There are so many reasons to enjoy a break in Italy’s most fashionable city

Visitors to Italy often ignore ‘industrial’ Milan opting instead for the history and romance of Rome and Venice, but for real Italophiles it is the home of high fashion and fabulous food.

The country's creative capital, Milan makes up in edginess and style what it lacks in picture postcard vistas. Plus, with Lake Garda and it’s smaller neighbour Maggiore just a short drive or hop on the train from the city centre, there’s plenty of opportunities for sightseeing later.

Shop ‘til you drop

No visit to Milan would be complete without a little shopping - it is, after all, something of a paradise for fashionistas. Navigate the elegant streets to find high-end boutiques around Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea – the centre of the famous Fashion Quadrilatero.

This area contains the most prestigious boutiques and showrooms in the world; here luxury is the true protagonist, with dazzling jewels from Cartier, clothes and accessories by Armani, Gucci and Louis Vuitton all looking to entice the plastic from your wallet.

For dedicated followers of fashion there’s also the original Prada store in Galleria Vittoria Emanuele and the fabulous La Rinascente department store (where Armani first worked as a window dresser and the Missonis showed their debut collection back in 1954). It has an amazing design supermarket full of cool homewares on the lower ground floor while upstairs is a fabulous café on the deck facing the city’s striking Il Duomo.

Heart and soul

Located in a vibrant Piazza of the same name, Milan's Il Duomo is one of its most striking attractions. Huge, pinnacled and gleaming white, it dominates the heart of the city – and so it should. The Duomo is one of the largest churches in the world, an elegant mass of marble boasting 135 spires and 3,400 statues.

One of the highlights of any trip to Milan is a visit to Il Duomo's roof. You can take the lift or work your way up the steps to the marble terraces amidst the pinnacles and statues.

The view is fantastic, stretching over the city to the Alps. It’s also a great spot to admire Milan’s Madonna watching over the city. Dating back to 1774, the statue is called the Madonnina, or the little Madonna, despite being four metres tall!

Another popular stop on the tourist trail is the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is home to Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, The Last Supper.

Included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites list, the church has long since been a convent. The mural, housed in the refectory of the convent, has survived untouched for centuries despite the church itself succumbing to allied bombings during the Second World War.

Thanks to the quick-thinking of its caretakers the wall containing the mural had been sand-bagged for protection.

Rest and relaxation

Tired of all that sightseeing? Then head to the quiet climbs of the Bulgari Hotel’s summer garden for a spot to eat. Enjoy classic dishes like spaghetti al pomodoro and veal milanese or if you’re lucky enough to be in the city on Sunday, book yourself a seat at brunch – according to those in the know, it is “absolutely epic”.

Alternatively, soak up a little more history in the small, but perfectly formed dining room of Bice Milan. This is the original restaurant of the Bice Group, first opened in 1926 by Signora Beatrice Mungai Ruggeri (Bice is the nickname for Beatrice). If you’re looking for good old-fashioned homemade pastas, fish, and meat, then you can’t go wrong here.

After lunch, why not take a stroll through the peaceful meadows at Parco Sempione? At 116 acres, this inner city space allows you to escape the traffic and craziness of the streets outside.

Located between Piazza Sempione and the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) it includes formal gardens, monuments, fountains and a great view of the Arco della Pace. There’s also a playground for younger visitors, a library and a small Art Theatre, which plays host to many events.

Whether you sit on the fresh grass to read a book, stroll along its serpentine alleys, go for a bike ride or a jog, it’s easy to get lost in Parco Sempione for a few hours. You can even take your laptop and catch up on your emails as the whole park is a WiFi hotpspot.

A trip out?

If there’s time, taking a few days out to explore the nearby lakes of Garda and Maggiore is a must. There are regular daily trains from Milan’s central station to Desenzano and Peschiera del Garda or Rovereto for Lake Garda, and Stresa for Maggiore.

Lake Garda is Italy's largest at 51km long, so exploring all of its picturesque villages, medieval castles and lakeside promenades would take some time. For the best beaches, head to the lake’s southern shores in the summer or for some fantastic hiking the northern shores’ rocky cliffs are the answer off-season.

Lake Maggiore, Italy’s second biggest lake acts as a watery boundary between two regions – Lombardy and Piedmont. Maggiore can also claim to be in two countries at once – its northern tip sits in Switzerland. Less crowded than Garda, Maggiore offers travellers a more natural experience. From the eastern shore on a clear day you can see Monte Rosa, a glacier-covered monster of a mountain with ten summits – four of its peaks are among the highest in the Alps.

April to October is the best time to visit, and as with the other lakes, some of the hotels and restaurants are closed between November and March.

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Hotel Straf is located right next to the Duomo, the Galleria and the La Scala Theatre. A fusion of minimalist design and classic Italian architecture The Straf will suit those seeking a stylish, urban hangout with an unconventional atmosphere.

Mustn’t miss: Bar Straf offers some of the city’s best aperitivo (and from around 5pm-9pm you’ll get free food when you buy a drink at a bar).

Where to stay?

The Westin Palace Milan
Located in the heart of Milan's vibrant fashion and finance districts, just a few steps away from Via Monte Napoleone (central Shopping Area) and Duomo Square, The Westin Palace Milan is a good choice for families.
Mustn’t miss: A visit to the hotel’s fully equipped health and fitness centre

Hilton Milan
A comfortable hotel located just two miles from Milan’s famous fashion triangle of shops and key attractions such as the historic “La Scala” opera house and the Duomo (Milan’s Cathedral). Only one block from the station, the hotel is easily accessible from the airport and to other regional destinations such as Italy’s lake district.
Mustn’t miss: A meal at the hotel’s Pacific Milano Restaurant while the hotel’s babysitter looks after the kids

Milan Marriott
Located in the city's Art Nouveau area, close to the Teatro Nazionale, Fieramilano Exhibition centre, Vigerano, Basilica S. Ambrogio, Navigli, the historic Piazza Duomo, the Milan Marriott is within walking distance of the city’s renowned shops and restaurants.
Mustn’t miss: Calling in for an aperitif in the hotel’s Bar 66

Starhotel Rosa Grand
This family-run hotel is found in the heart of old Milan and overlooking Piazza Fontana, the Starhotel Rosa Grand is just a short walk from the Piazza Del Duomo, La Scala theatre and Milan’s main shopping precinct.
Mustn’t miss: Sample local Milanese cuisine in the hotel’s signature restaurant