I have started a new section of this blog called, things to do and I think it’s time to add something to this lonely and bare section. My hopes for this section is to give advice about things to do in Milan or around Italy as well as some of my favorite things to do. So I thought I would do my first post in this section about my favorite things to do in Milan. Enjoy!
1. Duomo
If Milan is famous for at least one thing, it’s because of its Duomo. Every Italian city has a Duomo so it can get a little confusing but basically the main church of the city is considered the Duomo. The Duomo of Milan is very impressive. I have lived here for 3 years and I still can’t help but be in awe of it every time I see it. I mean I still take a photo of it every time I see it like I don't already have 500 on my phone. The Duomo is one of my favorite spots in Milan for many reasons. Number one being it’s a nice place to walk around. There are plenty of places to grab a coffee, shop or just simply sit and admire the Duomo. Number two, I would say the people watching. This is the tourist hotspot so you will get quite a few shows. You can see how many people are willing to take picture with pigeons or couples trying to take the perfect selfie while fitting the Duomo in the background. If you happen to be in Milan and it’s a nice day I highly recommend going to the top of Duomo. You can get a view of the whole city (weather and smog permitting) and you will have a close up look at the gothic statues and style of the church making for some great photo opportunities. If you want more amazing views check out the Aperol terrace where you can get a nice view of the Duomo and the piazza while sipping a spritz. Its worth the wait and the price for a nice afternoon or happy hour.
2. Navigli
Navigli literally translates to ships but the place I am actually talking about is a canal. Navigli is actually two canals but one is where all the action is. Naviglio grande, has all the shops, restaurants and bars worth visiting. Navigli is actually my favorite place to bar hop because
there are quite a few bars all very close together making it easy to meet up with friends and work your way up and down the canal. Besides bar hopping my favorite restaurant on the canal is La Prosciutteria. This place is meat and cheese heaven. Basically you pay per person and depending on how hungry you all are, you can order the happy hour (10 euros a head) or the dinner ( 15 euros a head) option. It’s always seasonal so it changes depending on when you go but you can always add something if there’s something particular that you like. I really like this place when there’s warm weather because there is a lot of outdoor seating and you can look at the canal and enjoy the atmosphere of Navigli. Other awesome things happening in Navigli would be their open markets. Every last Sunday of the month there is an antique market along the entire canal. Once a year in spring there is a flower market and I believe in the summer there is an art market. So many things happening in Navigli! Navigli is definitely worth the walk around. Warning: do not wear high heels or
hard to walk in shoes when going to Navigli because the road around the canals is all old cobblestone, even walking in tennis shoes can be tricky!
3. La Domenica al Museo
La Domenica al Museo is a movement all over Italy to start getting more families to visit museums. Every first Sunday of the month, museums operated by the state are free. This is
one of my favorite things to do because it allows me to visit different museums around Milan and for free (remember I am a baller on a budget). I do recommend getting an early start on first Sunday because a lot of people also like to take advantage of the day and unless you want to spend most of your day waiting in line its best to get there early and you might even be able to fit a couple museums in to your day. For my favorite museums I will be making another post about that so keep your eyes open. To find the museums that are free on the first Sunday I would do a fun little google search. I use beniculturali.it which is in Italian but you can search on the site by region and then by city. This site is the most reliable for being updated on this info so if you can’t read Italian I would definitely take advantage of google translate.
4. Parco Sempione
Parco Sempione is a large park in the center of Milan. At the front of the park there is a castle called Castello Sforzesco. You walk through the castle into a big courtyard then through the castle again and you come out into the park. The castle has a big moat around it which is just full of grass but if you look close enough you’ll see the stray cats living in them. Parco Sempione is my favorite place when it is warm outside. In the spring there is design week so there are food trucks and cools exhibitions to check out. In the summer there are other events often held in the park like concerts and food festivals. However, my favorite is just taking a blanket, some food and a deck of cards to find a nice spot in the grass. This park is large but it is nice for walking and its very close to Duomo and if you’re feeling extra walk-a-tive you can walk to other side of the park where there is Arco delle Pace and you can find some bars and restaurants if you’re not in a picnic mood.
5. San Siro Stadium
San Siro is a must visit whether its for a soccer match, a concert or just a tour. It is a massive stadium and it is beautiful. San Siro is home to 2 soccer teams, AC Milan and Inter. AC Milan is red and black and Inter is black and blue. These teams are very serious to the people of Milan. Twice a year there is a game called The Derby where these two teams battle it out at
San Siro. I haven't been to a Derby yet but I would like to go one day to experience the atmosphere. San Siro has also held some of the biggest concerts in Milan. Beyoncè, Ed Sheeren and Bruce Springsteen are just some of the people who have played in San Siro. So if you are visiting, I highly recommend checking out a soccer game(Inter would be preferred) or catching a concert but if neither of those options are available, take a tour because the stadium is worth seeing.
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