... So by way of a sequel I’m now writing a review of our next destination, Milan.
Milan is in the north of Italy, situated in the plains of the Po Valley, and is the capital of Lombardy. When you think of Milan several things instantly spring to mind. Perhaps the first is that it’s not as ... Read review
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Advantages: Shopping! Disadvantages: Italian men on a major "charm" offensive & you will come back broke
...destination, Milan.
Milan is in the north of Italy, situated in the plains of the Po Valley, and is the capital of Lombardy. When you think of Milan several things instantly spring to mind. Perhaps the first is that it’s not as stunning architecturally or culturally as other Italian cities such as Rome, Florence or Venice. Industrial might even cross your mind. But secondly the redeeming feature is that Milan is universally acknowledged ... ...it was for that reason Milan has always held an attraction for me.
Travel
We arrived in Milan on a train from Geneva. If you are planning on taking a bit of a tour of Europe the trains are excellent – we just turned up at the station bought our tickets and then sat on a nice comfy train watching the stunning Swiss scenery slowly blend into Italian countryside for four hours. Do keep your passport handy for the border ... more
Recently I wrote a review on Geneva. The last time I visited myself and my flatmate (otherwise known as LIZKEMPO) decided to make a proper holiday of it so we jumped on a train and headed into Italy afterwards. So by way of a sequel I’m now writing a review of our next destination, Milan.
Milan is in the north of Italy, situated in the plains of the Po Valley, and is the capital of Lombardy. When you think of Milan several things instantly spring to mind. Perhaps the first is that it’s not as stunning architecturally or culturally as other Italian cities such as Rome, Florence or Venice. Industrial might even cross your mind. But secondly the redeeming feature is that Milan is universally acknowledged as the city of style. Images of glamour, designers and Victoria Beckham on a shopping spree (just as I write this an advert for ‘The Real Beckhams’ has come on TV – spooky she is everywhere!) are inevitably evoked. And it was for that reason Milan has always held an attraction for me.
Travel
We arrived in Milan on a train from Geneva. If you are planning on taking a bit of a tour of Europe the trains are excellent – we just turned up at the station bought our tickets and then sat on a nice comfy train watching the stunning Swiss scenery slowly blend into Italian countryside for four hours. Do keep your passport handy for the border checks. The train was very reasonably priced at about £35 each one way. It makes you wonder why trains in Britain are unable to offer this level of service.
If you are flying directly into Milan for a mini break Easyjet fly to Linate airport (about 5 miles / 8km from city centre) for between about £10 and £50 depending on the time of year you wish to travel. Other airlines to try are of course British Airways and Air Italia. Also if you are planning to take a bus or a taxi from the airport to your hotel it is perhaps best to clarify the exact location with the tourist office because Mulitmap had us right over the other side of town!
The centre of Milan is not particularly spread out so we mostly walked from place to place. However there is a fast and cheap tube service (which bizarrely has music playing!) and trams in some areas.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Milan can be as expensive or cheap as you wish. We stayed quite close to the station in a lovely B&B for only around £25 each per night. We booked this hotel over the Internet – www.italiantourism.org or www.hotels-in-italy.com have a wide range of hotels to suite every budget. You print out a confirmation page and call / email the day before you arrive and everything runs like clockwork!
Sightseeing
Although the sights in Milan don’t have the pulling power of those in Rome I was still very impressed by what was on offer. Marking the city centre of Milan is the fabulous Piazza del Duomo dominated by the 14th century Gothic Cathedral Duomo. Unfortunately at the time we were in Milan scaffolding covered the front façade but the structure was still very impressive from the sides. You can go inside the cathedral but make sure you are covered up – most importantly your shoulders and legs or security will not let you in. The same applies to most religious buildings in Italy. The Piazza del Duomo is also home to the stunning Galleria Viltorio Emmanuelle a very posh, very beautiful shopping mall.
Also worth a visit is the imposing Castello Sforzesco, which was built in 1450 by Francesco Sforza. It now houses various museums which we found to be of only average interest but the structure itself is very impressive. The medieval Basilica of St Ambrose, and the churches San Satiro and Santa Maria delle Grazie are also worth a visit.
Shopping
The most fantastic thing about Milan is of course the shopping! Quite unexpectedly there is plenty to buy in Milan that doesn’t break the bank. Shoe shops are quite literally everywhere. In fact we spent one whole day shoe shopping, with of course the necessary beverage and food stops! Corso Buenos Aires is a wide avenue with shops on each side that ran from our hotel all the way to Duomo. It is here that you find the more moderately prices shops including shoe shops with prices comparable to the British high street. The area all around the Cathedral Duomo provides a more expensive shopping experience. Both the garment and shoe shops are stunning here – I have a picture of myself outside one such store practically salivating over the gorgeous shoes! Still its not all window shopping because some familiar shops can also be found here like an enormous Zara and a HMV. Finally the neighbourhood of Brera is worth checking out for its more unique shops.
