Milan is Italy's northern capital of fashion, design, and business, with an urban character that contrasts with the country's smaller historic cities. The Duomo dominates the city center, while the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II connects it with Piazza della Scala. In Brera, narrow streets lead past galleries, boutiques, and restaurants, while the Navigli district comes alive around its canals in the evening. Milan's cultural highlights also include Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, housed at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and an extensive collection of museums and design spaces.

The city's position in Lombardy makes it a useful launch point for exploring northern Italy. Lake Como and Lake Maggiore can be reached by road, with mountain scenery and lakeside towns providing a change from Milan's busy streets. Bergamo offers a beautifully preserved hilltop old town, while the Franciacorta wine region lies farther east. Drivers can also head toward the Alps or south into the Po Valley, passing through smaller towns and agricultural landscapes along the way. Milano Centrale places visitors close to the heart of the city, making it easy to collect a rental car and continue beyond Milan.