Milan Travel Guide

Written By stephanie mendez
 
 

Most of us know Milan for its high fashion but it is also a big financial hub and has plenty of high-end restaurants. I love to describe it as a modern city, especially compared to Rome or Venice. It has an efficient and easy-to-follow subway system that you can use to travel throughout the city.

I visited Milan in November 2021 during the winter and during the COVID pandemic. If you’re traveling during this time, make sure to bring lots of layers and dress warmly. In terms, of getting through the city during COVID, just make sure you have a picture of your U.S. vaccination card or a Green Pass (EU version) and you shouldn’t have a problem getting into most places. We thankfully didn’t have any issues.

Thanks to recommendations from some of Dhane’s friends, we had the most amazing experience. It felt more like a very local experience, so some of my recommendations won’t be touristy but you won’t regret it! See my recommendations are where to stay, where to eat, and what to do while you’re visiting Milan below.

Photo source: Excelsior Hotel Gallia

 

I stayed at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia while in Milan. It is a five-star, Marriott-owned hotel so you really can’t go wrong here. Plus, it is simply beautiful both inside and out - just look at the photo above! The hotel is also right across the street from the Milano Centrale Railway Station so if you’re taking the train in from Rome as I did, you can simply walk to your hotel. The hotel also has a very nice rooftop bar and restaurant as well as a gym with a great view. You can check out more here!

 

Where to Eat

 

Gino Sorbillo

Gino Sorbillo has by far the best pizza I have ever had. It has the perfect fluffy crust with simple toppings but oh so much flavor! They have multiple locations (even in NY and Miami) so we went twice in Rome and once in Milan. So needless to say, I highly recommend this spot!

For some reason, the pizza sizes in Milan were twice as big as what we ordered in Rome (unless we ordered incorrectly) so I would recommend sharing the pie when you order here. I fell in love with the Margherita burrata pizza. It is located right near the Duomo so you can definitely go here before or after paying the cathedral a visit.

 

Bianco Latte

I loveddd all of the food we were eating in Rome but by the time I got to Milan all I wanted was an American-style breakfast (as opposed to morning croissants or skipping breakfast) and some veggies! Thankfully Dhane and I found the perfect place - Bianco Latte. It was within walking distance to our hotel and we loved it so much we went back every morning that we were in Milan.

The restaurant is mainly known for its pastries, desserts, and coffees but we also ordered some other things on the menu. I loved their Classic Brunch Plate which comes with pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, marinated salmon, potatoes, and corn on the cob. Some of our other favorites were the avocado toast, chicken salad, and detox and anti-age juices. Here is a link to the site.

 
 

Cerdini & Quenardel (Gelato e Champagne)

Gelato and champagne together?! Count me in! We met up with one of Dhane’s co-workers at her family-owned spot - Cerdini & Quenardel. It is located right near the Castle Sforzesco. The story of this place goes that the Cerdini family (who excelled in chocolate and pastry making) and the Quenardel family who excelled in Champagne production) came together to combine their crafts and share their award-winning products with the public. This place serves champagne, gelato, macaroons, and chocolate which are seriously all of my favorite things in one place. I tried and loved the champagne, rose, grapefruit gelato (it contains champagne :D), the macaroons, and the chocolate-covered espresso beans. I would highly recommend that you check it out! Learn more here.

 

Organic Pizza and Food

We went to Organic Pizza and Food one night for dinner (that’s the name of the restaurant). It is a really warm and cozy restaurant with beautiful indoor decor. One of the things I love about this restaurant is that all of the ingredients of the foods they use are locally sourced, sustainable, and seasonal. They choose to purchase only from producers who care about the environment and have similar values.

I ordered the Risotto which I wasn’t the biggest fan of but don’t let that deter you. Dhane ordered the pizza which - as the name of the restuarant should tell you - is really delicious. Here is the link to the restaurant.

 

Other Options

Here’s a list of some other spots that were recommended to us that we didn’t get a chance to try.

 

What to Do

 

Duomo Di Milano

The Duomo di Milano or the cathedral of Milan is a must-see when visiting Milan. The gothic architecture is nothing like you’ve ever seen before if you’re from the U.S. It looks unreal even in the picture on the right. It is surrounded by a large piazza or plaza, restaurants, and plenty of clothing stores to go shopping.

We went to visit the Duoma both during the day and night. We even sat at a nearby restaurant to have drinks and small bites while being able to gaze at its beauty.

 

Castle Sforzesco

The Castle Sforzesco is a major historical landmark in Milan. Its origins date back to the 15th century when it was built by the Duke of Milan. It’s is pretty massive and astonishing when you walk through it. We walked around outside the castle and then paid to take a tour of a few of the museums. Tickets for the tour are € 7.00 and there are over 18 different museums to check out.

Learn more here.

 
 

Naviglio & Isola

If you’re not sure where to go when you’re in Milan, I would highly recommend checking out the Naviglio and Isola neighborhoods.

The Naviglio neighborhood overlooks the canal. You will find a ton of restaurants and bars right on the water. It is such a lively and fun place to hang out at night.

Isola is the hipster neighborhood in Milan. It has some adorable tiny streets mixed with fashion boutiques, organic food stores, and thrift stores.

 

Go Shopping

It’s hard to be in the high fashion capital of the world and not go shopping (or at least window shopping as was the case for me). There are a few different areas to go shopping. If you’re looking to shop in some higher-end stores, then you’ll want to go to the golden square on the streets of Via Montenapoleone (‘Montenapo'), Via Della Spiga, and Via Sant'Andrea.

Another option would be to go to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is just steps away from the Duomo. This place still has some higher-end brands but will also have stores such as Zara and H&M.

 

Where to Move Your Body

 

Milan Yoga Space

I love to take a yoga class whenever I travel so while I was in Milan I went to Milano Yoga Space in the Isola neighborhood. They have various types of classes, but the hatha-yoga and ashtanga styles are the primary influences of the studio. If you’re looking to move your body and find some relaxation while on vacay, I would recommend this studio.

I took a 10am Hatha class with Antonella. It was in Italian only but the teacher demonstrated the poses a lot and since it was a slower class, I was able to follow along. A hint: ''inhale’ and ‘exhale’ in Italian is ‘aspirare’ and ‘espirare.’ The studio is a bit hidden, so if you check it out, you’ll have to walk through a door from the street, through the courtyard, and then you will see the entrance.

stephanie mendez
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Rome Travel Guide