Best restaurants in Milan: where to eat on your first trip
Where to eat in Milan by need, from risotto and cotoletta trattorie to Milan's only three-Michelin-star restaurant, plus coperto, tipping and booking rules.
Your first trip to Milan, planned by a local
Tickets, neighborhoods, trains and day trips to Lake Como, checked by someone who lives here.
Start here
How to get from Malpensa to Milan
The Malpensa Express costs €15 and reaches Milan in 37 to 57 minutes. Compare it with the bus, the €114 fixed taxi fare and private transfers.
How to take the train from Milan to Venice
The fastest Milan to Venice trains take about 2h15 to 2h30. Booked five weeks ahead, our cheapest Frecciarossa fare was €19.90 against €49 next day.
One day in Milan, hour by hour
One day in Milan on foot: Duomo rooftop at 9am, Galleria, La Scala, Brera or the Last Supper, Sforza Castle and Navigli aperitivo, plus a Monday plan.
Lake Como boat tours compared, from the public ferry to private boats
A central lake ferry day pass costs €17.50, shared tours start around €35 an hour. How public ferries, shared tours, private boats and rentals compare.
How to do a Lake Como day trip from Milan without a tour
Milan to Varenna is 65 minutes by direct train for €7.40. Trains, ferry day passes, a sample route via Varenna and Bellagio, and when a tour is worth it.
Explore Milan
- Food & drinkRestaurants, aperitivo, Milanese dishes and nightlife.
- Getting aroundAirports, trains, metro and tickets: how to move around Milan and northern Italy.
- Day tripsThe best day trips from Milan by train or tour, with times and costs.
- Plan your tripPractical advice for a first trip to Italy: budget, safety, seasons, phones and passes.
- ShoppingFashion streets, outlets and markets in Milan.
- EventsChristmas markets, fashion week, design week and the yearly events worth planning around.
Latest guides
Milan airports: Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo compared
Milan has three airports. Flights from the US land at Malpensa (MXP), Linate is 12 minutes from the center by metro, and Bergamo serves Ryanair.
How to take the train from Milan to Florence
High-speed trains from Milan to Florence take 1h43 to 1h54. Our cheapest Frecciarossa fare was €21.90 five weeks ahead and €56 for the next day.
How to take the train from Milan to Rome
The fastest Milan to Rome trains take 2h50 to 3 hours. Our cheapest Frecciarossa fare fell from €95 for the next day to €37.90 when booked five weeks ahead.
Two days in Milan: an itinerary with Brera and the Last Supper
2 days in Milan: the Duomo, its museum and Brera on day 1, the Last Supper, Sforza Castle and the Navigli on day 2, or swap day 2 for Lake Como.
First time in Italy? A practical checklist for Americans
First trip to Italy: your passport must be valid 3 months past departure, ETIAS is not running yet, and 112 is the emergency number. The full checklist.
How much does a trip to Italy cost? A Milan budget with real prices
A day in Milan costs about €42 per person on a budget and €125 mid-range before your hotel. Unit prices, the math, and what a 3-night stay for two adds up to.
Milan Duomo tickets: which one to buy, prices and rooftop access
Milan Duomo tickets cost €10 for the cathedral and museum and €22-26 with the rooftop. Which ticket to buy, lift or stairs, hours and the dress code.
How to get Last Supper tickets in Milan
Official Last Supper tickets cost €15 and sell out weeks ahead. When new dates go on sale, how to book, and what to do if every slot is gone.