Shopping in Milan: tips and best addresses
Travel to Milan, the shopping paradise for luxury and designer fashion.
Fashion metropolis Milan: tradition, craftsmanship and avant-garde
Like Paris, Milan is one of Europe's fashion capitals. In the city center and along the canals in the Navigli district, numerous women and men walk around who seem to have stepped straight out of a fashion catalog. In Milan, attention is paid to style and design; hardly any other city combines tradition, craftsmanship and avant-garde so closely and so tastefully.
It is therefore not surprising that not only is every fashion brand in the world represented in Milan, but also that various unique boutiques line the streets with fashion pieces you won't find anywhere else.
Shopping in Milan is more than just consumption - it is a stroll through fashion history, design culture and urban lifestyle, embedded in elegant architecture. And the service in many stores is also excellent. The staff know what their customers can and cannot wear.
Quadrilatero della Moda: flagship stores of luxury brands
In the Quadrilatero della Moda, the quadrangle of Via Monte Napoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea and Via Manzoni, the flagship stores of Italian and international luxury labels are lined up side by side.
In Milan's fashion district near Piazza del Duomo, you will find haute couture at its finest, as well as tailor-made services and exclusive capsule collections that are only available in these boutiques and not in the stores worldwide. Sometimes pieces are sold in the ateliers and showrooms that were previously shown on the catwalks at Fashion Week.
In Via Monte Napoleone alone, one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world, which is in no way inferior to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées or 5th Avenue, you will find almost 100 stores. Mostly boutiques and showrooms, but also stores with high-quality interior design as well as cafés and specialty stores.
Shopping in Milan at the Piazza del Duomo
The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, also known as the "Salon of the Milanese", begins at Piazza del Duomo: a magnificent building with marble floors, glass vaults and iconic shop windows. Under cover, you can browse through numerous fashion boutiques, eat and drink well. The Galleria is also home to Prada's first store, founded in Milan in 1913.
The historic La Rinascente department store is within walking distance of the cathedral. In addition to a curated brand experience, the building stands out above all with its roof terrace, from which you can look out over the cathedral. Here you will also find several high-quality restaurants and bars that are open from early in the morning until late at night.
And Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, also in the cathedral district, is a shopping arcade with many of the well-known fashion chains such as Zara, Mango and Foot Locker.
Are you going shopping in Milan with the Gold Card or Platinum Card?
Shopping in the Navigli district: vintage and streetwear scene
Navigli is one of Milan's nightlife hotspots, but during the day it is also full of life between the canals. There are countless places to eat and drink as well as trendy vintage and streetwear stores - mostly smaller stores that invite you to browse. Hidden in the courtyards are studios, book and record stores that are open until late in the evening.
As part of your shopping trip to Milan, you should also visit the Mercatone dell'Antiquariato antique market. Hundreds of dealers sell antiques and curiosities at the flea market, which usually takes place once a month on a Sunday.
Designer district, shopping district and outlet center
In the pedestrian zone in Milan's Brera district you will find numerous small jewelry stores, artist boutiques and stores for handmade fashion at reasonable prices. The area around the picturesque Piazza del Carmine is particularly lively. You can satisfy your hunger and thirst during your shopping trip in the many restaurants and bars.
And if you like shopping in large shopping malls: A few years ago, the CityLife Shopping District opened under the three "Tre Torri" skyscrapers. In the modern open-air shopping center, only parts of which are covered, you will find the best-known international brands, designer items, technology, furniture and cosmetics.
You can also go shopping just outside Milan. The Serravalle Designer Outlet, Fidenza Village or Scalo Milano Outlet & More are great places to shop. Or head to Corso Buenos Aires, one of the longest shopping streets in Europe in the north-east of Milan with more than 350 stores and outlets.
Shopping in Milan: your shopping bliss
Milan is Europe's fashion hotspot: luxury boutiques and designer flagship stores are lined up in the center around Via Monte Napoleone and Piazza del Duomo, while the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II combines shopping with Belle Époque flair - a perfect mix of style, trend and lifestyle. You will also find a huge selection in the malls and outlets.
You should always have your Gold Card or Platinum Card from American Express with you when traveling and shopping. With these premium credit cards, you benefit from numerous practical advantages such as travel insurance and car rental benefits.
Frequently asked questions and answers
You can reach Milan from Switzerland by plane from Zurich, by train or by car in just a few hours. You can reach the fashion capital quickly and comfortably by train from Zurich in just over three hours.
Milan has many pedestrian zones lined with boutiques, designer stores and other stores. The city also offers numerous shopping malls and outlet centers that invite you to store.
Milan Fashion Week takes place twice a year, usually in February and September.
