10 Things That Will Make Your Milan Trip Unforgettable

With its unique blend of fashion, culture, and architecture, Milan is the perfect city for an unforgettable short trip. From the breathtaking cathedral to the elegant shopping street Via Montenapoleone and culinary experiences for film enthusiasts - Italy's fashion capital has something for everyone to discover.

From major attractions to real insider tips: The travel reporter has compiled ten experiences, sights, and cool activities that should not be missing from any Milan trip.

It's as much a part of Milan as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris: the famous cathedral. The Gothic masterpiece built from light marble was constructed over six centuries and today rightly counts as one of the city's main attractions. Milan Cathedral is the second largest church in Italy, only surpassed by St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

The façade is already overwhelming - it becomes even more spectacular inside the cathedral and on the walkable roof. From there, you have an unparalleled view over the city, the spires, and decorations, and on a clear day, you can even see the Alps. Travel reporter tip: The best time to be up there is just before sunset when the light is soft and golden.

By the way, the best view of the cathedral is from the rooftop terrace of the luxury department store La Rinascente across the street. On the eighth floor, you can enjoy the fantastic view of the Gothic façade with a - admittedly not cheap - drink.

Address: Piazza del Duomo

Admission: 10 Euros for the church and museum; lift to the roof: 18 Euros (book your admission time slot online in advance)

Opening hours: daily 9 am to 6:30 pm

If you're visiting the fashion capital of the world, be sure to take a stroll through the 'Golden Rectangle'. This exclusive district includes the streets Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant'Andrea, and Via Montenapoleone. Here you'll find stores from the most famous Italian luxury brands like Prada, Versace, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana. The area also houses shops from international brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier, Tiffany, or Vivienne Westwood.

Even if the items in these stores are beyond your budget, it's worth strolling through this luxury district. Nowhere else will you see so many well-dressed people, expensive cars, and so much security - except during Fashion Week. The chances of bumping into models and celebrities are especially high here.

Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' is almost as famous as the Mona Lisa. And that you can still see it in Milan today is nothing short of a miracle. In 1494, Leonardo painted it on a wall of the dining hall in the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Although the church was bombed during World War II, and the ceiling and parts of the walls collapsed, they managed to protect the vault around 'The Last Supper' with a scaffold.

For over 22 years, the painting underwent extensive restoration, during which original details were restored. Today, many mysteries and conspiracy theories surround the work, one of the best known appearing in Dan Brown's hit novel 'The Da Vinci Code'. If you want to examine the painting yourself, you have to plan your visit well: Tickets are usually sold out three months in advance.

Address: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Via Giuseppe Antonio Sassi 3

Admission: On the museum's official website, tickets cost 15 Euros; guided tours from other providers start at 60 Euros.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 8:15 am to 7 pm

Pardon, bull testicles? You read that correctly! This pair of testicles is nearly as famous as the Milan Cathedral - and is located just a few steps away in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. With its towering vaulted ceiling, luxury shops, and glass dome, the shopping arcade opened in 1867 is already awe-inspiring.

Nevertheless, you should also look down during your visit: the floor features four large mosaics: a red cross on a white background for Milan, a wolf for Rome, a swan for Florence, and a bull for Turin. A superstition arose around the mentioned bull mosaic, claiming that touching the large testicles would bring fertility to women, and if men spin on them with their heels once around their axis, it would bring good luck. Today, a full spin counterclockwise brings luck - regardless of gender. The practice is so popular that there is usually a hole at that spot in the floor - even though the mosaic is regularly restored.

Address: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza Santo Stefano

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

He's known for films like 'Asteroid City', 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', or 'Moonrise Kingdom' - and in Milan, he's designed an entire bar. Fans of director Wes Anderson should not miss a visit to Bar Luce. Inspired by the coffee bars of the '50s, Anderson created a place with the nostalgic charm of past times.

