Destinations

5-Star Hotel Guide

Milan

Milan is the operatic heart and business head of Italy

Milan
Milan

5-star hotel guide to Milan

Milan and fashion goes together like Dolce & Gabbana but as well as being the design heart of Italy, Milan is also its commercial powerhouse, famed not only for couture, but for design, engineering and finance. Milan is also home to one the planet's most beautiful gothic cathedrals, a 15th century castle, a world-class opera house, La Scala, and a number of the finest 5-star hotels in Italy.

Named the 'World's Best Fashion and Luxury Shopping Destination' by a 2015 Italian survey, that cited the number of tourists who visit the city specifically to shop; beating Paris, NYC, London and Rome to top spot. Three years on, Milan retains its position as one of the best places to shop in the world. If shopping is on your agenda make sure you visit magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and avoid having to walk too far with your couture bags by staying in the Golden Rectangle district, known locally as "Quadrilatero della Moda". Baglioni Hotel Carlton Milan or Bulgari Hotel Milan both fit this bill, or you can use the gorgeously grand Hotel Principe di Savoia's limo service to waft you back and forth from the Piazza della Repubblica.

For art lovers, seeing Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is a must, but tickets require a concierge's connections. Fortunately, we know how.

For contemporary art, visit some of the wonderful smaller galleries, such as Kauffman Repetto, Massimo de Carlo and, of course, the stunning Museo del Novacento.

If you want to lunch with the locals, try a salad while you shop in the leafy cafĂ© courtyard at 10 Corso Como, or a steak at Controvapore, or for really great fish, it’s got to be La Risacca 6, where the seabass is sublime. If you are after 2-starred Michelin dining, try Cracco, Sadler, Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia or a dozen more stars dotted about the city. Milan has much to offer the gourmet. In the evening enjoy a aperitif at Wes Anderson-designed Bar Luce or Jamaica.

THE GATEWAY TO LAKE COMO

What’s more, Milan is just an hour’s drive from stunning Lake Como, with many locals commuting each day. Covering 146 square kilometres, this beguiling glacial lake has captivated the hearts of poets and romantics for centuries. 

Take a peek at our exceptional collection of private lakeside Lake Como luxury villas, plus our favourite 5-star hotels on this most mesmerising of lakes.