Milan Neighborhoods
February 05, 2026“Milan l’è on gran Milan,” meaning “Milan is a grand city,” is a line from an old song that became a Milanese anthem. Make no mistake there is much to be proud of. Home to countless company headquarters, at least eight universities, and a vibrant and diverse mix of people, culture and food, the city pulses with energy in every corner. Further adding to its uniqueness, is a patchwork of different neighborhoods, each with its own personality—from historic streets and artisan workshops to upscale business and shopping districts, and electricfying nightlife hubs. Exploring Milan means experiencing what each area may have to offer and discovering that life in Milan offers so much more than the sum of its landmarks.
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Short Trips from Milan
January 16, 2026When I worked in Milan, I took advantage of weekends to travel. Below I’ve made a list of my favorite places to visit from Milan in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days. I’ve put cities in a list based on the…
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The Best Photo Ops (and Instagram Spots) in Italy
October 16, 2022Sharing travel exploits with the folks back home has been a large part of the pleasure of travel since the first voyagers sketched far-flung lands and peoples in ink on parchment. The tradition has evolved through slideshows and Kodachrome to…
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A Stop between Milan and the Cinque Terre
March 30, 2022We often have clients who want to kick off their Italy itinerary with a few days on the Ligurian coast (the Cinque Terre is the headliner, of course, but we also nudge travelers to stay near the equally charming but…
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Cinque Terre vs. The Lakes: How to Decide
February 27, 2022About 20% of our clients kick off our first call by telling us that they’d like to see two of the “Big Three” (Rome, Florence, and Venice—and they usually know which two) but they’d like advice on the final piece…
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3 secret places on the Eastern side of Lake Maggiore (and a local cheese)
September 21, 2017The shores, towns, and enchanted landscapes of Lake Maggiore have inspired many great Italian and foreign artists. At Italy Beyond the Obvious, our most common Lake Maggiore itineraries are in & around the town of Stresa on the lake’s Western…
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Four things to see and do in modern Milan (if you’ve been there and done that)
March 22, 2016As someone who spent four years living and working in Milan, I don’t usually expect the city to surprise me upon return visits. I spend time with friends, return to my favorite places, and walk the streets that have so many…
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The Turin Egyptian Museum
October 20, 2015Traveling to Italy to visit an Egyptian museum might sound a little too beyond the obvious for many travelers, but for anyone who is a fan of Egyptian art, I would argue that the Turin Egyptian Museum cannot be missed. The collection…
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Milan fashion: Alta Moda tour with Context Travel
October 09, 2015We met our guide Sarah of Context Travel for the 3 hour private look at Milan Fashion, the Alta Moda walk. Our meeting point was – logically – in front of the Armani Cafe, in Milan’s fashion district, the Quadrilatero D’Oro. Milan fashion…
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