Greetings Earthling, Happy 2/22! My name is Ritu, I'm a travel blogger and a multi-passionate creative from the Bay Area, California. You can read more about me and the story behind why I started this blog at the button below.
Last summer I was in Italy for an entire month and got to travel throughout the country, so I'm very excited to share about all of the different cities I've visited. It would be too overwhelming to read about an entire month in one blog post, so today's topic is about Milan! I spent 10 days in Milan and it has become one of my favorite cities in the world. I can't wait to go back! In this blog post I'll go over: ~ 7 days in Milan itinerary ~ Train travel tips ~ Restaurants, activities, tours, sightseeing
Let's get started!
Day 1 in Milano:
You've arrived! Usually whenever I arrive somewhere, depending on the time of day it is, I focus on unpacking, organizing, checking to see what's around as far as transportation, supermarkets, pharmacies and restaurants as well as getting enough rest to prepare for the trip.
Train travel tips: one of the best and inexpensive ways to get around in Italy is via train, which is very accessible throughout the country. I booked my train tickets beforehand to ensure I'd have a ticket for the times I wanted to leave a city, and because it's cheaper to get them ahead of time versus getting them in person the day of. Sometimes they're completely sold out as well so you'd have to wait till the next available train. Since I was traveling during peak season throughout the country, I planned my routes and trains ahead of time and got my tickets online on Trenitalia.
(Rome Train Station; June 2023)
I mainly booked the Frecciarossa trains since they are the fastest trains, making your trips shorter when going from city to city compared to the Regionale trains (which I had to use a couple of times because the Frecciarossa wasn't available in some of the smaller towns). Additionally, I utilized the Metro for daily transport in Milan. It was reasonably priced and easy to navigate. I also got around a lot by foot, which is easy to do in Italy since it's a walkable country and because you're constantly enamored by the sights and surroundings. You can also get the Milan City Pass (I highly recommend this option. I had listed it for myself but since I had an extensive itinerary I ended up forgetting about it LOL). Depending on which option you get, it comes with free public transport in Milan for either 1 or 3 days; free access to the Duomo cathedral, rooftop and museum; free access to Milan's civic museums; free shuttle bus from Milan airports and more!
Day 2: Visit Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and go Sightseeing!
(Duomo di Milano; June 2023)
Duomo di Milano is the largest cathedral church in Europe and to say it is majestic, detailed, and symbolic is an understatement. You have to see the stained glass windows, statues and gargoyles yourself to really see what I mean! I was there for 10 days and went to see it 8 out of those 10 days just because I was so in awe of it.
I would sit on the Duomo steps some nights to stargaze and listen to the locals playing live music. It truly is a fascinating place to be and it's also in the city center of Milan which is the meeting point for a lot of main tours and attractions. I highly suggest an inside tour of Duomo di Milano because if you think the outside is incredible, just wait till you see the inside, especially the rooftop view of the city.
(Ritu in Terrazza del Duomo; June 2023)
It's beautiful and something you don't want to miss when you're in Milan. With the tour I got on TripAdvisor, my option included a free museum tour as well, which I went to go see on a different day because there's just so much to take in. It was valid for 3 days after the Duomo tour which made it convenient.
(Duomo di Milano Cathedral; June 2023)
I booked my Duomo and terrace tour on a weekday to skip the crowds and got lucky that the tour only had 3 other people; the tour guide shared some great stories about the history and creation of the Duomo, and she took photos of us too! If you don't want to go on this specific tour, you can search others on TripAdvisor that may be more suitable for your budget and interest [: the one I did is at the button below! But like I mentioned above, if you get the Milan City Pass, all of this will be included for an even cheaper price, minus having a tour guide.
I like taking my time to enjoy art so I split my tours and activities on different days. Most people would probably spend 2-4 days in Milan and leave because you can technically see a lot of the main sights in a few days. But if you're like me and like taking your time then my pace is probably perfect for you.
On the days I didn't have tours or specific activities planned, I spent the day walking around the city, sightseeing, taking photos with my tripod, going to the park or a garden, practicing my Italian at different restaurants and bars especially during aperitivo hour! There's so much to do and Milan is a city that is culturally rich.
After seeing the Duomo, visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
(Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; June 2023)
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is right next to the Duomo and it's the oldest shopping mall in the world. It greatly showcases the wealth of Milan and Milanese culture. It's the perfect place to walk around, shop/window-shop and have lunch or dinner, but some may see it as a tourist trap because the prices here are higher than at other restaurants. I had lunch at La Locanda del Gatto Rosso and ordered a margherita pizza. I received princess treatment every time I dined here, plus the interior view of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is spectacular from this restaurant!
