A UK student discovered that a day trip to Milan cost less than a typical day out in London, opting for an 11-hour adventure in the Italian city. Rhys Kelly, an 18-year-old university student from Nottingham, booked flights for just £20 and spent a total of £115 on the whirlwind trip, which included sightseeing, cycling, and dining on local cuisine.
Cheaper than London
Rhys explained that the trip was significantly cheaper than a day in London, especially when factoring in food, shopping, and attractions. He found bargain flights from London Heathrow to Milan on Skyscanner, departing early morning and returning the same evening. After landing at Malpensa Airport, he and his friends took a train to the city centre and rented e-bikes from Dott for €5 (£4.32) to explore.
Exploring Milan
The highlight, according to Rhys, was cycling around the city on Dott bikes, allowing them to see most of Milan in a short time. They visited iconic landmarks like the Duomo Cathedral and enjoyed pizza for €9 (£7.78), which he called "probably the best valued thing there." The group also browsed luxury shops at Prada, Stüssy, and Supreme, and indulged in Italian ice cream before heading back to the airport.
Cost breakdown
- Flights - £20
- Travel insurance - £7
- Train - €15 (around £12.97)
- Dott bike pass - €5 (around £4.32)
- Pasta - €16 (around £13.84)
- Smoothie - €6 (around £5.19)
- Fanta - €2 (around £1.73)
- Chocolate bar - €3 (around £2.59)
- Pizza - €9 (around £7.78)
- Ice cream - €4 (around £3.46)
- Supreme - €50-60 (around £43-51)
Rhys noted that the total excluded some retail purchases, but he believes travellers could do it for even less, potentially as low as £60 if skipping shopping. He encouraged other students to take advantage of cheap weekday flights, saying, "If you're in uni, you can do this during the week – that's when it's going to be the cheapest."
