Weekend Break in Milan

One of the most exciting fashion and design centres of the world, Milan boasts friendly quaint bars and restaurants and is world famous for the best designer shopping you could ever wish for, as well as offering designer outlets where you could pick up that Prada handbag you’ve always wanted. Remember it’s not only the devil that wears Prada.

Shopping in Milan:

Milan is a temple to high fashion, home of Armani and Versace and sure to impress the highest fashion fanatics. So why not indulge the shopaholic within and shop till you drop.

The Quadrilatero d’Oro or Gold Quarter is where you will find all the big names in fashion, housing some of the most prestigious and expensive designer boutiques, even if you can’t afford to do anything but look, the shop windows are fantastically decorated with wonderful style garments, and you will get to see that diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend. The streets in this area are especially fun to wander leading up to Christmas, when bright lights hang overheard decorating the frenzied streets.

La Rinascente is probably the most prestigious department store in Milan. With eight floors, this store has everything from clothing and perfumes, to toys and food. It is located in central Milan, directly opposite the Duomo and is open seven days a week, staying open until 22:00, so you have plenty of time to peruse at your leisure.

The crème de la crème of Italian chic can be found in Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant’Andrea, Via Monzani and Via della Spigna, where names such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Versace and Louis Vuitton, are displayed with their couture elegance. To see Milan’s inspiration into fashion and design these places are well worth a visit.

Girls about town:

If you can’t afford the glitz and glam lining the streets then why not wait till the annual sales, which are held twice a year in January, just after Epiphany, and again early July. Large discounts are offered, sometimes as much as 75%. For all year round bargains, there are other numerous outlets, such as Il Salvagente at Via Bronzetti 16, which is well known and has a good reputation for providing quality at affordable prices.

Experience the world’s most fashionable city while enjoying some relaxation time, getting pampered to make you feel like you belong in the rich and famous ravish world of Milan. Most hotels offer spa facilities, in particular the Westin Palace or book a specialist spa break at the Principle Di Savoia.

As in any city there is a vast amount of bars, clubs and restaurants, and of course Milan lives up to this ideal. In particular in the Galleria off the Piazza del Duomo there is a restaurant called Biffi, which is an ideal location for lunch. Many of the restaurants also offer a Happy Hour which is where instead of getting reduced priced drinks they instead serve the Italian equivalent of Tappas.

For the nightclub and bar areas you need to find yourselves in the Navigli (Canal area) or Corso Como areas where you will find such clubs as Casablanca, Hollywood, Tocq Ville, and Lulapaloosa, these are places where you will find flamboyant nightlife, as you would expect from the young, cosmopolitan, vibrant image Milan portrays. 

- K.N -