Weekend in Milan: culture, shopping and nightlife in the beautiful Ambrosian city

In a city so big and complex, the choice of where to stay in Milan is very important and can make a difference in how well we experience our trip. 

Obviously, the decision largely depends on the budget we have available, and we also need to consider that public transportation is well developed and covers the entire city area. So we can move around the various neighborhoods conveniently (though remindful of peak hours) and quickly.

For our weekend in Milan, the ideal option could be to find a structure in the area around the Columns of San Lorenzo, a place not too far from the center (less than 1km from Piazza Duomo) but with generally more convenient quality-price ratio.

This way, we can easily visit the entire historic center and the so-called Quadrilatero della Moda, while in the evenings we can reach the Navigli area, one of the hubs of Milanese nightlife, even on foot. In addition, we’ll have the stops of two different metro lines within a few hundred meters, while the tram stop will be only a few steps away.

After arriving in the city on Friday afternoon or evening, let's officially begin our weekend in Milan by immersing ourselves in the vibrant and trendy ambiance of the Navigli district.

A walk along the Naviglio Grande, crossing the small bridges over the canal and admiring the lights of the 19th century style tenement houses, is an unmissable and charming experience.

Here, we can enjoy an all-Italian aperitivo, for example with the classic Milanese-style apericena; or dine in one of the many restaurants in the area, or even have a drink and join the nightlife on Friday and Saturday evening.

The Navigli and the Darsena are indeed one of the main hubs of Milan’s nightlife, frequented by both tourists and locals. They are located a short distance from the metro station of P.ta Genova FS (M2, Green metro line), while if we are staying near the Columns of San Lorenzo we can easily reach the district on foot.

Despite the crowd of tourists and locals who fill it daily from morning to night, Piazza del Duomo still manages to convey the atmosphere of an authentic Milan. For this reason, as well as for the scenic beauty of the fabulous building of the Duomo that seems to tower over the entire city, Piazza del Duomo is the ideal starting point for our trip on Saturday morning.

Here, from a cultural and folklore perspective, we could almost spend the whole day: we can indeed visit the Duomo (going up to the terrace to admire the square below is an unforgettable experience), stroll with our eyes up in the wonderful setting of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, admire the famous Teatro alla Scala, one of the most prestigious theaters in Italy, or explore the exhibitions of Palazzo Reale and discover the artworks of the Museo del Novecento.

Let’s try to limit our visit to this area to about a couple of hours, considering that in any case Piazza del Duomo is the main hub of the city and we’ll pass through it again within this same day. 

Instead, let’s head to the Brera district, where we can make a stop in one of the numerous typical trattorias that crowd this area. We can thus try some of the traditional Milanese recipes, such as Risotto with Saffron, Cotoletta or Ossobuco. 

After lunch, let’s lazily walk through the streets of Brera to discover the atmosphere of the area, made lively and a bit bohemian by the presence of the famous Accademia delle Belle Arti. Speaking of art, enthusiasts can visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, which contains masterpieces by artists including Caravaggio, Mantegna, Piero della Francesca and others.

Alternatively, it only takes a few hundred meters to reach Via Montenapoleone: if we walk along the street while keeping an eye on the windows of the luxurious boutiques, we will get in tune with the stylish soul of the World Capital of Fashion.

From this point, indeed, the shops follow one another continuously until Piazza San Babila and then, following Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, once again to Piazza del Duomo. 

Now we can choose whether to conclude the first "daytime" stage of our itinerary by returning to the hotel to rest before the evening outing, or to make the most of every minute of this weekend in Milan by visiting all the most significant neighborhoods of the city.

In the latter case, from Piazza del Duomo, we can reach Cadorna station with the M1 metro line (Red Line, 2 stops). Here, we take the M2 line (Green Line) to arrive at Garibaldi FS station in 3 stops and then head towards the skyscrapers of Piazza Gae Aulenti.

In this futuristic neighborhood, we’ll discover the most modern side of Milan, amidst shops and futuristic views, such as in the area of the Biblioteca degli Alberi, where the photogenic and innovative residential complex known as Bosco Verticale is located.

From this area, we can also walk to the emerging district of Isola, an ideal place to spend a wonderful and lively Saturday night.

The second leg of our weekend in Milan takes us to explore in the morning the extraordinary Castello Sforzesco, erected in the 15th century (although defensive fortifications were already present in Roman times in this location), one of the most well-known and unmissable sites in Milan thanks to its imposing and scenic architecture.

Inside, there are several courtyards and museums to explore, from the Pinacoteca to the Egyptian Museum and the Museum of the Pietà Rondanini. For time reasons, it’s wise to consider visiting one or at most a couple of them (for the most passionate art lovers).

We then exit the Castle from the side of Parco Sempione, where we can enjoy an afternoon stroll along the paths of the city's main green lung. Following a straight path, we will leave the park near the Arco della Pace, in a truly pleasant place full of cafes where we can rest for a while.

From the Arco della Pace, we return inside Parco Sempione, exiting from the side where the Triennale di Milano museum is located.

From this point, it's just a few hundred meters to reach two of the most spectacular attractions in the city: the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (which is open on Sundays between 3:00 PM and 5:50 PM) and the Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano.

It’s almost superfluous to describe how significant and beautiful works such as Bramante's dome or Leonardo's Last Supper are. 

To have the best visiting experience, it’s useful to highlight the importance of booking in advance, and possibly opting for a guided tour, at least for the Last Supper. This way, we can fully discover and understand the secrets of this exciting and timeless masterpiece. 

The atmosphere outside Santa Maria delle Grazie's complex should also be emphasized: the aura of a more authentic Milan, less polished than the area around Piazza del Duomo or the Quadrilatero della Moda.

After the visit to the Basilica and the Museum, let's head to the nearby Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, an imposing church and a symbolic place of the city as it houses the remains of Sant'Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan. This area is particularly lively and pleasant thanks to the presence of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

After visiting the Basilica, let’s stroll along some narrow and picturesque streets (Via Lanzone, Via Caminadella and Via Mora) to reach the beautiful Columns of San Lorenzo, dating back to Roman times, behind which stands the silhouette of the Statue of Constantine and the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, one of the oldest churches in Milan (end of 4th century).

For those who still have some time (and energy!) left, you can take the metro at Missori (M3, Yellow Line) and go to the Centrale FS metro station to admire the spectacular building of Milan Central Station, inaugurated in 1931, which blends Neoclassical, Liberty, and Art Deco styles.

From the station, let's walk to the nearby Corso Buenos Aires, another area famous for the presence of many shops, where we can immerse ourselves one last time in the unmissable Milanese shopping experience.