Finding a hostel in Italy isn’t as easy as you might think, depending on where you’re staying. The bigger cities have lots of options, but the smaller ones don’t always use the word “hostel” so it can be a bit confusing to know which ones are the budget accommodations. Plus, when you’re hunting for an Italy hostel online, many of the sites you’ll find have the exact same listings over and over again, so it’s nearly impossible to get a feel for a place beforehand.
Some of the hostel booking sites have good maps …
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This article was written and submitted for publication on the Italy Logue by Chris Bright.
If taking a trip to the libreria sounds like the last place you would want to go on your vacation in Milan, guess again. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a libreria (pr. lee-breh-REE-uh) is a public library, it is actually the word for bookstore - and Milan has dozens from which to choose.
As an unapologetic bibliophile, I can contentedly spend hours in a great bookstore browsing the shelves for my next great discovery. I was pleased to find that on a recent trip to Milan that the city has an amazing array of bookstores, due in part to city’s status as the center of Italy’s publishing industry.
For a traveler who knows Italian or who has an interest in learning the language, a stop at a libreria is a necessity to get one’s “fix” of Italian items that are difficult to purchase elsewhere. For the fluent or those aspiring to be, copies of Italian literature or special interest books are manna that can re-invigorate one’s language studies. Also, a good Italian dictionary (not Italian-English, just Italian) is a necessity for any student of the language and can be difficult to find outside of the country.
Even for those whose Italian vocabulary does not extend beyond “ciao” and “grazie,” a bookstore is a recommended stop. One reason is that a libreria is a glimpse into the modern culture of Italy because Italians put a high value on discourse. For example, a few minutes of strolling in the political section is illuminating, with book covers and decipherable titles that show the hot topics of the day.
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Milan has two airports, and Linate is more convenient for most short trips because it’s closer to the center of the city. But if you’re flying into Milan from overseas, chances are good that you’re flying into Milan Malpensa. It’s the larger of the two airports, and unfortunately it’s further away from downtown Milan. There are a number of ways you can get from Malpensa to central Milan, including expensive taxis, but probably the best way to go - especially if you’re on a budget - is the Malpensa Express.
The Malpensa Express is a train that runs from Malpensa Airport into central Milan with only a few stops en route. It leaves the airport every half-hour, and speeds your journey into the city - for a fraction of what a taxi would cost, too. Finding the Malpensa Express isn’t as straightforward as it could be, however, so here are the steps you’ll take to catch the train into the city.
After collecting your bags off the carousel, exit the baggage claim area into the main hall at Malpensa and turn right. Follow the big hallway along, and begin looking for the signs that say “Treni.”
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When I’m visiting a place, I find that I prefer to get a feel for it by using my feet. In other words, walking around a new and unfamiliar city is the best way for me to get to know it - but aimless wandering isn’t always the most efficient way to do that. In fact, aimless wandering can get downright frustrating. So if you’re looking for a bit more of a directed wander, National Geographic Traveler has posted their favorite walking and driving tours in Italy. If you’ll be in any one of these places anytime soon, check them out:
Rome - This medieval tour starts in Piazza Colonna and ends in the Trastevere, hitting some of Rome’s interesting back streets along the way.
Rome - This tour covers a small area in the Campo dei Fiori district called the Campo Marzio. It is, according to the teaser, “a wealth of Renaissance and baroque detail.”
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Milan is one of those cities in Italy people seem to either love or hate - or love to hate, in some cases - and after spending last week there I’ve decided I fall into the camp that loves the city. No, it’s not all medieval squares, Roman ruins and cobbled streets, but it’s also absolutely not bland or cookie-cutter. It’s definitely more fast-paced and modern than much of the rest of Italy, and it’s a very international city (you’re likely to hear several other languages on streets and the subway along with Italian), and I don’t think I’d recommend Milan to tourists on a whistle-stop tour of “the best of Italy,” but for people who truly love Italy Milan is not to be missed - not because it epitomizes all things Italian, but rather because you’re missing a significant piece of what it means to be Italian if you skip it.
