Milan Guide
Foodies, shopaholics, football fans and opera buffs meet in stylish Milan. Italy's commercial heart is an intoxicating mix of the latest trends and world-class art and culture. Wander the Duomo and old canals, feast on risotto and prepare yourself for the epitome of sophistication.
Find world-class art and innovative architecture, from Gothic white marble masterpiece the Duomo cathedral, to the renowned collection in the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery. Visit the historic Castello Sforzesco fortress and stroll along the navigli (canals). The elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade is made for people-watching, and locals love to take a siesta in the Giardini Pubblici city park.
Splurge at Quadrilatero, San Babila's posh shopping district and home to fashion emporium Armani Manzoni 31. Find affordable style along Corso Buenos Aires and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, go shoe-mad on Via Torino and buy leather bags and belts in Chinatown. For new trends, head to Brera and the markets of the Navigli canal quarter.
When it gets hot in the city, locals take a breather in Milan's parks. Stroll around the gardens and lakes of Milan's largest, the Giardini Pubblici, and enjoy 360º views of Milan's skyline from the Branca Tower in Parco Sempione. Relax at a pavement café in the Navigli and Brera districts or hop on a train to Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
Be moved by an opera at world-famous La Scala, or hear great orchestral works at the Auditorium di Milano. Milan is a treasure trove of art, its museums containing masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raffaello and Titian. Admire Leonardo's Last Supper in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church and Renaissance gems in the Pinacoteca di Brera art gallery.
Splash out in Michelin-starred Cracco near the Duomo. Dine in fashionable Brera with its mix of traditional, modern Italian and cosmopolitan cuisine from Japanese to Indian. Head south to easy-going Ticinese and Navigli canal quarters for trattorias and pizzerias. Find Milanese specialities osso buco (veal shank) and saffron-flavoured risotto alla Milanese anywhere.
Sip a strong coffee in fashion designer Roberto Cavalli's Just Cavalli Café inside the steel Branca Tower in Parco Sempione. Then take the lift up to the observation deck – over 100m high – and brace yourself for the best 360° views of Milan.
