Hello,

Trying to get the best deal for a plane ticket, my fiance and I ended up with having to spend 2 days in Milan. Milan was not at all on our list and for this we don't know almost anything about this place; where to go, what to see, where to eat, etc. We did book our hotel and I'm researching places now.
Do you have any suggestions for us about Milan? Places to see, restaurants to try, gelato places perhaps?

I have already checked if I can make a reservation to see The Last Supper but there is nothing available for the whole month of August. I have to say that I'm not surprised about this.

Thanks a lot!

Being deficient in the Y chromosome, it's a reasonable bet that you will enjoy spending a few hours looking at the shop windows of the innumerable designers in the fashion centre of town. Those possessing a Y chromosome will simply feel weak at the knees at the prices very discreetly displayed.....
Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele throws in a little architectural distraction and should not be missed.
Do venture up to the roof of the Duomo for a view of the city.
I would also recommend you visit the La Scala opera house and try to see the auditorium as well as the museum.
If you like food, the Peck shop on via Spadari is an amazing spot to wander around and feel very hungry.
As a restaurant choice, we enjoyed a meal at Antica Trattoria della Pesa,viale Pasubio, very old style but friendly and reasonable, price wise.

Milan in August will be hot and many places will be closed.

I have been to the Last Supper three times and never had a reservation. The trick is to go there early and ask whether any slots have become free. If you are lucky as i have been each time I went they will give you a time and you can plan the rest of your day around it.

You must see the Duomo (Cathedral), especially now that it has been cleaned up. A number of years ago it was almost black due to the smog.

Walk from the Piazza del Duomo through the Galleria to Piazza della Scala. The Scala (Opera House) is not very impressive outside but is the epicenter of Italian and indeed world opera. In the Galleria note the Prada shop. This is the original base of the Prada empire which, along with other great names, was originally based on luggage.

Keeping within the area of the Duomo I can suggest two places for lunch. For a traditional panino (but of excellent quality) consider Panino Giusto - http://www.paninogiusto.it/en/italy-restaurants. The nearest to Piazza del Duomo is in Piazza Diaz just a couple of minutes walk south of the Square. There are many other dishes available apart from panini. The great thing about this place is that everything is of such high quality. Make sure you have the coffee with Dai Dai!

The second place is at the back of the Duomo on the corner of Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It's called Signorvino - http://www.signorvino.it/en/milano.php?where=1 - you can eat outside but perhaps in August it may be better to choose a table inside where it is air-conditioned.

If your "dolce meta'" (sweetheart) is interested in fashion then a walk down Via Montepoleone and back along Via della Spiga cannot be missed.

For other suggestions - what are your interests?

There are many excellent gelaterie in Milan but you will not go wrong if you go to Grom - see http://www.grom.it/ita/dettagli_gela...citt%E0=Milano to choose the nearest.

With 2 days in Milan you could also consider a day trip to Como. Take the train from Milano Cadorna to Como Lago - about 1 hour. Then walk about 300 yards to your left from the station with the lake in front of you. You will reach the boats which will take you up the lake. With the hydrofoil you will easily be at Bellagio for lunch. You will pass Villa Balbianello, one of the most beautiful and romantic locations in the world. Also famous for Star Wars, James Bond etc. And also available for weddings!

SeeDee thanks a lot for taking the time to suggest few places in Milan that are worth seeing. I especially enjoyed your comments about Y chromosome, so true though. I added your suggestions to my Milan list. Thanks again.

nochblad I appreciate very much the time and thought you put into your response, thank you. Your suggestions have been added to my list of things to do in Milan. We will definitely try out and see if we can get tickets for the Last Supper. I would love that. It would be a pity to be in Milan and not see it. If I knew few months ago that we are going to visit Milan I would have made reservations then. Since you have seen the Last Supper three times it must have made quite an impression on you. Was it very crowded?

It sounds like it is fairly easy to get from Milan to Como, am I right? Have you done this trip?

Amely - regular Fodorites will know that I live in Como!

You can arrive in Como either from the Milano Cadorna station (about 55 minutes) or from the Milano Centrale station (about 35 minutes). The former stops at Como Lago (i.e. right on the lake) and the latter at Como San Giovanni (about 10 minutes walk from the lake).

Visiting the Last Supper does not seem crowded because the visits are limited to a specific number every 15 minutes. You enter through an anti-chamber which regulates the temperature and humidity. If you are lucky to get a slot please note the difference between the murals at each end. Unbelievably both were painted at the same time but with different techniques. Leonardo was very precise and pensive and did not paint quickly so he had to paint on dry plaster whereas the artist at the other end painted on wet plaster. If Leonardo had painted the Sistine Chapel .....

Amely, do you want to go to the town of Como, or were you wanting to visit the towns and villas in the mid-lake area? Or both?

If both, consider making a circle. Train to either Varenna-Esino, then ferry around the mid-lake area and down to Como, and train back to Milan. Or circle in the opposite direction, going to Como first, ferry north and returning to Milan from Varenna.

You can check train and ferry schedules here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD
[Use Italian spellings for town names.]

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_illago.html
[After you read the tourist info on the first screen page, click on "Timetable."]

Milan is not on the top of the list of many people's "to do" list but if you are there I would add the Duomo (cathedral). It is the only one I have been to that you can go out on the roof. So you you get a special kind of close up view of the details of the architecture of the church and also a great view of the city. (I believe it is what they call the "terraces" on their website. http://www.duomomilano.it/?lang=en)

Amely, We spent 3 days in Milan this past May and I was surprised how much I enjoyed our time there. Depending on which day you wanted to see the Last Supper, www.selectitaly.com might have availability. We used them for our tickets when it appeared all dates were sold out. Good luck, Deborah

nochblad thanks to your suggestion to visit Como we decided to add that to our list of things to do. Now that I know so much more about places to see in Milan and what to do I look forward to our visit. Thank you Jean, laurie_ann, DeborahAnn for your suggestions, as with others, they are added to the list. I wish all the best to all of you!