Shopping In Milan
The city of Milan is a magnet for tourists that are into fashion and designer labels.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan (the world’s oldest shopping mall). It was built from 1865-1877, and named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of united Italy. It is situated on the northern side of the Piazza del Duomo in Milan, and connects to the Piazza della Scala Milan. The design is absolutely stunning with its glass roof, elaborate decor and beautiful mosaics and frescoes. Simply gorgeous, however it comes with a hefty price indeed. You will find numerous upscale shops such as Prada, Gucci, Versace, Louis Vuitton and many others. Ferrari Store recently moved opened up. They have a vast selection of Ferrari brand items, which includes clothing (hats, shirts, ect), pens, mugs and Ferrari models. They also have cologne, key chains, and even golf clubs. And if you wish, you can take a photo in a Ferrari Formula 1. There are also some fancy restaurants and cafes that can be found along the trendy boutique shops. Even if you are not interested in shopping, you simply cannot miss walking through the fabulous building. It is truly beautiful.
Address: Piazza Duomo, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
Brera District Milan
It is about a ten minute walk from Duomo.
It is a great place to wander around and truly feel the authentic vibe of the locals. Cobbled stone streets lined with many vendors, cozy restaurants and cafes. There are plenty of charming boutiques selling various items. Which includes clothes, artwork, jewelry, leather goods, furniture and other findings. Try to go early in the morning, or later in the afternoon. Most shops close at lunchtime, from 1:00 p.m till 3:00 pm. Many of the shops are closed on Sunday.
Corso Buenos Aires
Less than a 10 minute walk from the Milano Centrale railway station.
It is a nice long road where you can bask in the beautiful Milan architecture, and find some really good deals. There are many different shops on both sides of the road in most price ranges. You will find something here for sure. Wonderful retail shopping. Plenty of shops for shoes, purses, and cosmetics that are not expensive. Clothing stores galore. Which includes H&M, Fossil, and United Color of Beneton. In addition, you will find Guess, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger. Most stores are multi-lingual. There is also a terrific candy shop (Arcanto Goloserie). They have an array of candy, snacks, and dessert. They also have name-brand chocolates like Perugina and Lindt. A lot of shops are open seven days a week. Sunday morning most shops do not open until 10:00 or 11:00 am. You can easily spend three to four hours here.
Via Monte Napoleone
One of the world's top high fashion shopping streets.
Located in the heart of the city. It is very close (five to minute walk) from Milan Cathedral, and La Scala Opera Theater Milan. If you are interested in fashion, you will find many famous fashion shops here. It is a beautiful area where you can find top brands of the world. This shopping area has all the luxury brands, the latest trends in fashion and style. (housing Versace, Hermes, Prada, Fendi, Gucci, etc). There are many beautiful collections for men and women. In addition, the architecture of the buildings, and their facades is worth seeing. Expect guards at the entrance of every store and snooty sales people. Even if you are not planning on buying anything, you should have walk through. Just window shopping is an event by itself, stores spend a fortune in decorations and design. Terrific little cafes to stop for an espresso or gelato. There are some wonderful restaurants in the vicinity too. Allow your self about three hours to walk around.
Via della Spiga
A great place to see the fashions of tomorrow.
Via della Spiga is a lovely pedestrian street that is close to Via Monte Napoleone. Even if you aren't purchasing anything, it's a delightful cobble street to walk down and see the beautiful architecture. There are some interesting antiques and design stores. In addition, there are ton of the clothes, jewelry stores and everything else that surrounds the world of luxury. It contains many of fashion's top names. Armani, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana are only the beginning.
Via Torino
One of the older shopping streets in Milan.
It is located in the center of Milan. Via Torino begins (connects) at Piazza del Duomo, and eventually turns into Via Cesare Correnti. It is packed with many fashion shops that are more affordable than some of the other shopping areas. There is a nice selection of clothing stores and perfume shops, leather goods, and other accessories. It is worth investing a couple of hours of walking to see what you can purchase. There is also a terrific supermarket (Billa). An excellent option for a simple lunch or dinner (Bread, meats, cheeses and wine). There are also some wonderful bakeries and cafes located in the area.