So I’ve been umming and arring about what destination to write a blog on. I was fortunate enough to have recently gone on a trip to various destinations throughout Europe visiting friends and seeing sights I’ve always wanted to see. Having considered a range of possibilities, I’ve plucked for Milan.

For starters, it’s a great spot for a quick city break as there are daily Aer Lingus flights to Milan from Dublin. There are two international airports in Milan, Linate and Malpensa, Linate being closer. There is also a great selection of hotels in Milan, and as with most cities, you will probably find the cheapest hotels the further you go from the centre.

Milan's Duomo

Milan can certainly be perceived as less attractive, less romantic than some of the more architectural renowned cities in Italy, but what Milan does better than any of the other Italian cities I’ve visited (Rome, Venice and Bergamo) blends modern Italy with historic Italy oh so well.

I fell in love with Milan the moment I got here, fresh off the plane at a bright and early 6.30am, I got a shuttle bus from Milan Malpensa airport to the Central Station. Upon arrival, I realised I had forgotten to print out my map of the area, so I wandered into the station to look for a tourist information stand and wow, the Italians don’t half do things grand.

Milan's Central Station

This was to become an increasingly regular occurrence, as I proceeded to visit both the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; a short trip from central station on the red metro line.  Both are located within the Piazza del Duomo where the architecture is truly outstanding with its typical neoclassical extravagance. The grandeur didn’t stop there, as I visited the Castello Sforzesco and its magnificent grounds, with great views towards the Arco della Pace. Worth a trip down purely to stroll around the park or join the locals in soaking up the rays.

Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

By this time it was midday and I needed to get something to eat, so where did I head to? Yes, you got it – to the train station (Milan Cardona). Why did I go here? Firstly because there was always lots of locals eating around there which is always a great sign, and secondly it was cheap. There was a great Italian sandwich shop selling a wide array of freshly made rolls from as little as €1, as well as a café restaurant built into the side of the station serving the most delicious pizza (Mozzarella over 1 inch deep!) all with the Italian chic which embodies Milan’s culinary experience.

After I’d refueled where was next on the agenda? Well being a 24 year old football loving lad, it would have been sacrilege if I hadn’t paid a trip to the San Siro home to the mighty AC & Inter Milan. Though the museum is somewhat disappointing as it fails to provide any information about the precious artifacts it houses (yes football is a religion!) the tour itself was well worth the money. We were guided around the stadium and were filled in on the rich history of the clubs and the stadium, and you can definitely see Berlusconi’s “modest”  influence on AC Milan.

The San Siro Stadium, home of AC Milan and Inter Milan

Now, ladies, I haven’t forgotten about the shopping and I don’t think I could if I wanted to. From the grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II housing the likes of Prada and Gucci, to the more affordable Corsa Buenos Aires rumoured to be the longest shopping street in Europe stretching 1.2km and featuring around 350 shops! I mean I like shopping but not that much – I’m content with a trip down Grafton Street. So with so many shops, it was inevitable I would part with some hard earned cash buying a t-shirt I’m coincidentally wearing whilst writing this. Shops close around 7pm which is a bit of a shame but after the day I’d had, that was fine by me. I grab another pizza from one of the numerous food shops off Corsa Bueno Aires and headed back to the hotel for a few Peronis and a well-earned kip.

Now I did this all in just a day, so imagine what you could do in 2 or 3-day city break to Milan. There is so much more to see and do in the city as well as being a great base for excursions to Switzerland, Lake Como, Lake Garda and Bergamo, Milan has just as much to offer (or even more) than the other great cities of Italy.

About the blogger

Hey, I’m Spencer White and I’m on an internship at ClickandGo. I’m like most people useless at writing about myself. Travel is a true passion of mine so I was pleased to share my experiences on this blog and hopefully, you enjoyed my take on Milan.

Ciao!

More information about Milan