Milan is calling…
With over 10 million tourists visiting the city in 2019, it’s clear Milan has a lot to offer. The city was founded around 400 BC and since then has become the second largest city in Italy and one of the world’s most important fashion capitals – what a place to visit! With plenty of incredible historical attractions to get your brain flowing and an abundance of restaurants, cafes and bars available afterwards to relax and take in your surroundings, you’ll never want to leave.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of our top picks in the city and some places you definitely won’t want to miss when visiting Milan.
Top Attractions
Italy is well known for its magnificent religious monuments, and Milan is no different with Duomo di Milano, also known as Milan Cathedral, being the most visited attraction in Milan, and from the photos alone it’s easy to tell why! Found in the heart of the city, this Gothic attraction is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world, and took five centuries to complete the build! Private tours can be booked, where you can discover more about the historical complex of the Cathedral. Perfect for getting to know the top spot of Milan a little better!
With Milan Fashion Week only filling 7 days in the year, you can get your fashion fix on the other 357 days of the year at The Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II. This elegant 19th Century shopping arcade houses some of the most luxurious boutiques in Milan and comes with some exquisite architecture – it would be a shame not to at least take a stroll through the arcade and take in the surroundings! Originally built between 1865 and 1877, the arcade is now full of well known brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vutton – but perhaps the most interesting part is the mosaic, found under the central dome, which has the Savoy coat of arms and other animals that represents some of Italy’s most important cities.
Looking to engage in more of the city’s history? We highly recommend stopping at the Castello Sforzesco, a 14th Century fortress that now houses one of the best museum collections in the city. Housing several museums, it’s a prime location if you’re wanting to learn about art, musical instruments, and archaeological objects from certain historical periods.
The sports lovers out there will already know that Milan is home to the infamous football stadium, the San Siro! The seating capacity of over 80,000 makes San Siro the largest stadium in Italy, and one of the largest in Europe. The stadium supports two football teams, A.C. Milan and Inter Milan so you’ll never be short of football games to attend.
Milan’s Gastronomy
Italy is always the place to be if you’re looking to indulge in some mouth-watering food, and Milan is no let-down. The culinary scene ranges from Milanese cuisine, which includes risotto and cotoletta, to Italian cuisine, with classics from pizza to pasta, and of course to ethnic cuisine, if you’re ever looking for an Italian twist on other culinary tastes. Milan pushes Italy’s culinary boundaries, making sushi and dim sum its own, and holds the highest number of Michelin stars in the country. With hundreds of restaurants, bars, and cafes to explore, you will not be short of choices. It’s a foodie’s heaven!
If you’re looking to check out one of the restaurants with a Michelin star, il luogo di Aimo e Nadia is a must-stop. What started off as a simple trattoria back in 1962 is now one of the most revered places in Milan – with not just one Michelin star, but two! They emphasise on imaginative reinterpretations of regional Italian dishes, including classics such as risotto, shrimp, and sicilian tomatoes. Classic, with a hint of a luxurious twist. If you’re looking for something a little different to classic Italian food, Gastronomia Yamamoto has you covered. From the lunch-time takeaway counter selling pre-made bento boxes to the full-service restaurant in the back, the Japanese staple found just behind the Duomo covers all the bases.
Now, you can’t go anywhere in Italy without trying the local gelato – and dessert really is a must. Pave Gelati, and their sibling pastry shop Pasticceria, have you covered. Pave pushes boundaries and flavours regularly – one day you could have your standard mint chocolate chip, the next day there could be apple sorbet or white chocolate with lime and salt on offer. The gelateria also has vegan options for our dairy free friends out there!
Bars & Nightlife
Milan is an incredibly young and cosmopolitan city and amongst the grand beautiful architecture is a wide array of night-time entertainment. The night life begins around 6-7pm with the aperitif, also known as happy hour, and the evening ending late – with some places open until 5am!
If you’re looking for a fun alternative spot, Intermezzo is the perfect place to get the colour you’re after. Featuring 70’s inspired furniture and a colourful pop-mural, and with handcrafted cocktails and tasty food bites available in the evening, this bar will get you geared up for exploring the rest of the city. If you enjoy cocktails but you want something a bit more whacky and out there, Nottingham Forest are the experts in molecular mixology. This bar has everything from day-glo cocktails, to drinks served in dry-ice topped test tubes to a tumbler that comes with an atomiser and instructions to spritz in the mouth before each sip. Perfect for the scientist in us all! Looking for relaxation instead? Milan has a large number of rooftop bars where guests can sip drinks overlooking breathtaking views of the city. The Terazza Aperol, found in the Il Mercato Del Duomo hotel, is a great place to grab a thirst-quenching cocktail whilst taking in breathtaking views of the Duomo during sunset.
If cocktails aren’t necessarily your thing, and you’re more of a wine person, fear no more for Italy has a strong wine history, and Milan loves wine! Cantine Isola, a combined bar and wine shop run by the Sarais family, has become a top wine spot in Milan. With hundreds of wine choices on offer, guests can often be found at the bar where whatever wine you’d like to try, will be opened, and you can sample some local snacks too. For late night stops, Milan’s clubbing scene continues in the early hours in the morning. VOLT is owned by fashion guru Claudio Antonioli and attracts an affluent crowd. Open over the weekend until 5am, the club welcomes in audiences for contemporary dance music – but be warned, they have a strict dress policy!
Fancy finding out more?
Can’t wait to visit Milan? Book your next incentive travel trip with the assistance of Panoptic. At Panoptic Events, we deliver world-class experiences cross-sector that amaze and inspire. We have the expertise, network and solutions to assist you with the design and implementation of travel, events, activities, tours, transportation and programme logistics. Simply tell us your story, and we will create your legacy. If you would like to find out more about our services, please get in touch at craig@panopticevents.com.
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