Ine Vandenwyngaert
- Jun 1
- 3 min read

Milan, Italy: A Short Travel Guide

Updated: Jun 6

Milan is the vibrant capital of northern Italy's Lombardy region. The city is known for its unique blend of fashion, art, and history. And at its center stands the Duomo cathedral, a grand masterpiece of Gothic architecture. But beyond its renowned sights, Milan offers a delicious culinary scene, trendy nightlife, and a glimpse into modern Italian life. In this travel guide, we share our top things to do in Milan as well as great places to stay, eat, and drink.

milan italy duomo statues at sunset — Milan Duomo

Check out our video about Milan to see the best things to do through our camera!

Best Things To Do In Milan

Explore the food scene (Milanese dishes to try: risotto alla milanese, cotoletta, ossobuco, polenta):
- Navigli District
- Porta Garibaldi
- Brera
- Porta Nuova
- Porta Venezia
Go shopping (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Manzoni, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II)
Get a view from a rooftop bar (The Roof Milano is where we went!)
Walk around the Monumental Cemetery
Day trip to Lake Como or Verona (by train or book a day tour)
Visit Sforzesco Castle
Stroll around Sempione Park (See the Triumphal Arch and Branca Tower)
Hang out in the Navigli District
Explore the Historic Center (Go on a free walking tour)
Visit the Duomo of Milan and its terraces (Book your tickets in advance to avoid queues)

Download our Google Map with all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay here.

duomo cathedral milan italy at sunset — The Duomo Cathedral

Places To Stay In Milan

We recommend staying near the Central Train Station in Milan. It's a great place to stay if you're visiting other cities in Italy. Its central location also makes it easy to get to the historic center on foot or by metro.

Delle Nazioni Milan Hotel ($): simple hotel but with all you need. Beds are comfy and showers decent.
Andreola Central Hotel ($$): classically decorated rooms with a varied breakfast and a top-floor restaurant with panoramic city views
AXYHOTELS InnStyle Milano ($$$ - where we stayed): lovely hotel with delicious breakfast included and free small bites of food and drinks throughout the day. Rooms were small but comfy with nice bed, shower, and TV with streaming services.

milan italy navigli district in the evening — Navigli district

Places To Eat And Drink In Milan

Cactus Kitchen&Bar: fish restaurant with lots of vegetarian and vegan options
Cantiere Hambirreria: vibrant bar with outdoor seating and variety of hamburgers & craft ales - great for an aperitivo
Fresca Pasta Club: fresh pasta dishes
La Prosciutteria Milano Navigli: lovely outdoor terrace with high-quality meat and cheeses and great ambiance - perfect for an aperitivo & happy hour drinks
Maccheroni - La Carbonara: great pasta restaurant with only a few menu options
Osteria da Fortunata - Moscova Milano: delicious handmade pastas
Piccolo Café & Restaurant: nice quiet outdoor terrace - good place to have lunch with some healthy salad options as well
Potafiori: high-end Italian restaurant with small portions but excellent food
Quore italiano Gae Aulenti: great Italian restaurant with a variety of pastas and pizzas
Risoelatte Ticinese: hip restaurant with unique ambiance and variety of local Milanese dishes (lots of different risottos as wel as ossobuco and cotoletta)
Ristorante Galleria: high-end restaurant inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Signorvino: wine store and bar that is a chain in northern Italy - great selection of wines and lovely cheeses and charcuterie plates
Terrazza Gallia: high-end Italian restaurant with rooftop terrace and city views
The Roof Milano: rooftop with great views of the city - for 20€ you get a drink of their menu + an aperitivo, but you can also just reserve a spot for dinner in the restaurant
Vanilla Gelati Italiani: delicious gelato with lots of options - located right behind the Duomo

risotto in milan italy — risotto - a classic Milanese dish

Map Milan Italy

Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Milan on Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:

Tap on the link to open it (click button below)
Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.
Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Milan will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

Save Google Maps Places