I know what you’re thinking 🤔 Rome is an obvious choice to include in any Italian itinerary… but Milan? Not such a popular destination for most visitors. But hear me out – Milan is worthy of at least one of your valuable vacation days! And of course, Rome is worth at least 2-3 days of your time. I know there’s a lot of bad press out there about Italy being rife with petty crime (I fell victim to a theft myself when I visited for the first time almost 20 years ago), but we felt very safe traveling this time around with our 5 year old. Maybe it had something to do with us traveling off-season (late January 2024), or maybe the Italian government finally decided to take some action. But we saw a good amount of police presence in all the touristy areas and didn’t witness anything sketchy. Also we were surprised by how friendly the locals were! I don’t remember people being this nice in Italy before and this was my third visit. Perhaps the COVID pandemic had something to do with the change in the attitude, since tourism is vital to the Italian economy.

Even though Rome is the official capital of Italy, Milan is the hard-working economic engine of the country. A lot of naysayers would recommend skipping this industrial northern city that’s commonly characterized as “gray and dull” for the more vibrant, southern Italian destinations; but for me, visiting Milan offered a good insight into how real Italians live, work and play. And it was worth visiting for the imposing Duomo cathedral and the gorgeous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II alone! When I visited Milan for the first time almost 20 years ago, the Duomo’s facade was black from centuries of neglect and air pollution. However, on this visit in late January 2024, I was delighted to see that restoration work had been completed and all of the soft subtle colors of Candoglia marble could be seen up close, and all the intricate sculptures covering every inch of the exterior could be admired in their full glory. It’s also the largest church in Italy and the third largest in the world with a remarkable interior filled with giant Redwood sized columns, original colored marble mosaic floors, Renaissance sculptures and religious art. The rooftop is now open to visitors as well to marvel at all the pointy Gothic spires, arches, sculptures and views! Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance at the official website. We chose to do the guided tour of the cathedral and the rooftop and were very satisfied.

Right next to the Duomo is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest continuously operating covered shopping mall in Europe. Opened in 1877, it enthralls visitors in its size and graceful architecture. It’s free and open to the public 24 hours a day. It’s especially enticing around sunset, bathing in warm golden light. Notice the beautiful mosaic floors – the most famous mosaic is that of a bull. Local legend states that if you spin on your heels atop of the bull’s testicles 3 times, you will have good luck! So many visitors partake in this superstition that it bore a hole right through where the bull’s testicles used to be, and this mosaic has to be replaced every so often for this reason.

After your sightseeing day, head over to the Naviglio Grande (or “Big Canal”) area, which is the best part of Milan to dine and hang out. Once a seedy, dilapidated area by a long-disused canal system, it has been revamped into a lively nightlife area for tourists and locals alike. We were surprised by the high quality dining at fair prices here, as well as the warm hospitality of the restaurant staff (because we heard that people were not as friendly in the northern parts of Italy as the southern parts). Overall, we were very happy with our visit to Milan – we spent a pleasant 2.5 days here and were able to visit other attractions (such as the Sforza Castle, Leonardo da Vinci Science Museum, etc.), but I would say it’s not a must-see for most international visitors who are typically tight on time.

Then our little family was off to Rome on the high-speed train, which was a smooth 3.5 hour journey. Our vacation rental apartment was located in the hottest neighborhood in Rome called the Trastevere, which conveniently has its own train station (hot tip: the local train from the Trastevere Train Station to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport cost significantly less than taking the express airport train from the Rome Centrale station). Once considered the “wrong side of the river” kind of a ‘hood, now Trastevere is filled with lovely restaurants, cafes, bars and bustling with nightlife. It was fun to just walk around at night people watching after stuffing ourselves with delicious Italian food and taking in the convivial atmosphere. La Dolce Vita! Also Trastevere is an easy walk to the main sights in Rome, such as the Vatican and the ancient Roman Forum (both 20 minutes on foot).

Rome, the Eternal City: What can I say about this giant open air museum dedicated to ancient Rome and Italian Renaissance era that hasn’t already been said by centuries’ worth of captivated visitors? Rome, along with Paris, is a top city in Europe that people commonly claim must be seen “before you die”, and I am highly inclined to agree. Even if you’re tight on time, don’t leave Rome without seeing these 3 paid attractions: Vatican Museum (which is technically in an independent country of Vatican City but it’s still inside of Rome), the Colosseum, the Roman Forum. But also remember that the best parts of being in Rome are absolutely free – just strolling the heart of Rome and seeing the Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, and the Pantheon.

A testament to the power of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican Museum is filled with treasures to be brim from centuries of concentrated wealth brought in from every corner of the world. For many people who visit Rome, the Vatican Museum is at the top of their list of sights to visit and it rightfully should be. Everywhere you look is dripping with splendor, and the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo himself, will take your breath away. The best tip about visiting the Vatican Museum is to book your tickets online well in advance of your visit. Choose to go first thing in the morning when it opens or at the last few hours of the day to avoid the crowds, which can be suffocating. You must enter the museum at the specific time that you chose for your ticket or you will be refused entry. And also don’t choose the meal option that you can choose to add on to your ticket, because it’s just a meal at their cafeteria and it was the most mediocre food we had in Italy. I thought there wouldn’t be any other dining options inside the Vatican (and I expected to spend at least 4 hours there so we would be hungry), but turns out there’s other on-site restaurants that looked a lot better than the cafeteria!

St. Peter’s Basilica is another top sight in Rome for most folks visiting and it is right next to the Vatican Museum. It’s free for all to enter but the lines can get long, so be prepared for the wait. Also for such a big place (the largest cathedral in the world) there is very little place to sit down inside so your legs will get tired when you’re not busy gawking at the sumptuously decorated interior 🙂 After your visit to the Vatican City, don’t waste your meal on overpriced tourist trap restaurants nearby. Hop on the metro, which will whisk you to the other side of the Tiber River, to the neighborhoods with the best restaurants.

And lastly, don’t forget to make reservations at the Colosseum well in advance of your visit, as the tickets are likely to sell out. Again I recommend going as early as possible in the morning or as close to closing time as possible to avoid the heat and the crowds (you will need at least 1-2 hour to see the whole thing, it also has some exhibits inside). 

I hope this article will inspire you to make the trek to Milan and Rome. You are sure to have an amazing time! 🙂