Gateway to the Italian lakes and heart of Italian industries from finance to fashion, this well-connected modern city has so much going on.
Discover Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, one of the world’s greatest cathedrals and a host of fine art collections. And did we mention football? Forza Milan!
Book flights to Milan
Airlines flying to Milan
- British Airways
- ITA Airways
Getting Around
Linate Airport, less than six miles (9km) from the city, is well served by buses, private shuttles and taxis. Milan’s historic quarter and shopping districts sit in a fairly walkable area and the Metropolitana subway, trams, buses and taxis make moving around easy.
Language
Italian
Time Difference
1 hr ahead of GMT
Currency
Euro
Neighbourhoods To See
Duomo: For history
An enormous Gothic cathedral gives this area its name, but you’ll also find several major museums and galleries, Santa Maria delle Grazie (home to da Vinci’s The Last Supper) and some excellent shopping.
Fashion Quadrangle: For shopping
This glossy shopping district spans just four streets – Via della Spiga, Via Montenapoleone, Corso Venezia and Via Sant’Andrea – but manages to squeeze in most of the world’s leading designers.
Porta Nuova: For business
This hyper-modern quarter is more famous for glittering towers than historic heritage but has interesting neighbours, including Isola and Porta Garibaldi.
Essential Sights
Duomo di Milano
Impossible to miss and free to enter, this is one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals. It’s well worth paying to climb up to the roof for the splendid views.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Lavish architecture and high fashion merge extravagantly at Europe’s oldest shopping mall, opened in 1877.
Castello Sforzesco
This imposing building has medieval origins and was infamously remodelled by Napoleon Bonaparte, then damaged during WWII. Now restored to its 14th-century glory, it houses the Museo d’Arte Antica.
The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci’s best-known fresco was painted between 1495 and 1497 on the refectory wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It’s famously fragile but well worth booking to see.
Teatro alla Scala
Italy’s oldest opera house, La Scala’s fascinating building merits a visit even by opera non-fans, as does the Museo Teatrale alla Scala, a museum full of costumes, sets, historic musical instruments and more.
Food And Drink
Enjoy Milan’s earthy culinary traditions and Lombardy’s fine produce at traditional trattorias which serve classic dishes paired with the region’s excellent wine. Be sure to start with an early evening aperitivo at one of the city’s many stylish bars.
Events
JAN, FEB + SEPT | Milan Fashion Weeks
The shows may be invite-only but everyone can enjoy the design exhibitions and events across the city.
FEBRUARY | Milan Carnival
Milan marks the week before Lent with abandon and continues for another four days after Ash Wednesday. Expect colourful parades, floats and elaborate costumes around Piazza Duomo and surrounding streets.
MARCH | MuseoCity
Galleries, public and private museums, studios, historic monuments and cultural venues join forces to transform Milan into an enormous art centre for two days and nights.