Milan Holidays 2024/2025

Good food, iconic fashion and top class art are all on the menu for a city break to Milan. Milan is Italy’s second largest city, so you can count on a larger than life holiday when you start to plan your next holiday in a city with us! Expect a huge helping of Italian culture when you visit Milan, as well as beautiful sights and buildings to gaze at.

Milan is part of the ‘Big Four’ most prominent fashion capitals in the world, joining New York, London and Paris. This stylish city’s rise to worldwide fashion fame began back in the late 20th century. It was a big name in the industrial world back then, making and shipping all kinds of items around the globe. Then, when the biggest players in fashion at the time – Giorgio Armani and Gianna Versace – based their brands in Milan, things went from strength to strength. 

Nowadays, Milan’s Golden Rectangle is like fashion’s hall of fame, with every big designer imaginable having their name on shop fronts here. This includes Gucci’s flagship store and a number of Prada shops. Even if designer price tags aren’t in your budget, window shopping here is just as fun as the shops’ windows are just as smartly dressed as the city’s art museums.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest active shopping mall in Italy that is still used and loved today. It was built in 1877 and is one of the most photographed places in the city, and it’s not hard to see why!

Historic Sites

Milan boasts the third biggest cathedral in Europe, and it’s pretty spectacular! Milan Duomo took almost 600 years to complete, and thanks to its lengthy construction time, it represents a blend of both Gothic and Renaissance styles. Da Vinci even had a hand in its 17th-century redesign. If you’ve got the stomach to head to the top, then you’ll be able to feast your eyes on the best view of Milan’s skyline. 

Another old and beautiful building in this Italian city is Theatre La Scala. The La Scala opera house first opened its doors in 1778 but during WWII, it was heavily damaged and had to be rebuilt. It then reopened it 1946 after the war, and has since played host to a string of world-class composers and musicians. More than 3,000 seats wrap around its impressive stage and if you can catch a performance during your trip, it’s well worth it. Even if you can’t get your hands on tickets, or a show just isn’t your cup of tea, the museum is a great visit. You can step out onto a balcony during your visit so you can get a sense of how big the opera house really is. 

Take A Break In The Lakes

Italy’s lakes are the perfect spot for switching off and relaxing, and luckily, they’re within a close distance from the bustling city of Milan if you need some me-time after a busy few days exploring and enjoying city life.  Lake Como is your closest spot – it’s an hour’s drive from the centre of the city. Or, if you don’t fancy hitting the road, there are plenty of direct train services to the lakes from Milan’s main train station.

There are even a number of tours you can enjoy and take part in if you enjoy exploring with other like minded people. The Lake Como and Bellagio day trip tour departs from Milan city centre in the morning and after a 1-hour drive up to Como, you’ll arrive around 10.00am.The  guided tour will take you around the city and then on a ride of the funicular up to the town of Brunate, where you can admire the beautiful panorama of the city and the lake. After that, you’ll have free time for lunch in Brunate before the highlight of your afternoon: a Lake Como cruise!

Fill Your Boots

Dishes in Milan are as rich and high class as the fashion, and the city holds the highest number of Michelin stars in the whole of Italy. Thanks to its powerful commercial background, Milan, among other cities, helped to carve Italy’s great cuisine. Mediterranean fruits, spices and herbs blended with cooking methods, pastry techniques and eating styles from France and central Europe helped to create a name for itself when it comes to tasty dishes that sit perfectly alongside the Italian classics. 

Some of the best dishes to try in Milan include cotoletta, which is a breaded veal cutlet often served with well seasoned potatoes. Another Milanese favourite is saffron risotto, which is apparently best served with a chilled glass of white in hand! For the adventurous foodies, Milan has even begun to try its hand at international cuisines and dishes that have recently shot up the popularity scale. If you enjoy a bite of sushi and dim sum, then you won’t be disappointed in Milan, you’ll even get the chance to try the city’s own twist on the Asian classics.