Going Out
The nightlife in Milan is excellent. As well as numerous bars there are several clubs to choose from. Hollywood and Casablanca are the most stylish and not cheap for this reason. They are located on via Como, which is also a good place to visit for bars. It is a good idea to check and see if you can book at taxi at your hotel before going out so you are not left stranded and always remember the drinks are a lot stronger in Italy than at home!
Food
As a vegetarian Italy (in fact most of Europe) isn’t exactly ideal. On the seventh attempt they seem to understand that you want to know if there’s meat or fish in a particular dish and laugh at you and tell you of course there is! Most of the time I eat pizza because I knew I was safe! If you are a meat lover you are well catered for with a vast variety of dishes. I am reliably informed that some of the best restaurants in Milan include Gualtiero Marchesi on via Bovesin della Riva, Savini at the Galleria and Rigolo on via Solferino – all of which serve Italian and sometimes French and Tuscan food. As we were on a rather more limited budget we mainly dined at standard pizza and pasta places and chain restaurants. Spizzico is like a pizza McDonalds where you can get a large slice of pizza, a drink and another item like chips, salad, pudding etc for 5 Euros – bargain! There is also a buffet style restaurant ironically called Ciao and lots of pizza / pasta chains where you can buy a meal for around 10 Euros.
Be careful when eating around the Piazza del Duomo as even the cheapest looking places charge the earth. At one very standard looking café two cokes cost us over £7!
Traveller Warnings
1) If you are female you may well receive some hassle from the local male population! Most of this is harmless and good-natured but as anywhere it is probably not wise to walk alone late at night. Catcalling is very common – “Ciao Bella” is a phrase you’ll hear a lot! 2) The little tobacconist stands (like those in New York but enclosed) are not tobacconists. We discovered much to our amusement that they are in fact little dens of porn usually run by ageing transvestites! 3) Transvestites – there seem to be lots in Milan so gentlemen be careful when chatting to the ladies in a dark club! 4) Italian driving is appalling. Driving straight through red lights appears to be common in Milan and the zebra crossing system can be quite perilous so take care when crossing the road. Likewise the parking has to be seen to be believed! 5) When we were in Milan it was the night of a big football match between Inter Milan and AC Milan. On such nights the Milanese are transformed into crazy people beeping their horns, waving flags from motorbikes and generally making a lot of noise well into the night! 6) All around the Duomo there are various street hawkers selling a collection of rubbish stuff. They are very persistent and if given the chance will secure a few threads to your wrist then demand a couple of Euros for them.
All in all Milan was a brilliant place to visit. It is probably best for a city break type of holiday and for those who love shopping and generally being in stylish surroundings! If serious culture / art is what you’re looking for you may well be better off in one of the other Italian cities and kids would probably be bored out of their minds here! But I thought it was absolutely fab!
...over to the much shorter Milan line. I hadn't organised that end bit, but I did take the credit when the combined excitement of a reduced waiting time with a weekend in Italy caused one of us to woop and do a funny little jig. I had organised the weekend though. Flights to Milan are available from all over the U.K. and Milan itself has three main airports to choose from. Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate are the closest, most convenient airports with ... ...UK visitors to Milan forfeit the ease of the transfer for an ease on their wallet and opt for the third way. The Ryanair served Milan Orio al Serio way. The airport is also known as Bergamo and the airport code remains as BGY, because it's in Bergamo, 40 miles outside Milan. Not Milan then. We were flying from London Luton Airport, which is in Bedfordshire, a full 3 counties away from London, but only 11 miles from our home, so handy for us at least. ...
Muffin_the_Mule 24.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Milan in general
Advantages: Good shops, architecture and food! Disadvantages: Cost and language.
...a couple of days in Milan so thought now was the best time to write with the memories fresh in my head. I had a really good time and would recommend it! I went with my boyfriend from Saturday night until lunchtime Tuesday. So really we only got 2 full days. I would say 4 full days at most is all I could manage.
Not that it wasn't good, just there is only so much you can do and see. Lets start with what is said to be Milan's most popular attraction ... ...is the biggest attraction in Milan and a must see. We decided to go on the first day as we arrived there in case it was hard to find - how daft were we. There is a metro stop at Duomo and as you surface from the underground the massive cathedral is right in front of you.
We were a bit upset that the front was all covered in scaffolding but seen as it was 1836 when the building of it started, obviously it will be under constant repair. If you walk ...
sarahl2002 09.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Milan in general
Advantages: plenty to do and see Disadvantages: crowded polluted noisy dirty
...Most of the houses in Milan are of course,huge stone floored City Flats-italy is highly populated and there just wouldn't be the room for ground houses.
The villas and country side are very pretty. I love the charm of the flat,orange roofed villas with grape vines clinging to the walls and posts.
What I love about the banks offices and houses over there,are the luxurious style-and -their size!
Huge tall ceilings, vast floor areas impressive mosaics,huge ... ...I know what I'm saying!)
