Straight talk
Is Milan worth it?
For a day or two, yes. As the highlight of your Italy trip, no.
Milan is Italy’s business capital: fashion, design, finance and the best transport connections in the north. It has one of the most spectacular cathedrals in the world. But for us, it’s also one of the most overrated places in Italy.
If Milan is all you’ve seen, you haven’t really seen Italy yet.
Why it’s worth a stop
The Duomo. Walk the rooftop terraces among the marble spires. It’s one of the most impressive things you can do in any Italian city.
The Last Supper. Leonardo’s masterpiece is here, but tickets sell out weeks ahead. Book as soon as you know your dates.
Shopping. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II next to the Duomo is worth seeing even if you buy nothing, and the luxury streets around Via Montenapoleone are right there.
Connections. Milan is the gateway to the north. Lake Como, Bergamo, Verona, Turin and even Lugano in Switzerland are all an easy day trip by train.
The catch
It’s pricey, and it doesn’t have the old-town charm of Florence or Rome. It’s a working city first.
The coperto. We were dumb tourists for a moment. We ordered one beer inside a bar and were shown to a table on the terrace, where it was brought out. The bill had a coperto, the cover charge for sitting at a table, and it was €10. The beer itself cost less. We may have protested a little. Tip: check the coperto before you sit, and if you just want a quick drink, have it at the counter.
Avoid the big event weeks. During Fashion Week and the Salone del Mobile design fair, hotels fill up and prices jump.
How long to stay
One or two days covers the main sights. Then use Milan as a base for day trips, or move on.
Best day trips from Milan
- Lake Como: about an hour by train to Varenna, then the ferry to Bellagio
- Bergamo: a walled old upper town, reached by funicular, about 50 minutes by train
- Verona: the Arena and the old town, just over an hour by high-speed train
- Lugano, Switzerland: the easiest way to pop into Switzerland. Bring your passport
The verdict: see the Duomo, book the Last Supper, have a proper aperitivo, and then go see the lakes. For restaurants, golf and soccer, see our full Milan guide.
Not sure where to go? Our destination finder suggests the three best places for your dates, budget and interests, and tells you the catch.
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