If you’re thinking of visiting Milan, you can find lots of fun things to do during your stay. Milan is a fashion forward city, with young, ambitious people who love to party at the clubs, shop for fine couture, drink lattes in the street cafes, with some of the best Italian cuisine.
Milan is a friendly, bustling city whose culture is based on the historical significance of the artwork and statues you see everywhere you go. Here are some of the favorite things to do in Milan.
At the historical heart of Milan sits the Piazza del Duomo. The famous cathedral, or the Dome as Italians call it, is a beautiful sight. It recently underwent renovation and now provides a rooftop walk that allows the visitor to overlook the city in a way not possible otherwise. You cannot help but notice the historical statues and artwork found all around the Piazza. Directly in the center of the Piazza facing the Duomo is the statue of Vittorio Emanuele II. Inside the cathedral, one of the nails from the crucifixion of Christ is illuminated.
If you go to the plaza during the day, you’ll see Milanese bustling about, pigeons everywhere, and nearby shopping and cafes. You may even run into the occasional pickpocket and street hustler trying to sell you some form of tourist trinket or memorabilia. Regardless, this is a spectacular place to “people watch”.
The core of the fashion district in Milan is definitely Via Montenapoleone. Luxurious boutiques of top Italian and international designers, antique shops, and tearooms are the physical proofs of Milan’s status of Europe’s fashion capital.
Via Montenapoleone is the most important street of the Milan’s Fashion District, called in Italian “Quadrilatero della moda” made of Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Montenapoleone. All major Italian fashion designers have their main shops here: Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Kenzo, Krizia, Prada, Valentino, Versace, Vuitton or Zegna.
Corso Como is the place for nightlife in Milan. This is the hot spot for clubs, bars, and restaurants. Models are found in all of these clubs dressed to kill. Because Milan is a fashion city, chic fashion and trendy club wear is expected at these clubs.
Great nightlife can be found in Navigli, a river area in southern Milan. You can walk through the streets and find bars, discos and restaurants. They shut down the streets in late spring and summer and you can sit in the middle of the street with friends and chat. Happy Hour is bustling from 6pm to 9pm with folks straight out of work meeting friends for a drink.
Le Meridien Gallia Hotel is a luxurious hotel located in the heart of Milan’s renowned Piazza Duca d’Aosta. The Duomo Cathedral, Santa Maria Delle Grazie, La Scala Theatre and the Fairgrounds are some of the tourist attractions nearby. With impeccable room service and an on-site restaurant and bar, Le Meridien Gallia is considered one of the premier hotels in all of Italy.