The Ultimate Guide to Milan on a Budget: Design, Fashion & Aperitivo 2025

Seeing Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece requires serious planning. You must book tickets months in advance from the official website (Cenacolo Vinciano). Tickets are released in batches and sell out almost instantly. If you miss out, your only other option is to book a more expensive guided city tour that includes a visit.

You have two great options. The Malpensa Express train is the fastest, taking you to Cadorna or Centrale stations in about 40-50 minutes. Alternatively, several shuttle bus companies run services to Stazione Centrale (the main train station) which are slightly cheaper but can take longer depending on traffic.

Milan's ATM network (metro, trams, buses) is excellent. The metro is the fastest way to cover long distances. You can buy a 24, 48, or 72-hour pass for unlimited travel, which is great value. Alternatively, you can use a contactless card or phone to tap-and-go directly at the metro turnstiles, and the system will automatically calculate the best fare for you.

Milan is the capital of aperitivo! From around 6 PM to 9 PM, when you buy a drink (like a Negroni Sbagliato or Aperol Spritz), you get access to a buffet of food. In Milan, this is often a lavish spread that can easily substitute for dinner (called 'apericena'). The Navigli and Brera districts are famous for their aperitivo bars.

You need a ticket to enter the cathedral, and it's best to buy it online in advance to avoid long queues. There are different ticket options. A Duomo Pass Lift is a great choice, as it includes access to the cathedral, the archaeological area, the museum, and, most importantly, lets you take the elevator up to the incredible rooftop terraces for stunning close-up views of the spires.

Milan has some fantastic free attractions. You can:

• Walk through the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
• Explore the courtyards of the Sforza Castle.
• Relax in Parco Sempione behind the castle.
• Window shop in the world-famous Quadrilatero della Moda (Fashion Quadrilateral).
• Visit the Cimitero Monumentale, an open-air museum of incredible sculptures and tombs.

The historic center of Milan (around the Duomo, Brera, and the Castle) is very walkable. However, the city is quite large and other key districts like Navigli or Porta Nuova are further apart. A combination of walking within neighborhoods and using the efficient metro or tram system to travel between them is the best strategy.

A cotoletta is a Milanese specialty. It's a veal cutlet on the bone that is breaded and fried in butter. A true cotoletta should be "orecchio di elefante" (elephant's ear), meaning it's pounded very thin and is very large. It's a simple but delicious dish. Look for a traditional "trattoria" to try an authentic one.

It's very easy! Frequent trains run from Milano Centrale or Milano Cadorna stations to towns on Lake Como. A train from Centrale to Varenna-Esino or from Cadorna to Como Nord Lago takes about an hour. From there, you can use the ferry system on the lake to hop between beautiful towns like Bellagio and Varenna.

The Quadrilatero della Moda (Fashion Quadrilateral) is Milan's most famous luxury shopping district. It's a "quadrilateral" of streets—Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, and Via Manzoni—that are home to the flagship stores of nearly every major Italian and international fashion brand. It's the heart of Milanese style and a fantastic place for window shopping.