Travel Diaries : How To Spend 48 Hours In Milan! (+ Pictures)

Fashion capital of the world or not, Milan has the kind of understated charm that takes a while to appreciate. Milan is different from other Italian cities – it is urban, young, and cool, and although it is often perceived by tourists as industrial and boring, there is really so much to do and see.

My stay in Milan was just for two days but I just needed to see the famous Duomo Cathedral and its corresponding sights and I would be satisfied.

So, without further ado, here is my story on a short visit to the coolest city in Italy. In this post you will read about my experiences and first impressions of the two main attractions in Milan, what I ate, how I got around and where I stayed.

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Getting to the city from the airport :

Upon arrival at the Malpensa airport, getting to the city centre was easy. We used a shuttle bus which cost 8 euros per person (as opposed to 150 euros for an Uber).

Stay :

We Stayed at a very cozy apartment in Central Milan and they had the cutest wall art. It came with all the necessities; toiletries, kitchen appliances, etc. It was just a short walk from Loreto metro station which is 10-15 mins away from Duomo.

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Getting Around :

Since all the interesting places in the city can be reached by foot or with public transportation, we had enough places and corners to feed our eyes with. The Metro in Milan is very comfortable to use. A train ride costs 1.50 Euro and the ticket is valid for 90 minutes from the moment it is first validated before getting on the train.

If you’re planning on taking more than 2 rides a day, you’ll be better off buying the daily pass, valid for any and all of the public transportation lines within the city {that includes the metro, bus, and the suburban line}. It costs only 4.50 Euro and is good for 24 hours. The tickets {both one-time and daily} can be purchased in the machines found  at metro stations. To avoid any sort of uncomfortable confrontation or getting fined, make sure to validate your ticket in the correct machine before you get on any public transport.

If you still prefer to take taxis, note that the taxis in Milan are white and marked with a roof sign. Milan’s taxis also have a fixed rate upon entering the taxi and it is increased according to the meter. Keep in mind that the fixed rate is doubled during the night shift and can become pretty expensive.

Exploring The Magnificent Duomo Cathedral

You know when you have been anticipating something and then the feeling of seeing it is exactly how you imagined it to be? That’s exactly how I felt when my eyes graced this famous structure. I was awed and my heart swole at the sight. It is one of those feelings I can never forget.

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Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity (Santa Maria Nascente), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Archbishop Mario Delpini. The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the largest church in Italy (the larger St. Peter’s Basilica is in the State of Vatican City), the third largest in Europe and the fourth largest in the world.

-Wikipedia

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I didn’t get to go into the cathedral because the tickets were not being sold anymore. But I suggest you do so, if you really get the chance to.

The Duomo at night was also very pleasing to look at. It is an amazing experience to see the beautiful details of this powerful structure from up close. If you ask me, when in Milan, going up to the Duomo’s doors and terrace is an absolute must.

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The funniest and weirdest thing happened to me at the Piazza (square) : While I was taking pictures and admiring the view, I was approached by a very nice young guy who asked to help take my pictures. I was skeptical at first, but when I saw the result of the first picture, I relaxed and went for it. He then gave me some corn to feed the pigeons and in that moment, I forgot my sanitary fears and went for it. It was so scary and I screamed, alot. But, after a while, all the pecking became a natural thing to me. The outcome of this experience taught me to be very open and learn to say YES to trying out new things.

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Exploring The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Right next to the Duomo is the oldest mall in Italy: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The galleria, which opened in 1877, is named after the first king of united Italy and is built in a classic neo-renaissance style with marble, iron and glass. The impressive architecture, which combines wall paintings, mosaic floors and a high glass ceiling, is exceptionally classic and simply hard to take your eyes off. In addition to the beauty and prestigious atmosphere of the hall, there are many cafes and restaurants, and of course, we have the spectacular windows of the many designer stores, jewellery stores, and art galleries.

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The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II contains brands such as Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, as well as other high-end boutiques. It also houses numerous well-decorated restaurants, including some of the oldest establishments of Milan such as Café Biffi, founded in 1867.

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Click here to watch my Instagram stories I posted while I was there.

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EAT

I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t photograph a lot of my food while in Milan, but that didn’t mean I didn’t try out famous italian dishes. Of course, I had a pizza slice, an espresso and the best seafood pasta I have ever had in my life.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Please share it on facebook and save the links to share with your friends when you visit.

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1. 

   Great write up. Kudos!!

2. 

   Thank you so much, Jayjay! I can’t wait to put out the next post!

3. 

   Great post Ash! Can’t wait to see the outcome of the wallpaper design. Also, please share your favorite content creators!

4. 

   Thank you, Rachel. It surely was!

5. 

   Looks like it was a lot of fun, Ash! Great post!