Milan’s Duomo by night; photo by Panorama

Milan, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper and the unique Sforza Castle, loves to put on a good show! Er, trade show, that is.

In Milan’s “in” season, during the fashion weeks and the leather shows - and when it seems the Milanese host expos on everything from real estate to food - hotel rates go up, up, and away from a comfortable budget.

But, don’t worry, though Milan can get very pricey, it has its off-peak moments. With a little planning, you can snag great rates on some primo budget hotels and enjoy a fantastico trip to Italy’s “second” capital.

First, do some research.

Many of Milan’s trade shows are annual affairs, meaning they are organized and planned well in advance. Check out web sites like that of the Fiere (”Fair”) commission of Milan for up-to-date listings of the events.  The most recent calendars can be found here, plus info on all the various shows.

For more of the exceptions (who knew that the hemotologists like to get together in October?), visit the Fiera Congress’s site. The most up-to-date calendar can be found here. Plan your dates accordingly so you can bypass them completely.

July is a great month, so is December.

You’ll find, while doing your research, that many of the fairs, conventions, and shows occur during five to ten specific months each year. (February through June offer most of them, and there are less between August and November.) In this way, the Milano Turisimo board has made sure that regular ol’ Cheapo tourists like us can still have a chance to visit this expansive, historic city without losing too many euros.

Read up!

Once you’ve decided to head to Milan, take a look at our brand spankin’ new guide to the city. We’ve included budget tips and much more. (Did you know that you can see a horse sculpted by Leonardo da Vinci for free?)

Then, take a look at our picks for best budget hotels in Milan.

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The intricate facade of Florence’s Duomo is worth a visit. Photo by Catching Flies

One of our favorite must-sees in Florence is the Duomo, or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (sometimes known as Florence Cathedral). And, lucky for us Cheapos, it’s free to enter the main sanctuary daily. 

Duomo do!

But, get this. Did you know that every 40 minutes Florence’s Center for Art and Culture also offers FREE guided tours of the church? Highlights of the jaunt include a look into the care and craft of that gorgeous facade, why the church was originally built, and more.  Tours are available in English and Italian.

Before you go…

If you plan to take a tour, enter the sanctuary via the left-side doors. The church is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and on Fridays from 10 AM to 5 PM; Thursday it’s open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM; Saturday it opens at 10 AM and closes at 4:45 PM. On Sunday, the sanctuary is only open from 1:30 PM to 4:45 PM.  And, the first Saturday of each month the church is only open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. For information on special holiday hours and more, visit the Duomo’s official tourism site.

Note: If you want to see more of the basilica and travel up the stairs to the top of the dome, you’ll need to shell out €8. (Hint: We think it’s worth it.)

For more information and lots of budget tips for Florence, go here.

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