Capital of fashion and design, Milan is a sprawling modern metropolis with an industrious atmosphere and no-nonsense character. Though it’s one of the few places in Italy where you can find modern skyscrapers, the city has Roman roots and plenty of historic neighborhoods with an old-world feel. Meanwhile, other pockets of Milan are known for their trendy nightlife, international cuisine, and unparalleled shopping. Experience the energy of the city by exploring the following eight neighborhoods.
Most travelers to Milan begin their sightseeing in Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), the heart of Milan’s historic center. Some of the city’s most important landmarks are clustered here, including the soaring Gothic Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala Opera House, and the Royal Palace. This neighborhood sits at the center of the city, the ideal jumping-off spot for a city tour before striking out farther north to Brera and the Quadrilatero della Moda or south to the more trendy Navigli and Ticinese districts.
One of the most stylish neighborhoods in Milan, Brera is a picturesque maze of cobblestoned streets lined with chic boutiques, upscale homes, and high-end restaurants just north of the city center. In addition to its shopping and food scenes, this area is known for its excellent Brera Art Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most important museums in Italy). Stop in to admire the collection of works by Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, and others as part of a Brera District and museum tour.
Whether it’s called the Fashion Quarter or the Golden Quarter, this swanky area adjacent to Brera wears its luxury heart on its sleeve. Fashionistas from across the globe flock here to browse the many designer boutiques and showrooms sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in one of the most renowned fashion districts in the world. Discover the top flagship stores and cutting-edge ateliers on a fashion tour or private outing with a personal shopper through this style-driven enclave.
Architecture enthusiasts make a beeline to the Porta Nuova neighborhood, just beyond Brera and the Quadrilatero della Moda. Though it’s named for a 19th-century city gate, this business district is home to Milan’s most important modern commercial and residential towers, including the Unicredit Tower in Piazza Gae Aulenti, Palazzo Lombardia, Pirelli Tower, and the Vertical Forest (Bosco Verticale). Join an architecture tour to learn about the design of these skyscrapers and how they have changed Milan’s cityscape over recent decades, and be sure to see the trendy shops and eateries along Corso Como, like Corso Como 10.
Milan’s city center was once crisscrossed with a network of canals, or navigli, used to transport goods and people. Only two still exist in the Navigli district just south of the city center, now lined with posh galleries and teeming with restaurants and clubs. Get a taste of the city’s thriving food scene and vibrant nightlife on an aperitivo tour, but be sure to take a detour along Vicolo dei Lavandai, an atmospheric vestige of medieval Milan where local washerwomen would once launder linens by hand.
One of the oldest neighborhoods in Milan, this former working-class hub is one of the city’s up-and-coming districts, crowded with bohemian cafés, cutting-edge restaurants, and hip boutiques. By day, shoppers browse the stores on Corso di Porta Ticinese and Via Torino; by night, the local party set gathers here to see and be seen at the clubs. Just south of the city center, it also has plenty to attract culture seekers, including the well-preserved Roman circus and amphitheater, the Basilicas of San Lorenzo and Sant'Eustorgio, and the historic city gate marking the southern end of the Corso di Porta Ticinese.
One of the few areas where newcomers to the city and young families can still find affordable housing, the colorful Porta Venezia neighborhood, adjacent to Porta Nuova, crackles with a unique energy. Its mix of students, artists, and immigrants from across Italy and the globe fuels everything from contemporary art galleries and LGBTQ+ clubs to its international array of eateries serving everything from Eritrean to Swedish cuisine. Stroll through the district to experience a more diverse and multicultural side of contemporary Milan.
Southeast of the city center, Porta Romana embodies both the glory and the grit of Milan. The northern reaches of the neighborhood are marked by elegant, palazzo-lined boulevards, swanky restaurants, and exclusive boutiques. The opposite side is the center of the city’s “shabby chic” crowd, with hip farm-to-table cooking, cocktails, and nightlife. This neighborhood is also home to Fondazione Prada, one of Italy’s premier contemporary art spaces, designed by Rem Koolhaas, and home to Wes Anderson’s film-set-ready Bar Luce.