Andrea is one of our local ambassadors for Milan, the fashion capital of Europe. He adores his city and loves sharing his passion for it. We asked him a bunch of questions about what to see, what to skip, and more.
When is the best time to visit Milan? Early winter because it’s usually sunny and not too cold; it’s the best time of year for walking outside and enjoying everything the city has to offer.
What are three things every visitor should see or experience?
1. Take a tour of the city centre. Besides admiring Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and our beautiful cathedral, the Duomo, you should just wander around and soak up the atmosphere. If you’re interested in hearing interesting stories and learning little-known facts, I recommend hiring a local guide or joining a walking tour.
2. Spend a night out in the Navigli district. It’s the city’s main nightlife spot, with many different pubs, bars, and clubs to check out. Don’t miss the Darsena – a newly renovated dock where you can wander and have a drink in the open air.
3. Take a walk along Corso Buenos Aires. One of the main streets of Milan, it connects the Loreto district with the Porta Venezia district and is a great place for shopping! The shops aren’t as expensive as the ones in the city centre, but you can still find most famous brands. And if you don’t care about shopping, there are also some good places to visit and eat.
Photo credit: Paolo Margari
What’s your favourite hidden gem? Santa Maria presso San Satiro. It’s a small church that looks pretty average from the outside, but there’s a great piece of art inside. It’s really interesting to watch people’s reactions when they see it!
What’s the biggest tourist trap? The restaurants in the city centre. They usually serve average-quality food (if not worse) at exaggerated prices. If you want to eat well for a reasonable price, try to get out of the central area.
Where can I enjoy amazing views? Palazzo Lombardia. The views from the 39th floor are sensational; you can see everything in the city from a 360-degree perspective. And if you come on a sunny day, you’ll be able to see the mountains close to Milan!
What’s your favourite way to spend a sunny day in Milan? I love to walk around the Cimitero Monumentale cemetery and admire the various architectural styles of the tombs, visit the graves of famous people, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Photo credit: Marco
What do you like to do when the weather is bad? I love to visit Museo del 900 when the weather is bad. With a great collection of 20th-century artworks, you can actually see how art and its concepts have changed over the years. There are cubist and futurist paintings alongside abstract, postmodern sculptures, as well as one of the most important pieces of Italian conceptual art: Merda d’Artista by Piero Manzoni.
What’s a fun way to impress someone in Milan? When I want to impress someone, I take them to San Bernardino alle Ossa. Nobody expects to visit a small chapel covered in skulls and bones, but after spending some time inside, they love it! Locals will tell you that it’s best not to visit on the night of November 2 – there’s a legend that says a baby’s skull will begin to talk, bringing all of the skeletons to the front square for a ‘danse macabre’.
I want to try authentic local cuisine. Where should I go and what should I order? You should go to Osteria Madonnina and order Ossobuco alla Milanese (braised veal shank served with saffron risotto and beef marrow) and Cotoletta (breaded veal cutlet). Another typical dish is Cassoeula (a stew of different pork cuts and cabbage). If you want to try great gelato, visit Gelato Giusto – it’s the best ice cream shop in Milan and one of the best in all of Italy!
What’s the best way to get around? By metro. We have four lines (a fifth is under construction) that reach pretty much every spot worth visiting. Buses are useful for getting to areas where there aren’t metro stops. You can buy a daily public transport ticket for €4.50 and you can use it everywhere.
What is the most common misconception about your city? Milan has a reputation for being a grey, foggy, and sad city with nothing to do or see, where people only live to work. In reality it’s a great city with many interesting spots to visit and places to have fun. You just have to know where to go!
How can you tell if someone’s from Milan? You know someone’s from my city if they say it twice. Since many people who live in the suburbs say they’re from Milan even though they don’t really live there, real Milanese people started saying they’re from Milano Milano to indicate that they actually live in the city.
What is your city famous for? San Siro! It’s one of the best-known stadiums in Europe and the home of both Milan football clubs: Inter and AC, two of the most famous and strongest teams in the world. Matches here are always spectacular to see, but it’s also possible to take a tour of the stadium – a thrilling experience in itself!
Tell us an interesting fact about Milan! Over the centuries Milan has been ruled by different countries, including Spain, France, and Austria. That’s why Milanese culture shares some similarities with these three nations. The main example is the Milanese dialect – it’s a mix of Italian, Spanish, French, and German!
If I want to get out of the city for a day, where should I go? There are many nearby cities worth visiting. Monza is a small city close to Milan with a very big park (one of the biggest in Europe), plus it’s where the F1 Grand Prix is held, while Como is a nice lakeside city that’s loved by many Hollywood stars.
Photo credit: Ezio
Can you recommend somewhere for a tasty budget meal? At Il Brutto Anatroccolo you can enjoy typical home-style cuisine for just a couple of euros. The atmosphere is friendly and retro, plus you’ll be surrounded by locals. It’s also close to one of the main nightlife areas – the Navigli disrict!
Where to go for cheap drinks? Visit the Saloon of the Artists for the cheapest shooters in the city. Other drinks are more expensive, but they’re still cheaper than the local average. Besides, the atmosphere is great; there are lots of people to talk to, friendly bartenders, and many fun drinking games!
Where to go for a classy night out? Go to Nottingham Forest for some drinks – it’s the 4th-best bar in the world! The bartenders create amazing and inventive molecular cocktails featuring strange colours, flavours, and effects. It’s not very cheap, but it’s definitely worth it!
What are some great local nightlife spots? Colonne di San Lorenzo is fantastic. It’s a big square where people meet at night to drink, talk, play music, and have fun until the crack of the dawn. You can bring your own drinks, but don’t worry if you forget – the square is surrounded by many bars where you can buy drinks to-go.
What do you recommend for culture buffs? Museo Poldi Pezzoli. It’s located very close to the city centre and is actually a mansion owned by a rich family who collects art from all over the world. Another place you shouldn’t miss is Pinacoteca di Brera. It houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in Italy!
What should history lovers see? Castello Sforzesco is a must! Located very close to the city centre, this castle holds a very important place in the history of Milan. If you hire a guide, they’ll amaze you with the details of what has happened there over the centuries. And if this isn’t reason enough to visit, there are many themed museums inside the castle’s rooms, plus there’s a great park behind it!
Photo credit: Mario Cutroneo
What’s your favourite green spot? It would have to be Parco Portello. While it’s not that easy to reach, it’s one of the best parks in Milan! Recently built on the grounds of a disused factory, it’s the perfect place to take a nice walk. There are three hills of different shapes to climb, each with a spot at the top where you can rest and enjoy great views of the city. And in one corner of the park there’s a small garden themed on the passing of time. It’s a great spot to visit in spring when the flowers are blooming – it’s a spectacular sight!
Is there anything else you think visitors should know? To discover the real Milan, you must step off the tourist trail. You should find a local friend who can show hidden spots, take you to unknown beautiful areas, and tell you fun facts about the places you visit. Many of the loveliest and most interesting places are hidden around the city – you’ll miss the best things if you just stick to the guidebooks!
For more local recommendations read:
What locals like to do in Milan
Where locals like to eat in Milan
Where locals like to party in Milan
Special tip:
For a more authentic Milan experience, get the Like A Local mobile app
Cover photo credit: Angel