Author: Appsolutelymilano

The best restaurants in Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Eating and drinking in Milan

Here are the best places by area, click on the area you are interested in:

If you want a gourmet experience, then try out these amazing places at reasonable prices. We have also selected the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Milan – look for VEGAN in the list.

Besides the names you can find in the Michelin guide we recommend the following places. The price levels are varied – € 20-30, €€ 30-50, €€€ >50 – but note that it isn’t necessary to spend a fortune to eat well

Our most important tip concerning good restaurants: Always book a table!

Langosteria restaurant behind Corso Vittorio Emanuel, Milan's best seafood restaurant

Brera area

Restaurant El Tombon de San Marc in Brera

Porta Nuova area

Isola area

Duomo area

Arco della Pace and Parco Sempione area

Terraza Triennale, Triennale's restaurant

Via Tortona/Via Savona area

There is an excellent restarant near this area, it requires you to take the metro from the DeAngeli station and get off at Primaticcio and then walk about 5 minutes but it really is one of Milan’s gastronomical gems and has 2 Michelin stars called IL Luogo di Aimo e Nadia at 6, Via Privata Raimondo Cuccoli (find on map) Phone +3902416886. €€€

Porta Genova area

Porta Venezia area

Porta Vittoria area

Porta Romana area

Football in Milan, Inter and Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Art and culture in Milan

Milan is home to two of the best football teams in the world; AC Milan and Inter Milano. The club AC Milan – originally Milan Football and Cricket Club – is the oldest of the two by 9 years but they were originally the same club that split in two in 1908;

The founding of AC Milan

Milan Football and Cricket Club Milan was founded on December 16th 1899 by a group of English and Italian partners and the club’s first president was Alfred Ormond Edwards, one of the founding partners. In January 1900 the club was affiliated with FIF (the Italian Football Federation) and the following year they became Italian champions.

The founding of FC Inter Milano

In 1908 a group of partners who disagreed with the club’s policy against hiring foreign players left AC Milan and founded the Football Club Internazionale di Milano known as Inter Milano, and their first president was Giovanni Paramithiotti. The club won their first championship in 1910 and are the only Italian football team to have never been demoted to the second division, Serie B.

San Siro stadium

Milan's football stadium San Siro/Giuseppe Meazza

The legendary San Siro Stadium officially Giuseppe Meazza, (find on map) was inaugurated in 1926 by Milan and the stadium and the land belonged to the club but was bought by Milan’s municipality in 1935 and in 1947 it became home to Inter Milano as well. It is known also as La Scala del calcio – Football’s Scala theatre. The San Siro store is open daily between 10 am and 6.30 pm

You can visit the San Siro stadium every day on guided tours between 9.30 am-7 pm, for more information about times and booking here

FC Inter Milano’s old home

Before the construction of the San Siro or Meazza stadium, as it was officially renamed in 1980 after Inter player Giuseppe Meazza, Milan’s home was the Arena Civica located in the Sempione park and between 1930 and 1947 the Arena Civica was Inter’s home, before that they played at the Campo di Ripa Ticinese (find on map) between 1908 and 1912 and then in the period 1913-1930 at Campo Goldoni, which no logner exists but was located between 61, Via Goldoni and Piazza Novelli (find on map).

Inter Milan's old stadium, Arena in Parco Sempione, Milan

The history behind the names (and nicknames)

When Benito Mussolini and his fascist party took power in Italy the policy of the regime was that of italianising foreign names so Milan became Associazione Calcio Milan and Inter became Ambrosiana after the city’s patron saint Saint Ambrose, however, Ambrosiana reversed to their original name of Football Club Internazionale Milano after the end of World War II.

The colours of the clubs have led to their commonly used nicknames I Rossoneri (red-black) and I Nerazzuri (black-blue), traditionally the following of Milan is mainly working class (casciavìt – screwdrivers) and the one of Inter is bourgois (bauscia – braggarts).

Derby della Madonnina

The Milanese derby is in Italian known as il Derby della Madonnina (the derby of the little madonna) after the symbol of Milan, the golden madonna perched on the top of Milan’s cathedral il Duomo di Milano (find on map).

