Traveling is a deeply enriching experience in some ways, but deeply unriching in others. On the one hand, you’ll have experiences that last a lifetime. On the other hand, you’ll need to splash the case in order to have those experiences.
With that said, while it’s unlikely that you’ll ever see the world for free, there are ways to keep the costs down, even if you’re visiting an expensive destination like Milan. We’ll run through a bunch of tried-and-tested methods for reducing those travel-related expenses. Put them all together, and you can save plenty of money on the cost of traveling. And the savings? Well, you can put them all towards another trip to Milan in the future.
Flexible Travel Dates
There can be a huge difference in the cost of flights and hotel rooms depending on when you’re traveling. And we don’t just mean which season (though you’ll usually pay less during winter); we mean which day.
Take a look at flights to Milan for one date, and the cost could be $1000. Search for the day before, and the cost could be $500. Flexible travel dates really are the key to saving money. Services like Skyscanner can show you a whole month’s worth of prices, so also check on those types of sites before booking. Simply put in your preferred departure airport and search for flights to all Milan airports (the city has three). There’s every chance that you snag a deal.
Eat Where the Locals Eat
Yes, it might be nice to eat dinner alongside Milan’s canals, but is it really worth the cost? Wouldn’t you be happier to just take a pleasant evening stroll and then go somewhere where the cost of a meal isn’t extortionate?
You can see why travelers end up overpaying for food. They have no idea where else to go! As a rule of thumb, it’s best to walk for at least 5 minutes away from the direction of a tourist area before deciding where to eat. Once you’re away from the tourist zone, you’ll find restaurants where the locals eat — and believe us, those prices are much lower.
Limit Your Accommodation Costs
After the cost of your flight, your biggest expense will be the cost of accommodation. The only way to avoid it is if you’re lucky enough to have a friend or relative in Milan with whom you can stay.
There are ways to reduce how much of your budget you have to allocate to accommodation. For starters, ask yourself if you really need a great hotel. You’re visiting Milan to see Duomo and Castello Sforzesco, not stay in your hotel room. A basic room with a bed will suffice. Leaving on a night flight, and thinking of booking another night at your hotel just so you can leave your bags and take an afternoon nap? Don’t — it’ll be cheaper to use a deposito bagagli Milano service to store your bags and rest in Parco Sempione. You’ll save enough money that you can eat one final great Milan dish before jetting home and still have money left over.
Look For Free (Or Reduced) Attractions
Milan can seem like an expensive place to visit, but it’s really just like London. They’re cities where you can absolutely spend a fortune if you want to. But that doesn’t mean that you have to. Milan is full of free and cheap attractions, and in all honesty, some of the more expensive attractions aren’t worth the cost of entry anyway.
A free walking tour (you have to tip at the end, but not much — 10 euros is more than enough) will give you a solid overview of the city’s history. There are also plenty of excellent attractions that offer free entry at certain periods. MUDEC, one of the city’s best cultural museums, offers free entry on the first Sunday of the month. The Gallery of Modern Art, Museum of Natural History, and even Leonardo’s The Last Supper are also free on the first Sunday of the month — though if you’re trying to see The Last Supper, make sure you book well in advance.
Other Budgeting Tips for Milan
We’ve got two more budget-friendly tips for Milan. The first is to buy a blocchetto transport ticket. That’ll give you ten rides across all public transport in Milan for little more than ten euros. It’s also recommended to hit any bars you want to sample between 6 and 7 pm, which is Milan’s equivalent of happy hour. You’ll get your drink and some delicious food as a side. Bonus!