and to many of the main attractions in the city.

Tip: Purchase a day ticket for €4,50 that gives you unrestricted travel on public transport for all the Milan Municipality area.

Before taking in the sights of the city, treat yourself to a typical lunch of risotto alla Milanese and cotoletta alla Milanese. Here are some restaurants to savour these local dishes: Ratana’, Antica Trattoria della Pesa, and Trattoria Milanese. (And here are more recommendations for places to eat in Milan).

Since no visit to Milan, no matter how many times you have been to the city, would be complete without a glimpse of the Duomo, this is your first stop after lunch.

You don’t have to book in advance for tickets to visit the Duomo but keep in mind that in peak months, lines can be long at the ticket office. I would recommend getting one of the Duomo passes (Pass A €15 and Pass B €11).

The passes give you entry to the Cathedral, the terraces, the archaeological area, the Duomo museum, and the Church of San Gottardo. The only difference between the two passes is one gets you to the terraces of the Duomo by elevator (Pass A) and the other on foot (Pass B).

To get in-depth details and the most out of your visit, you can download the free official app of Duomo Milano with in-app purchase that costs $4.99.

Tip: Get to the terraces at the sunset and the light at that time adds to the surreal experience.

After the visit to the Duomo, don’t forget to visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele for some shopping. It’s just a short walk away and after all you are in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy.

With all the sightseeing and shopping, ease into the evening by dropping into Dry for drinks and the city’s best pizza (dinner reservations necessary). Or for more action, head to Navigli neighborhood where you will find fabulous bars and restaurant as well as the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese canals.

DAY 2

The next morning set out early for a visit to The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci at Santa Maria delle Grazie. To avoid disappointment, you need to purchase tickets way in advance. (link to a post that will be published tomorrow)

It was only on our third visit to Milan that we finally managed to get tickets to see The Last Supper. Although you only get 15-minutes to take in all the details of this masterpiece, it’s certainly worthy of all the hype.

Another church in the vicinity that deserves a visit is Basilica Sant’Ambrogio, with its exceptionally large and impressive atrium. Work to build the Basilica was started by Sant’Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan, in the 4th century who is today buried in the crypt. Rebuilt in the 11th century, the present building is in Lombard Romanesque style.

Need a break from taking in the sights? You might be pleasantly surprised to know that there is a park right in the center of the city. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Parco Sempione, and at the edge of the park is Castello Sforzesco, built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, the Duke of Milan. The castle today is home of a collection of museums all accessible with one ticket.

Ready for lunch?

Make your way to the chic and fashionable Brera neighborhood where you will be spoilt with a plethora of places to eat. Enjoy a relaxing, drawn out lunch but if you want to make the most of your stay in Milan, here are two options.

For those who love shopping this neighborhood has some of the best boutiques. Alternatively, if you prefer art then head to Pinacoteca Brera (closed Mondays), an art museum housed in the beautiful Palazzo Brera. It has over 400 pieces of artwork from the 14th to 20th centuries by artists such as Caravaggio, Raphael and Tintoretto.

You could easily lose track of time but this fun-filled 30 hours in Milan is just a taste of what the city has to offer. We’re certain you’ll be planning a trip back soon to discover more of Milan.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by GoEuro.com for which we have received compensation. We were in no way influenced by the company and the idea of this post was from our recent trip to Milan.