The Fashion Capital of Italy

Milano

Milan, is the fashion capital of Italy, and entrenched in art and fashion. You’ll find the incredible Duomo di Milano in the heart of the city and discover the canals and Brera district that are great neighbourhoods to stroll through day or night. Here are some top city sights you won’t want to miss and top tips on how to get the most from your stay.

Explore these beautiful destinations in Milan!

Duomo di Milano

This magnificent Gothic cathedral is the heart of Milan and is top of the list to visit. With its stunning stained-glass windows, intricate spires and countless statues, it provides ample opportunity for stunning photos. On my second trip to Milan, I made the climb up to the rooftop which provides panoramic views of the city and an up close view of the cathedral’s architecture.

Navigli District

I visited Milan for several days on my trip in 2024, and always ended up by the canal for dinner and a great glass of wine. With the trattorias and bars lit up it’s an Italian wonderland and the perfect spot in warm weather to sit by the canals. One of my all-time favourite meals in Milan was at Naviglio 48 Trattoria, which included baked fish covered in artichokes and potatoes – it was super delicious.

Milan Fashion

Milano is the fashion capital of Italy and everywhere you go there is great fashion. Even if you wander into a retail fashion chain you’ll find incredible value and great fashion. Its worth a look – even if to just window shop.

This picture is of an H&M store – you can see that the fashion is ‘more advanced’ than our retail chains in Canada.

Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II

Located right next to the Duomo, this incredible outdoor 13th century shopping center has a beautiful glass ceiling and mosaic floors. I happended upon this galleria as I thought it was a museum, and found that it had high end shops and elegant cafes inside. This is what I love about Europe – breathtakingly beautiful architeture – even for everyday shopping malls.

The Last Supper

The Last Supper measures 15 ft × 29 approx. ft, and covers an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Viewing the Last Supper itself is strictly limited to 15 minutes per group, with a maximum of 35 people. If you only want to see The Last Supper and not explore the rest of the church, 30 minutes may be sufficient. However, if you’d like to see the entire church, 1 hour would be a good estimate.

Sforza Castle

Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle) was built as a fortress during the 14th century and presently houses one of the best museums in the city. You can view the courtyard for free (pictured here) during the day. Find more information on the tour hours and current exhibitions here.

Brera Artist Area

The Brera district is known as the artist’s area in Milan. It’s a charming neighbourhood with a rich history, with art galleries and studios. The area has a vibant atmosphere with stylish boutiques, cafes and restaruants. Wander down the narrow streets and you’ll find artists painting outside studios with opportunites to buy their art.

Happy Hour

You’ll find Happy Hour in Milan between 6 – 9pm, that offers free snacks from bruschetta to small pizzas or even a full buffet when you buy a glass of wine or cocktail. Many of the restaurants along the canal have Happy Hour offerings – walk the canal to find the best choice for you as they usually display the buffet or will advertise the snacks available for the price of a drink.

Milan Tram

There are several old trams that run throughout the city and are a great way to see the sites if your legs are tired from sightseeing.

Milano Tram Line 1 covers the central milan area through Corso Sempione, and passes through the Navigli area, Brera artist area as well as Chinatown (yes they have a Chinatown!).