Should You Go to Milan City in Italy? An Honest Review

Your trip to Italy is coming up, and you aren’t quite sure which places to visit. Who can blame you for being torn between cities? The country has more artistic and historical treasures than we can count! As you traverse the north, you might already have Milan city in Italy in your itinerary, or perhaps are wondering if you should fit it into the schedule.

It’s a big metropolis, where millions of Italians either live or commute to for work. Therefore, you’ll get a lot of opinions surrounding the value of visiting the city as a foreigner. The truth is, some people love Milan, while others hate it.

I’ve been scoffed at by some Italians who exclaimed, “Why would you want to go to Milan? There’s nothing there but corporations!” And I have also heard, “You simply cannot miss Milan.”

That begs the question: with so many torn opinions, how do you know if you should actually go? After visiting Milan about a dozen times, I can say for certain I haven’t seen even a fraction of the city, and it never fails to amaze me.

I’ll tell you about my experience when visiting Milan, share some of the reasons you should visit, and some reasons why you may want to skip it during your next trip to Italy.

Summary: Milan, City of Italy, Pros and Cons

Pros

• Iconic landmarks: The Last Supper, Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Teatro alla Scala.
• Art & museums: Over 100 venues, including Ambrosiana Museum with da Vinci’s notebooks.
• Fashion capital: Milan Fashion Week, luxury shopping, consignment finds, stylish locals.
• Nightlife: Energetic, late-night scene similar to New York City vibes.
• Modern comforts: Reliable AC, elevators, and updated infrastructure.
• Convenient base: Milano Centrale connects easily to Rome, Venice, Florence, Zurich, and beyond.
• Unique vibe: Youthful, professional, and cosmopolitan energy with lots of authenticity.

Cons

• Not the most picturesque: Modern skyline, less Renaissance charm compared to Florence or Rome.
• Rebuilt city: Many historic sites lost in WWII bombings; only a few remnants remain (Roman columns, medieval piazza).
• Air quality issues: Pollution can make the city hazy and uncomfortable on still days.
• Can feel corporate: Some Italians see Milan as a business hub more than a cultural destination.

Should I Go to Milan, Italy?

Yes, you should go to Milan city in Italy! Like all major cities, there is a lot to do in Milan. There’s The Last Supper, painted by da Vinci. The Duomo Cathedral is in the heart of the city. There’s also an awesome nightlife scene that doesn’t stop until daybreak.

But I have a confession to make. After going through all of Italy, traveling from the tip of the north all the way to the boot of the south, I can say that Milan isn’t my favorite city in Italy. Milan is a newer city with a lot of tall, modern buildings – not exactly the picturesque Mediterranean experience you might have hoped for.

However, just because it isn’t my favorite doesn’t mean it won’t be yours! That’s why it’s important to take advice with a grain of salt and form your own opinion, and the only way to do that is to go visit!

An Honest Review of Milan

I’m guilty of occasionally throwing shade at Milan, because frankly, there are more beautiful cities to visit. If you want to immerse yourself in the cradle of the Renaissance, you go to Florence. Rome is phenomenal if you want to see how a modern city interacts with an ancient infrastructure.

Borghetto sul Mincio is the most beautiful little hamlet you’ll find in the north. Let’s not forget the rolling hills of Tuscany and all the medieval towns you can find tucked away between them.

Milan doesn’t have quite the mix of historical structures and city hustle as Rome. I found myself getting bored, reminiscing about the bits of ancient Europe scattered throughout other parts of the country, and wishing I were elsewhere.

And yet, despite the occasional misgivings, I found parts of Milan to be delightfully unique, like the random town plazas hidden behind buildings, small businesses, and a spectacular art scene.

I think the biggest thing was that I didn’t manage my expectations properly. The three considerations any traveler should have when going to Milan are: the city’s history, modernization, and air quality (yes, really).

Milan was rebuilt in the last century

Milan isn’t a city for discovering ancient relics and well-preserved buildings. A long history of war, bombs, and occupation has forced the country to rebuild itself a few times.

Most recently was at the turn of the twentieth century, when Milan was subjected to heavy bombings during World War II. The story I heard while visiting The Last Supper was that the conjoined Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie was hit during a surprise strike, and the incredible work by da Vinci was almost lost to the rubble.

