What is there to do in Milan? Where can you go on day trips or for a spot of shopping? What activities are worth travelling to Milan for?

The 10 best hotels in Milan

Art and design

Strolling through the city and admiring the magnificent city palaces and galleries costs nothing. If you’d like to see the art up close, don’t miss the following places:

The Last Supper/Il Cenacolo

Da Vinci’s The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo) is located a short walk from Corso Magenta in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is a major tourist attraction and tickets must be booked in advance.

• Detailed information

Pinacoteca di Brera

Art lovers certainly cannot miss this gem of the city, one of the most prestigious art galleries in Italy. Here you can admire the works of greats such as Titian, Caravaggio, Veronese and Tintoretto.

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Museo del Novecento

Translated as the Museum of the Twentieth Century, it is situated in the very heart of the city on the main square, Piazza Duomo. The museum hosts exhibitions by the greatest artists of the twentieth century, including the king of Pop Art, Andy Warhol. The building offers a beautiful view of the entire square.

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Salone del Mobile/Milan Design Week

Lovers of furniture and interior design flock to the city every year for the biggest design event, the Salone del Mobile, where thousands of domestic and international brands showcase their latest design innovations. As well as the main exhibition held at the Expo Milano exhibition centre, there are also smaller exhibitions around the city. Czech artists often showcase their work at the Czech Centre too.

Find out more at: salonemilano.it.

Sights and history

Although Milan is not a city with sights on every corner, as is the case in Rome or Florence, for example, you will still come across world-famous historic buildings here that are architectural gems.

One of the most significant religious monuments, not only in Milan but worldwide, is undoubtedly one of the largest cathedrals in the world – the Duomo di Milano.

Milan owes much of its great development to the wealthy and influential Sforza family, who ruled the city during the 15th century and left behind the monumental Castello Sforzesco.

A small point of intersection between Milanese and Czech history can be found in the Basilica of St Ambrose, where, amongst other things, Charles IV was crowned King of Lombardy.

Opera

Italy’s La Scala is a household name in the world of opera, and a visit to the theatre alone is well worth it. Tickets for performances sell out several months in advance (always buy online via the official website), but it is also possible to visit the venue as part of a guided tour.

Aperitivo

Spend your evening like a true Milanese – in a bar offering a generous selection of snacks included in the price of your drink (aperitivo).

Most bars around the city offer free snacks during ‘happy hour’, and often this isn’t just a selection of crisps and olives, but a generous buffet consisting of pasta, pizza, small sandwiches and plenty more.

The best atmosphere can be found in the bars around the Navigli, the network of canals, where you can soak up that authentic Italian atmosphere. We’ll leave the choice of bar up to you.

Shopping

Milan is a shopper’s paradise and there really is something for everyone here. Visitors with deep pockets head to the luxury shops in the Quadrilatero d’Oro, situated between Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Manzoni.

Tourists on a more modest budget will find plenty to suit them on the famous shopping street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, which is bordered by Piazza San Babila and Piazza Duomo.

However, no one should miss the legendary covered gallery , the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

You’ll find the most shops with affordable prices on the city’s longest shopping street, Corso Como, which you can reach on foot from Piazza San Babila.

Vintage enthusiasts should head to Corso di Porta Ticinese and continue on to the picturesque Navigli district, home to small shops and flea markets. There are outlet shopping centres in the vicinity of Milan, which are easily accessible by pre-booked buses.

The Zani Viaggi travel agency runs 2–3 buses daily to the Seravalle shopping centre. Buses also depart from the city centre for the Foxtown shopping centre.

We are gradually compiling detailed information for you in a separate section entitled ‘Shopping in Milan’.

Football

Whether you support AC Milan or Inter Milan, you’ll be heading to the same place. The monumental San Siro Stadium, which can hold up to 85,000 fans, is home to both of Milan’s football clubs. If tickets are sold out or there’s no match on, you can visit the stadium on a guided tour every day from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm for 17 euros.

The Serie A (Italy’s top league) fixture list isn’t published until mid-September, and tickets can only be bought a few weeks in advance. Most are snapped up by locals as part of their season tickets, and only a handful of tickets go on general sale. You can find upcoming matches and ticket prices on the sansiro.net website.

People Watching

Take a seat in one of the local cafés and soak up the atmosphere of this bustling city alongside its stylishly dressed residents.

Where?

• The steps in front of the Duomo in Piazza Duomo
• Parco Sempione
• Colonne di San Lorenzo
• Navigli

Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week ranks amongst the most famous in the world. Getting in, however, is no easy feat. During Fashion Week, the city is filled with celebrities and public figures keen to turn heads with their imaginative outfits from world-renowned designers.

Milan Fashion Week is one of the most prestigious fashion shows in the world. It takes placetwice a year, inFebruary/March and September/October. During the week, shows are held at 30–40 venues across the city.

Official website:cameramoda.it/en

Formula 1 races

Milan is also a paradise for motorsport enthusiasts. Practically on the northern outskirts of Milan, in the town of Monza, lies one of Europe’s most famous motor racing circuits, which hosts Formula 1 races.

The biggest event in Monza is the Italian Grand Prix, which is always held on the second Sunday in September. Ticket prices for the Grand Prix range from 100 eur to 1 000 eur depending on the specific seat.

Ticket sales and official information about the Monza circuit can be found on the website:monzanet.it