(Margherita pizza from La Locanda del Gatto Rosso; June 2023)
Go sightseeing and take photos. Milan is very picturesque, aesthetically pleasing and culturally stimulating. It felt nice to just sit on a bench and listen to someone who may have been playing a piano or violin nearby. The alleyways are beautiful especially if you love romanticizing your life <3 There are plenty of cute cafes, flower shops, and clothing boutiques around too. If you're going during the warmer months and get tired of the Italian heat, it's the perfect time to go back to your stay and have a siesta (afternoon nap) before evening activities. This is one of the many Italian traditions I love and miss.
(An alleyway in Milan, Italy; June 2023)
Usually after my daily siesta, I'd spend a bit of time in the apartment balcony journaling or having a glass of wine before getting ready for the evening. Most evenings I spent walking around the city and having dinner somewhere cute. Plus there are so many hotties around for eye candy LOL, it's not just the country that's art, the people are too. Day 3: Giardini Indro Montanelli & a Cooking Class (Pizza & Gelato)
(Snapping tripod photos in the garden; June 2023)
Whenever I travel somewhere, I love including a garden and/or park visit during my trip. I love flowers and nature, which is what drew me to this beautiful garden park. Giardini Indro Montanelli was constructed in the 1700s and is the oldest city park in Milan. I also did see a museum nearby but didn't visit it. It's the perfect place for a picnic, stroll, bike ride or run (they have a route for running too)! I started off by having a tripod photoshoot next to the flowers, eventually someone came by to snap nature photos and ended up asking me if he could take my photos too. It was wholesome <3
Afterwards, I walked around the park, watched the ducks in the pond, meditated, listened to live music. That's another thing I am fond of when it comes to Italy; you are always surrounded by some form of music or art. And of course, "il dolce far niente," which literally means "the sweetness of doing nothing." Italy made me appreciate my own essence just for being. Yes, just for being.
(Porta Nuova District; June 2023)
I also walked around Porta Nuova (which is a business and shopping district in Milan) then took the train back to the Duomo stop to have lunch at La Locanda del Gatto Rosso once again. I ordered the pesto gnocchi, stopped by the Duomo for a bit and headed back to my stay before my cooking class in the evening. It's funny because I was literally looking for a pizza and gelato class and I got exactly that. It was 3 hours long (from 6pm-9pm) and this experience includes learning how to make your own margherita pizza the Italian way, making a waffle cone and fresh gelato!
(Margherita pizza made by moi; June 2023)
The chefs also offer a glass of prosecco while you cook and you're welcome to bring your own wine too (at least our chefs were okay with it LOL). It doesn't matter if you cook or not, it's a fun and great activity for all ages and I met some lovely people here. You even get a certificate in the end for being a chef [: it's a marvelous experience and the chefs were wonderful (Kia and Liu were our chefs/instructors). The cooking class I did is at the button below.
Day 4: Lake Como, Bellagio & Private Boat Cruise
(Lake Como; June 2023)
It's difficult for me to choose favorite experiences in Italy because each one was curated perfectly in its own way. But oh my God if you're in Milan, you cannot miss out on Lake Como. To say it's captivating, grand, vivid is an understatement. You need to see it for yourself with your own eyes; I felt like all of my dreams could come true when I was there. The sights felt like a never ending illustration out of a storybook. I was sad to leave since it was a day trip, and I would actually stay at Lake Como for a few days in the future. The tour I went on includes a walking tour of Como, which is so serene. After the tour we were given a short bit of time to explore Como on our own for shopping and walking around. I had a quick breakfast at one of the little cafes before our next stop to the beautiful Villa Olma. Our stop here was short too, which was a bummer because I could spend an entire day here to admire the villa, gardens and perfect view of Lake Como.
(Villa Olma; June 2023)
After Villa Olma, there is an hour boat cruise that takes you to Bellagio. I walked around this charming village, went souvenir shopping and had lunch at Nando. This is why I'm saying I'd stay at Lake Como for a few days in the future to really take everything in. If you only have enough time for a day trip then it's definitely nice just to get an idea of what this magical place is like for the next time, if you decide to have a longer stay here.
(Beautiful Bellagio; June 2023)
Bellagio was nothing short of dreamy. This day tour can be found at the button below.
Day 5: Take the Bernina Express Train to Switzerland
(Bernina Express Train to Switzerland; June 2023)
I thought Lake Como was scenic and quite frankly, it's incomparable, but the Bernina Express train to Switzerland has always been on my bucket list, and I am so thankful to the most High for this exciting experience.
This tour includes taking coach to St. Moritz, which is "a luxury alpine resort town in Switzerland's Engadin Valley." You also get to enjoy stunning views of Lake Como on the way to St. Moritz. We initially stopped at a cafe for coffee, pastries and breakfast before heading to the charming Swiss town.
