Milan for 2 nights - where to stay, what to see?

Be sure to go on the roof of the Duomo and see the Galleria next door. You will love the Best of Italy tour!

We've stayed at the Best Western Hotel Madison very near Milano Centrale and would do so again: great for quick in and out of the city by train. Clean, nice room, nice desk staff, and inexpensive (I haven't checked current rates).

Recommended to see:
Basilica di San Ambrogio: very old and interesting. The carved capitols on the pillars in the arcade are fascinating; each one is different!

Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore: another very old (11th century) church built on top of the remains of a Roman amphitheater, and which retains its original 4th-century footprint.

Kathy and Yosemite,
Thanks for your suggestions. I will look up the hotel, glad that it is near the train station making it easy to get to Varrenna for the tour. Also, I love exploring old churches and cathedrals in Europe.
What is the best way to get to Milan from the airport? Malpensa I believe is the airport I will fly into. I have not booked my air flights just yet. I wanted to know if there is enough to do to warrant a 2 night stay in Milan. I do want to see the Last Supper, is there a day of the week when it is closed? And, I want to go to the opera at La Scala as I believe the season is in full swing then. I will be there Friday and Saturday nights, October 7 and 8. I do not have RS guidebook to Italy yet.

Thanks!
Judy B

Hotel Berna always gets good reviews, near Milano Centrale. Visit the Castello Sforzesco, too. Have dinner at Ristorante Settembrini 18, at Via Settembrini 18, near the hotel.

The Brera Gallery and the Ambrosiana Library/gallery are both wonderful collections. If I had to choose one of them, I think the collection of the Brera is stronger. (The Brera was started as a repository for the art being seized from monasteries/churches at nationalization, so it is particularly strong in religious art.)

From Malpensa take the Malpensa Express train from the airport train station to Milano Centrale station. Make sure you get the right train, another one goes to Milano Cadorna station in a different part of town. The train goes very half hour and costs 12 euro at this time and takes about 50 minutes.

The aforementioned Hotel Berna is walking distance from the station and just 100 yds from a Metro Station. Very nice, but check prices to get to your 100 euro/nt price point. Might be higher depending on what conventions are going on in Milan. There are a couple of hotels on the same street for a bit less and are also nice. http://hotelberna.com/en/best-deals/?gclid=CIm44ICg4ckCFYcWHwod5HQDOQ

La Scala is not showing anything on their calendar right now. That will be the 2016-17 season which may not be scheduled yet. http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/season/2015-2016/index.html

The restaurant Antica Osteria Cavallilini is nearby and quite good. http://www.anticaosteriacavallini.it/

Train to Varenna leaves from Milano Centrale station.

Thank you all so much for your help!

One more thing - any tips for the Last Supper? How far in advance should I make reservations to see it? You have given me detailed information that will really help me make a decision.
Judy B

I've been to Milan a couple times as a solo and I stay at the Hotel Berna or the Garda, they are across the street from each other and only a couple blocks to the main train station.
There is a Metro station on the corner and several restaurants on the same street or around
the corners. When I wanted to see the Last Supper, I could not get a ticket so I signed
up for a 1/2 day bus/walking tour of Milan that included the Last Supper. I
booked thru Viator.com and enjoyed the tour very much.
This tour gives you time in La Scala and the museum inside, a short stop at the Duomo,
so I went back on my own and climbed to the roof and took lots of time inside the Duomo.
I would also recommend taking the bus to the main Cemetery - it is amazing (catch the bus at the Duomo) I found several hints of things to see in the RS Italy Guide, If you don't want to spend 1/2 day on a tour - they have shorter tours, or I'm sure people on this thread with have lots of excellent info.

We were in Milan in fall, 2013. We stayed at the Hotel Florida which is about a block and a half from Milano Centrale. Then it was 100 euro for a clean room with breakfast included.

We bought tickets for the Last Supper by using the website named in the RS Italy guidebook. Though the website wasn't particularly user-friendly, we easily got tix by purchasing about a month ahead of time.

Have a great trip.

Museums aside, if you want to just look around Milan, then the following is very easy in a day ...
1) Castello Sforzesco
2) Santa Maria delle Grazie (Last Supper)
3) Santa Maria Presso di San Satiro
4) Duomo
5) Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
6) Teatro alla Scala

Tickets for the Last Supper go on sale in monthly blocks, 3 months ahead.
So look out for October tickets at the beginning of July.
http://www.vivaticket.it/index.php?nvpg[evento]&id_show=26482&change_language=1

I did a morning walk around Castello Sforzesco before a 10:30am entry for the Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie. After, I caught a tram to the centre for the Duomo - the roof top is a must.
I enjoyed a quick look at the small church of Santa Maria Presso di San Satiro for its trompe l'oeil deceit of the eye. A short walk through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II then brings you to Teatro alla Scala.
If you have any time left then the shopping district of the Quadrilatero d'Oro is not far away.

As for The Last Supper.
The official link, as above.
Book online there as soon as you find that the available day and hour is matching your stay in Milan because the tickets can disappear very fast. Although I see these days situation looks much better than in the past.
Yet, once they disappear, don't lose hope. They may appear again in previously unavailable dates, so keep checking.
It took me weeks of constant checking to finally grab the opportunity but it was well worth it!
But register there first, because later it can interrupt the whole process of buying and may even mean missed opportunity.

Thanks, I will be sure to use the Last Supper website to reserve my ticket. I think there is enough to do and see that justifies spending 2 nights. And, David, thanks for your itinerary!
Now I can't wait till next October.
Thanks,
Judy B

Judy B,

Another person had recommended the Hotel Florida. I stayed there last January and it definitely fits the bill as inexpensive, clean, and easy. All the sights will require a tram or subway, but the station is only a few blocks away and you will be at your sites in 10 minutes. If you are staying at Hotel Florida, I would definitely use the Malpensa express bus as the stop is much closer to the Hotel Florida than the train arrivals platforms. The train station is rather large and takes several minutes to navigate and the express bus station is much easy.

The Last Supper website is not user friendly and slots fill up, so get your reservations early.

There is a large park adjacent to the castle which I feel is a real slice of Milan with locals picnicking, walking, spending time outside. I totally enjoyed slowing down, going for run, and spending time in the park. If that does not appeal to you, then just visit the sites.

Rick recommended a restaurant off the beaten path this was just wonderful. It was packed with locals and I felt that we were the only tourists. I will repost if I can find the name.

The Last Supper is not open for visitors on Monday only, so that won't affect you.

Thanks, everyone!

Judy B

Judyb, if you have problems getting tickets for Leonardo's Last Supper, a less expensive option than the tour would be to use a broker; I have often used Select Italy when the official site showed no availability. There is a markup but not nearly what you would pay for a tour that you may not want.