A sad story, indeed, but not all of the city was destroyed. There are ancient remnants scattered throughout the city, including a medieval piazza (square) and archeological sites with Roman structures. Milan’s most popular historical sites include:

• Anfiteatro del Parco: Section of a Roman Amphitheater inside of Parco Sempione.
• Antiquarium Alda Levi: A park with an archeological site dedicated to Roman amphitheaters. 
• Colonne di San Lorenzo: Archaeological site right in the city center with 16 Roman columns.
• Piazza dei Mercanti: Milan’s last medieval square.

Milan is full of modern comforts

The city isn’t completely antiquated, which means you don’t have to live without modern-day comforts while you’re visiting.

The first thing tourists usually complain about is the lack of elevators in old buildings. New buildings mean new amenities, and you’re sure to find an elevator in just about every building you walk into.

You don’t have to worry too much about how hot the summer months get in Milan, either. While Milan does definitely get hit by Italy’s notorious heat waves, those modern comforts come in handy in the summer. Restaurants you visit will undoubtedly have a strong air conditioning system.

But Milan does have bad air quality

There are stunning gardens and public parks in Milan, like the incredible Parco Sempione, designed by Emilio Alemagna, but beware of the air quality. On windless days, the air quality can be quite terrible, and difficult to breathe at times.

According to IQAir, Milan tends to have moderately polluted air. There are surrounding factories that congest the air with fumes, and because Milan is landlocked close to the mountains, this air tends to remain stagnant.

I am pretty sensitive to poor air quality, and found it to be a challenge after a few days.

What Is There to Do in Milan City in Italy?

Oh, there is so much to do in Milan. I tend to think of Milan like the equivalent of New York City, except smaller. The city might not have the same historical significance as its other Italian counterparts, but Milan reigns supreme in these three areas:

1. Art and Design
2. Fashion
3. Nightlife

While there is no argument as to whether or not Italy is beautiful, I must admit that Milan is just not visually stunning the way Florence and Rome are. What Milan lacks in historical sites, it makes up for in super fun nightlife, cheap things to do, and a great art scene.

Writer’s Note: Just because the city was rebuilt, doesn’t mean the history of Milan was erased from the books or the minds of people who love-love the city. You can (and should) check out one of the historical walking tours of Milan to learn more about what you can no longer see.

Milan is Europe’s fashion mecca

There’s an underground, very exclusive, and little-known event that takes place every year called Milan Fashion Week.

Jokes aside, Milan Fashion Week began in 1958, the second of the global Fashion Week events after New York City. The National Chamber for Italian Fashion organizes it each year and attracts a gathering of about 20,000 people each year.

The best news? Unlike a museum admission fee, enjoying the splendor of Italian style is completely free; one must only walk around for a few hours in Milan.

The Milanese take an excellent taste in style very seriously. This 5-star Milan fashion tour will take you into the historical details of how some of the biggest names in fashion went from being Milanese designers to the pinnacle of luxury.

Likewise, Milan happens to be one of the greatest places to shop. I subsequently became a consignment connoisseur when traveling in Milan.

The art in Milan is unsurpassed

Milan offers visitors a sampler plate of all artistic varieties. In fact, there are more than 100 museums, exhibition venues, and art galleries in Milan, many of which are free!

My personal favorite is the Ambrosiana Museum, where you can see the largest collection of da Vinci’s notebooks on display.

Check out the Isola district close to the Garibaldi train station. This 19th-century blue-collar neighborhood was turned into a street art sanctuary.

Of course, you can’t forget about The Last Supper, the ‘sort 0f’ fresco masterfully created by DaVinci in the Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Day Trips Galore from Milan City in Italy

In the middle of Milan is Milano Centrale, the primary train station that makes connections all through the country (and internationally!). From here, you can take a four-hour train to Rome, going south, or a three-hour train to Venice, going east. Or take a three-hour train north to Zurich, Switzerland, for the weekend?

FAQs About Visiting Milan

One Last Thought About Milan

All that being said, you should go to Milan because it has a vibe unto itself. It’s the second most populous city in Italy and caters to a large volume of working young professionals.

While it might not be everyone’s favorite place to visit, there are definitely some great things to do in Milan. What Milan lacks in historical preservation and beauty, it makes up for in the exciting hustle and bustle of a lively city.

Every time I go to Milan city in Italy, I find myself in a bar drinking an Aperol spritz with cool locals. It seems people there are unequivocally themselves, wearing exactly what they want and behaving as they please. Then I retract everything I thought previously about Milan and say, “Dang, this is a cool city.”