Overview

Milan is home to one of the country's best collections of visual treats. Sights such as the magnificent cathedral (Duomo), the picturesque Public Gardens and the culturally enriching Pinacoteca di Brera are but a few of the highlights of this eye-catching city. Touring these popular attractions on foot is the best way to see the sights.

Duomo

The city's most recognisable landmark is also its most loved and cherished. Constructed in the 14th century, this splendid ecclesiastical building is hailed as the world's third-largest church after the Cathedral of Seville in Spain's Andalucia and St Peter's in Vatican City. The marble exterior with its hundred of spires and thousands of stone carvings gives way to a stunning interior offering magnificent stained glass windows and religious paintings. The view from the terrace at the top of the church is one of its greatest highlights.

Public Gardens (Giardini Pubblici)

Of all the city's parks and green spaces, the public gardens are hailed as the most beautiful and anyone taking the time to visit will quickly see why. Though the gardens date back originally to the 17th century, a number of alterations and expansions have been made over the years. Features of the gardens include lakes, forest areas, statues and monuments.

Pirelli Tower (Grattacielo Pirelli)

Located close to the Public Gardens, this tower is an important landmark and at the time of building in 1955, it was hailed as the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world. Standing a lofty 417 feet high, the tower is topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary and can be seen from the four corners of the city. It takes its name from the Pirelli tyre factory that previously stood on the same site.

Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco)

This beautiful old structure was erected during the era of the Sforzas in the 14th century but has since been the subject of a number of additions and alterations, though none which have detracted from its original magnificence. Today, the building houses a museum that focuses on the art of some of Italy's greatest painters. The frescoes dating back to the 15th century, including the unfinished Rondanini Pieta by Michelangelo, are among the highlights.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

A feast for the eyes of architectural enthusiasts, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele located on Piazza Della Scala is a shopping arcade noted for its stunning vaulted glass roofs and beautiful floor mosaics. The building was designed in 1861, then constructed between 1865 and 1877 during the reign of King Vittorio Emanuele II, after which it is named. Today it's one of the city's most popular shopping arcades and houses a variety of retail and dining outlets.

Brera Art Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera)

Few serious art enthusiasts come to Milan without visiting the Pinacoteca di Brera, a gallery situated northeast of the downtown area and boasting one of the most significant and important art collections in Italy. Housed in a 16th century castle, the gallery features more than 30 rooms, which in the space of their existence have provided working space for masters such as Mantegna, Raphael and Caravaggio. Famous works in the gallery's permanent collection include the San Luca Altarpiece by Andrea Mantegna, Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio, Wedding of the Virgin by Raphael, Finding of the Body of St Mark by Tintoretto and The Kiss by Francesco Hayez.

Overview

Whatever time of year you choose to visit Milan, you'll find the city has facilities for a variety of sports, games and indoor and outdoor pursuits. Summer is, however, the best time to take a holiday here if enjoying outdoor sports is your thing. When the sky is clear and the sun is beating down, tourists and locals alike can enjoy golf, swimming and water sports among other activities.

Golf

Within easy driving of the city are a number of international standard golf courses at which enthusiasts of the game can while away the long summer days practicing their swing or honing their putting skills. The climate in Milan fosters the nurturing of lush green fairways and natural surroundings that can make a round or two of your favourite game a truly pleasurable experience. Most of the courses are open to non-members, providing the course fees are paid, and there are club houses with restaurants and bars for relaxing in after a game. Closest to the city and one of the best in the region is Le Rovedine Golf Course, located just four miles from the city centre.

Swimming

Since the sea is not especially close by, options for swimming are restricted to public pools. The city offers a good selection, with both indoor and outdoor varieties available. In the latter category is the Lido, the city's favourite pool in summertime. Offering a spacious swimming area and a number of slides, this is the ideal location at which to gain respite from the heat of the sun at the peak of the summer season. In the indoor category, visitors can make use of the Piscina Giovanni da Procida pool and the Piscina Solari pool. Many of city's more upmarket hotels offer private pools for the use of their guests.

Football

The city's home team, AC Milan, needs no introduction to fans of the game, with its reputation as one of the most successful soccer teams on the planet. Getting tickets for a game could be tricky on account of serious local support but visitors given the opportunity would be crazy to pass up the chance to see this legendary team play at their home ground. San Siro stadium is popularly considered one of the world's finest football grounds and with a capacity for 80,000, you can be sure that the atmosphere at matches is lively.

Water sports

The mountainous areas around the city are home to a number of lakes at which water sports of all kinds can be pursued. Lake Garda, east of the city, is one of the most popular spots with locals and offers activities such as canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and fishing. During summer, this lake can get busy so anyone seeking fewer crowds is advised to rent a car and travel a bit further from the city.

Bowling

If you're visiting Milan during the cooler or wetter seasons, then the weather might not lend itself well to outdoor activities, in which case heading for the city's 10-pin bowling centre might be your best bet if you are in the mood for something sporty. The Corvetto bowling alley is located at Via Marco D'Agrate 23 and offers fun for all the family. The centre also has video games, pool tables and ping-pong tables.

