Milan Hotels

See the next thing first in the home of glossy consumption.

This city is all about worldly pleasures. Shopping is of quasi-religious significance. Theatre and cinema flourish in this fashionable milieu, as does a hopping club scene and a slew of tempting restaurants. Apart from a few gems, the city is not renowned for its looks; it's lifestyle that counts.

Milan is a sprawling metropolis, but most of its attractions are concentrated in the city centre, between the Duomo (cathedral) and the Castello Sforzesco. The Duomo is the best place to begin exploring the city and is within strolling distance of dozens of historic sites. The city's efficient underground railway, the Metropolitana Milanesa (MM) has a stop here. Apart from the city centre, another area deserving your attention is the Brera, immediately north of the Duomo, with its posh galleries and fashionable shopping streets. Also check out Navigli to the south.

Most of the year Milan is as comfortable as a cardigan: not too hot, and not too cold, either. There are occasional summer heat waves and springtime cold snaps, and the odd hailstorm can bring on brilliant blue skies the next day. During the entire month of August a calm descends over the city as the Milanese head for the nearby hills and lakes.