Fashionable and historical, this Italian city break destination of basilicas, designer shopping and gourmet dining is one you’ll never forget.
Milan is one of Italy’s great cities and among the world’s fashion capitals. Stare at the skyline from rooftop bars and you’ll see gleaming high-rises mingling with gothic spires. Fill your itinerary with visits to acclaimed galleries and museums. That is, when you’re not shopping or choosing the next restaurant for creamy, saffron-infused risotto alla Milanese.
Visit Milan in summer for free outdoor concerts and the Milano Summer Festival. Fabulous Milan Fashion Week is held in February or March and September or October. The Milan Christmas season brings traditional wooden chalet markets and glittering trees and light installations illuminating piazzas.
Things to do in Milan
Take a memorable photo on the backdrop of Milan Cathedral’s soaring spires and admire the views from the rooftop terrace. More breathtaking views await at the top of the Torre Branca. The steel tower was built in 1933 and rests in Parco Sempione among lush green spaces. In the central square of Piazza Mercanti see the medieval Palazzo della Ragione.
Start your Milan shopping adventure in the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Launched in 1877, it’s the oldest active shopping arcade in Italy and filled with high-end boutiques. Stroll along Via Montenapoleone for designer fashion brands and exquisite jewellery stores.
Visit the Santa Maria delle Grazie basilica to gaze at Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper mural. At the evocative Monumental Cemetery of Milan, discover the elaborately decorated tombs of renowned actors and musicians.
Culture and history in Milan
Fashion and culture go hand in hand in Milan and it’s on fine display in the Tortona neighbourhood. Among galleries and boutiques, visit Giorgio Armani’s museum, Silo. Dedicated to interior design, 1930s Villa Necchi Campiglio is filled with art deco furnishings. Once the seat of government, the Royal Palace of Milan now operates as a cultural centre with revolving exhibitions.
The Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology houses the largest permanent exhibition in the world dedicated to the painter and scientist. That’s not all though, with extraordinary displays highlighting everything from astronomy to steam trains and a piece of lunar rock. Take the kids to see the zoology and dinosaur displays at the Milan Natural History Museum.
Dining and nightlife in Milan
From restaurants surrounding the historical Piazza del Duomo to Michelin-starred menus amid skyscrapers in the Porta Nuova district, Milan’s dining scene itself is worth a trip to the city. Choose a charming restaurant lining the cobbled streets of ancient Brera. For waterfront dining, enjoy traditional aperitivo with the locals by the canal in Navigli.
Dress up for the ballet or opera at Teatro alla Scala or see the Milan Symphony Orchestra at the Auditorium di Milano. Football fans flock to San Siro Stadium, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan, and host to big-name concerts. Join the creative scene at lounge bars in Corso Sempione and watch live jazz musicians in Isola. Glamorous nightclubs surround Corso Como and the Garibaldi area.
Getting around Milan
Milan Malpensa Airport is approximately an hour from the city centre by taxi or car. The easiest form of transport is the Malpensa Express train, and regular bus connections are available. An efficient metro, tram and bus network helps you get around with ease. However, Milan is a walkable city with many of the main attractions located in the centre. Use eco-friendly bike sharing services to take advantage of dedicated cycling paths.
