Culture Lover's Guide to Milan

The metropolis of Milan may be best known for its nightlife and fashion, but the city is also home to some important cultural treasures. Here are a few ideas for exploring Milan’s eclectic cultural scene.

Experience the Aperitivo Scene.

Milan is Italy’s undisputed aperitivo capital, where evening bars and cafés serve an abundance of cocktails and finger foods. Toast the festive pre-dinner hour with a Spritz on an aperitivo tour, which typically take you to the hotspots in the fashionable Navigli and Brera neighborhoods.

Gaze up at Italy’s Highest Skyscrapers.

Milan is famous for its architecture, with the majority of Italy’s tallest skyscrapers located in the Porta Nuova neighborhood, a paradise for contemporary architecture enthusiasts. Visit this business district with a guide to better appreciate the history and design of the commercial and residential towers. Highlights include the Unicredit Tower, Palazzo Lombardia, Pirelli Tower, and award-winning Bosco Verticale.

Delve into Milan’s Fashion District.

For most of the world, Milan is synonymous with haute couture. To understand what makes the Milanese tick—and the local economy roar—take a fashion tour of Quadrilatero della Moda. This swish fashion district is thick with designer boutiques and high-end emporiums, and is where the most fashion-forward residents stock their closets.

Visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s Milan.

Milan isn’t just 21st-century fashion and design—the city was also home to Leonardo Da Vinci from 1482 and 1499. The artist and engineer created a number of important works in the city in those 17 years. Marvel at the Last Supper in the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie; stroll through his historic vineyard set behind a Renaissance villa; and browse pages of the Codex Atlanticus in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana to get a sense of his impact on the city’s history and culture.

Explore the City’s Soccer Obsession.

The national passion for soccer runs just as deep in Milan as the rest of the country. Get a taste of the local football obsession at Casa Milan—headquarters of the beloved AC Milan football club—and the city’s San Siro Stadium on a Milan football tour, during which you can cheer on the Rossoneri like a local.