In this “Travel SMART” series of articles we discuss real-world travel plans for exploring popular locations in a cost-effective manner. SMART evaluates the Staying options, Mobility, Attractions, ROI (Return-On-Investment) and Transport options for planning the trip. This article focuses on travel plan based from Milan, Italy.
Milan is the second largest city and financial hub of Italy renowned for it’s gothic and renaissance architecture as well as a global capital of fashion and design.
Transport options – Milan is a major transportation hub with daily direct flights from major destinations like Paris, London, Istanbul in Europe or New York, Miami or Atlanta in USA. The largest airport is Milan Malpensa (MXP), over an hour from the City Center. And the smaller but nearer airport hub is Linate. Malpensa airport is almost an hour drive from City Center and can be accessed via hourly bus connections (15-25 Euro) or via car rented at the airport. A taxi will charge well over 120 Euros. The train station Milano Centrale has hourly fast trains leaving for popular destinations like Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples. Many tours are available originating near the train station visiting nearby regions of Lake Como, Bernina Pass and lake Garda for day trips.
Staying options – The Hilton Milan is located at the heart of the city right next to Milano Centrale station and few yards form the Metro stop. For a less expensive option close to the Malpensa Airpot you can opt for Hilton Garden Inn, Milan Malpensa.
Mobility – Milan’s metro system is efficient and covers most of the city’s key attractions. It’s the quickest way to travel long distances within the city. The city also has an extensive tram and bus network for places not directly accessible by the metro. With the BikeMi service, you can rent bikes for short periods, making it a convenient and eco-friendly way to explore the city. Like many other Italian cities, Milan has a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) where only authorized vehicles can enter. It’s generally advisable to avoid driving in the city center and rely on public transportation.
Attractions – Some of the key attractions to visit in Milan are listed below.
- Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano): An architectural marvel and the city’s most iconic landmark, this Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. Don’t miss the rooftop for panoramic views of the cityscape.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: One of the world’s oldest shopping malls and origin of renowned fashion brands such as Gucci, Versace and Prada. It’s adorned with mosaics, iron-and-glass roofs, and houses luxury boutiques, making it both a shopping and architectural attraction.
- Santa Maria delle Grazie: This church and Dominican convent is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famously home to Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “The Last Supper.”
- Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco): A fortress turned museum, it’s home to various art collections, including works by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The surrounding park, Parco Sempione, offers a green retreat in the city.
- Pinacoteca di Brera: An art gallery housed in a palatial building, it boasts a significant collection of Italian Renaissance art with works from artists like Raphael, Caravaggio, and Bellini.
- La Scala Opera: One of the world’s most famous opera houses, even if you don’t attend a performance, you can visit the attached museum to delve into its rich history.
- Navigli District: Known for its picturesque canals, this district becomes especially lively in the evening with its numerous bars, restaurants, and boutiques.
ROI (Return On Investment) – Some important factors when evaluating Milan are the ease of mobility, large number of attractions in central Milan and ease of driving out to nearby attractions outside the city. We found the following steps in our travel plan for using Milan as a base in Lombardy yielded a high ROI!
- Save on Overall transport cost by using a combination of public transport coming to and moving around Milan and using a rental car for trips outside the city when having 2 or more people ton a trip. Having a rental car will allow visit to other famous locations in the region like Como, Monza F1 track, Torino and other nearby regional attractions like Lake Garda, Verona or even Bernina Pass in Switzerland.
- Rent a car from the Milan Malpensa Airport if planning to take road trips outside the city. This avoids the busy city center and much easier to drive out of Milan. Google Map and walkable routes are sufficient for exploring most attractions.
- Use a credit card online or in Milan for your purchases that avoids international fees.
- When exploring central Milan, the shops around the Duomo are high priced but some do offer most sought after brands in fashion and fragrance. Most of the city attractions are relatively safe to explore and tourist friendly.
- Save on meals by choosing a hotel with free breakfast options. For example, Hilton Hotel chains have free breakfast for Hilton Honors members (free program with a downloadable app). The Hilton Garden Inn, listed among staying options, is close to the airport.
Enjoy the video below for a guide to Milan’s most iconic landmark – Duomo di Milano.