One of the most fun things about studying abroad is this: having friends who are too. A couple of weekends ago, I had a blast travelling to Barcelona to visit a friend studying there for the semester, and it was hands down one of the best trips I’ve done so far. From a personal walking tour to go-to cafés and restaurants to tourist attractions, my friend took the time to curate a weekend showcasing her daily life in Barcelona as well as the city itself. The whole trip had me thinking: if I had someone visiting me in Milan, where would I take them? 

I’ve heard this question many times in several classes at the IES Abroad Center and it’s a tricky one to answer. Although Milan is somewhat of a smaller city, there are almost too many things to do, especially within a weekend. So, what are the most important things to hit from local to tourist? For anyone currently abroad or going to be in the future, don’t worry about that because I’ve come up with a two day itinerary of Milan containing all the things both local and international students love to do as well as tourist sights to visit. 

Day One 

Brera District — to ease into a weekend of Milan, take your friend for a walk around the Brera District. It’s filled with so many beautiful buildings and is one of the best places to window shop as it’s typically less crowded than the Galleria. Around here, you can find the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery where you can enter for €15 (heads up, you can possibly get a student discount if you show your student visa). 

Da Zero — what’s better than pizza to satisfy your hunger from all that walking and window shopping? Absolutely nothing. Recommended by a friend abroad (shoutout to Bijin!), Da Zero is located in Brera via Dell’Orso. It has one of the best Diavola pizzas (a spicy salami pizza) in Milan. 

Sforzesco Castello — just a bit north of Brera is an iconic Milanese sight: the Sforzesco Castello. For €3 (a discounted ticket for people between the ages of 18-25), you can get access to the entire castle and museum to learn about its history. If you don’t want to enter Sforzesco, you can still enjoy the castle’s courtyards, which are open to the public. 

Parco Sempione — the castle is connected to Milan’s biggest greenspace where you can find a wide variety of things (did you know that there’s a bar located inside of the park?). To enjoy the rest of the afternoon/evening, go to a nearby grocery store, buy some snacks (chips, drinks, fruits, prosciutto), and have an impromptu picnic. It’s a great place to relax and catch up with friends. If you don’t want to hit up a grocery store, don’t worry — there are a couple of cafés and bars in the park where you can enjoy an apéritivo too. 

Chinatown — headover to Milan’s Chinatown (the biggest one in Europe) for a wide variety of dinner options ranging from street food to sit-down restaurants. Here, you can find some of the best cheap eats in the city. I know it’s not Italian food, but sometimes it’s good to switch things up! There’s also some fun activities located here such as cat cafés and pottery painting. 

Ciacco — it’s not a trip to Italy without gelato, and what’s better than gelato plus a nighttime view of the Duomo di Milano all lit up. Ciacco is a well-loved gelateria by local students near the Duomo. It has yummy, unique flavors such as tiramisu (which has actual chunks of biscoff cookies in it), beeswax, and tuna sauce (if you try this, please give me a review). 

Day Two 

Mercato Papiniano — weekends are filled with various markets such as the iconic Navigli Market. Although that market is the most famous one to go to, there are plenty of other markets more loved by locals to check out such as Mercato Papiniano. Running every Tuesday and Saturday, Mercato Papiniano has some of the best cheap finds when it comes to Milan thrifting (I found a cute top for €1 one time). You definitely have to dig through the piles but it’s definitely worth it and a fun experience. 

Duomo di Milano — this is a place you have to take your friend, so that they can confidently say, “I’ve seen all of Milan”. The Duomo di Milano is the most famous and oldest cathedral in Milan. Although tickets are a bit more on the pricey side, it’s definitely worth it. Pro tip: instead of buying tickets online, purchase them at the gift shop across from the Duomo where there are cheaper ticket options. A recommendation that a lot of people have is to pay for the ticket that takes you to the rooftop as it has the best views of Milan especially at sunset. 

Colibrì — I stumbled across this place in the first week of being in Milan, and it’s honestly one of my favorite cafès in the city. Whether it’s for a cappuccino or an aperol spritz, Colibrì has it all. It’s an extremely cute melange of everything: cafè, bar, and bookshop. Even if you don’t have someone visiting, definitely visit here still whether for fun or studying (there’s a study space located here too, which is rare in Milan). 

Cantina Piemontese — every city in Italy has dishes they are known for, even an international city like Milan. Cantina Piemontese is a historical place where coal miners used to eat after work. Now, it’s a special hole-in–the-wall restaurant serving traditional Milanese food like coletta. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to find the restaurant as the entrance is a tiny door in the middle of a building. Not only is the food affordable and delicious, Cantina Piemontese hosts monthly jazz events on a weekly basis.