MILAN : 10 THINGS TO DO

10 THINGS TO DO IN MILAN

1. Go to see the Duomo. The Duomo of Milan is the cathedral – a truly impressive building with beautiful architecture. You can also enter inside for €3, and if you want to go to the terrace, it will cost you €10. If you'd like to see the Duomo from even higher, you can visit the restaurant/bar rooftop of the mall La Rinascente, or inside the Museo del Novecento, you'll find a nice view of the Duomo.

2. Visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This is Italy's oldest active shopping mall, and it's located right next to the Duomo. The architecture of the gallery is simply incredible. On the floor in the middle of the gallery, you will find the famous little bull mosaic. Legend says that if you spin around three times with your heel on the bull's testicles, it will bring you luck and good fortune.

3. Walk in the cute streets of Brera. Brera is a district with old-school Italian charm. The pedestrian area of Brera is lovely to discover. You will find restaurants, designer shops, antique shops, artisan workshops, art galleries, etc. Brera is also known as the artistic heart of the city, and every third Sunday of the month, there is an antique market.

4. Have an aperitivo in Navigli. Navigli is a cute neighborhood with canals in south Milan. On each side of the canals, you'll find a flea market on the last Sunday of every month. But Navigli is also famous for its bars that offer aperitivo time. Aperitivo time is really important in Italian culture. Aperitivo is the concept of drinking and eating small dishes and finger food at the same time; it usually happens from 5 pm onwards. We had our aperitivo at Spritz Navigli, which was really good value and crowded. The aperitivo deal cost €11, which included one drink and free access to the buffet with a large choice of food

5. Visit the Castello Sforzesco. The castle was built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan. It's a beautiful castle with tons of history that we really advise you to visit. This monument of Milan, located on the north side of the city, is a 15-minute walk from the Duomo. The entrance is free, so you can just walk around and see most of the site without charge. Inside, you'll find exhibitions, events, and many museums: the museum of archaeology, ancient art, decorative art, etc., with tickets starting from €5. And behind it, you have the big and beautiful Parco Sempione.

6. Visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This church and Dominican convent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture of this church is beautiful, and you can enter for free. The church also contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. To see it, you will have to buy a ticket that costs from €10 and needs to be booked in advance.

7. Go to a museum. Milan is the city of art and design. You will find many museums all around the city. Here is our selection of museums, but there are so many more:

• Museo del Novecento - showcases 20th-century international art, including pieces from Arte Povera, Spatialism, and Futurism - Ticket €5
• Armani/Silos - Discover the aesthetic philosophy of Giorgio Armani through his unique creations - Ticket €12
• Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci - the largest science and technology museum in Italy, dedicated to Italian painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci - Ticket €10
• Pinacoteca di Brera - main public gallery for paintings with a large collection of Italian paintings - Ticket €10
• Leonardo3 - Discover Leonardo Da Vinci, the artist and inventor, with working models of his machines and digitalized restorations of his paintings - Ticket €12
• Museums of the Castello Sforzesco include the Pietà Rondanini Michelangelo, Museo d'Arte Antica, Museo dei Mobili e delle Sculture Lignee, Museo delle Arti Decorative, Museo degli Strumenti Musicali, Museo Archeologico, etc. - Ticket €5 And also, if you like design like us, we advise you to go to Milan during Design Week, which happens in April, and there are many exhibitions and events around the city.

8. Take the old tramway. In Milan, you will find both new and old tramways; we love the fact that they also maintain the old ones. Most of the tramways pass through or terminate around Piazza Duomo. One ticket costs €1.50, but you can also take a day pass that costs €4.50 and gives you access to tramways, the metro, and buses.

9. Do some shopping. Italian fashion is famous around the world; you will find many fashion designer shops and famous Italian brands, as well as more affordable brands.

• Behind the Duomo, follow the street Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. You will find affordable brands such as Kiko Milano, Intimissimi, Calzedonia, Max Mara, etc.
• In the North East Center, between Via Montenapoleone, Via Senato, Via Sant'Andrea, and Via Monte Napoleone, you will find designer and luxury brands such as Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada, etc.

10. Eat at Panzerotti Da Luini. In a little street next to the Duomo, you will find the bakery Panzerotti Da Luini – an icon of Milan with always a queue in front. There, you can eat panzerotti, which are pastries filled with sweet or savory fillings. The most popular sweet one is the Nutella panzerotto, and the most popular savory one is tomato and mozzarella. It's simply delicious and cheap! One panzerotto costs €2.50.

P.S.: If you like cocktails, we recommend these two iconic bars: The first is Bar Basso; it's the bar where the Negroni Sbagliato was created, definitely the best place if you are a Negroni lover. The second is Nottingham Forest, a mixology bar where you will discover creative cocktails.