Discussion
Hi! Looking for tips and recommendations on how to spend a week’s holiday in Milan in May. Am going to visit a family member, but need to find accommodation. Hotels look pricey?!
Will be happy to spend a few days just walking round and soaking up the city ( and the Peroni!) but am wondering what other sites and sights I should be visiting?
Don’t intend to rent a car. Lake Como looks an easy 1hr day-trip train ride away?
Never spent time in Milan, and haven’t been to Italy for over 15 years!
Will be happy to spend a few days just walking round and soaking up the city ( and the Peroni!) but am wondering what other sites and sights I should be visiting?
Don’t intend to rent a car. Lake Como looks an easy 1hr day-trip train ride away?
Never spent time in Milan, and haven’t been to Italy for over 15 years!
The Duomo cathedral is a must-see, along with the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade nearby. The Castello Sforzesco houses several interesting museums and leads into the pleasant Parco Sempione. If you're interested in art, don't miss the Pinacoteca di Brera and definitely try to see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper (but book tickets well in advance as they sell out quickly).
You are absolutely right about Lake Como - it makes for a perfect day trip from Milan. The train ride takes about an hour, and you can easily visit charming towns like Bellagio, Como, or Varenna. Other worthwhile day trips include Bergamo with its beautiful medieval upper town, or Verona if you're interested in Roman history.
Milan has excellent public transportation, so you definitely won't need a car. Consider getting a weekly transport pass to save money if you'll be using public transit frequently.
Have a good trip!
You are absolutely right about Lake Como - it makes for a perfect day trip from Milan. The train ride takes about an hour, and you can easily visit charming towns like Bellagio, Como, or Varenna. Other worthwhile day trips include Bergamo with its beautiful medieval upper town, or Verona if you're interested in Roman history.
Milan has excellent public transportation, so you definitely won't need a car. Consider getting a weekly transport pass to save money if you'll be using public transit frequently.
Have a good trip!
QC Termemilano is the instagram spa
A bit style over substance
The castle like any other
Duomo di Milano is pretty, however very busy.
It's next to an attractive upmarket shopping mall.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology
Is big and probably the best of the museums, it's walkable from the city centre
ADI Design Museum was worth it just for the Paganni roadster they had in.
Lots of other museums mostly under whelming.
Casa Infante is a fantastic little desert shop
Como towns an hour by train away
It's got some decent restraunts.
Then ferry or bus to the towns on the Lake.
Bellagio was naff, I don't understand the instagram allure.
Varenna for me was much prettier
Overall milan was very underwhelming, not to different from walking round somewhere like Manchester.
A bit style over substance
The castle like any other
Duomo di Milano is pretty, however very busy.
It's next to an attractive upmarket shopping mall.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology
Is big and probably the best of the museums, it's walkable from the city centre
ADI Design Museum was worth it just for the Paganni roadster they had in.
Lots of other museums mostly under whelming.
Casa Infante is a fantastic little desert shop
Como towns an hour by train away
It's got some decent restraunts.
Then ferry or bus to the towns on the Lake.
Bellagio was naff, I don't understand the instagram allure.
Varenna for me was much prettier
Overall milan was very underwhelming, not to different from walking round somewhere like Manchester.
Honestly? Go to Torino instead, it’s cleaner, cheaper, less up itself and less of a s
thole.
Milan is a dump. When it’s not being a dump it’s incredibly pompous and OTT. Just avoid the place, it really is the best way of not wasting your money.
Como is pretty, but incredibly crowded and congested - basically it’s the same as Ambleside. Going in May outside of uber busy season is the best time of seeing the place.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Milano over the yrs
thole.Milan is a dump. When it’s not being a dump it’s incredibly pompous and OTT. Just avoid the place, it really is the best way of not wasting your money.
Como is pretty, but incredibly crowded and congested - basically it’s the same as Ambleside. Going in May outside of uber busy season is the best time of seeing the place.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Milano over the yrs
Went to Milan last January for my 40th. Went with two mates. We got an Airbnb - much better value than hotels in Milan. The tube is excellent so you get most places easily.
Duomo is beautiful and well worth 2 hours of your time. Also, the canal area has lots of good wine bars and fun to wander round. Try some of the food markets to wander round and eat. I'd also suggest finding OnlyScrans on YouTube for food advice. The park behind the castle is also nice for a wander round.
If still within season, we went for football at San Siro
Duomo is beautiful and well worth 2 hours of your time. Also, the canal area has lots of good wine bars and fun to wander round. Try some of the food markets to wander round and eat. I'd also suggest finding OnlyScrans on YouTube for food advice. The park behind the castle is also nice for a wander round.
If still within season, we went for football at San Siro
In Brescia (30 miins on the train) https://www.museomillemiglia.it/en/museo.php
Lake Garda is 50 mins on the train, get off at Desenzano del Garda, then a boat to Sirmione (very pretty with extensive Roman archeological site), or there are plently of other nice towns to visit by boat.
Lake Garda is 50 mins on the train, get off at Desenzano del Garda, then a boat to Sirmione (very pretty with extensive Roman archeological site), or there are plently of other nice towns to visit by boat.
Depends what you want really.
Our last Airbnb was essentially someone’s small flat, they’d left their stuff there while renting to us. Art hotel Navilgli is reasonably priced and a good location. Craft ale, steak and Fud all close by.
Beware pickpockets on the Metro.
You get a good view of the Duomo/ square from the Aperol bar but do need to book to get an outside table.
Our last Airbnb was essentially someone’s small flat, they’d left their stuff there while renting to us. Art hotel Navilgli is reasonably priced and a good location. Craft ale, steak and Fud all close by.
Beware pickpockets on the Metro.
You get a good view of the Duomo/ square from the Aperol bar but do need to book to get an outside table.
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