Cheap flights to Milan
If it’s style and sophistication you’re after then look no further than Milan; Italy’s largest city has it in abundance. A fantastic holiday and city break option all year round, Milan is a city that never slows down. Whether you come for a bit of sightseeing, world-class shopping, or to sample the varied nightlife, you won’t go home disappointed.
There is over two and a half thousand year’s worth of history in this city, so you self-confessed culture vultures out there are in for a treat. If you like your cathedrals Gothic, your castles Renaissance and your palaces Neoclassical then look no further. Even the shopping comes with a historical twist in the form of the 19th century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele arcade. Now that is what we call shopping in style. And this is of course the real reason you came to Milan isn’t it? If you want to satisfy that shopping bug further, then head down to the picturesque Brera district with its winding streets, flower-draped balconies and expensive little boutique stores. Or, for an even more upmarket experience, then head to the Quadrilatero d’Oro, or Gold Quarter to you and me.
Shopping
June 2013
Milan's best-kept shopping secret is Fox Town, a 160-store outlet just 50km away over the Swiss border at Mendrisio, between the lakes of Como and Maggiore. Easily reached by road or rail, the mall has the best designer fashion brands at everyday prices (tel: +41 848 828 888, foxtown.ch).
Sightseeing
April 2013
Don't miss the Poldi-Pezzoli Museum. This astonishing collection of art was amassed by one man and includes jewellery, porcelain, tapestries, antique furniture and artworks including Botticelli's famous painting Madonna of the Book (12 Via Manzoni, tel. 02 794 889).
Key Areas
June 2013
The first Sunday in June sees the start of the annual Festa dei Navigli, when Milan's historic canal district comes alive and visitors flocks to its outdoor restaurants, bars and craft stalls. This year it coincides with the Festa della Repubblica, the 2 June national holiday celebrating the birth of the Italian republic following World War II.
Day Trips
April 2013
Largest and most impressive of the Italian lakes, Lago Maggiore is around 100km north-west of Milan and easily reached by train or car. The summer season of boat trips starts at the end of March, and includes sailings to the romantic island of Isola Bella.