(Cafe Stop; June 2023)
Once we got to St. Moritz, we were given some time to shop for chocolates, explore the town or have lunch. I didn't get time to stop by the chocolate shop, but I was able to explore a bit of the town, had lunch at La Stalla and took some aesthetically pleasing photos of the landscape. The views were breathtaking, I felt like I was in heaven!
(St. Moritz, Switzerland; June 2023) After the stop in St. Moritz, we officially boarded the Bernina Express train which goes through the Swiss Alps. The train goes on the most magical ride with vivid scenery, green, snow and never ending beauty. It goes all the way up to 7,390 feet, which is the highest point you can reach in Europe by train! Definitely an experience you don't want to miss. There are many different tour options for this listed on TripAdvisor; the one I went on is at the button below.
Day 6: Castello Sforzesco, Gelateria & Corso Como
(Castello Sforzesco; June 2023)
One of the most amazing things about Italy's history, art and culture includes castles, and this is one castle you can easily visit in Milan. Castello Sforzesco was built sometime in the 14th century and is one of Milan's most famous landmarks. There's a museum tour available but I did not do the tour; although, I've heard it's amazing. Just before entering the castle there's a fountain outside and locals playing live music all around it. The other end of the castle is surrounded by a park and some gorgeous courtyards. I eventually sat down in the park area with benches just outside of the castle, took photos on my tripod and started meditating. One experience I wanted to have and set out the intention for before my trip to Italy, was to buy a bouquet of flowers so that I could hand out roses to people. While I was meditating, a guy came by selling a bouquet of roses and I thought to myself this is the universe giving me exactly what I want without me having to try and go get it.
(A rose & her roses; June 2023)
I got flowers from him and made my dreams come true, which was a royal and heartwarming experience I recommend doing. Once you leave the castle you're a only a 10-min walk away from the Duomo. Have lunch at Majestic Cafe Bistrot, eat some gelato (from any gelateria that sticks out to you) and enjoy the view before your final siesta.
(Rose & chocolate gelato; June 2023)
Since it's the last full day in Milan, you should know by now to relax and take your time with activities. Go to Corso Como for aperitivo. Aperitivo is "happy hour" or according to Eataly, "a pre-meal drink to open the stomach for dining." Aperitivo hour is usually from 6-9pm on weekdays, and from 6-10pm on weekends. You can get a drink and a small plate for 10-20 euros.
Corso Como is perfect for aperitivo as it's known to be Milan's most vibrant street; it's filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, boutiques, shopping and night life activities. At one restaurant (pictured below) I was able to get a glass of prosecco and a small plate with different snacks for 6 euros. 6 euros and it was filling! Un altro bicchiere di prosecco, per favore (another glass of prosecco please) LOL!
(Aperitivo in Milano; June 2023)
I also recommend local sightseeing, walking around and checking for local events that may be happening on your last night there. My last night in Milan, I was very fortunate to see a live concert in Piazza del Duomo. It was a beautiful synchronicity and the perfect way to end my trip in one of my favorite cities in the world.
Day 7: L'ultimo Giorno (The Last Day)
(Journaling in my Italian balcony; June 2023)
Journal, meditate, cry LOL, have your last brekkie/lunch/dinner depending on what time you're leaving, say thank you and goodbye. The attitude of gratitude is why I get the experiences I do. I remember how the universe has helped me co-create my travel experiences in the most amazing ways possible, and how can I not be endlessly grateful for it all? It gets me so emotional because I feel incredibly blessed to be chosen for these experiences.
(Lunch at Cafe Majestic Bistrot; June 2023)
Speaking of blessings, I was also lucky enough to visit one of the Gurdwara's (Sikh Temple) in Milan's countryside. The Gurdwara I visited was: Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Covo. It was a peaceful Gurdwara that I am so grateful to have had the privilege of going to. If you want to visit a Gurdwara in Milan, there are a few different ones there, and I chose this one because it was closest to my location.
(Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Covo; June 2023) That's all for now, folks [: If you'd like to see more photos and want to see my trips when I'm actually traveling, follow me on Instagram: @rituniverse. You can also check out the highlights of my Italy travels on my Instagram page. More Italy blog posts coming soon! I can't wait to share about all of the cities I've visited in this beautiful country. If you're someone who wants to travel more and need help planning your trip, I offer services to create a beautiful trip for you based on your needs and budget! To learn more, please contact me via email at tjsyouniverse@gmail.com.
Let me know if you have any questions, what other tips you'd like to know or what you found interesting or helpful in the comment section below. Love reading your thoughts and feedback! If you enjoy reading my posts, please subscribe to my travel blog below. That way you get notified whenever I share a new post! Thank you for visiting. Love, light and safe travels.
Ciao, Ritu<3