La Madonninia, Milan's golden Madonna perched on top of Milan's cathedral, Duomo di Milano

The Milan and Inter shops

There are of course shops with all kinds of football related merchandise ; t-hirts, shorts, footballs etc. in the relevat club’s colours the AC Milan shop is located in Galleria San Carrlo (find on map) and Inter Milan’s shop is very close by at Galleria Passarella (find on map)

Best thrift and second-hand shops in Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Shopping in Milan

Summer sales July 4th-September 4th

Vintage evening dresses in thrift store Cavalli e Nastri shop window

Brera

Madame Pauline Vintage, 74, Foro Buonaparte (find on map) it is located very close to Milan’s Castello Sforzesco

Cavalli e Nastri Brera, 2, Via Brera (find on map)

Vintage Delirium, 3, Via Giuseppe Sacchi (find on map)

Urzì Vintage, 6, Via Ciovasso (find on map)

Castadiva, 9, Via Parini (find on map)

Eral 55, 14, Piazza XXV Aprile (find on map)

Chinatown

Da Orient Vintage, 8, Viale Montello (find on map)

Isola

Live in Vintage, 4, Via Thaon di Revel (find on map)

Ambroeus, 15, Via Pastrengo (find on map)

Room37, 3, Piazza Fidia (find on map)

Duomo

Humana Vintage, 3, Via Cappellari (find on map)

The Cloister, 5, Via Valpetrosa (find on map)

L’Arabesque Cult Store , 10, Largo Augusto (find on map)

Napoleone, 5, Via degli Arcimboldi (find on map)

Via Torino/Porta Ticinese/Porta Genova

Colourful vintage outfits in thrift store Cavalli e Nastri shop window

Cavalli e Nastri Mora, 12, Via Mora (find on map)

Cavalli e Nastri Men, 3; via Mora (find on map)

Groupies Vintage, 7, Via Mora (find on map)

Bivio Milano Women, 4, Via Mora (find on map)

Squad, 7, Via Mora (find on map)

Bivio Milano Men, 14, Via Mora (find on map)

Lo Specchio di Alice, 64, Corso di Porta Tcinese (find on map)

Elevated Archives, 48, Corso di Porta Ticiniese (find on map)

Humana Vintage, 43, Via De Amicis (find on map)

Solari

Il Girotondo, 6, Via Antonio Dugnani (find on map) Quite close to Sant’Agostino metro stop.

PWC Milano, 12, Via Pietro Custodi (find on map)

Humana Vintage, 32, Via Vigevano (find on map)

Sous Vintage Shop, 52, Alzaia Naviglio Pavese (find on map)

Pourqoui Moi, 7, Via Mario Fussetti (find on map)

Vintage Pandolfi 15, Via Mario Fusetti (find on map)

Don’t Waste, 117, Ripa di Porta Ticinese (find on map)

Ambroeus, 34, Viale Gorizia (find on map)

Blackship Vintage , 4, Via Pestalozzi (find on map) open 4-8 pm ,

Corso Vercelli

selection of items at Bis Luxury vintage store

Bis Luxury, 27, Coros Vercelli (find on map)

Il Nuovo Guardaroba, 5a, Via Privata Asti (find on map)

Give and Take, 54, Via Mario Pagano (find on map)

Baci e Bottoni, 7, Via San Siro (find on map)

Porta Venezia

Vincent Vintage Bijoux, 11, Via Lazzaro Spallanzani (find on map) – vintage costume jewellery

Bivio Milano, 12, Via Lambro (find on map)

I Love Vintage, 12, Via Gaspare Spontini (find on map)

Porta Vittoria

Mania Vintage, 11, Via Bronzetti (find on map) authentic and guaranteed luxury vintage handbags and scarves

Maurizio Pecoraro Concept Store, 10 Piazza, Risorgimento (find on map)

Lambrate

20134lambrate Vintage, 22, Via Conte Rosso (find on map)

Corso Sempione and Arco della Pace

My Vintage Attire, 44, Via Luigi Cagnola (find on map)

