We are Stephanie and Joey – also known as Steph & Jo (Travelconvos). In this blog we will be presenting the best things to do in Milan, a gorgeous city in Northern Italy. We are both 26 years old and we were born and raised in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Both of us have a huge passion for art.
We met each other on August 6th and after that we had 22 dates in a row, which was incredibly romantic. This meant many different activities: going to a gamehall, the cinema, city walks, eating ice cream, loads of food dates and more. The first time we talked to each other was through Instagram DM and we kept talking until the day we first saw each other.
Stephanie’s family stimulated her to discover the earth and she started traveling when she was 20. Joey, on the other hand, always loved to see new architecture in different cities. Jo watched huge travel video editors and had this passion for learning from creative digital content creators.
He liked being creative with photo poses while discovering new places. Jo loved searching for unique angles with his videography. So together we love stories, creating and making them together. If you combine these things you have our passion for travel and our Instagram: @travelconvos.
A Wonderful Six Day Trip to Milan
Our trip to Milan started when Joey wanted to convince Steph to visit. Although, she thought it wasn’t worth it. In the end though, the architecture and hardworking culture left a lasting impression on her.
We went to Milan for six days and had very busy days. We visited Duomo di Milano on our first day and were impressed by the building from inside and out. It was hard not to also do a photoshoot with the birds in the square!
Pasta is a big deal in Italy and so we had to check out one of the hotspots: Miscusi (highly recommended). The next day we had to get up very early to take a train at 5:30am to visit Riomaggiore. We loved the visual aesthetic of this town but one thing we didn’t like were the crowds of people.
We suggest visiting Riomaggiore in the low season (not in July/August). Making a trip to the Cinque Terre and seeing more places in that area is on our list now. We did some snorkeling and swimming in Riomaggiore – but the main reason we visited was for Joey’s birthday. It turned out to be a beautiful destination to celebrate his big day.
Once back in Milan, we went out to discover the food. If you are a food lover, this city is perfect for you. However, their breakfast is almost always focused on sweet things. For cheese-lovers, Italy is the best place on earth. We tried Panzerotti, a great dish for lunch and only €2.50 per piece. A bargain!
Of course, Museo del Novecento was on our Milan itinerary and we visited this museum, exploring an amazing art collection. After that, we enjoyed wandering around different areas of the city such as Navigli and Brera. Although we spent six days in Milan, we think eight days would be better as you would have the chance to see more places around Milan like Como.
Favorite Places: Duomo di Milano & Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan is a wonderful city that should be on every traveler’s bucket list. It has so much culture, food, architecture and beauty. Also, the local Italians here are so friendly! If we had to describe Milan in a sentence it would be: the city that wakes up early, has a quick hardworking rush during the day but then so much relaxation during the late afternoons and evenings.
It’s a city full of incredible food and coffee, and is a quick transfer to discover so many beautiful places in Italy. Our favorite places were Duomo and Galleria Vittoria. Both of these places are close to each other and they have loads of history. We think they’re a must-see when visiting Milan. In between them, you also have small stores selling the best Panzerotti!
7 Best Things To Do in Milan
- Visit Duomo di Milano: Get all the way to the top to experience Milan from a different view. Also, say yes to the man who takes photos on the square in front of the Duomo. It’s so much fun having a photoshoot!
- Explore Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: Check out everything it has to offer inside and out, as there are so many nice bars and cafes around it.
- See the Art at Museo del Novecento: Enjoy their art collections and also check out the spectacular views from a very nice window inside.
- Try Panzerotti and Milanese Risotto: They are the best dishes in town.
- Wander around Brera, Milan: It’s a nicer area than Navigli we would say and the people there are super friendly. Make an afternoon of it!
- Take the Train to Different Cities/Areas: You can head to Lake Como or Cinque Terre. Make sure to at least stay a day in one of those spots.
- Find as many Ice Creams as you can: There are many to choose from!
Best Accommodation Options
For budget accommodation, we recommend a place called Hotel Roxy. It’s not that expensive and it serves all of your needs for a decent city stay. Also, the location of Hotel Roxy is perfect to take transfers and taxis.
If you have a bigger budget then we suggest booking a couple of nights at Best Western Plus Hotel Galles. You can combine that with a few nights at Design Loft – Porta Ticinese in Navigli which has an awesome design.
Where to Eat Delicious Local Food
The food in Milan was fantastic. We loved the local dishes such as pasta, burrata and pizza. To enjoy these dishes we suggest heading to Miscusi, Cocciuto and Marghe. When visiting Miscusi you must try out their pasta carbonara and pesto pasta – these were definitely our favorites. Ask them to put some pistachios on top too. It’s absolutely delicious!
Cocciuto and Marghe have the best pizzas, especially the pizzas with pepperoni and eggplant. We loved eating Panzerotti too. You can try them for €2.80 each and get them at Panzerotti Luini. The coffees and smoothies are also very good in Milan. We don’t have particular restaurants or cafes for those drinks, but just try them out wherever you end up!
Looking Back Fondly on our Milan Trip
The moment we created our photos and videos in front of the Duomo was an incredible experience. We had two different tries, but every time we tried to pose in front of the Duomo there was something going on. So, the third time went down a success and we had the opportunity to even pose in front of a blue old-timer car. It was such an amazing experience.
The other moment we will never forget is the day we went posing with pigeons. We had never done this before and we think it really is an experience that belongs to Milan. So these two memories stand out for us.
Need to Know Before you Go
- Before you go make sure you have a list of things or places you want to do or visit. Milan wakes up early and the time passes by really quickly.
- Make sure you visit Milan in bearable temperatures instead of 30 to 40 degree heat, it’s just too hot during these temperatures! We wouldn’t recommend you making the same mistake that we made.
- Restaurants close early and they close in the middle of the day, so don’t plan a late lunch. Restaurants are closed after 2pm and reopen at 7pm.
- Visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II because it’s just too gorgeous of a place to miss – even when you are not going to shop there.
- Watch out for pickpockets. We didn’t experience anything but we had heard from other people that it happens a lot in Milan, unfortunately. So keep your bags and wallets close. A small bag or fanny pack is ideal.