Dining and shopping

Dining in Italy is very rarely a disappointing experience, with the country as a whole having a globally acknowledged reputation for culinary excellence. Milan is absolutely no exception to this reputation, with its local cuisine meeting the highest of standards and satisfying the palates of even the most discerning of diners.

Common to Milanese cuisine are ingredients such as fish, tomatoes, pasta, olive oil, garlic, cheese and fresh herbs. Eating out at lunchtime, visitors might want to try the delicious sandwiches known as tramezzini and panini or a delicious salad with juicy olives and plenty of fresh green vegetables. Pizza is easily found and can be enjoyed at either lunch or dinnertime.

Finding somewhere to eat in the city is not difficult but the sheer number of eating establishments on offer can make choosing one a challenge. The Brera district is among the most popular areas for dinnertime dining, while any of the eateries in the large selection around the city's main train station (Stazione Centrale) or the Public Gardens (Giardini Pubblici) are ideal for grabbing a lunchtime bite. Upmarket establishments, where the city's finest chefs demonstrate their skills, can be found at Galleria Votorio Emanuele.

Besides Italian food, visitors will find the city has a good selection of international eateries. For anyone wanting a break from pizza and pasta, there are restaurants serving French, Spanish, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Lebanese cuisine among others.

As shopping goes, Milan, with its reputation as a centre for fashion, is brimming with quality retail outlets. Anyone with a serious penchant for clothes and a healthy pile of disposable cash or a credit card just waiting to be exercised will genuinely have a ball in the city's most popular shopping areas.

Designer clothing at typically outrageous prices can be found at outlets such as Santo Spirito, Sant' Andrea, Borgospesso, Della Spiga, Montenapoleone and Manzoni in the area commonly known as Quadrilatero d'Oro. Even if you are not given to spending large amounts on high fashion items, a wander through this area to soak up the chic and upmarket ambience is a must.

For high-street fashion, Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II is the best place to head to. Here you'll find popular names such as H&M, Furla and Zara among others. Meanwhile, for a mixed selection of retail outlets in a setting that's genuinely a pleasure to spend time in, check out the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

For considerably cheaper goods in a wider variety of categories, the Saturday street market at Viale Papiniano is well worth a visit, as is the market that opens Wednesday mornings on Via Zivetti. The Fiera di Senigallia flea market, open all day Saturday, is also a good location for bargain hunters and those looking for unusual items.

Compiling a shortlist of Milan's best restaurants is by no means an easy task and with so many great establishments to choose from, you can be sure that there are many gems that won't get a mention but are as deserving of one as those that do. Don Carlos and Cracco Peck are the two eateries that are constantly given exposure in popular reviews and not to be missed if your budget permits.

Airports

Malpensa International Airport is the chief international gateway to Milan. The airport is situated 46kms from the city centre and serves a range of destinations in Italy and beyond. The two-terminal airport is busy, serving some 20 million passengers per year. International arrivals and departures are handled predominantly by Terminal 1. Terminal 2 serves mainly low-cost airlines and charter flights.

Visitors already in Italy and taking a domestic flight to Milan will land at the smaller Linate Airport, located just seven kilometres from the city. The two airports are connected by a shuttle bus that operates a total of 11 services per day.

Malpensa Airport is modern and well equipped with passenger facilities including banks, ATMs and bureaux de change. There's a good selection of dining and shopping establishments on offer, with the majority located airside of the terminals. A chapel, a business centre and a VIP lounge are also available.

Getting to the city from the airport, passengers can make use of an express train service that operates twice-hourly and completes the journey in around 40 minutes. Shuttle buses are also available but are somewhat slower and less convenient. For speedier travel by road, taxis are available; however, fares are expensive by European standards. From Linate Airport to the city, passengers can take taxis or the Starfly bus service.

Public transportation

Milan can be reached by train easily from major cities across Italy, with the majority of long distance services terminating at Stazione Centrale on PiazzaDuca d'Aosta. Regional and local services may terminate at Stazione Nord or Stazione Porta Garibaldi. From Florence and Venice, the journey takes 3 hours, 30 minutes, from Rome it takes 6 hours, from Naples it takes 8 hours and from Genoa and Turin it takes just 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Long distance bus services operated by Eurolines make it possible to reach Milan from a variety of European countries, while national and regional bus services operated by domestic bus companies provide connections from most major Italian cities. Buses terminate at the Autostradale situated adjacent to the Sforza Castle.

Getting around the city is a breeze, with the local public transport system providing connections to all of its most important locations, its major attractions and destinations in the suburbs also. Trams are the best way of travelling speedily between major points in the central area of the city, tickets for which can be bought at tobacco shops or from machines at stops.

The city's bus network is extensive and though it's a slower way to travel than tram, it provides connections with a broader selection of destinations. Tickets, again, can be bought from tobacco shops or machines located at stops.

For visitors preferring more convenience in their travel arrangements, taxis are widely available from stands at key locations such as bus and train stations and major hotels. Car hire is also an option, with rental agencies located at Malpensa Airport and in the city centre.