Milan also has one of the highest levels of pollution in Europe-it is common to see people riding their bikes in an attempt to be healthier-green,and many office workers wear masks over their noses!!
A typical Milanese dish is meat balls,fresh fish,white chicken,and salads,with lots of beef in breadcrumbs-And-wait for it,minced, raw horse meat-with salt pepper,and lemon juice.I'm afraid I did try it,and yes,I liked it.(But ...
christina44 02.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Milan in general
Advantages: Vibrant, cosmopolitan city and stunningly beautiful lakes Disadvantages: Pricey, dirty and plagued by annoying gypsies
I went to Milan in early May with my partner. I still don’t really know why I went there, but I suppose I was attracted by the allure of the big city as well as the proximity of the beautiful lakes of northern Italy. I stayed for 7 nights and paid £450 in total for the flight, hotel and transfers to and from the airport. Another £300 or so was spent during the holiday on travel, eating out and entertainment.
There is a lot to say, so I have subdivided ... ...The main landmark of Milan is undoubtedly the impressive gothic cathedral, known as the ‘Duomo’. Inside it is dark, spacious, intimidating and cold (literally), while outside it is mightily imposing and dominates the large square on which it is located. You can take a small lift and go to the top of the building for a few Euros and I would strongly recommend doing so as the view is magnificent, especially on a clear day.
Next to the cathedral, on ...
MarkLV 10.07.2002 (11.07.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Milan in general
Advantages: Infos about Milan Disadvantages: I tell you only about a small zone of the town
As you all certainly know, Milan is also a town for shopping. In fact, it is also called “The town of fashion”, and this name is not only due to the various fashion shows that take place in the town during the entire year, but also to the fact that here you can find the best stylist boutiques in Italy.
The heart of the fashion in Milan are Spiga Street , Bergognone street and all the zone around San Babila square. Practically the centre of the town. ... ...of high fashion.
But Milan is a great town, and it is possible to find retailers or franchisers that haven’t so prohibitive prices.
So let’s have a little sightseeing of the best shops, that lie in no more than one hundred meters, from the office where I work!
I work near Loreto square, one of the zones where you can find a great number of shops that offer good and medium quality products. Practically you will find a large main street called ‘Buenos ...
shaoli2 16.10.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Milan in general
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Advantages: all the best fashion Disadvantages: traffic, not very clean
Shopping inMilan can be very funny if you have a lot of money, because for me it's a expensive city...but only walking in Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via Verri it's a pleasure for your eyes.In via Manzoni you can find Armani's mega store with the Noubu restaurant. I liked very much, after a saturday shooping afternoon, go at Noubu's Bar for an aperitvo with my friends. It's so relaxing. Very nice is takeing a breack at Cova, very elegant place in via Montenapoleone, corner with via sant'Andrea Ok, this is the high class shopping zone of Milan, where you can find: Missoni, Prada, Hermes, La Perla, Versace, Gucci, Etro, Armani, Miu Miu, Iceberg, Burrbery, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod's, Hogan, Kenzo, Brioni, Fratelli Rossetti, La Murrina...and more...and more...and more...BUT VERY IMPORTANT at the end ...
Advantages: Central location, reasonably priced Disadvantages: Not enough actual period exhibits
for the history of the bunker and the plight of child soldiers, as well as the main exhibition), coupled with a lack of actual historical exhibits, but the dioramas, while obviously the result of much painstaking work, do pale after a while. An example of how to do it right is the Museo della Tortura inMilan ? more exhibits, more space, and generally more professional presentation.
That said, there is plenty to see, the price is reasonable (entrance costs ?6 for adults and part of that fee goes to a worthy cause in the shape of Amnesty International) and it is worth a look. There are worse ways to spend an hour or two if you?re at a loose end, but I?d still be tempted to go for a Viennese Eiskaffee instead?
Foltermuseum Wien
Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1
A-1060 Wien
Tel.: ++43 (0)1/ 585 7185
Opening hours: 10am-6pm daily
Nearest U-Bahn: U3 ...
JVL 09.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Foltermuseum
Advantages: cheaper than many in the area, clean, comfortable, easy access to sights Disadvantages: bathroom not great, no restaurant
Named the 10th most expensive city in the world in terms of cost of living (Mercer's Cost of Living Survey, 2008), Milan isn't generally a city you'd associate with budget hotels. However, that was exactly what I was in search of when travelling to the city for a 3-night stay in October 2008. Knowing that a large proportion of my money would be spent on shopping and eating out, I was on the hunt for accommodation that was cheap, central and comfortable.
You'l struggle to find anything that fits the bill in the centre of the city - anything in the Duomo (cathedral) or main shopping areas tends to be more pricey, or cheap for a good reason (i.e., incredibly basic). We were happy to look a little further out, and eventually decided to book a twin room at Hotel Teco through laterooms.com.
LOCATION
Hotel Teco is located on a tiny ...
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