Milan is centrally located in nortern Italy and it’s one of the most affordable cities to fly into from the U.S. From Milan you can reach many of Italy’s top destinations such as Lake Como, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice in less than 4 hours.
Where to stay in Milan
We recommend you to find a hotel in the city center of Milan, close to the Duomo Cathedral, the beautiful old shopping arcade Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the fashion district. The 10 Best Hotels in Milan.
How to reach Milan
By plane: There are one-stop flights to Milan from Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston and Dallas. We recommend flying to New York for a connecting flight to Milan Malpensa Airport. United Airlines offers non-stop flights from Newark to Milan. Italy's second-largest airline, Neos Air, offers low cost flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Milan Malpensa Airport.
Milano Malpensa Airpost is located 40 km (25 miles) to the northwest of Milan. The best solution is to take Malpensa Express train from the airport to the central station, Milano Centrale. The trains are running every 20 minutes and the journey takes 50 minutes. A one-way ticket to Milano Centrale costs 13 euros.
The cheapest solution is to take the shuttle Express Bus from Milan Malpensa Airport to Milan Central Station. The shuttle buses are running every 30 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 10 euros. Travel time: 50 minutes.
By car: Milan is easily reachable by car from the motorway A1 Florence-Bologna, motorway A7 from Genoa, A4 from Turin-Venice, and the motorway A9 from Como. The easiest way is to rent a car directly at the Airport upon your arrival.
By train: Milan is right in the centre of Europe and is very well linked with the main European cities thanks to efficient train connections. Milano Centrale is the main railway station. It has been recently renewed and it can be considered an architectural masterpiece. The high-speed trains, Frecciarossa, connect Milan with Rome in three hours.
By bus: The bus companies Flixbus and Eurolines operate throughout Europe.
Parking in Milan
Throughout Milan there are many parking garages where you can park your car safely. An other option is to look for a hotel in Milan that offers parking or has an arrangement with one. Be aware of the signs “Zona traffico limitato” (ZTL), which means area reserved for residents only. The fine for entering with a non registered car in this area will be about 100 euros. Always contact your hotel before entering the ZTL area!
Getting around Milan
Milan is a very walkable city, the city center of is not very big and you can see a lot in one day just walking around. There are also a lot of public transportation options and the most convenient is the metro system. We recommend you to buy a 24-hour metro ticket from the machines at the any metro station. The ticket costs 7 euros. There are special tickets if you want to use the trams and buses as well.
What to see in Milan
• Visit the Duomo, the fantastic gothic-style cathedral decorated with 3,400 statues. Climb the stairs or take the lift up to the rooftop to fully appreciate the architecture of the most renowned silhouette in the city. From the terrace you will have breathtaking views across Milan and the peaks of the Alps. The terrace is also a lovely place to see the Madonnina, the statue of the Virgin at the top of the duomo and one of the symbols of Milan.
• You will find the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a covered passage with luxury boutiques and high quality restaurants, just beside the Duomo. Head to the rooftop of La Rinascente to enjoy the view of the animated square with a panorama of the Duomo.
• La Scala Opera House is located on Piazza della Scala in the heart of downtown Milan, just on the other side of the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II from the Duomo. It is the most famous opera house in the world and an unmissable destination for music and culture devotees. Do take a moment to also notice the statue of Leonardo da Vinci just outside.
• Visit the Gothic brick church of Santa Maria delle Grazie which holds Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. The famous painting was painted on the wall in tempera between 1495 and 1497.
• Visit the castel Castello Sforzesco, which houses a beautiful Art Gallery, the Archaeological Museum, various exhibitions, libraries and archives. Moreover, the large space occupied by the fortress is also used for temporary exhibitions, courses, meetings and conferences. The ancient Piazza d'Armi is now occupied by the Parco del Sempione, one of the largest green areas in Milan.
• Spend the evening in Naviglio, a district in Milan known for its lively nightlife scene. The Navigli were originally man-made navigable canals used for the transport of goods and passengers as well as for irrigation. Today the district is home to several markets, art galleries and artisan craft shops. In the evening, the lights from the myriad of clubs and restaurants flicker and reflect in the canals.
