Anyone been to Milan?
Discussion
My wife's in Milan for a few days with work in a couple of weeks time. She's considering staying on for the weekend with me flying out to meet her.
Sounds quite romantic and coincides closely with our first anniversary, however, what is there to do in Milan? Anyone been? Shopping seems a bit pointless with the exchange rate, so what else is there?
Sounds quite romantic and coincides closely with our first anniversary, however, what is there to do in Milan? Anyone been? Shopping seems a bit pointless with the exchange rate, so what else is there?
Nikkie knows Milan.
I live here too. I'd head up to the lakes and the mountains. Varese where I live is very nice.
Flying into Bergamo is a bit of a trek. Linate is the most central airport, but Malpensa is the main one.
Hmm, tourist attractions, the duomo, san siro, navigli, Monza, I know where there's a few go kart tracks.
I live here too. I'd head up to the lakes and the mountains. Varese where I live is very nice.
Flying into Bergamo is a bit of a trek. Linate is the most central airport, but Malpensa is the main one.
Hmm, tourist attractions, the duomo, san siro, navigli, Monza, I know where there's a few go kart tracks.
Bergamo is a trek. Long way into the city from there but if you dont mind sitting in a car for 50mins then no worries.
Milan is ok. As said above not one of the best cities in Italy. The centre is lovely, shopping good and sitting with a beer and watching the locals provides enough entertainment but to really enjoy yourself leave the place and get to some lakes.
Leave the centre and you will find a mix of random streets with good places to eat/drink (as with all Italy) and then concrete zones with bland architecture as far as they eye can see.
Milan is ok. As said above not one of the best cities in Italy. The centre is lovely, shopping good and sitting with a beer and watching the locals provides enough entertainment but to really enjoy yourself leave the place and get to some lakes.
Leave the centre and you will find a mix of random streets with good places to eat/drink (as with all Italy) and then concrete zones with bland architecture as far as they eye can see.
Been a few times. As already mentioned the shopping is good but will be damned expensive with the exchange rate. Duomo is quite something. I enjoyed just watching the world go by and having a good wander. Lakes are alright get across the border to Switzerland Lugano is lovely. I'd avoid Bellagio etc unless you are elderly, lovely scenery and plenty of traffic/old people.
We had a great 4 night break there. Not so far mentioned are La Scala and the San Siro. Even if you're not opera or footy fans they're still worth a visit. The shopping areas are good to wander around even if you don't buy anything, and we wandered into a quite superb art exhibition in a purpose built gallery tho I can't quite remember its exact location.
I was in Milan last June. Marenello is miles away and would be a full day out. Arese and the Alfa Museum is a 35 euro taxi ride though. It's free to get in and nobody else will be there.
Other than cars the Cathederal is cool (you can walk over the roof) and you have to go and see the "Last Supper"
If you want a trip to one of the lakes; Como is nearest. You can get a train (takes 30 - 45 mins) from the city centre. Como is a pretty town with plenty of places to eat etc.. Even better get a boat to Belagio and have lunch.
The only problem with Como is the locals who don't seem able not to mention George Clooney has a house there.
Other than cars the Cathederal is cool (you can walk over the roof) and you have to go and see the "Last Supper"
If you want a trip to one of the lakes; Como is nearest. You can get a train (takes 30 - 45 mins) from the city centre. Como is a pretty town with plenty of places to eat etc.. Even better get a boat to Belagio and have lunch.
The only problem with Como is the locals who don't seem able not to mention George Clooney has a house there.
catso said:
Milan's OK for shopping, the Duomo is quite spectacular and there's plenty of nice things to see & do nearby but frankly, IMHO, it is about the worst city in Italy.
Spent a few days there prior to going to Garda, Duomo is certainly worth a visit, and we found a park where there was a teadance going on, that was a different experience. Good shopping if that is your thing, and you have plenty money, good restaurants, but not my favourite place.
The Mille Miglia museum is not too far away - somewhere between Garda and the airport - as we dropped in on the back to the airport, it is worth a visit, though it isn't very big.
TBH i found Milan itself to be somewhere that i would not want to bother going back to, except for the fact that it is very centrally located as a base for a lot of other great places to visit (i guess that this is much like many Cities, and that like most Cities, it takes some time to find the good bits!!)
If yer missus is into bargain shopping (you can also get good cheap suits and shoes there), try FoxTown in Mendrisio, Switzerland .. its about an hour and a half drive as i remember. (Alternatively you may want to keep that secret and protect the bank account!)