For tourists who are stuck flying in and out of Malpensa Airport, Milan has enough sights and tourist-worthy attractions to make it a pleasant enough place to hang out for a day or maybe two. There’s the magnificent Duomo and grand Piazza del Duomo, where if you take things slowly you might be able to spend a few hours just people-watching (and that’s including the hour or so you spend on the Duomo’s roof). Next door, you can start shopping in the fantastic historic Italian version of the shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. There’s Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” which you’ll need to make reservations for in advance and won’t take up much time, but which you’ll talk about forever. There’s window-shopping to be done in Milan’s fashion district, a soccer museum and grand soccer stadium where sports fans can take in a match, and even a couple of easy day-trips to Italy’s famous lakes district (if you’re staying long enough).
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I love taking photographs, and I almost always have a camera on my person somewhere - no matter where I am. When I’m in Italy especially, I’m pretty trigger-happy. Well, the kind folks at BootsnAll, which hosts this Italy Travel Guide, have produced a way for me to share my Italy photos with you. It’s still in development, but here’s a sneak peek of the Italy Logue photos page.
Unfortunately, I’ve got albums and albums full of photos of Italy from the days before I owned a digital camera, so I’ve either got to …
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While most tourists dream of visiting Italy during the summer, there are some who would visit at no other time than in December. Some undoubtedly come for the Christmas festivities (this being the home of Catholic HQ), but for some people it’s just a delightful time to visit, when you can see the country put on its holiday finery. Plus, you’re more likely to find cheap airfare to Italy in the dead of winter!
Italy in December is cold, to be sure, but you’ll be able to warm up with frequent stops at Italian bars for a little espresso or Vin Santo pick-me-up (you may also find Vin Brule, or hot mulled wine, on a menu here or there - give it a try if it’s really cold out!). And if you’re spending time in the south, especially as far south as Sicily, the air won’t be as chilly. Consult the Italy weather page for some temperature and rainfall averages.
Most tourist sites are open in December, save for the 25th and 26th, so that shouldn’t be an issue with your visit. You are likely to find shorter opening hours, however, so be sure to check the sights you want to take in to make sure you don’t miss it by an hour.
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Milan may not be at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to sights and attractions, but there are certainly things that will entertain and delight you if you know where to look. Here are just a few of the things you can take in while in Milan:
Duomo - The city’s massive and beautiful cathedral; a visit isn’t complete without spending time on the roof, either.
Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” - You’ve got to buy tickets well in advance, but if you can get them you’re in for the treat of a lifetime.
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Milan’s most famous landmark is probably the Duomo, or cathedral, which sits at its heart. It’s one of the biggest churches in the world, a fact which may surprise you when you stand outside it - the Duomo sits on the grand Piazza del Duomo, and beside the immense and beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, so it doesn’t actually look as massive on the outside as it feels once you get inside. It does, however, look stunning.
Visiting the Duomo
The best news for those who want to visit the Milan Duomo is that it’s free to enter. You’ll pay a fee if you want to enter the Treasury or Crypt (located inside the church) or access the Duomo roof (elevator and stair entrances located outside the church), but to just wander around the inside it’s absolutely free. There are entrances and exits at the front of the cathedral, and also along the right-hand side (if you’re looking at the front) - so if the line at the front is long, peek around the side to see if that door has less of a wait.
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I’m on my way back home today after a week in Milan, but the posts about Milan will continue for awhile - I’ve got lots of pictures left to share, and some more restaurant and gelateria recommendations, as well as tourist tips. I’ve had a great time here, meeting up with a couple of expat bloggers whose blogs I’ve been reading for awhile, putting some serious miles under my feet exploring a few interesting (and varied!) neighborhoods, tasting the local fare in a few different restaurants (both touristy and non-touristy) as well as enjoying …
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