Milan
On this page:
A visit to Milan, the capital of multi-faceted Lombardy (Lombardia) and European fashion capital, is a must for tourists who visit the Cinque Terre. Milan, moreover, is a treasure trove of artistic monuments concentrated in the center of the city (everything that you should see in Milan is marked on the map).
The easiest means of transport in Milan is the subway. The cost of a ticket in 2024 is 2 euro. It is valid for 90 minutes and allows you to change to any other form of public transport. The price for a day ticket is 7 euro. You can also download the ATM Milano app, which has a handy GPS for public transport.
How to reach Milan
The easiest way to get to Milan is by train. It takes four hours from Monterosso al Mare to Milano Centrale station with a change of trains in Genoa (cost: 23 euro). Or you can get there in 3 hours at a cost of 30 euros without having to change trains. More information on the Trenitalia.com website. You do not need to purchase tickets online, as you can buy them at the station 5 minutes before departure at the same price and there is no limit to the number you can purchase.
Lovers of the steering wheel will not enjoy driving in Milan because of the heavy traffic. But on the outskirts of Milan there are huge car parks (indicated on the map) with metro stops nearby. It costs just a few euros per day. The average price for car parks in 2024 is 1 h: 0.40 euro, 8 h: 2 euro, 24 h: 4 euro.
Address: via Giuseppe Impastato, 6, Milano (San Donato).
Address: via Antonio Sant'Elia, 208, Milano (Lampugnano).
Address: via Giovanni Palatucci, 18, Milano (Famagosta).
Address: via Leonardo Da Vinci, 1, Cologno Monzese (Cologno Nord).
Address: via Francesco Rubino, Milano (Crescenzago).
Address: via Milanofiori, 2, Assago. Free, but since it is the parking area furthest from the center the metro ticket costs one euro more.
Places of interest in Milan
Open this page from your mobile phone and you can start the navigator for any point of interest or monument described here.
Il Duomo: the Cathedral of Milan
The most famous and symbolic building in Milan is the huge cathedral, situated in Piazza del Duomo. This is a monument you should definitely see because of its unique architecture in the flamboyant Gothic style. The view that is offered from the roof of the Cathedral is not to be missed. The spacious viewing area, surrounded by the open-work spires, is accessed from the cathedral door on the northern side. You need to walk up 130 steps to level 1 and another 80 steps to the 2nd level: the cost is 13.50 euro, but you can take the elevator at a cost of 17.50 euro. It is open every day from 9 am to 11 pm. You will not find a better view of Milan anywhere!
If you start at the Duomo and continue along Via Torino you will arrive at the picturesque area of the Columns of San Lorenzo (Colonne di San Lorenzo), a meeting point for young people where there are many bars and clubs; and if you go further along you will arrive at the “Navigli”, artificial canals which these days are the center of nightlife in Milan. You’ll be sure to find a place you like here!
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The Gallery, which tourists call Milan’s “living room”, is the oldest in the world and is almost attached to the Duomo connecting two squares: the one outside La Scala Theater and the other in front of the Duomo Cathedral. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a pompous building with stuccoes in relief and mosaics on the floor depicting Italian coats of arms, all encompassed by a glass dome. In the gallery you will find large shop windows of all the luxury brands and the famous Mosaico del Toro (the Bull Mosaic). This is where tourists make a wish and, according to an ancient tradition, it is favored by spinning around on your heel three times after you position yourself on a “delicate” part of the unwitting animal!
The Sforzesco Castle (Castello Sforzesco)
The Sforzesco Castle is set in the heart of historic Milan though in the past when it was built, about 700 years ago, it was actually located at the gates of the city and acted as a defensive fortress. It has preserved its medieval spirit with the original architecture, the ancient statues and the monumental walls of the fortress, including the towers. The Sforzesco Castle is open every day: in summer from 7 am to 7 pm and in winter from 7 am to 6 pm. There are also guided tours. The castle is surrounded by the Sempione Park where the main point of interest is the famous Arch of Peace (Arco della Pace), which was erected in honor of Napoleon in the XIX century.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
This church is a unique landmark of the Renaissance era, in the western part of Milan. It is a red brick building in a combination of late Gothic elements in the Corinthian style. But it is mainly the figurative art which attracts tourists: Leonardo Da Vinci’s fresco of “The Last Supper” can be seen in the loggia of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
The architects Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono and Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, together with the best artists of Lombardy, worked on the exterior and interiors of the Church in the sixteenth century. Although the church of San Maurizio seems rather ordinary from the outside, the interiors with their unique frescoes arouse much admiration. Works by Bernardino Luini depicting Saints Caterina and Agata, scenes of the crucifixion of Christ and other biblical events are preserved here; the walls of the church are adorned with many paintings.
San Siro Stadium
This stadium, also named for the legendary Giuseppe Meazza, can be considered the football Mecca of Milan. It is shared by two teams: Inter and Milan. These days it is also often used to host rock and pop concerts. In the Sports Museum you can learn everything you need to know about the history of these teams and the stadium of San Siro itself; the sports Museum is located inside the precinct behind the bleachers of the south gate. About 3000 unique football objects and souvenirs are on display in the San Siro Museum and they depict the salient facts of the history of these Italian teams. The stadium can be reached by taking the metro to the Stadio San Siro stop (San Siro Stadium).
Tourists like to get to the center of Milan (to the Duomo metro stop) as quickly as possible, but why not make a detour? Get off at a stop nearby, such as San Babila, and walk toward the Duomo along the most famous shopping street which will prove to be much more interesting.
Map of the places to visit in Milan
Recommended hotels in Milan
Besides being a large city, Milan is also the tourist capital of Lombardy. And for that reason there are many hotels here to meet all tastes: from the more fashionable to the more economic hotels as well as hostels. The most important thing is to be close to the metro. We have selected three of the most popular hotels in different price categories (expensive, affordable and low-cost). Or peruse the list of all the hotels and choose the one that suits you with the help of the search filter.
On this page you can read visitor comments on all the hotels and compare them. In addition, you should consult:
Low-cost hotels in Milan.
Romantic hotels in Milan.
Luxury hotels in Milan.
Use a filter to search for a hotel in Milan.
How much time is needed to visit Milan
Visit all the tourist points of interest in just a single day. If you are staying in the Cinque Terre it is possible to go to Milan for the day. Or, if you land at one of the airports in Milan prior to going to the Cinque Terre, spend the day of arrival or departure visiting the city.
As we know, Milan is the center of high fashion and the shopping capital for big name brands, so it’s well to remember that the summer sales are held from July 6 to August 25, 2024.
In 2025: from July 5 to August 31.