The pastel color palette, laminate furniture, and retro pinball machines evoke the Italian pop culture and aesthetics of the 1950s and 1960s. Everything is meticulously staged - just like on a movie set. The menu includes specialties such as coffee, fresh paninis, sweet pastries, and cocktails.

Address: Bar Luce, Largo Isarco 2, in the entrance building of Fondazione Prada

Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday 8:30 am to 8 pm, Friday 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 8:30 pm

Prada, Gucci, Versace, and Co.: The luxury boutiques are inseparable from the city of fashion. But to dress as stylishly as the Milanese, you don't have to spend a fortune. Secondhand is the magic word!

The best flea market for hunting designer bargains takes place on the last Sunday of every month. Along the Naviglio Grande canal, numerous stalls are set up, where shopkeepers offer antiques, furniture, jewelry, books, and vintage clothing and accessories. You can check the upcoming dates online.

Alternatively, you can visit Milan's oldest flea market, Fiera di Sinigaglia, which takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm, also on the banks of the Naviglio Grande. Here, too, you can discover great vintage items and designer pieces from past decades in high quality.

During your Milan trip, you'll likely encounter some of the old trams: they clatter along the tracks and leisurely make their way through the hustle and bustle of the big city. Many of them are yellow - and strongly resemble the famous street and funicular trams of Lisbon. This similarity is no coincidence: the oldest models have been in service since 1927 and still feature the original wooden interior. Ventotto is the model of the tram, which also runs through San Francisco.

A ride in the nostalgic trams is an experience in itself. If you take Line 1, you'll additionally enjoy a city tour past the most famous sights. The section between the main train station and Arco della Pace is the most suitable for this. A single ticket costs 2.20 Euros, available at ATM machines and in the ATM app.

Since its founding in the 18th century, Teatro alla Scala has been one of Europe's most important opera houses. Anyone interested in classical concerts, operas, or ballet performances should not miss the opportunity to spend an evening in the luxurious hall of La Scala. This year, including the world-famous ballet 'Swan Lake'.

Depending on the performance, ticket prices start at 22 Euros. The catch: From the seats in the cheaper categories, you can't see the stage. Tickets for the full audio-visual experience start at 90 Euros.

If you don't want to spend that much money or are only interested in the elegant interior design, you can instead purchase a ticket for the theater's museum. For 12 Euros, you can then also visit the famous theater hall from the boxes on the third floor - but only if there are no rehearsals, performances, or public events taking place. You can check if this is the case on the theater's website before your visit.

Address: Largo Ghiringhelli 1, Piazza Scala

Opening hours: daily 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

North of the famous theater, the streets become narrower, the houses more colorful, and the atmosphere cozier: Here lies the Brera district, where the creative scene has settled. This is also noticeable in the many small shops, concept stores, and boutiques that invite you to browse. Additionally, there is a wide selection of cafés, bars, and restaurants where you can refuel and watch the hustle and bustle.

In good weather, a visit to the Botanical Garden is recommended, a true oasis of tranquility in the middle of the metropolis. The park is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and admission is free. Right behind it is the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Italy's most important art museums, with works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, and Rubens. Tickets cost 15 Euros and are often still available for the same day.

Every third Sunday of the month, there is also a flea market in the streets of the district, where you can hunt for vintage treasures, designer pieces, and antiques. The Brera market dates are announced on the associated Instagram page.

If you need a break from the city's hustle and bustle, we have a special and slightly creepy tip: In the Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa, there is a chapel whose walls are entirely covered with skulls and bones.

The ossuary was laid out in 1268 as a regular cemetery chapel. The remains of deceased patients from the municipal hospital were brought to the crypt beneath the church. When the bell tower of the neighboring Basilica Santo Stefano collapsed in the 17th century, the church and crypt were buried under rubble. Later, the church was rebuilt, and the exhumed bones from the graves and crypt were arranged on its walls. Truly bizarre!

Address: Chiesa di San Bernardino alle Ossa, Piazza Santo Stefano

Admission: free

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9:30 am to 6 pm

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