The one-day shopping route in Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Art and culture in Milan, Shopping in Milan

Summer sales July 4th-September 4th

the one day shopping route
  • Start on Piazza Gae Aulenti; Milan’s newest area, where you should see the internationally acclaimed buildings “Bosco verticale” (the vertical forest))
  • On the piazza you find the famous Muji,
  • Grom ice cream,
  • and Illy café – the world’s best espresso.
  • Located under the square is the supermarket Esselunga if you want to shop for gourmet specialties and wine.
  • From there continue down Corso Como and check out the famous design store and art gallery 10CorsoComo – good place for lunch.
  • at the end of Corso Como is the square (Piazza XXV Aprile) with the foodie temple Eataly incidentally also a good choice for lunch.
  • Continue into the Brera area (Via Solferino, Via San Marco and Corso Garibaldi) which is the old artistic neighbourhood of Milan with lots of quirky and chic stores and galleries.
  • If you’re here on either a Monday or a Thursday it is worth your while to visit the open air market in Via San Marco and Milan’s best high fashion outlet Matia’s is very close by at 4, Piazza Carlo Mirabello (find på kort) and their outlet for kids 0-16 år is located in the same area at 2, Via Eugenio Balzan (find på kort).
  • Visit the Pinacoteca di Brera for a shot of culture.
  • The area is rich on places for lunch and a great aperitivo
  • Continue down to Piazza della Scala with Milan’s famous Scala theater.

If you still have energy and time to spare you are now directly behind Piazza Duomo just walk thorugh the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele which links Piazza della Scala and Piazza Duomo and you have Milan’s cathedral right in front of you.

Now you are probably starving and you are close to several good restaurants e.g. Giacomo Arengario €€ on top of Museo del Novecento (find on map) with an amazing view of Piazza Duomo. and Piz, 34, Via Torino (find on map) genuine Neapolitan pizza €, For more eateries in the area check out our post about Milan’s restaurants here.

Enjoy your perfect day in Milan!

Best outlets in and near Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Shopping in Milan

There are many fashion outlets both in and outside Milan and they are easy to reach:

Summer sales July 4th-September 4th

Matia’s Fashion Outlet Milano

Boggi Factory Outlet

You probaly know the Italian men’s wear Boggi, here is their outlet store at 28, Viale Vincenzo Lancetti (find on map) lots of great deals in both casual and elegant clothe and accessories, the shop is located right across from railway link station Lancetti just one stop from Garibaldi station.

Double B – Brian & Barry outlet

Great fashion items – clothes, shoes, bags – for both him and her right next to Boggi Factory Outlet (for direction see above) at 28, Viale Vincenzo Lancetti (find on map)

Scalo Milano

Scalo Milano Outlet

Visit this shopping center in Locate di Triulzi (find on map) just 30 minutes from Piazza Reppubblica in the city center by the railroad link S13 (passante) and a 2-minute walk from the station. There are great brands like Cavalli, Liu-Jo, G-Star Raw, Twinset, Adidas, Nike, Boxeur des rues, Bomboogie, Kartell, Alessi and many others at outlet prices. You can also get there by shuttle service from Largo Ciroli three times a day. The centre is open Mondays-Wednesdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Thursday-Sundays 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Tram advertising for Fox Town outlet

Outlets outside Milan and where to get the bus to go

Vicolungo
Shuttle service from Milan Central Station.

Foxtown
See here how you get there.

Franciacorta Outlet Village
Here are the ways to reach this Outlet.

Fidenza Village
Shuttle from Milan Central Station.

Serravalle McArthurGlen
Shuttle from Milan Central Station or Brera.

