I was
soaking up the Roman winter when a spontaneous thought hit me: why not hop over to Milan and surprise my island sister, Danica? She’d been navigating the big city life for a while and I just knew she could use a warm, familiar hug—straight from home.
Booking a train from Rome to Milan? Surprisingly easy. A few taps, a bit of Google magic, and boom—ciao, Eternal City... buongiorno, Milan!
Just hop on
Italo’s website (or apps—yes, they’re in English), pick your departure station (usually Roma Termini) and your destination (Milano Centrale), choose a time that works for you, and you’re all set. Trains run pretty much every hour, and if you book in advance, you can score a high-speed ride for as low as €20.
I met my dear friend right at
Milano Centrale, and yes—cue the endless hugs and squeals—we’d missed each other way too much. After a quick catch-up (read: rapid-fire life updates in under five minutes), we hit the pavement for a spontaneous walking tour around the stylish streets of Milano. Because when in Milan, you walk, you gawk, and you chase espresso like it’s a sport.
THE Duomo Milano Cathedral
First stop: the iconic Duomo di Milano—because no trip to the city is complete without laying eyes on this absolute stunner. Getting a clean shot of it? Nearly impossible. Tourists everywhere, pigeons doing their thing, selfie sticks flying like it's 2015. But chaos aside, there’s something magical about being in front of that grand Gothic masterpiece. You can even feed the birds if you're feeling extra (or if one just lands on you and claims you as their own—true story).
The Streets of Milan
Wandering along Via Silvio Pellico and Via Tommaso Grossi feels like flipping through the pages of an Italian fashion magazine—except you’re in it. These streets, nestled right near the Duomo and the Galleria, are lined with elegant buildings, chic cafés, and storefronts that practically whisper “you can’t afford this, but look anyway.” You’ll catch a mix of luxury boutiques, business types strutting like it’s Fashion Week, and the occasional Vespa zooming past like it’s late for a date.
Just a few steps away from the Duomo (seriously, like a 3-minute stroll if you’re not distracted by gelato), you'll find the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II—aka Milan’s ultra-glam shopping arcade. Think soaring glass ceilings, mosaic floors, and designer stores so fancy, even window shopping feels luxurious. It’s like walking through a fashion cathedral… minus the pews, plus a whole lot of Prada.
And of course, I couldn’t leave the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II without doing the tradition—spinning on the bull mosaic! Legend says if you place your heel on the bull’s, um, crown jewels and spin around three times, your wish will come true. So yes, I twirled like a true tourist, made a wish, and hoped the universe (and the bull) were listening.
No trip to Milan is complete without a bite from Panzerotti Luini, and lucky me—my Milanese insider knew exactly where to take us. The line? Insanely long, as expected. But like a true local, she had her tricks and got us in with ninja-level efficiency. We grabbed their Panzerotto Classico—crispy, gooey, cheesy heaven wrapped in fried dough. An absolute must-try.
And our five-star dining setup? The steps of a random stairway just across the shop, sipping Peroni and people-watching like pros.
Okay, this blog is getting a little too long—but hey, Milan has that effect on people. Catch the rest of the adventure in Part 2, where there’s more wandering, more food (obviously), and a few surprises you won’t want to miss.
xoxo,
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