Best hotels in Milan 2023

While Milan is probably best known as being Italy’s fashion capital, it’s also a fascinating mosaic of vibrant districts. The Duomo and high-class shopping are outstanding, but venture beyond those and you’ll find all that makes this creative city tick.

From strolls along the old waterways of artsy Navigli to bustling cafes and bars lining the route where 18th-century boats used to pass by. For art, go to the cobbled, cultured streets of Brera, where you can visit the La Scala Theatre and the Old Masters at the Pinacoteca di Brera.

Shoppers can lose themselves in the streets of Milan’s Quadrilatero d’Oro, the golden rectangle of cobbled streets – Via Monte Napoleone, Via Sant’Andrea, Via Manzoni and Via della Spiga – near the Duomo where high fashion rules. While Milan has plenty of five-star luxurious palaces to match its glittering fashion boutiques, there’s also a wide range of more-affordable hotels to match all budgets during a trip to Italy.

Neighbourhood: Navigli

This quirky boutique hotel, crammed with vintage and antique furnishings, perfectly suits the bohemian atmosphere of the Navigli area. The golden age of both travel and sport is evoked in the rooms and shared areas, with old leather trunks and sporting gear artfully strewn around. There’s a decadent air about the Doping Club cocktail bar, and there’s also excellent food in Zaïa restaurant.

Neighbourhood: Navigli