Mantova Outlet Village
Go by train and then bus from Mantova Station

The best apps for your trip to Milano

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Apps and WiFi in Milan

Milano Card

Milano Card app icon from app store

Lots of advantages for short visits .
(Download and more information here)

The other categories are:

WiFi Network Finder

WiFi Map

Logo for WiFi Map app

Use this excellent app to find free available WiFi networks including Open WiFi Milano, the app also has other useful features. Read more about Open WiFi Milano here.
(Download for Android |iPhone)

Sightseeing

Spotted by Locals

Spotted by locals app icon from app store

The app has more than 70 city guides – including the one for Milan – and tells you what is worth seeing in the opinion of the people who live in Milan (also check out their blog here). Lots of great features.
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Grande Brera

The icon for the app Grande Brera

With the opening of Palzzo Citterio as home for Pinacoteca Brera’s collection of modern art, the long planned Grande Brera is a reality and this app is essential for your visit to both museums
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Milan Travel Guide

Milan Travel Guide app icon from app store

A classic city-guide with the most important tourist attractions and it links text and maps.
Languages: English, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Chinese
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Milan Guide

Milan Guide app icon from app store

Get Directions with offline maps and find out what attractions are near you at any given time
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Public transport

ATM Milano Official app

Milanese tram advertising for the ATM app

This is an essential app for finding nearby stops, check waiting time and get real time travel information. Remember to enable notifications so that you get updatesimmediately.
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Taxi

FreeNow (formerly MyTaxi)

You may need a taxi and can’t find any, with this app you can book one and pay with credit card directly in the app.
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Electric scooters and bicycles

Electrical scooters are a popular way to get around in Milan, watch out for yourself out there in traffic and be aware that wearing a helmet will soon be compulsory, you can not go over 20 km per hour, and where there are bicycle paths you have to go on them, otherwise you have to ride in the street to the right in the same direction as traffic (!) you are not allowed to ride on sidewalks, Scooters are only allowed in the centre of the city. Here are the apps you can download for Milan:

Electric scoters and bikes at Arco della Pace

Helbiz (both scooters and bikes)
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Dott – your ride, your way (both scooters and bicycles)
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Tier (both scooters and bicycles)
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Lime (both scooters and bicycles)
(Download for Android | iPhone)

BIT (only sccoters)
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Car sharing

Car sharing is another popular way to get around in Milan and to and from Malpensa airport, the two that you can get all the way out there are;

Free2move
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Enjoy
(Download for Android | iPhone)

Experiences your kids will love in Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Art and culture in Milan

General information

If you’re with your children in Milan then buy 3 day’s access to the civic museums for just €12 an adult (under-18s don’t pay). You can get it online or, easier, at the ticket sale at the first museum you visit. There are lunch ideas mentioned after every museum.

If you are here between the months of June and September there are public swimmingpools in Milan. Read more here.

Check also our post on classic sightseeing here. Milan offers canal tours and double-deckers.

Rent a different bike for the kids at the park

Children playing with the Byki rental bikes in Parco Indro Montanelli, Milan

In the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli (find on map) and Parco Sempione (find on map) you can rent the beautiful originale 3-wheel take bike Alternative Byki from 1959.

Museo nazionale scienza e tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci

The Leonardo Da Vinci museum is a must for children from age 6 and up. There is enough entertainment to last you several hours on a rainy day.

The most diversely talented person ever to have lived is painter, inventor etc. Leonardo da Vinci, and Italy’s national technical museum, located in Milan, is also his official museum. It combines the chance to actually try out some of his inventions with the more traditional exhibitions.

Collage of exhibition items from the scientific museum Leonardo da Vinci

Ideas for lunch. Eat some pizza or foccacia on the square in front of the musum, Buy it here:
GustaMi Panificio,, 3, Via San Vittore (find on map)
Ristoro Monterosso, 11, Via San Vittore (find on map)

Museo di Storia naturale – Dinosaurs and other monsters

Museo di Storia Naturale is yet a perfect place for children from age 6 if they like dinosaur skeletons and everything to do with wild beasts.

It’s located in a great park with a wooden jungle gym and a really cozy outdoor café, Bar Bianco where you can get coffee, ice cream, frozen yogurt, soft drinks and lunch. The park also houses a genuine old-fashioned merry-go-round, a little train and bumper cars for very young kids.

MUBA – The children’s museum

The children’s musum in Milan. where children can play, paint and  create on their own terms. For children aged 2-11.
–> 12, Via Enrico Besana (find on map).

