We stopped by Milan after a week of exploring Switzerland before the next leg of our journey through Northern Italy. It was impossible to see Milan in only 48 hours but we did our best to see the highlights. See how we spent 2 days in Milan!
Where to Stay
Milan is a big city with plenty of accommodation options. We booked two nights at the Westin Palace Milan. The plush king size bed and the large shower were so inviting and allowed us to indulge a bit. Plus, the location was pretty great and walking distance to most sites.
Best Things to Do in Milan in 48 Hours
(1) Enjoy drinks and dinner along the canals in the Navigli district: We got into the city in the late afternoon and after freshening up at the hotel, we walked over to the Navigli district for a negroni and some dinner.
(2) The next day, we explored the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: We walked from our hotel through the beautiful Indro Montanelli Garden and along the shopping streets to the Galleria. We sipped an espresso at one of many outdoor cafes in the Galleria and spent some time people watching – tourists carrying their recent Prada or Gucci purchases, the very dapper Italian gentlemen in their skinny suits and thin briefcases, and the many street hawkers selling their wares.
(3) Climb the Duomo di Milano: We then headed to the famous Duomo. We took the stairs up to the roof top terrace of the cathedral (or you can take an elevator for a fee). The architecture was one of a kind and the views were amazing. I loved being able to see the contrast between the old Italian architecture and the newly built modern structures in the city.
(4) See Leonard da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”: We then walked to Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie to see this masterpiece in all of its glory and learned more about the painting and history.
(5) Enjoy delicious Italian fare at Da Giacamo: We ended the evening with a lovely dinner at Da Giacamo in Zona Risorgimento before walking back to our hotel.
The next morning, we grabbed a quick espresso at a local cafe and then we were off to the train station to Cinque Terre (check out more of time in Cinque Terre).
Despite our very short visit, Milan was so good to us and was a great start to our time in Italy!
One response to “How to Spend 48 Hours in Milan: Our Perfect 2 Day Itinerary”
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