Milan Holidays

City breaks to Milan

Italy’s a bit of a pro when it comes to city breaks – Rome, Florence, and Venice barely scratch its short-break surface. The story in Milan – the country’s second largest city – tends to twist towards fashion, but while this may take the front cover, there’s plenty more to the pages of this place. As soon as you set foot onto the city’s streets, you’ll see that everything around here’s dripping in good looks. Grand buildings look as if they belong to royalty and even its shop windows are dressed up to the nines. Stay-wise, Centro Storico’s the address you should be after for central hotels, although nearby Navigli’s a great option to save some cash.

Come on, Vogue

When Vogue landed its Italian headquarters here in the 60s, Milan’s name in the fashion world went from strength to strength. Many top designers followed in their footsteps, opening stores in the city andsecuring its name as a fashion capital alongside London, Paris, and New York. You get two chances a year to feel the Milan Fashion Week buzz – its winter event takes place in February and summer’s showcase happens each September.

Sorted for sports fans

One top-flight football team’s not enough for Milan – a pair of high-shooting squads call this place home. Be careful not to confuse the two, or else you won’t be making friends with any of the locals. It can get confusing though, as both AC Milan and Inter Milan share a stadium in San Siro, a 20-minute subway ride from the centre. If you’re lucky enough to be in town for a big match, this 80,000-capacity stadium offers an unbeatable buzz. If sporting’s your scene, get on your marks for 2026 when the city’s set to host the Olympics and Paralympics.

Northern exploring

Italy’s northern regions are a bit of a hall of fame of the country’s best-loved locations, which works well if you’ve got some time spare to meander beyond Milan. Big-city wise, you’re a two-hour drive from Turin – famous for its history-clad streets and eye-pleasing piazzas. Or, if you want to escape city life, the Italian lakes are a stone’s throw from Milan – you can reach insta-friendly lakeside villages like Bellagio in under an hour.