Our next day was our only full day in Milan. When we were initially doing our vacation planning, the only highlights we looked at were the Duomo and seeing the Last Supper (which was sadly fully booked). Milan didn’t strike me as a city that had a lot to offer outside of it being a fashion district, but I must say that out of all the cities we visited on this trip, Milan ended up surprising me the most. 

Our combination ticket for the Duomo was for 10am, but we decided to get there much earlier to grab breakfast and take advantage of the empty streets to take photos outside the Duomo and the nearby Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It was so nice being able to enjoy the shopping arcade and the square without the regular throngs of tourists. For breakfast I had a pistachio praline latte and croissant from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which is apparently only one of the handful of Starbucks in Italy. (I apologize to all the Italians I’ve offended.)

It started pouring not too long after we got back to the Duomo. Prior to entering, there is a modest dress code you must follow before you’re allowed inside, which includes keeping your shoulders and knees covered. I had to rearrange my outfits during this trip to ensure I complied with their clothing guidelines, especially since it was so hot in the summer. However they do sell disposable covers at the Duomo, so if you’re in a pinch you’re able to buy one on the spot.

While the Duomo itself was quite impressive from the front, it was very grey and dull once you make your way inside. Considering there could have been so many possibilities, it was a bit disappointing seeing the interior. Nonetheless, we visited the crypt and the archaeological area, which was include in our admission. Since we bought the fast track pass, we were also able to access the terraces by lift. Thankfully it stopped raining by then, so we were able to fully enjoy the terrace, which I liked way more than the interior. Prior to leaving the area, we also stopped by the Duomo Museum for a quick visit. 

For our second stop that day, we took our guide’s suggestion and visited the Monumental Cemetery. It was a bit out of the city centre, but we really liked it because it was quieter and there was so much to see still. We stayed about an hour, then right before we hopped on the Metro, we stopped to look at the Bosco Verticale, which was in the distance. This is a pair of residential towers our guide pointed out the day before, which is home to 21,000 trees and plants. It’s really hard to miss when there’s greenery sprouting out from every floor.

As we scrapped our initial lunch reservations, we randomly found a cafe in the Brera district to eat, which is known for its galleries and fashion boutiques. After lunch we wandered around the area and even stopped outside the Pinacoteca di Brera, which is the main public gallery for paintings in Milan. At 4pm I had reserved tickets to the Swavorski Masters of Light from Vienna to Milan exhibition. The exhibit was a really good find and it was even better that the tickets were free.

After finishing the exhibit, we backtracked to the Duomo and did some window shopping in the area. It was pretty hot that day and despite us taking breaks, the heat and the activities caught up to us. Once we got back to the hotel, one of my friends was fully done. She was happy to be left alone at the hotel for some R&R, so me and my other friend went back out to grab dinner.

For dinner that night we went to the Navigli District, which is known for its canals and cobblestone streets. Not long after we emerged from the Metro, it started raining, so we quickly ducked inside a restaurant for dinner. We were so lucky we didn’t choose to sit outside because it started hailing a few minutes after. Even the staff were as perplexed as we were! 

Speaking of the staff, I need to mention how nice they were to us. Not only did they fix our wobbly table, one of the waiters noticed my utensils were placed wrongly and attempted to correct it for me. I felt guilty informing him I had flipped them myself because I’m left-handed lol. Should I mention they were all easy on the eyes and I was rooting on my friend to marry one of them? =P

While I thought I would be having the most amazing meal of my life eating pasta in Venice, my favourite meal from this trip was actually the Milanese-style risotto I had that night. I didn’t even know risotto could be that good and it paired amazingly with their ossobuco. I literally didn’t want to waste a single grain, so whatever I didn’t finish that evening I took to go with me. 

Luckily the hail and rain stopped by the time we were done dinner, so we were able to walk along the canal. My friend had looked up this spot known as the smallest bar in the world and we were determined to find it despite neither of us having our phone data turned on. Somehow I managed to connect to free wifi and we located the bar. While the bar was fully booked, there is a little takeout window you can order from and my friend ordered their Farmily Mule to go. If I ever go back to Milan again I will definitely make a reservation at BackDoor43. 

Overall I was surprised by what Milan had to offer. I wrote off Milan as a ‘we need to use it as a base to travel’, but I was so wrong. I really enjoyed my time in the city and I liked how it was an urban centre with a laid back feel. There’s definitely enough of everything to cater to everyones’ tastes.