1) Navigli by boat

Navigli are the waterways envisioned by Leonardo Da Vinci in one of the golden age of the city. What we have left now are only two of them, the Naviglio Grande and the Naviglio Pavese. This first point of our what to do in Milan list will show you a more bohemian side of Milan, but not less stylish, with lots of vintage boutiques and cafés. Exploring this area by the water is definitely the most evocative way to get the job done.
Visit this site to know all the details concerning the different formulas, costs and durations of your boat adventures! By the way we also suggest to have a stroll in the streets of the Navigli District during weekend evenings, when the movida is in a full on mode.

2) The Last Supper, what else?

Due to the great big number of people rightly charmed by the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, getting a ticket for The Last Supper may appear like winning a lottery. But, in reality, that is not the case. What you need is to know this information and be prepared in advance. Yes, you can not go to the marvelous Santa Maria delle Grazie and get an instant access, but you can surely check the dedicated site online and book one or more tickets from home, before you pack your fashionable tourist attire and jump on a plane Milano bounded. With the help of our What to do in Milan guide is that easy.

3) Parco Sempione: an English garden in the heart of Lombardy

Parco Sempione or Simplon Park if you prefer, is a huge piece of nature right in the middle of the city. The 1893 Emilio Alemagna’s project will make you feel in a proper (romantic) English garden. Thanks to ponds, meadows and informal relax areas – bars, cafés and even museums included – this park makes the most enjoyable visit especially in spring, while it is during the summertime that outdoor activities, concerts and artistic exhibitions take place. The 40 hectares are also between two of the most symbolic city’s monuments – that, in some areas of the park you can wonderfully spot from a distance -, we are talking about Castello Sforzesco and the napoleonic Arch of Peace. The admission is surely free and here’s the opening times: in the winter months from Monday to Sunday 7.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. while in the summer months from Monday to Sunday 7.00 a.m. – 7.00 p.m.

4) Trick or… work of art? Santa Maria presso San Satiro

This is truly a hidden pearl you can not miss. Hidden indeed given the fact that the church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro is suffocated by the omnipresent chain stores of via Torino. To spot it and enter its realm of beauty, you have to look carefully on your left (if you leave the Duomo at your back) at the very beginning of the street, which is always crowded. Expert says the astonishing art is Bramante’s, what is sure are the special effects this church is all about. As you walk through the door you may presume that the gold apse at the bottom of the barrel-vaulted nave stretches back for metres, but if you get close you will discover it is a trompe-l’oeil with a depth of just 97 centimetres. You won’t believe your eyes, trust us. To get informations about the opening times, please call this number: 02 874683

5) After Spontini, Luini

Since 1888 Luini is one of the gastronomic excellence in Milan. Today when we talk about Luini, we talk about the joys of panzerotto. If you are a first timer in Italy, you might want to know that we are referring to a fried pasta triangle shaped food stuffed with different ingredients, even if the classic version is with tomato sauce and mozzarella. It is true that this delicacy comes from the southern regions of the country, nevertheless it deserves a spot in our What to do in Milan list because it is one of the most famous treats of the town, especially among young locals that want their panzerotto wrapped around a very recognizable paper bag, ready to bite it on the doorstep of the Duomo. Keep in mind that this place is a takeaway and you may face a really long line before you grab your panzerotto!