This article was produced in cooperation with blogger Plamkaa.
Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan ©Plaamkaa
What to see in Milan
How to get to Milan city centre from the Milan Malpensa airport.
The city’s main rail station – Stazione Milano Centrale, can be reached from the Milan Malpensa airport by Terravision bus. The ticket costs EUR 8 per passenger and can be purchased at the airport stopping place. Use the metro (Duomo station) to get to the city centre from the rail station. The ticket is EUR 1.50. We tried this route on our own as the suite we rented was located in this area. In addition, we arrived late because our plane touched down around 10 p.m., but we didn’t have got any problems getting there and pleasant Mr. Stefano was awaiting us to hand us the keys to the suite.
The Milan Cathedral and Piazza Duomo
When we got out of Duomo metro station, we literally felt dizzy! The first thing we saw after leaving the metro was THIS cathedral! One of the largest churches in the world and one of the most often photographed objects ever. Although we’ve seen it on Instagram so many times, it gave us a striking impression after all. We couldn’t take our eyes off the ornately decorated, majestic cathedral combined with Christmas decorations (it was mid-December).
Milan Cathedral ©Plaamkaa
Of course, the next day we got back to visit the cathedral. I bought the tickets to the Duomo di Milano a month in advance – they cost EUR 13,50 per person. The price included the elevator ride to the observation deck. I used www.ticketone.it and I don’t regret it, because we were guaranteed the entrance to the cathedral and could admire the magnificent views. Was it worth it? Just take a look!
Milan ©Plaamkaa
The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery
Piazza del Duomo includes more wonderful buildings – on the left side of the square there is the magnificent Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, one of the oldest shopping malls in the world, opened in 1867. The distinctive edifice arranged on a cruciform plan is topped by a huge dome.
Under the dome there are mosaics portraying the Turin coat of arms with the figure of a bull. The old Milanese legend says that … turning around three times with a foot heel on the bull’s testicles brings good fortune. Of course, I couldn’t resist trying my luck. I hope it works. ϑ
As it might be seen from the picture below, not only I decided to check if the legend is true.
Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan ©Plaamkaa
The inside of the gallery is packed with luxury boutiques of the most famous fashion houses and expensive restaurants. Well, we only took pictures and … moved on.
The La Scala Theatre
The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery is adjacent to the most important opera house of Milan – the world-famous La Scala. The EUR 7 ticket includes the tour of the theatre and the museum exposition inside this inconspicuous building. However, we didn’t decide to visit it as we didn’t have enough time – maybe next time.
La Scala in Milan ©Plaamkaa
Castella Sforzesco and Parco Sempione
We moved from La Scala towards the ancestral residence of the Dukes of Milan – the Sforza Castle. This time we decided not to go inside but relax walking around Parco Sempione. It is one of those places in Milan that attracts both locals and tourists. On warm days, there are plenty of people who choose to spend their free time here. In December, however, very few were keen.
Sforza Castle in Milan ©Plaamkaa
We finished the walk around Parco Sempione at the Arch of Peace – a monumental gate that marks the beginning of the road from Milan to Paris.
Milan ©Plaamkaa
How to move around Milan? Best on foot! All around you can see things that impress you and soak up the atmosphere of this city. Well, it’s Milan!
Shopping in Milan
Having visited all the places we wanted to see, we went shopping! As befits the world’s fashion capital, the city of Milan houses a number of luxury boutiques, especially in the Quadrilatero d’Oro – a block bound by the following streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via Della Spiga, Via Manzoni and Via Sant’Andrea. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, you can always call by the chain stores in Piazza del Duomo.
Milan ©Plaamkaa
A Christmas market
Visiting Milan in December also gives the opportunity to see the city’s Christmas markets dense with souvenirs and great food. So if you are thinking about visiting this city on gray November and December days, don’t think, hit the road. Milan is worth a visit even in this period!
Milan ©Plaamkaa
Food Roasted chestnuts
Have you ever tried roasted chestnuts? If not, then give this specialty a go while you’re in Milan. I’ve tried them before in Rome and although I’m not a big fan, the taste is worth trying anyway.
Milan ©Plaamkaa
Pizza in Milan
Pizza is a completely different story. You definitely should go to Pizza Am, where, I must admit, I ate one of the best pizzas ever. It tasted extremely good! The pizzeria was located close to our suite plus my friend recommended it to me. As in every busy place like this, you’ve got to queue for a while, but it’s worth the wait as the taste is rewarding.
Milan ©Plaamkaa
Gelato
It’s a sin not to try gelato while you’re in Italy. In this case, we entered the first ice cream parlor at Piazza del Duomo. Was it worthwile? Of course! And we didn’t even care that it was December.
Milan ©Plaamkaa
Transportation
How to move around Milan? Best on foot! All around you can see things that impress you and soak up the atmosphere of this city. Well, it’s Milan! However, if you plan trips to more distant spots or your itinerary is very tight, use the subway. The single journey ticket is EUR 1.50.
However, to get to the city center from Malpensa airport it’s best (and cheapest) to use Terravision bus or Malpensa Express train. You can purchased the tickets earlier via the Internet and thus save a few euros. We bought the bus tickets already in Milan and it cost us EUR 8 per person. In turn, bus tickets from the city center to the airport that I bought a month earlier via the Internet cost EUR 5 per person.
Galeria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan ©Plaamkaa
Tip: don’t worry if you miss the bus leaving at the time indicated on your ticket. You can easily use the next one – they run every 15 minutes.
How to arrange a cheap trip to Milan?
A trip to Milan doesn’t have to be costly. We had to put pretty much effort in it as my sister’s a student and she’s got a busy schedule, so we flew on two different airlines. However, if you are more flexible, then you can find really cheap airline tickets. You just need to search for a while.