Fly from Nice to Milan

A first-rate financial centre and home to several multinationals, Milan is a serious city...until the weekend! Then the locals get out of their homes in into a dolce vita rhythm. They meet up in the streets of the city centre to search out that little accessory or knick knack that will make all the difference to their wardrobe or decor. They relax on café terraces with a cocktail as they munch on focaccia. The flock to the banks of the Navilgli for a vernissage or night out with friends in a trendy café or underground club. They have a drink in the lounge of an ultra-chic modern hotel before heading out to party it up in an exclusive night club, rubbing shoulders with the VIPs, sports stars and models that make Italy’s night life irresistible.

But in addition to your “When in Rome” itinerary, be sure to add a good dose of culture, especially if you’re there as a couple. Over the centuries, this city - formerly one of the most powerful Italian cities of the Renaissance - has cultivated some incredible architectural sites and an exceptional artistic reputation. Many sites and monuments will confirm this. As will the memory of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent many years here.

• Make your way to the Piazza del Duomo, the epicentre of life in Milan, and take in the Nativity of St Mary Milan Cathedral, the 3rd largest in the world. It took six centuries to construct this Gothic masterpiece.
• Get up close and personal with another of the world’s greatest masterpieces: Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. Located in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, this monumental fresco provides a view of the last supper of Christ with his twelve apostles. Be sure to reserve in advance.
• Continue your Da Vinci tour by heading to the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica "Leonardo da Vinci”. Among its many collections you’ll find dozens of life-size models by the father of the Mona Lisa.
• Take in the rich collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the three largest museums in Italy. There you’ll find: Botticelli, Caravaggio, Tintoret, Veronese, Le Titien, Rubens, Rembrandt, Raphaël, and more.
• Stroll along the Navigi, the two canals that once provided water to the city. Today, their banks are home to local creatives with art galleries, vintage shops, eccentric bars, and delightful restaurants.
• Stand under the immense iron and glass roof of Victor-Emmanuel II Galleria and, between shops, be sure to make a wish on the mosaic of the bull by placing your heel on his “manhood”, making your wish, and spinning three times.
• Lay siege to Sforza Castle, named after the powerful family that reigned over Milan for centuries. You’ll find multiple museums waiting. End this wonderful stroll with a little wander around Sempione Park, the largest in Milan. The most beautiful as well.
• Pull out those credit cards and shop to your heart's content at Quadrilatère de la Mode, the epicentre of luxury in Milan, formed by Via Montenapoleone, la Via della Spiga, la Via Sant’Andrea and la Via Manzoni. The best of the best.
• Start your night out at the top of the Armani Hotel, the palace created by the famous Milan designer. On the menu: cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, DJs and design, and an unforgettable view over a shimmering Duomo.
• Check out Milan by night. Go classic at the Scala, the largest opera in the world. Go jazz by heading for the Blue Note, legendary in the city. Go electro on the dancefloor of the Hollywood, Alcatraz, or The Club, the best of Milan night life.