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When it comes to a place as iconic and incredibly diverse as Italy, it can be difficult to choose just one place to visit and even harder to tell the difference between the must-see gems and the overrated tourist traps.
Milanin particular, has always been the subject of ongoing debate among travelers, with some insisting that it is one of the most interesting cities in Italy and others claiming that it is a waste of time and money.
So I decided to take the plunge and see for myself: is Milan really worth visiting and, more importantly, can you do it on a budget?
After four extraordinary days in the city, I'm happy to report that this northern Italian gem is not only one of the most breathtaking places I've ever seen in my life, but that I was able to have an incredible time on less than $100 a day.
Here's how to do it:
Find cheap accommodation in Milan
Accommodation is perhaps the trickiest thing to do on a budget in Milan, especially if you have certain expectations about location or overall quality, but it's not impossible.
The no. One tip I can give you here is to prioritize Airbnb over hotels.
I know that Airbnbs have become notorious more expensive than hotels in most destinations, but after searching for the perfect, affordable place to stay for at least a month, I can confidently say that Milan is not one of them.
Places like these (1, 2), while modest, are nevertheless comfortable, clean, and well-located, offering excellent value for money (assuming you're traveling with a companion, the cost per night is between $40 and $55 per person).
You will notice that both of these apartments are located in Porta Venezia – in my opinion, this is the best area for a tourist to stay in the city.
You are close to the city center (~25 minutes walk) and Milano Centrale, the main train and bus station (~15 minutes walk), and believe me, if you don't have your own car, you I would like to be close to Minano Centrale as that is where you will go for every day trip and airport transfer.
The area itself is peaceful but still lively and close to great stores and bars, and you even have access to a beautiful park (Indro Montanelli).
Getting around the city
OK, so you want to be close to Milano Centrale for all intercity travel, but what about getting around Milan itself? How do you do this and how much can you expect to pay?
The simplest and most convenient mode of transport here is the metro, with no competition.
There's a station on almost every corner, and as long as you do your best to understand how the system works, you should get used to it in no time.
Basically, there are three main lines that cover most of the city, Red (M1), Green (M2) and Yellow (M3), each with its own set of stops that you can learn more about. here.
However, as a tourist, you might have difficulty determining which station you should go to and which line you should take. So I strongly recommend that you download the Milan ATM app.
You just need to enter your location and where you need to go, and the app will offer you an exact route showing how to get to the right metro station near you, which line to take and where to stop, and it's definitely a time and headache saver.
Even with the app, you'll still need to pay close attention to signs and maps posted at subway stations as well as digital displays inside actual subways to make sure you're going in the right direction.
As for pricing, a single ticket (usable as many times as you want over a 90 minute period) costs €2.2 or ~$2.5, while a The 3-day pass costs €15.5 or ~$17.
Eating well at a restaurant doesn't have to be expensive
Eating out in Milan can be quite expensive – there are probably thousands of restaurants and fast food joints in the city and most of them are obvious tourist traps with exorbitant prices and mediocre food.
That said, there are still places where you can enjoy delicious, great value food, even in the more touristy areas.
Concrete example, Luna Rossa.
From the outside, it doesn't look much, but as soon as you enter, you are struck by this typical Italian trattoria charm.
It's busy, loud and unpretentious – the food is great, the service is quick and a main course + glass of wine shouldn't cost you more than $15.
Bonus point, it's just an 8-minute walk from the Duomo.
Other places I ate (and loved) during my trip to Milan included Fresca Pasta Club, Homemade SaladAnd Pizza and Mozzarella.
For dessert, my favorites would be Gelato Fatto Con Amore And Tiramisu Spùn.
The same goes for entertainment
With accommodation, food, and transportation covered, it's time to look at what it costs to do other tourist activities in Milan, you know, things like visiting a museum, exploring a historical attraction or go out for a cocktail.
With museums, you'll do your best to plan your visit to Milan to be here on the first Sunday of the month – one of the most coveted in the city. historical and cultural attractions are free to enter on that day only.
If that's not possible, aim for the first or third Tuesday of the month, when there will still be some wonderful museums you can get into for free (places that charge $5 to $25 per ticket the rest of the time). month).
With Duomo you will have to pay for a ticket no matter what time of month you go, but here are some tips I can give you to get the most out of the experience:
- Buy only from official website or on site
- Check discount policies
- If you're reasonably fit, choose the Combo Stairs ticket instead of the Combo Lift: there are only 200 steps, the queues for the elevator can get insane at certain times of the day, and there are no has no descending elevator, so you always have to walk down
- Use the 10% Gift Shop Discount Code provided with any combo ticket
Now, when it comes to bars, the best places to go for those on a budget are definitely neighborhoods like Porta Romana or Porta Venezia, where cocktails cost between $8 and $10.
If you want to have a drink with a great view of the Duomo, my main recommendation would be SunEleven Rooftop Bar – for only $16 per cocktail, you benefit from excellent service and the most incredible decor.
So, with that said, how much can you expect an average day in Milan to cost you?
- Airbnb – $45
- Breakfast + coffee (espresso) – $6
- Tour + museum visit – $0
- Lunch – $18
- Cocktail – $10
- Dinner – $15
This all adds up to $94, well under $100.
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This article was originally published on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the publication.
