Travelling to European cities for mini vacations is a massive love of mine. There is so much to see within a very short flight from the UK. If Milan is on your bucket list then my list of what to do in Milin in 2 days will be a huge help.

What To Do In Milan In 2 Days

Booking European Mini-Breaks

Flying to Milan from the UK for me was really simple. I took a budget friendly flight with Easyjet from my local airport which is London Gatwick Airport.

I always tend to book accommodation for short city breaks via Booking.com but AirBnB is also a good option. This is just my personal preference but I’m not particularly fussy about the accommodation. As long as it is clean, safe and well located I tend to book as cheaply as possible as I don’t really spend much time there.

When travelling abroad make sure you check out any restrictions with laws just to be safe. Also, always have a way to deal with unexpected emergencies.

Is 2 days enough to see Milan?

When booking mini-breaks in Europe I book flights so I have 3 days and 2 nights at my destination. Early morning flights there and evening flights home, so you can make the most of the flying days. This amount of time is perfect for cities like Milan. With transport links being so good, getting around Milan from destination to place of interest was no issue. The majority of the city is flat and walking around using google maps was really simple as well.

If you plan your places of interest and visit based on the area you can fit in so much in a long weekend. A lot of the main attractions in Milan are the city centre which makes 2 days a great length of time to visit the city.

The public transport is also really efficient, and reliable to get around the city. I didn’t need to use any taxis while there. The tram service is brilliant and the most practical mode of transport, and the subway trains were great too.

What to see in Milan

Milan is known as the fashion capital of the world and is filled with high end and luxury designer shops. However, it is also rich in history and culture with some of the world’s best architecture. Whilst walking around the city of Milan you will notice the incredible architecture of the town along with many well known shops and brands.

Sforzesco Castle

This magnificent castle is a must see attraction, whether you do a walking tour or just walk the grounds yourself. It was built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza. It was once one of the largest citadels in Europe when during the 16th and 17th centuries it was renovated and expanded.

Serving once as the royal palace, housed prisoners as well as served as the military fortress.

The castle itself is made up of interconnecting buildings and beautiful gardens.

Sempione Park

Sempione Park is right in the centre of Milan. It is the largest and by far the most popular park placed right by the Sforzesco Castle. When I visited there was a huge funfair on Saturday and the park was very busy. Despite being busy there was still a pleasant environment and moving around the park still seemed to flow with ease.

It seemed to be a very popular picnic spot with families. There were also snack wagons at various points as you go through the park so a great spot to meet up with friends.

Arco della Pace

The Arco della Pace is a huge arch sited at the main gates of the park. It was built in 1807 by Luigi Cagnolato to commemorate the French victory over the Austrian to echo the Arc du Triomphe in Paris.  Made purely of white marble it is quite the site. It is one of the most important neoclassical monuments in the city and translates to mean The Arch of Peace.

A lot of the transp[ort links especially the trams come to this point and all around these park gates are cafes and restaurants.

Duomo de Milano

Duomo de Milano is the majestic cathedral church and the centrepiece of Milan. The cathedral has very Gothic Renaissance architecture and is made up of 135 spires and an incredible 3,400 statues.

The construction on the Duomo de Milano started in 1386 and wasn’t completed until 1965. It stands at a whopping 108 metres tall and 92 metres wide.

Visiting the cathedral is a must and you need to pre-buy tickets from the local shop or online, you can not pay at the doors. There are a few different options for tickets with the rooftop being limited to a certain amount per day, so get there early or buy the day before if you want to go up onto the rooftop to see the views. Also, be prepared to queue to gain entrance even with your ticket you will likely have to queue up again.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery based in the centre of town. It was designed in 1861 and took 12 years to complete.

In the shopping centre, you can find many high-end and luxury shops along with some more affordable brands, as well as many cafes and restaurants. Around Christmas time the centre looks particularly enchanting filled with festive lighting.

Shops and restaurants seem to stay open until quite late and you will usually find a few street buskers and performers keeping crowds entertained.

Cimitero Monumentale

The monumental cemetery is one of the two largest cemeteries in Milan. It is admired for the host of artistic tombs and monuments.

Originally designed to combine a host of smaller cemeteries around the city into one central spot. It is more of an artistic open-air museum rather than a cemetery. You will find a number of famous graves including Franco Moschino the fashion designer and Franca Rame a political activist and actress.

To gain entry to the cemetery you need to go through a neo-Medieval style building made of marble. Entry is free however, you might want to consider taking the guided tour if you are curious about the famous graves.

If you enjoy museums and cultural spots there are a whole host more in Milan city centre. Mostly within walking distance from each other which is ideal to keep you busy.

• Da Vinci’s The Last Supper
• La Scarla Opera House
• The World of Leonardo
• Villa Necchi Campiglio
• Leonardo’s Vineyard

This isn’t an exhaustive list of museums, being such an old city there are a lot of museums scattered around the town.

Milan City Break

Milan is a very friendly city and English is widely spoken, I didn’t come across any scenarios where a language barrier caused an issue. The currency used in Milan is Euros and everywhere I shopped or ate had a contactless payment option which seemed to be the preference over cash.

When travelling it is always advisable to get travel insurance just in case an incident happens. I tend to buy an annual policy as I usually go on a few trips a year and this works out as the cheapest option overall.

A Milan city break would suit a variety of people. It is an extremely romantic city and could be an idyllic couple’s getaway. Equally a shopping trip with friends or even a family mini-break.

For me, this was a very budget friendly trip and equally, I found the food placers I ate to be affordable too. As you would expect to find in Italy the pizza and pasta were delicious. Gelato and ice cream parlours didn’t disappoint either. The only alcohol drank on the trip was of course Aperol Spritz, which seem to be slightly different in each venue, and beer which was nice too.

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