In the Rotonda della Besana where the children’s museum is located is a very nice restaurant with kids’ menu, it is called Rotonda bistro (find on map)

Milan Cathedral (Duomo)

The city cathedral is very impressive on the outside and rather gloomy on the inside. You should spend your time visiting the roof which has an extraordinary view of the whole city and when the weather is clear you can see the Alps in the background. Either take the elevator up or get a fun experience walking all the way up the crooked old stone staircase

You can go get lunch at Luini (find on map) a very good cheap lunch place.

Castello Sforzesco

Banners at Castello Sorzesco, Milan

The city’s impressive medieval castle Castello Sforzesco where you can choose to just walk right through the beautiful courtyards to the Sempione park, which contains playgrounds and ample lawns where you can have your sandwiches, you can eat at Bar Bianco (find on map) or try the incredibly vast choice of sandwiches at the kiosk on Piazza Castello  left of the fountain when coming from Piazza Cairoli.

But you could also visit the inside of the castle, where there are several art museums, displaying historical weapons, paintings, musical instruments and furniture. Especially the weapons tend to appeal to kids.

Another hit with children and adults alike is the tour of the castle’s battlement, the Panoramic Merlate, you get some astounding views of Milan from this place.

View from the battlements of Castello Sforzesco

On the other side of the park the entrance to the design museum Triennale di Milano is located.

Take a trip on the tram

One of Milan's historical trams in the centre of Milan

It’s really kind of awesome and cheap entertainment and children under 14 don’ pay. Milan has old, very elegant trams that were built between 1928 and 1932.

The best places to stay in Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Where to stay in Milan

Milan has many hotels and other types of accomodation at all price ranges.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milan, detail and part of dome

Hotels

Find the hotels others recommend

Websites based on users’ own experiences, where you can read what they think . Ratings are based on what they thought was good and bad. Remember that you cannot be sure of the authenticity of the reviews, neither positive nor negative – so read it all with your critical radar on.
The most popular ones are:Tripadvisor and Yelp.

Find the cheapest and best hotels

Then we’ve got websites that compare prices and find the best deals for the period when you visit. Remember to check out our shopping guide to find the area you’d rather stay in.
The best in the this category are:Expedia and booking.com

Airbnbs and traditional Bed & Breakfasts

If you are out for an alternative experience, you can either get a room in an apartment or rent an entire apartment. This will give you a completely different experience of Milan.
You must absolutely check out: Airbnb – please beware that you must update and accept Airbnb’s conditions on your phone app or the website on your computer in order to get access.

There are many options for you if you want to stay in a Bed and Breakfast in Milan.
Find your bed and breakfast at bedandbreakfast.eu

Stay at a hostel

There are some amazing hostels in the center of Milan;
Der er tre fantastiske ungdomsherberger i centrum af Milano:
Queen Hostel near Porta Venezia at 9, Viale Regina Margherita (find on map)  book here
Ostello Bello tæt på Duomo i Via Medici 4 (find på kort)
Ostello Bello Grande lige ved hovedbanegården Stazione Centrale i Via Roberto Lepetit 33 (find på kort), I kan booke her
COMBO Milano i Navigli området Ripa doi Porta Ticinese 83 (find på kort)
I kan også booke via Booking.com uanset hvor I booker skal I booke i god tid.

Ostello Bello near Duomo at 4, Via Medici  (find on map)
Ostello Bello Grande just by the central station Stazione Centrale at 33, Via Roberto Lepetit (find on map),book here
COMBO Milano in the Navigli area at 83, Ripa doi Porta Ticinese (find on map)You can also book via Booking.com remember to book well in advance no matter where you book though.

Stay in the countryside – agritourism

The Agritourism Cascina Madonnina is located in beautiful surroundings outside Milan at 17, Via Arluno in Pregnana Milanese (find pn map)  but is still so close to the city that you can go there by metro at just €2,50. The perfect solution if you’re travelling with your children.

