48 Hours in Milan

Happy Holidays Everyone! I love this time of year. I love the cold weather, the Christmas lights. Everything Christmas and festive, count me in! This was one of my favorite blog posts to write and share with you all because nothing compares to Christmas time in Europe and spending the holiday in Milan was over the top amazing! Just thinking about this amazing city gets me excited and I hope you all find it helpful on your travels.

If you have ever wondered if traveling Italy during the holidays or during December is a good idea, trust me, you will not be disappointed! Yes, the weather is colder and you will definitely need sweaters, a nice warm winter jacket, gloves, scarves and hats will come in handy, but for the most part the weather during the day is a mild cold. It does snow in Italy, so packing with that in mind is best, but for the most part the weather is nice enough for sightseeing and exploring.

 Another great perk of traveling during the winter is the lines and amount of tourists out and about. Yes, there are still tourists and lines, but for the most part there shorter lines and less tourists than the hot summer months. Milan is a very busy city and you can expect the attractions to have many tourists anytime day or time of year. With that said, it is still very possible to spend Christmas or New Year’s in the city and fully enjoy yourself!

+Getting to Milan-

There are several different ways to get to Milan. With a large international airport, you can fly in at most any time of the day. However, depending on what your itinerary is when traveling Italy, using the train system is an easy and affordable way to get around, moving from city to city. A train ride from Rome or Venice to Milan is a little under 3 hours, and gives you a chance to see the countryside and much of the Roman landscape not just the most popular cities. While in Milan, you can use a ride share service or the public transportation, which is very good in Milan. 

+Where to stay in Milan-

Milan is a large city with most every hotel chain you can think of. Depending on the attractions or area of town you are most interested in exploring you can find a hotel close to anywhere you would like to stay. Airbnb is great, and in my opinion, the best option. I stayed in the an amazing Airbnb, right around the corner from the Duomo di Milano. It was close to every the attraction, great restaurants and shopping. It was also amazing to walk out on New Year’s Eve and be surrounded by the magic of the Duomo and the night.

+Attractions in Milan-

• The Duomo di Milano or Milan Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Honestly, the most beautiful cathedral I have ever seen. It’s magical.
• The Last Supper portrait, located inside the Duomo. You can buy tickets to tour the Duomo online and in advance which I recommend. Especially, if you are traveling during a holiday like Christmas or New Years.
• Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle. If you love shopping this is the place and Milan to shop. If you don’t, the building itself is beautiful and worth seeing. It is located right next to the Duomo di Milano so you can easily see both, one right after the other.
• Castello Sforzesco. Built in the 15th century, now a museum and houses many art collections.
• Arco della Pace – The Arch of Peace, a dedicated to the battles of Napoleon. It’s beautiful, like everything else in Milan and worth seeing if you are in the city.
• Navigli District- Along the canal, has lots of shops, bars and art galleries. It’s a charming district and a great part of the city.

Milan is one of the most amazing cities I have ever visited and I hope you if you ever have a chance to visit the great city of Milan during the holiday season this travel guide helps you plan your travels!