Mind you i seem to be something of an oddball in generally finding most of Italy somewhat uninspiring ... but thats just me ... wierd!
If yer missus is into bargain shopping (you can also get good cheap suits and shoes there), try FoxTown in Mendrisio, Switzerland .. its about an hour and a half drive as i remember. (Alternatively you may want to keep that secret and protect the bank account!)
Mind you i seem to be something of an oddball in generally finding most of Italy somewhat uninspiring ... but thats just me ... wierd!
catso said:
Milan's OK for shopping, the Duomo is quite spectacular and there's plenty of nice things to see & do nearby but frankly, IMHO, it is about the worst city in Italy.
Can you still take lunch up on the Duomo roof? Can't see York Minsiter allowing you, but it is a great experience on the stairways amongst the massive statues, like being in the air.I loved Milan when me and SWMBO went there with her brother and his wife a couple of years ago. We stayed in a hotel just behind the Duomo so reasonable walking distance from everything. The shopping's fab, including some jaw dropping prices in the designer quarter round the corner.
Also there is plenty of stunning architecture all around. I can't remember the name of the long arcade off the Duomo square, but all around there is a good place to sight see. La Scala's a short walk from the arcade, and the Last Supper mural isn't much further on either.
There's plenty of decent restaurants, and, if you don't fancy spending all your time shopping, leave her there (with her own credit card, not yours) and take a tram to the San Siro and watch Inter or Milan play.
I'd go back there tomorrow.
Also there is plenty of stunning architecture all around. I can't remember the name of the long arcade off the Duomo square, but all around there is a good place to sight see. La Scala's a short walk from the arcade, and the Last Supper mural isn't much further on either.
There's plenty of decent restaurants, and, if you don't fancy spending all your time shopping, leave her there (with her own credit card, not yours) and take a tram to the San Siro and watch Inter or Milan play.
I'd go back there tomorrow.
The wife and I flew into Bergamo and caught the train into Milan which took around 45 mins, it was a very nice way to travel. Once into Milan central (or something I can't remember as it was a few years ago) we got the metro to our destination and surfaced into the most wonderful piazza, it was really quite breathtaking.
We loved it, it's the only Italian city we have been to and have been told that if we liked Milan then would absolutely love Rome.
Go for it, we had a great weekend and treasure the memories.
We loved it, it's the only Italian city we have been to and have been told that if we liked Milan then would absolutely love Rome.
Go for it, we had a great weekend and treasure the memories.
we flew into bergamo and i wouldnt recommend it, not only is it with ryanair but its very small and an unpleasant place to be if there are any sort of delays as its just so small.
head up to the lakes, we went to bellagio and varena on the train, both very small lakeside villages but at this time of year, not much will be open so the train from milan to como might be a better option, its very cheap (15 euros) and takes about an hour.
if art and history arent your thing, there isnt that much in milan to be honest, the fashion district is really nice to walk through though and you can spend a day walking through the various quarters but thats about it. there are however, lots of nice galleries, churches and museums though...
watch out for gypsies and pickpockets and check the price of everything before you by it when you are eating or drinking in sight of the duomo, prices have a habit of escalating shall we say....
we stayed at the hotel brera near the station which was very nice and the staff were very helpful.
if you do got to como, there is a resturant called la darsena which does the best pizza in italy, honestly, you will never eat pizza in britain again (which may or may not be a bad thing!...)
and did i mention the gypsies and the pickpockets...
head up to the lakes, we went to bellagio and varena on the train, both very small lakeside villages but at this time of year, not much will be open so the train from milan to como might be a better option, its very cheap (15 euros) and takes about an hour.
if art and history arent your thing, there isnt that much in milan to be honest, the fashion district is really nice to walk through though and you can spend a day walking through the various quarters but thats about it. there are however, lots of nice galleries, churches and museums though...
watch out for gypsies and pickpockets and check the price of everything before you by it when you are eating or drinking in sight of the duomo, prices have a habit of escalating shall we say....
we stayed at the hotel brera near the station which was very nice and the staff were very helpful.
if you do got to como, there is a resturant called la darsena which does the best pizza in italy, honestly, you will never eat pizza in britain again (which may or may not be a bad thing!...)
and did i mention the gypsies and the pickpockets...
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 13th February 09:27
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