Solo travel in Milan was very special to me because Milan was the first place in Italy I’ve visited. Why did I choose it? Because I wanted to see the Duomo and Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. Also because it’s one of the fashion capitals of the world and I timed my visit around Milan Fashion Week. But mostly because I wanted to tick off a bucket list experience: fly Emirates business class. And Milan was the only non-Dubai destination from New York on the A380 plane (the one that has a bar!), so I booked a ticket on points. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
I was not impressed by Emirate’s business class. The food was mediocre and the service was subpar. Everyone hyped up Emirates and I expected it to be so much better than other airlines like Air France or British Airways, but it’s not. While I didn’t love the Emirates experience, I did fall in love with Milan.
It’s a very vibrant city that combines a lot of history with modern architecture. The city has a lot of energy as it’s one of Italy’s business centers and there’s lots of people running around during the day and lots of people partying at night. It’s also a paradise for everyone who loves fashion as so many designer brands are headquartered there: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Valentino, just to name a few. There’s so many great things to do in Milan!
I feel like Milan is a bit less popular compared to other Italian cities like Florence, Venice or Cinque Terre. I had a great time in Milan as a solo traveler. So I wanted to share everything you need to know when you travel solo to Milan in this blog post.
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- Flights
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- Activities, tours, and day trips
What to do when you solo travel in Milan
Duomo di Milano
The Duomo or the Milan Cathedral is probably the most famous and well-known attraction in Milan. The gothic architecture of this church is breathtaking. The Duomo should definitely be a stop on your Milan solo travel itinerary. The Piazza del Duomo is the perfect place to take countless pictures and take in the beauty of the duomo.
Because it’s such a famous attraction there will be lots of tourists here, so if you want the place to yourself I recommend you go very early. Because there’s a lot of tourists, there will also be a lot of pickpockets and scammers, so be on high alert. When I visited there were a few people trying to convince you to let them take your picture and pay 10 euros for it. It’s one of the common scams at the Duomo of Milan. Respectfully decline and they will walk away.
The highlight of my visit to the Duomo was going up on the terraces. You get to see all those elements of intricate, beautiful architecture up close and you get an amazing view of Milan from above. You will also be able to visit the inside of the church, which is equally as beautiful as the outside.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Right next to the Duomo is the iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery. You’ll find all the famous Italian brands here and much more. There are also restaurants and even a hotel inside the galleria.
Once you get to the gallery’s midpoint you will see a mosaic of a bull on the floor. There is usually a large crowd around it, so you can’t miss it. The legend goes that if you spin 3 times with your heel on the bull’s uhmmm, body part in between its legs, it will bring you good luck. So tourists all over the world do this and burst into silly laughter while doing it. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a good way to connect with other people.
La Scala Opera House
Teatro alla Scala is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It’s very close to the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It has been operating since 1778. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit, I only saw it from the outside. But I plan on doing this guided tour next time I’m in Milan to learn more about its history.
Piazza Mercanti
Piazza Mercanti or Merchants Square is a central square in Milan, very close to the Duomo. I randomly stumbled upon it when I was in the Duomo area and I loved its architecture. It does remind you a bit of Florence, and that’s because it used to be the city center during the Middle Ages.
Castello Sforzesco
Castello Sforzesco or Sforza Castle is a medieval castle located in central Milan, close to the Duomo. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, hence the name of Castello Sforzesco. Since 2015 it also houses the Rondanini Pietà, one of Michelangelo’s famous sculptures, that he worked on until his death. A guided tour is highly recommended if you want to learn more about the castle and the sculpture.
Bosco Verticale
Bosco Verticale, or the Vertical Forest, is a sustainable residential complex in Milan, close to Piazza Gae Aulenti. It is comprised of 2 tall buildings that are covered with over 2,000 tree species. It has many benefits like purifying the air and reducing noise pollution, and it won many architectural awards throughout the years.
Piazza Gae Aulenti
Right next to the Vertical Forest is Piazza Gae Aulenti. This is a pedestrian square that’s close to the Milan Business Center. It’s ultra-modern, it has lots of skyscrapers, and it has a very different vibe compared to the historical central area. I love that Milan is a city that can do both. And they do it so well. You can walk around the plaza, grab a cup of coffee or a bite at one of its many restaurants and cafes, and then take a walk in an adjacent park.
Palazzo Lombardia
Palazzo Lombardia is a modern office complex that houses the Lombardy regional government. At certain times of the year, they open the 39th floor observation deck to the public. It’s free to go up. The 360-degree view is incredible and you’ll be able to see the entire Milan skyline. They post the dates when they open the observation deck to the public on this page, so you’ll have to check it regularly.
Da Vinci’s Last Supper
Da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, was painted inside Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. The artist finished the painting in 1498. This mural survived a lot of things over the years, including a bombing during World War II. They did a lot of restoration work on it so people across the world can enjoy it. You can only visit on a guided tour. That’s because they need to keep the room temperature and humidity at a certain level to preserve the masterpiece. The visit lasts about an hour and you’ll learn a lot. Seeing The Last Supper in person is one of my favorite memories from Milan. It’s a very special experience.
Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio is an ancient church built between 379–386. The building has undergone several restorations and it got its current Romanesque-style appearance in the 12th century. Inside you can see some paintings and mosaics from the 12 and 13th centuries. Entrance is free.
I kind of stumbled upon it and I’m so glad I did. There’s something about really old buildings like this church. I always like to imagine how people lived there, how they painted the walls, how they went to mass. So much history accumulated inside those walls over the years. I wish I could go back in time to be a fly on the wall and see how people lived in different centuries.
What to eat when you solo travel in Milan
Pizza from Pizzium
Pizza is always a good idea when you’re in Italy. Pizzium has amazing pizza and their menu is extensive. They have multiple locations throughout Milan. I went with the classic Margherita pizza, which was simple and delicious. It cost 8 euros.
Gelato from Cafe Dante
Gelato is another staple of Italian cuisine. If you also want a show when you buy gelato, you need to check out the Instagram famous Cafe Dante. The server is amazing, and he creates the most beautiful gelato cones. He is also very kind and patient with all the people who film him while he makes the cones. The gelato there is very good as well.
Pistachio croissant
While Italians have great food, they don’t really eat breakfast. Their definition of breakfast is a cappuccino and a cornetto, or croissant. The pistachio cornetto is my favorite. That filling is to die for.
Another thing you need to know: don’t order a cappuccino after 11am. Italians drink milky coffees only for breakfast. So if you want to look like a local, order an espresso instead in the afternoon.
Sfogliatelle
Italians know how to do pastries. The sfogliatella is one of my favorites. It’s a flaky pastry filled with orange flavored ricotta. Major yum! I got this one from Mercato Centrale, a food court by Milano Centrale train station. They have a lot of delicious options there, so you should check them out.
Treat yourself to a meal at a Michelin starred restaurant
Sometimes you need to treat yourself because life is short. Milan has fantastic Michelin rated restaurants. I highly recommend Seta. It’s a 2-star Michelin restaurant located about 10-15 min away from the Duomo by foot. The food is delicious, and the service is impeccable. It’s going to be an experience you won’t forget anytime soon.
I visited around my birthday. When they found out they brought me a balloon that had “Happy Birthday” written on it, and they sang Happy Birthday to me. It made me feel very special. If you’re celebrating any special occasion you’re in great hands at Seta.
Day trips from Milan
There are lots of day trips you could do from Milan. I did two day trips while I was there: one to Venice and one to Florence. I opted to go by myself instead of with a tour and I booked train tickets directly on Trenitalia. The trains are great in Italy: high speed, clean, and most often than not quite reliable.
If I had more time in Milan I would have gone on these other day trips too:
Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz and Bernina Red Train
FAQ on solo travel in Milan
Is Milan a safe destination for solo female travellers?
Yes, I felt safe in Milan as a solo female traveler. As always, be on high alert when visiting attractions with lots of crowds to avoid getting scammed or pickpockets stealing from you. I think Milan could be a great place for a first solo trip.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
What is the best time to solo travel in Milan?
The shoulder season. I visited in September and there were still a lot of tourists, so probably October and November are the best months to solo travel in Milan if you want to avoid crowds.
How can I get around Milan?
Milan is a walkable city and it also has great public transportation. It’s a big city, so if you need to go from the city center to other neighborhoods, you can take the subway. It’s very easy to use and it’s clean. I guess compared to NYC all subways in Europe seem pristine.
How can I get to the city center from Malpensa airport?
The best option is to take the train, called the Malpensa Express, and operated by Trenord. A round trip is 20 euros. The train stops at both Terminal 1 and 2 and it takes you to Milano Centrale or Milano Cadorna. If your hotel is not close to the train station you can take the subway to your destination.
If you don’t like public transportation you can take a taxi or you can schedule a private transfer.
Do I need cash?
I did not use any cash while visiting Italy. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I need to tip in Milan?
Tipping is not required, but I usually leave 1-2 euros when I eat out or go to a cafe. They highly appreciate it when you do this.
Do people speak English in Milan?
Yes, people speak English everywhere in Milan. I always try to speak in the local language when I travel. I usually learn a few words ahead of my trip. Every time Italians would figure out from my accent that I’m not a local they would immediately switch to English.
What Italian words should I learn before my solo trip to Milan?
This list is not comprehensive by any means, but it has some useful words for a trip to Italy.
- Ciao = hi / bye (informal greeting)
- Buongiorno = hello (only used during the day)
- Buona sera = good evening
- Buona notte = good night
- Grazie = thank you
- Prego = you’re welcome
- Si = yes
- No = no
- Per favore = please
- Parla Inglese? = Do you speak English?
- Mi dispiace = I don’t understand
- Posso pagare con la carta? = Can I pay by card?
- Il conto, per favore = The check (bill) please
- Dov’è il bagno? = Where’s the bathroom?
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