we are flying into Milan, end of March for only three days as we are then heading to Venice.
Would love to hear some recommendations on what you would do for three days in Milan and what hotel would be the most centrally located. We love good food we love having a sense of every day life and seeing a few beautiful sites… Only have three days there.
I've stayed at the Hotel Gran Duca di York on 2 different trips. It's about a 5-minute walk to the Duomo and directly across the street from the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana if that is of interest to you.
I enjoyed seeing the Last Supper - book tickets from the official site although this is late in the process so they may be sold for your days. It took me under 30 minutes to walk from the hotel to the Last Supper location.
I did the roof of the Duomo in spite of a fear of heights. I bought the combo ticket so did the elevator to the roof (which does not go all the way to the highest part of the roof), the interior of the Duomo, the excavation part at the front of the Duomo. It also covered the Duomo Museums but I ran out of time so did not see them.
Sorry, no food recommendations. I'm not a foodie.
Another vote for Duca di York
We had 2 nights in Milan, really just an evening and a day for sightseeing. Stayed at Hotel La Madonina, a block south of Duomo square. Saw the Last Supper, toured the Duomo, the roof, the crypt, the historic shopping arcade, had a Negroni at the place where they were invented, toured La Scala but didn’t get to see a performance. So you should be able to see plenty! Good luck!
Go to Ciacco for gelato. So good. Really creative flavors.
I'd include the San Maurizio church, a truly beautiful, jewel-box of a church.
Third vote for the Gran Duca di York. For dinner ask the desk to get a reservation at Nerino Dieci Trattoria around the corner from the Gran Duca di York. For lunch try Salsamenteria di Parma, Via Ponte Vetero 11, near the Duomo.
We were in Milan last April. I went there specifically to fulfill a long-held desire to see the Last Supper (which was great), but as it turns out my highlight was probably the Duomo (especially the rooftop). As far as a sense of everyday life, we enjoyed just walking about the neighborhoods, and then popping in to a local cafe or taking a seat on a park bench. We thought that it was much easier to observe "every day life" in Milan than it was in Venice, which seems like it is all just one big tourist attraction. Don't get me wrong, I loved Venice, but am just acknowledging what I perceived to be a big difference between the two cities.
"We thought that it was much easier to observe "every day life" in Milan"
So funny you said that. Milan was one of the first time's I'd followed the CityMapper app along a walking route. I was a little worried, me (old lady) and my phone on a sidewalk where I didn't know the way. I was going to an early entry time for the Last Supper so got out onto the sidewalk and it was me an all the 20-30 something Milanese heading to work, all with their phones out. I laughed so hard. I did not actually blend in but I was doing it, lol!!
