Milan in 24 hours – what to see, events, shopping – like a local

There is no such place like Milan: sparkling, twisting, chic and the ultimate destination in Italy.
We wrote an entire, trendy guide to this beautiful town and a whole lot of tips to discover Milan in 24 hours. Where to eat, where to shop, where to make out. Ain’t it cool?

Al tramonto su un vecchio tram...Our independent tips to discover Milan

10 reasons to visit Milan

Events you don’t want to miss from June to September

Hidden gems in Milan

Happy hour, breakfast, the best gelato in Milan

Shopping time in Milan

Out for dinner in Milan

Rainbow Milan: gay, lesbian (even better: GLBTQI)

Parks, gardens, sport and wellness in Milan

Excursions and trips from Milan

10 reasons to visit Milan asap

  1. sunsets are gorgeous
  2. there is A/C everywhere
  3. thousands of events are waiting for you
  4. Sales will drive you shopaholic from July 1st to August 30th
  5. get fit using bike sharing
  6. the city is quieter than ever
  7. hotels and BnBs offer special prices
  8. Palazzo Reale hosts a great exhibit on the 100th anniversary of la Rinascente
  9. you can have sushi outdoor
  10. Gae Aulenti square and Corso Como are the croisette of the North West

Events you don’t want to miss from June to September

Hunting for events? What if this summer you’d experience the city the Italian way, marrying the night and just letting go in the Italian city that never sleeps?

  • a night out dancing like granny at the Balera dell’Ortica, even better if for the Summer Swing Lab every Thursday
  • a concert at Carroponte in Sesto San Giovanni, from Tonino Carotone to Megadeth, through indie music
  • secret concert, in a stranger’s living room or in a loft
  • a Sunday devoted to local shopping, far away from shopping malls and outlets at WunderMrkt or at the East Market. Better than Camden Town!
  • go out for a walk along the Navigli
  • visit Albergo Diurno Venezia, a liberty abandoned place when it’s open
  • passion and erotism with Tango Illegal

There are so many more events to discover! Though we think there are other sites that can help you better than we do. Like Zero, a tiny little magazine full of ideas – you find it in almost every bar in Milan.

Hidden gems in Milan

What is worth seeing in Milan? The habits would suggest the Cathedral, the shopping street of Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the Galleria, the  Sforzesco Castle and of course the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Though, we prefer sharing with you our favorite ones:

  • Branca Tower
  • Brera’s Botanical Garden
  • Dialogue in the dark
  • VIPs and Stars footprints like the ones in Hollywood
  • The pink flamingos hidden in a private garden
  • The optic illusion in San Satiro’s church

To have a sneak peek of our tips, why don’t you download our free guide to Milan?

Enjoy happy hour, breakfast, the best gelato in Milan

When you travel like an Italian, you know this is the best part: enjoying your time on vacation and making the most out of your trip. We love to discover new places for a snack, a nice breakfast or a hot caffè that can become memorable.

Milano has hundreds of excellent bars, that change from day to night like theatrical sets. Hard to select a good mix from brunch to happy hour… there is so much to do! These are the places we like the most:

  • handmade, top quality dumplings in via Paolo Sarpi
  • croissants at Pavé
  • happy hour buffet at QCTerme SPA Milano in Porta Romana
  • chocolate ice cream gelato at Gelateria della Musica
  • focaccia baked by Princi
  • delicious mini-sandwiches by oTTo

MaxGuide Milan contains 10 places for snacks you don’t want to miss when you visit Italy and Milano!

Shopping time in Milan

Needless to talk about Via della Spiga or Via Montenapoleone luxury boutiques – we prefer to focus on the independent stores that make this city so special: from independent bookstores to jewelry shops. We really like:

  • The small jewelry shop Giolina e Angelo
  • An espresso between the shelves of the bookstore Libreria del Mondo Offeso
  • The never ending glamour of 10 Corso Como
  • The thousands of comics of SuperGulp

Out for dinner in Milan

Let’s not day it: traveling is tasting. Milan is THE city where different cuisines meet each other: from Southern Italy to japan-brazilian sushi. Tourists always touch base at Luini for their famous panzerotti, but we prefer giving some more tips, like…

  • Poetic-veg recipes by Clementina in her Capra e Cavoli
  • Spicy Salmon Burritos at Bomaki
  • Extra-terrestrial pizza at Pizza AM
  • The meatless burgers of Flower Burger
  • Milan’s cotoletta at Osteria Conchetta

Rainbow Milan: gay, lesbian (even better: GLBTQI)

There is no city in Italy as gay-friendly as Milan. Don’t hesitate to walk hands in hands, even between girls and boys. Locals won’t even notice.

  • go for a walk in Porta Venezia’s area. And have a drink at Lelephant or Mono.
  • hang out at the Ciringay, dreaming to be in Ibiza
  • check out the books at the libreria Antigone
  • if you’re in the mood more dancing (romancing), don’t miss Sunday night at Borgo this summer

Quattro passi sui Navigli? La nostra guida Milano vi consiglia anche questo. Discover Navigli area in Milan with our tips.Parks, gardens, sport and wellness in Milan

Two pages of MaxGuide are dedicated to a latin quote that says it all: mens sana in corpore sano – healthy mind in healthy body. The city isn’t just about the subway and the hectic people. You can practice Tai Chi in the woods or water ski at the Idroscalo, get a tan in the public pools or pampering yourself with a massage in a SPA. Our favorite places are:

  • Bagni misteriosi, near downtown and very stylish public pool
  • Bike sharing and cycling along the Navigli
  • The green area of Parco Sempione, loved by runners
  • Getting reborn at the Hammam della Rosa

Excursions and trips from Milan

If are planning to stay in Milan more than a weekend, think about visiting some places near the city and yet so different. The city is well connected to everywhere you might think about: the lakes, the mountains, the sea and all the most famous Italian art cities. Some of our ideas:

  • Cascina Caremma, a super organic farm with a SPA
  • Beautiful Genoa, 1.20 hours by train
  • Vigevano with the Ducale Square and a delicious Tea Shop
  • Monza, so close as a suburb, so magical as an Italian city

If you want some tips according to your travel plans, don’t hesitate to contact us through our Facebook Page. We will be very happy to assist. For free.

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