Things to do alone in Milan (in Winter).

[AgeingDoc]

My DH has a business trip to Milan in the new year and has suggested I tag along. It makes sense. I'm retired, flights are dirt cheap if we book now and his company has booked him a double room anyway and are happy for me to go - I just have to pay for my food. But the problem is of course that he'll be working and I'll have to entertain myself during the day. He'll probably take a couple of days annual leave afterwards to extend the trip but I'd have 2 full days on my own. I have been to Milan before but it's a long time ago and we'd gone for a specific event so apart from the cathedral didn't really see much of the city. Anyone got any recommendations? Is it an easy city to get around? I don't speak a word of Italian unfortunately so am a wee bit nervous about navigating public transport etc on my own. I'm expecting it to be cold and probably wet, but then it will be cold and wet at home too so I don't mind that particularly, just wondering if I'll be able to keep busy enough. All suggestions gratefully received.

You can get a ticket to see the Last Supper? They release them in blocks and they get snapped up. They seem to have some for January if you book a guided tour there. I'll be jealous if you get one! I'm going soon and haven't been able to get a ticket as I didn't know it would be so tricky. Website is a bit confusing, but have a look:

https://cenacolovinciano.vivaticket.it/en/event/cenacolo-visite-guidate-a-orario-fisso-in-inglese/238363?idt=2547

I’d do day trips to Lake Como and Verona. They’re both easy and scenic journeys.

Milan is the capital of fashion! Very walkable, lots of very posh shops, lovely cafes. You’ll have a great time.

If you like opera, try to get tickets to La Scala. Lots of art museums. Good train connections to elsewhere.

Milan is fab, I used to live there.

Definitely try to go see the last supper. The duomo as well. Make sure you go to the roof because on a clear day you can see the alps. Go across to via Santa Radegona to Luini for the best panzerotti you’ll ever eat. http://www.luini.it/

The naviglio area has super bars (Italian kind for great coffee) and restaurants.

The public transport system is really easy to use in Milan. Also, as other have said, you can do day trips on the train. I loved just wandering about though. Aperativo was my favourite part of the day!

That sounds so much fun, @AgeingDoc. Firstly you have nearly three months to immerse yourself in Italian - I don’t speak a word need not be a permanent state.

January should be a time of relative relaxation, even on holiday - you can indulge in lots of cultural sightseeing, cathedral, galleries, La Scala - but I’d want to do that for only half of each day, and spend the rest of the time browsing the saldi.

Phrases that are vital, well a few anyway!

Buongiorno,
Dove il bagno (where's the loo!)
Per favore
Grazie
and in my case since I don't drink alcohol, (- you can sub for spritz, vino etc.)
un crodino/chinotto/acqua frizzante per favore.

I'd take a day trip to Verona. But if you are not confident using Pt on your own then just wander around. I enjoy doing that and going off the beaten track. There's a Prada museum (last time I looked!) if you're interested. I love wandering around the street markets, which passes a huge amount of time and before you know it, you're on your first spritz of the day!

https://www.yesmilano.it/en/see-and-do/itineraries/street-urban-shopping

Milan is on city mapper app - that’s really easy to use for public transport and my teens are quite happy navigating a foreign city using it.