3 Days 2 Nights: Exploring Milan On A Budget
It was the weekend of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019 when I managed to nail flights to Milan for £20 return from Bristol. I was sitting at a cafe between classes with my friend Victoria when I saw the deal on Ryanair. The avid traveller in me was screaming and I told her we couldn’t miss this. Flights were booked for January within 10-minutes and the rest is history.
Flights
As mentioned, I got mine during a massive sale by Ryanair over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend last year. However, if you keep your eyes peeled, budget airlines (eg. Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling etc.) are always taking every opportunity to push sales. Hence, I’d suggest for you to have the airline app on your phone and have notifications on so you don’t miss out on the amazing deals they offer. The key is to always keep your destination and dates flexible for short trips like these. If you don’t mind where you’re going as long as it’s abroad and have a flexible schedule, the process of getting cheap flights is easy peasy. I guess you can say I’m lucky in the sense that my degree is coursework based and the part-time jobs I work for allows me to work remotely.
Airport Transfer
I flew into Milan Bergamo Airport and the cheapest option heading into the city centre for me was the bus. There are 3 bus companies that can take you to where you need to go. They all cost the same, the only difference being the schedule. You can find out more about your transport and price options here.
Hostel
This is the second time I’ve stayed in a hostel. My first experience was in Bali when I was volunteering there and it honestly wasn’t as bad as some people painted it out to be. Hostels these days are not like the horror stories you hear of back in the day. Located in the heart of Milan and within walking distance to the city’s main attraction, Victoria and I stayed in Ostello Bello Milan for the duration of our trip.
Winner of the Best Italian Hostel Hoscar by Hostelworld, Ostello Bello is also well known for their socials. The hostel has a lively bar that locals and tourists alike come to have a good night. The place is always packed and you get to meet people from all over while having cheap drinks. What more can you ask for?
My favourite detail about the hostel was the free breakfast, dinner and food in the pantry for you to dig in. Not to mention, they host amazing free walking tours and bar crawls that saves you time from researching on the must-see places in town when you’re short of time.
P.S. The tour is definitely free, but it’s expected for you to tip the tour guide for their time.
Things To Do
2 - Have the best pizza in town!
PIZ Milano is a vibrant pizzeria in town that serves authentic mouthwatering pizzas. If you’re not early, you might just catch yourself lining all the way around the shop just to get a bite of their specialty.
There’s only three kinds of pizzas on their menu. From the original margarita to one without a tomato base and another without cheese. Italian pizzas are definitely different from the American ones we grew up with.
The hospitality was also impeccable. We got free slices of pizza while waiting in the queue and were offered free shots and champagne upon arrival. The whole experience became one of the highlights of my trips. I’ll be back!
4 - Feast your eyes on the beauty that is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele!
This is Italy’s oldest shopping quarters and a major landmark of Milan, Italy. It’s right by the Duomo so you can’t miss it!
The architecture is surreal. From the mosaic on the floor to the iron-and-glass roof, it feels like you’re walking through a painting when you’re in there.
This place principally contains luxury retailers selling haute couture, jewelry, books, paintings, as well as restaurants, cafés and bars.
P.S. While you’re wandering in there, you might just find a bunch of people spinning on a mosaic of a bull on the floor. Why? Because it brings good luck!
1 - Go on a free walking tour.
This tour will take you around the historical centre of Milan, from the main tourist attractions to secret treasures hidden in the intricate maze of narrow lanes.
It’s a fascinating walk through the heart of the city, discovering medieval churches, Roman ruins, small squares and even the Sixtine Chapel of Milan.
My favourite bit was definitely the beautiful quaint lanes you lose yourself in and the magestic Duomo that was flocked with tourists. Guess I can finally say: “been there, done that.”
You can find out all about it from the hostel or find tours like these online pretty easily.
3 - Day trip to Lake Como.
A train ride from Milan to Lake Como takes about an hour and a half and cost about €4.80 one-way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance.
Lake Como is definitely a place you’d wanna visit for the serene views and delicious seafood. I’d even recommend staying here instead of Milan the next time you visit too!
We had lunch by the lake at a restaurant called La Darsena. The prices were affordable and the portions were huge. It was also only a 5-minute walk from the train station.
P.S. Did you know George Clooney has a mansion in Lake Como? Might just bump into him next time.
5 - Go on a bar crawl!
The hostel hosts an amazing bar crawl during the weekends that you can't miss. This is the only bar crawl you’ll be able to find in Milan because it’s not widely known or accepted in classy and prestigious Milan yet.
Going out in cities you’ve never been before can be expensive. You end up at tourist clubs where they charge you a ridiculous amount of money for entrance and drinks.
For €12 you get a couple of free drinks, entrance and a guide included. I’d say that’s a steal! The experience is invaluable. Getting to meet people around the world is the best part of travelling, I reckon.
An easy guide to explore Milan without having to break your bank! Let me know what you think.
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-Zoey