Milan Holiday Guide

Milan has two main airports: Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa. There is also a third smaller airport, Milan Bergano, outside Milan. Airlines that fly to Milan include: Alitalia, British Airways, Air One, Easyjet, Flybe, Jet2.com and Ryanair. From the airport you can get to the city centre by Express train - these run every half hour and take 50 minutes. Or, by shuttle bus which takes around an hour.

Public transport in Milan is very good. You can choose to get around by train, bus or tram. It's also a good city for walking. Or, you can get a taxi or, hire a car.

You don't come to Milan to lie on a beach but it does get hot especially in the summer. That's when locals head off to Lake Como, or to beaches further south. Alternatively,   when temperatures soar, you can always grab the kids and cool down at Aquatica Waterpark. There are slides, pools, rafting and shows for children.

Top of the list of things to see  on holiday in Milan is the magnificent Duomo Cathedral. This is the world's largest Gothic cathedral that dates back to 1386. Construction of the Cathedral continued throughout the centuries with its final completion ordered by Napoleon in 1809. Today, this incredible structure boasts the most exquisite stained glass windows, 3400 statues, 135 spires and 96 gargoyles. Across the Piazza Duomo, in the Palazzo Reale, is the Museo del Duomo where you can see treasures from the Cathedral. The museum also houses the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea where you can see a collection of Italian Futuristic art.

Come to Milan and you can also see the museum of the world famous opera house: La Scala (Theatre Museum at La Scala) where you can see mementos of world famous composers and performers including Verdi, Rossini, Puccini and Toscanini. Come here and you can see the spinet on which Verdi learned to play, hand written scores, and the jewel enscrusted baton presented to him after the debut of Aida.

Another must see is Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper – one of the most famous paintings in the world – on view in the Dominican church, Santa Maria delle Grazie. Other key places to visit in Milan include: The Museum of Historic Art at Sforzesco Castle – where you can see the famous sculpture Pieta Rondanini, by Michelangelo. There is also a gallery with paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Bellini and Fra Filippo Lippi. You can also see  the Leonardo da Vinci National Science and Technology Museum, The Gallery of Modern Art and the famous Pinacoteca di Brera (Brera Picture Gallery).

Lake Como, Italy's third largest lake is only 40 km north of Milan. Get the coach and it'll take you only half an hour to reach one of Italy's most beautiful locations. Lake Como is nestled amongst high mountain peaks and surrounded by Belle Epoque style villas. Como, the town itself, has many gorgeous Renaissance, Gothic and Romanesque style buildings. There is a cathedral, an art gallery and a lovely main square with lots of cafes and restaurants. After a spot of lunch, take a relaxing boat trip around the lake and stop off at Bellagio, the pretty village, where George Clooney has a lakeside house.

Take a trip to Bergamo, a pretty, medieval, old town in Lombardy. The easiest way to get there  is to catch a train from Milan. These run every half hour. Bergamo is located on the edge of the alps – so expect spectacular views. Wander round the old part and admire the medieval buildings. Also worth  a visit is the ornate church, Santa Maria Maggiore. For the best views, go up to the Torre Civica, a 12th century tower.

Make the most of your Italian holiday and take a day trip to Venice. Take a coach in the morning and spend the rest of the day exploring the Venetian canals and cobbled streets. Wander round St. Mark's Square and see the famous Bridge of Sighs.

Foodies on holiday in Milan will feel more then pampered as the cuisine is a delight – especially if you just love all the Italian classics like a great bowl of fresh pasta, pizza, polenta, pastries and delicious ice cream. There's also plenty of fresh fish, seafood and Milanese classics such as ossobucco (a veal dish), and risotto alla Milanese (a rice saffron risotto).

Restaurants to try include the excellent restaurant at the Bulgari Hotel. Also, Massuelli San Marco, for some authentic Milanese cuisine. Seafood fans will love Al Merluzzo Felice. There's also a branch of Nobu at Armani, Via Mantoni. Try to Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, for delicious traditional Italian dishes. Pizza lovers should head for Pizzeria Dogana, Primafila or Anema e Coze – part of a successful Pizza chain.

As you might expect the nightlife in Milan is superb. There are plenty of fantastic places where you can sip an early evening aperitif. The beauty of going to a bar in Milan is that you get an assortment of delicious tapas style bites – eg: ham, salami, cheese, bread, salads, pastries etc. to accompany your drinks.

You'll find lots of stylish bars along Via Brera, including Bar Brera. There are also great bars in the Via de Amicis/Colonne di San Lorenzo area. Just take a stroll and you'll be spoilt for places to go. Also, worth dropping in on for a glass of prosecco is the bar at the Hotel Bulgari, on Via Montedi Pieta, near Via Brera. And, not to be missed is a drink at the D&G Martini Bar. You'll also find all the best clubs in these areas.

Quite simply, Milan is a shopper's paradise. You'll find everything here from leading fashion designers Prada, Gucci, Armani, Moschino, Valentino, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana to stylish home accessories, lighting, antiques, jewellery, silver, glass, mosaics and art work. For designer shopping – head for the streets around the Montenapoleone Metro Station. These include: Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant Andrea, Via Borgospesso and the most famous designer shopping street of them all – Via della Spiga.

You'll find more affordable high street fashion in the shops along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza San Babila and Via Torino. Also check out  , Milan's largest department store, the eight storey La Rinascente, where you will find everything – perfume, clothes, shoes, toys, food etc. Milan also has some fantastic delicatessens where you can stock up on local delicacies – cheeses, hams, salami, bread, chocolate and cakes.

This is a great city for the whole family as there are also plenty of attractions to keep the kids happy. Take them to the stylish Art Nouveau style Aquarium, situated in the north-west of Milan – home to over 100 species of fish and aquatic life. Milan also has a large  Planetarium with guided tours and astronomy displays for kids. Younger children will love Milan's famous Puppet Theatre.

Slightly further out – but great for a fun day out – is Gardaland, one of the largest theme parks in the whole of Italy. There are over 40 different attractions for all ages, including rollercoasters, a dolphin pool, dinosaur island, an exciting 'rapids ride', and a fantasy kingdom, with singing animal characters.

Other great places to take the kids include: the Play Planet which has soft play areas, ball pits, climbing walls, tunnels, tubes and obstacle courses. For boating and canoeing – go to Idropark Fila, a large amusement park near Linate airport.