Milan attracts visitors from around the world to its fashion houses and for its culture, and offers plenty of choice in accommodation no matter the reason for visiting. Shoppers will most likely want to stay in the Brera/Magenta neighbourhood; sightseers at one of the many hotels located near the Duomo; and those on a budget near the central train station or along Corso Buenos Aires.

Hotel rooms in Milan can cost as much as in other major European cities, but visitors will find reasonably-priced accommodation in good locations as well. The majority of the top hotels are located centrally, and include the Grand Hotel Et De Milan and the Four Seasons Hotel Milano.

Still family-managed yet offering the epitome of refinement, the Grand Hotel Et De Milan occupies an 1863 building that's perfectly situated between the famous La Scala opera house and the shops of Via Montenapoleone.

Milan's top five-star deluxe property, the Four Seasons Hotel Milano, is located just off Via Montenapoleone, known as the most luxurious shopping address in the city. The hotel's lovely garden-planted cloisters are a city attraction.

As well as its upmarket choices, the city's central district offers a number of independent options in the mid price range, convenient to many of Milan's attractions. The best choices for budget travellers are near the city's mail rail station, where there are a number to choose from. Also, the two-star Serena Hotel is a comfortable choice located near the Corso Buenos Aires shopping area.

Business travellers will find a range of hotels near Central Station offering comfort and business amenities. The Berna Hotel is one favourite in the area. Others on business choose to stay in Rho, near the new Milan exhibition centre. Hotels in both areas are typically equipped with all the facilities required for conducting business. Visitors staying in the city for a longer period will find self-catering apartment options in the centre.

The Renaissance cities along the Po plain outside Milan, such as Cremona, Mantua and Pavia, offer visitors to the area the option of staying in historical properties that are as serene as they are stately, and within a relatively short distance to the centre of Milan.

Also nearby are the northern Italian lakes of Como, Garda, Maggiore and Orta. Along their shores are fine 18th and 19th century villas, many of which have been converted into elegant hotels. The towns along the lake shores feature formal gardens and many resorts that attract well-heeled visitors from around the world.