Your guide in visiting Milan & Lake Como
How to get to Milan?
Where to stay in Milan?
Where to eat in Milan?
What to do and see in Milan?
Going to Lake Como?
HOW TO GET TO MILAN
Two major airports serving Milan area; Malpensa Airport and Linate Airport. Most airlines outside of Europe will serve Malpensa Airport but it is much further away from Milan than Linate Airport. Malpensa is about 50km away from central Milan whereas Linate is only 7km away. Within Europe it is best to fly to Linate where Easyjet have a big operation there. If you are flying into and out of Malpensa, the Malpensa Express will take you to/from central Milan in 30 minutes. Alternatively, trains across Italy on Tenitalia and Europe serves Milan Centrale train station.
WHERE TO STAY IN MILAN
ME Milan Il Duca – A new hotel opened in May 2015 at Porta Nuova.
Townhouse – Multiple Locations in Milan with one right at the Piazza del Duomo.
Hotel The Square – Recently opened hotel in late 2015 with a great location within 10 minutes walk to the Duomo.
Baglioni Hotel Carlton – The backdoor of the hotel opens to Via della Spiga and 5 minutes walk from Via Monte Napoleone. The hotel to stay in if you just want to shop.
WHERE TO EAT IN MILAN
Luini Panzerotti – Panzerotti – Pizza dough stuffed with cheese and tomatoes and all sorts of other variants. Steps from Duomo.
Alice Ristorante – Chef Viviana Varese’s 1 Michelin Star Restaurant in Milan.
Ratana – Restaurant in an old abandoned railway warehouse converted into an elegant space. Isola district.
Cafe Trussadi – Just across from la Scala beside Trussadi shop. A more formal restaurant on the second floor but I prefer the Cafe with a lovely green house.
Pasticceria Marchesi – Famous pasticceria and for aperitifo with cakes and drinks of course.
Dry Milan Pizza – Great pizza place at Porta Nuova.
Peck food shop – The famous Peck with a restaurant of the same name. Reviews varies but no harm done visiting the Food Shop and cafe.
Ristorante Giacomo Arengario – Right by the Duomo with an in your face view of the cathedral in a greenhouse dining room. A great place for a drink too.
Terrazza Aperol – Right by the Piazza del Duomo, outdoor terrace, perfect view of Duomo for lunch and aperitifo.
La Rinascente restaurants – The roof of La Rinascente department store. Multiple restaurants to choose from and with an outdoor patio across from the Duomo. Great place for a drink too.
Al Matarel – Stick to the risotto and Ossobuco Milanese.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Some vouch to dine in one of the restaurant in the Galleria. Great ambiance especially later at night when the crowd subsides. Ristorante Galleria a good choice.
GROM Gelato – Famous gelato place with numerous flavors and a branch across from la Scala.
Martini bar Dolce & Gabbana – Great Bar and Bistro near Via della Spiga.
WHAT TO DO & SEE IN MILAN
Duomo di Milano – Buy the ticket online and take the elevator up to the roof. Amazing architecture.
One of the world’s oldest shopping mall right at the Piazza del Duomo.
The Last Supper – See the famous 5th-century mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Very difficult to get tickets. Try to reserve online very early in advanced.
Teatro alla Scala – Visit the museum or arrange a tour. Best to go for a performance.
Sforzesco Castle – Medieval fortress built in the 15th century by the Duke of Milan.
The Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leonardo da Vinci” – The Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leonardo da Vinci” is the largest science and technology museum in Italy. It is dedicated to Italian painter and scientist Leonardo da Vinci.
TO SHOP
Via Monte Napoleone and around Via Della Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea – The famous street of them all with all the fashion houses.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II – Where you find all the high street shops in Milan. Starts from northeast corner of the Duomo.
Outlet malls
There are a number of outlet malls around Milan and Serravalle Designer Outlet and Foxtown Factory Store are two major ones. Serravalle and Foxtown is around an hour from Milan by car. They offer buses to and from Milan center.
GOING TO LAKE COMO
Lake Como is a popular day trip destination for many visiting Milan. However, I would recommend staying around the area overnight as there are so much to see and warrant time to take it slow and enjoy the area. Lake Como is just north of Milan and driving to Lake Como from Milan takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on traffic. Majority of people will choose to visit the town of Bellagio first. A lakeside lunch at Hotel Florence or splurge at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Lake Como is shaped like an inverted Y and Bellagio is right at the middle where the lake diverges. There are car ferries that takes you to the towns around Lake Como. Varenna and Menaggio are also lovely towns around Lake Como.
It is not difficult to understand why so many flock to Lake Como with its beautiful lakeside towns and view of the alps. Lake Como is dotted with lakeside villas and palaces and many Hollywood films chose to film here. Villa La Gaeta and Villa del Balbianello are both featured in Casino Royale. Villa del Balbianello was also where a number of scenes from Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones were filmed. If time permits, a visit to Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore bordering Switzerland is also a must.
