10 Best Things to do On your Birthday in Milan

Facade of the Milan Cathedral, Milano, Italy. Photo by Jakub Hałun – Wikimedia Commons

10 Best Things To Do On Your Birthday in Milan

Magnificent, marvelous Milan. Milano has an intangible quality that cannot be faked, an undeniable sense of style that permeates every (okay, most) neighborhood and flows through the veins of those from here. 

The best thing to do in Milan is to look your best and feel more stylish than ever before, but the city also packs in a fabulous number of more traditional tourist activities to sink your teeth into. Follow our guide and Da Vinci’s canals, and you’re in for a darling of a time.

Milan is an absolute behemoth of a city and has the most populated metropolitan area in Italy with 1.3 million people and 3.2 million in the wider area surrounding central Milan.

Today Milan offers a sublime mix of historical architecture, and modern high-rise skyscrapers, all mingled together with a dash of Italian life. The city is particularly known for its abundance of high-end fashion retailers and the beautiful Duomo Cathedral.

There are various places that one can explore in Milan while celebrating your birthday. The places include:

1. Milan Cathedral is a truly monumental building

Looking up at Duomo spires, Milan. A view up toward the spires of the Duomo di Milano from just outside its south wall. Photo by Daniel Case – Wikimedia Commons

Milan Cathedral is a truly monumental building and is famed for its sublime architecture and took over 600 years to complete.

Located in the center of Milan in the self-named Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral was constructed in 1386 but not officially completed until 1965! With an Italian Gothic style, the front façade of the cathedral is truly magnificent and is crowned with countless towers, statues, and decorations.

The interior is just as decorative and features some beautiful stained glass windows bursting with color; furthermore, in between the central columns, there is a fantastic display of artwork and some finely detailed statues.

This immense structure is truly the heart of Milan and no trip to this city is complete without stepping foot inside its huge doors.

Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie features a Gothic style using red bricks and a large rear basilica.

2. Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie can be found on the Corso Magenta

The University of Milan. To the north of the University, the garden light in the early summer morning. Photo by LingQin – Wikimedia Commons

Although the exterior of this church is not one of the most renowned, it still has a certain charm and grace – Created in 1497, the church features a Gothic style using red bricks and a large rear basilica.

This church can be found on the Corso Magenta and sits on the opposite side of Milan to the Duomo.

Inside the building lies one of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world – The Last Supper by Leonardo di Vinci.

Hailed as a sublime piece of artwork, this mural depicts the scene of the Last Supper as described in the Bible.

Throughout the years this piece of artwork has been scrutinized and analyzed for its hidden meanings and content.

3. Duomo is the city’s most important landmark

Milan skyline skyscrapers of Porta Nuova business district. Picture showing the skyline of Milan. Photo by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

Let us be clear: Milan’s Duomo is not just another church. It is the city’s most important landmark located smack-dab in the center of it all.

Building on this magnificent Gothic cathedral began in the late 14th century and lasted hundreds of years (even today, it isn’t unusual to see scaffolding on the façade or the back of the church as restoration is often underway).

While there is plenty to see inside the cathedral, visiting the top – via stairs or an elevator – is an absolute must to see Milan’s ever-changing skyline.

4. Navigli District was constructed over hundreds of years    

Milan Naviglia zone 24-11-21. Street in the Naviglia zone of Milan. The house in the foreground is decorated with Street Art. Photo by Jeanne Griffin – Wikimedia Commons

Constructed over hundreds of years with input from da Vinci himself, Milan’s system of navigable and interconnected canals granted the landlocked city more accessible to the outside world.

Today, the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese are some of the only canals still visible, and around them have sprung up a torrent of bars, restaurants, and cafés that thrum with activity on weekend nights. 

5. da Vinci’s The Last Supper has been reproduced to death

Milan Expo 2015 (Ank Kumar, Infosys) 01. Milan World Expo 2015. Photo by Ank Kumar – Wikimedia Commons

Perhaps one of the most famous paintings in the world, da Vinci’s The Last Supper has been reproduced to death, but no tote bag or mouse pad, or even large-scale reproduction can adequately capture the artist’s emotionally charged mural.

Visit this incredible piece of history – even though Jesus’s feet were lost in 1652 given some ill-thought-out renovations.

6. San Siro stadium was consistently enlarged over the first half of the 20th century

Full Milan skyline from Duomo roof. Milan skyline from the roof of the Duomo. Photo by Daniel Case – Wikimedia Commons

This colossal football shrine is a testament to the popularity of both AC Milan and Inter, the city’s two football teams.

The stadium was consistently enlarged over the first half of the 20th century to accommodate more and more fans, eventually reaching a capacity of around 80,000 people (making it the largest in Italy and one of the largest stadiums in Europe).

This also makes it a prime spot for concerts: the likes of Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, One Direction, and Madonna have all graced the stadium.

7. Cascina Cuccagna property now houses Un Posto a Milano Restaurant

Milan. Photo by Ank Kumar – Wikimedia Commons

This sprawling 18th-century farmhouse is a little strip of countryside in the big city. Restored in 2002, the Cascina Cuccagna property now houses a restaurant, Un Posto a Milano, with a seasonal menu featuring produce supplied by local farms.

There is also a garden, farmers’ market, guest house, communal spaces, and a bar, which has become a favorite spot among young creatives and families for aperitivo.

8. Sforzesco Castle was once of the largest citadels in Europe

PermaLiv Milan-tram 30-07-19. A tram passing by in central Milan. Photo by Øyvind Holmstad – Wikimedia Commons

Dating back to the 15th century, Milan’s Castello Sforzesco was once one of the largest citadels in Europe.

 Today, it houses various museums and numerous important artworks and relics, but it is also pleasant to wander through its courtyards and drink in the sense of history. Done exploring the castle?

 Walk out the back gate and straight into Parco Sempione, Milan’s “green lung” and one of the most beautiful parks in the city.

9. Fonderie Milanesi is the ideal venue to enjoy the Italian trend 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping mall is crowded with shoppers. Photo by Jeanne Griffin – Wikimedia Commons

The aperitivo is considered an institution in Milan, and no visit to the city would be complete without partaking in this pre-dinner ritual. Near Porta Ticinese, Fonderie Milanesi is the ideal venue to enjoy the Italian trend: sit outdoors and revel in light bites alongside your cocktail.

The tradition started in the late 19th century, when Gaspare Campari, intent on serving a drink that stimulated rather than spoiled the appetite, began serving his eponymous bitter aperitif.

 As more were developed, more nibbles were added to the offerings, and it is common now to find bars with elaborate buffet spreads. Commonly enjoyed between 7 pm and 9 pm, it’s not uncommon for the best spots to be completely packed – but that community spirit is the aperitivo ethos.

10. QC Termemilano spa has several saunas and an elegant tea room on the ground floor

Monument of King Vittorio Emanuele II with Duomo in background, Piazza Duomo, Milan. Photo by Jeanne Griffin – Wikimedia Commons

Housed in a former tram depot, this spa has several saunas and an elegant tea room on the ground floor.

But downstairs is where the magic happens: in this underground lair, there is a warren of stone rooms featuring warm baths, cold baths, geyser pools, a Jacuzzi waterfall, and more.

Outside, in addition to the tram sauna, there are three warm pools spread out through the garden.