City Tax

Visitors (over the age of 18) to Milan have to pay a city tax – or tourist tax as it is also known – as well as the price of the accomodation and which differs according to the tyoe of accomodation you have chosen:
1 star hotels and hostels – €4 per person per night
2 star hotels and guesthouses – €5 per person per night
3 star hotels and guesthouses – €7,40 per person per night
4 star hotels and guesthouses -€10 per person per night
Lombard guesthouses / guest houses – €9,50 per person per night
All holiday homes – €7 per person per night
B&Bs – €9,50 per person per night
Youth hostels and camp sites – €3 per person per night

Piano City Milan 2027

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Art and culture in Milan

Piano City Milano kicked off in 2012 (according to themselves the whole thing started in December 2011 with a thirty pianist marathon).

  • Entrance to Piano City Milan's headquearters in Via Palestro
  • Performance at Piano City Milano
  • Performance at Piano City Milano

What Piano City Milano is

Piano City Milano is a celebration of the piano and pianists that takes place for the three days of the penultimate weekend of May with non-stop performancdes and has so for the past 16 years.

During this window of time there are countless piano concerts – both free and paid – in the city’s parks, gardens, appartments, courtyards and more traditional concert venues.

The music spans all genres from electronical, jazz, pop and classical.

This year’s Piano City

This year’s Piano City Milano takes place on May

Where Piano City takes place and where you find the program

Headquarters are located at the museum GAM at 16, via Palestro (find on map) where you can pick up a program and see concerts in the beautiful gardens behind the museum.

The festival is not located just in the city centre nor just in traditional concert venues, it is literally everywhere for three days: In private homes, on the squares all over the city, in the city’s parks and in the more traditional concert venues. Check for performances here.

A guide to cycling in Milan

On By AppsolutelymilanoIn Transport in Milan

See Milan from a different perspective with bike tour rentals. You can also rent a bike for the entire time you spend here or use one of the many electrical scooters.

Cycling Italian Style

Cycling in Milan is a risky business. Milan is a car city, and cyclists are not respected as equals in the traffic.

So remember to signal your intentions in the traffic clearly, so the drivers have time to give you space. Take it easy and don’t insist too much.

Two important tips: Keep an extra eye on the tram rails (believe you us; it is the voice of experience telling you this) and remember that the cobble stones get extra slippery when it rains.

Rent a bike

The historical bicycle store Rossignoli in Corso Garibaldi, Brera, Milan

If you prefer to have your “own” bicycle while you’re here, you can rent your own at the historical bicycle shop Rossignoli,which you have here

71 Corso Garibaldi.(find on map)
open Monday 2.30-7 pm
Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-12.30 pm/2.30-7 pm

Rossignoli also organizez bicycle sightseeing in Italian and English, to book and get more information call +3902804960 a couple of days ahead.

Many other bike shops rent out bikes i.e. Baco bicycle store at 52,Via Solari, for information call +390235994089.

Bicycle sightseeing with a guide

There are also other guided tours of Milan on bicycle in English. Here are the 3 most popular ones:

Bike the City
Velocipedi
Baja Bikes

A group of tourists on a guided bicycle tour of Milan, Piazza Gae Aulenti

City Bikes – BikeMi

BikeMi is a bike sharing service a bit like Boris-bikes in London. It’s a great feature in public transport, but beware Italian traffic habits.

Station of Milan's city bikes BikMi

BikeMi is part of the public transport system, you must register at ATM (Milan’s municipal transport agency) and to do that you need to have a valid credit card (so they have security for the bike and possible damages) read about the legal and practical issues here. You can get a card for either 1 week or for a single day,.

For general information see here

Short trips are the cheapest
BikeMi is meant to be used for short trips and it becomes proportionally more expensive the longer you use them If you change bicycles frequently the trips can end up being totally free of charge. If you forget to deliver the bike within 24 hours, there’s a stiff fee.

Summer operating hours.
April 1st-November 2nd the service will run
Sunday-Thursday 7 am.-2 a.m.
Friday and Saturday the service will operate 24 hrs a day.

Bike sharing

Bike sharing, Mobike at a metro stop, Milan

There are many apps for bicycles in Milan, find the links for download here.

Electric scooters

Escooters Hlebitz in Corso Garibaldi, Brera, Milan

For electric scooter check out the rules and find the links for downloads here.