About Milan

Introduction

Milan is a vibrant, modern city that combines the best of Italy’s yesterday and today. It’s the country’s business, design, fashion and music capital, as well as rich in art, history and culture. This Northern Italian city two million people is home to the world-renowned La Scala Opera house, the Duomo Cathedral and Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper. It boasts nightlife that will suprise you and has a culinary culture up with the best in Europe.

Business

Italy’s biggest fashion designers have concentrated their head offices, shops, boutiques, and showrooms in Milan’s famous “quadrangle of fashion” district near the city’s center. Milan also has the nation’s most important design schools, world-class music conservatories, blue chip companies, financial insititutions, and is home to the Italian  Stock Exchange. The biggest conventions and trade fairs in Southern Europe are held at Milan’s Fiera trade fair center.

Location

Milan is located in the plains just south of the Italian Alps mountain chain, close to a multitude of other interesting cities and attractions. Venice and Florence are just a few hours away. Skiing, Thermal hot-pools and the snow-capped mountains are just an hour north. The seaside and quaint villages of Liguria and “Cinque Terre” are also less than 2 hours away.

Nightlife and Entertainment

When it comes to nightlife, Milan is simply thrilling. No matter whether you prefer a cosy pub, a trendy Club and Dancing, or a night at the theatre, Milan is an unforgettable desitnation for nightlife anf evening entertainment. The main Bars & Pubs areas are the “Navigli” and “Porta Ticinese”  and Corso Como districts all alive with clubs, beer halls and bars. Another attractive area is the Brera district, which safe and clean with streets closed to traffic, art galleries, small clubs and restaurants. Many of the best bars and clubs though, can only be found by the locals and those with local knowledge as they as scattered randomly across the city and sometimes so hidden that you could walk right past it without realising. For nightlife, Milan has it all.

Shopping in Milan

Milan has everything for the ardent shopper from luxury shopping areas to low cost style: Via Montenapoleone and the centre area contains the most prestigious boutiques and showrooms in the world. (Gucci, Prada, Armani, D&G ecc) For more affordable purchases, there are areas almost entirely dedicated to shopping where there are label shops, such as Max Mara, Moreschi, Bruno Magli, Pollini, H&M, Zara and Furla. Milan also has some great markets on weekends where great bargains and traditional Italian food, crafts and fashion can be found. There are many famous low-cost label outlets in the city center  as well as larger ones just a short drive from from the city.

Getting There

Milan has two airports: Malpensa (MXP) is the main airport and also has intercontinental flights, while the centrally located Linate (LIN) airport serves domestic flights and some European links including EasyJet, BA and Alitalia. The Malpensa airport is connected to Milan by the Malpensa Express train and by the coach bus Malpensa Shuttle. Linate  is really close to the city centre and can be reached by taxi or bus only . Orio al Serio (BGY) international airport is also 45 km from Milan and serves Ryanair. It is Italy’s first low-cost airport with many flights for Italian and European destinations.