Milan

Italy

Cityscape: Ultra-urban
City life: One long catwalk

Art, fashion, furniture and football are Milan’s healthy obsessions.

The hub of the designer shopping area around Via Montenapoleone is gold-card nirvana, where you’ll find local heroes Missoni, Armani and Etro, fantastic vintage, and highly covetable design and kitchenwares. Eating and partying here are equally as stylish, with bars and clubs designed to appeal to the crème de la cognoscenti, and sushi fit for the fussiest supermodel.

Pictured: Hotel Straf

Boutique hotels in Milan

Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Milan

Getting there

Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.

Worth getting out of bed for

Highlights the best Milan has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.

Eating, drinking & dancing

We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Milan. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…

Smith Maps

Here is the map of Milan; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.

Taxis: Taxis are dear, and you’ll need to ring one, or find an elusive cab rank.
Tipping culture: In restaurants, the cover charge represents your tip.
Packing tips: Your most fashionista outfits; huge, extra-dark sunglasses.
Recommended reads: Italian Hours by Henry James; Insider’s Guide to Shopping by Jill Fairchild and Gerri Gallagher. The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, considered by many to be the first Italian novel.
Cuisine: Risotto alla Milanese, tomato-and-mozzarella-filled panzerotto.
Currency: Euro.
Dialing codes: Country code for Italy: 39. Milan: 02 – code always required.
Do go/don't go: Everybody heads out to the lakes in high summer, when the city can feel deserted. The best times are the January sales, or spring, when it’s warm and buzzing.