Where to stay

To experience the rich culture and haute lifestyle of Milan, book a hotel in Zona Tortona, the heart of the annual Design Week and Fashion Week. Accommodations here are popular year round for the in-vogue restaurants, designer showrooms, arthouse cinemas and galleries. Choose to stay in Brera to experience its artistic and architectural flair. Don't miss the famous Pinacoteca gallery and its world-class art collections. If you want to feel like a local, stay in the former working-class district of Isola, which is well-connected to the city center by public transportation. This is the place to marvel at street murals, see gorgeous, 19th-century residences and hang out in the same markets, boutiques and coffeehouses the locals love. For an area known for its art more than its fashion, look for a hotel in Sant'Ambrogio, west of the Duomo and home to The Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie.

With its colorful buildings and romantic canals, Navigli feels like a village within a city by day, yet turns into a popular party spot by night. Reserve accommodations here to discover secret cafés and join stylish Milanese and university students for an aperitivo. To mingle with the most exclusive of Milanese revelers, stay in Corso Como. Shop for a trendy outfit by day, then party until the early hours with celebrities and VIPs. Fans of the '80s are booking stays in Porta Romana, a neighborhood with an up-and-coming nightlife scene taking much of its inspiration from this classic decade.

From creamy polenta to Lombardy meats to cassoeula, Milan's signature cabbage and pork stew, the city's neighborhoods offer cuisines for all tastes. Stay in the emerging foodie area of Porta Romana, home to the city's wealthy elite, as well as ramen bars, farm-to-table restaurants and rustic pizzerias. Step outside your hotel in Porto Nuova and you're immediately drawn to the countless restaurants of all varieties, from sushi to soup. Stay in Chinatown, within walking distance of Brera and Sempione, for its hole-in-the-wall noodle bars, Asian supermarket and traditional food stalls. Sempione itself is worth a stay to have one of the best gelaterias in town and top-quality Italian specialties at your doorstep. Wagner is a family-friendly place to stay for its peace and quiet and variety of cuisine, from Japanese to Italian.

Shopping and sightseeing combine in Centro Storico, the historic heart of Milan. Venture from your hotel and visit the famous landmarks such as the Duomo Cathedral by morning, then shop at the classy Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II all afternoon. For the highest end of high-end shopping, stay in the renowned Fashion Quadrilateral, defined by Via Montenapoleone Fashion District, Via Manzoni, Via dell Spiga and Corso Venezia. Drop your parcels at your hotel, then head back out to historic Porta Venezia, a more mainstream shopping strip with second-hand fashion boutiques, as well as a must-see medieval-era gate. Feel like a VIP when you choose a hotel in Moscova, known for its upscale boutiques and elegant eateries, as well as the annual Milan Furniture Fair.