Milan event weekends: what to do between sessions

Italy's design and fashion capital: the Duomo, The Last Supper, aperitivo culture and Lake Como 40 minutes away.

Events we cover in Milan

Arriving

Malpensa (MXP) has the Malpensa Express to Cadorna and Centrale in about 50 minutes. Linate (LIN) is on metro line M4, 15 minutes to San Babila. Bergamo (BGY) has buses to Centrale in about 1 hour.

Where to stay

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Ostello Bello Grande
• Mid-range: Hotel Spadari al Duomo
• Splurge: Park Hyatt Milan

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Where to eat

• Luini Fried panzerotti since 1949
• Trattoria Milanese Ossobuco and risotto
• Camparino in Galleria Campari at the Galleria
• Mercato Centrale Milano Food hall at the station
• Pasticceria Marchesi Historic pastry shop
• Navigli canal bars Aperitivo buffets at 7 pm

With kids

• Science and Technology Museum.
• Sempione Park.
• Gardaland near Lake Garda.

Rainy-day backups

• Pinacoteca di Brera.
• Museo del Novecento.
• Fondazione Prada.

Free things to do

• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
• Sforza Castle courtyards.
• Brera district streets.

Getting around

• Five metro lines; contactless on gates.
• For Monza, take a Trenord train to Monza or Biassono-Lesmo Parco.
• Trenitalia Frecciarossa and Italo high-speed trains link Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice; book ahead for event weekends.
• Validate paper regional train tickets before boarding; contactless works on most city metros.