Milan is like an espresso for the soul. From the Gothic Duomo to the serene canals of the Navigli District to the San Siro football stadium, it’s like stepping back into a beautiful era where buildings have ornate augmentations, where pizza shops sell pizza made by real Italians, where sports cars suddenly make sense because they are driven at appropriately sporty speeds.

Day 1: Art and Culture in Milan

Pick 10 things to do in Milan to get started and off you go! Opposite Milan station is the Pirelli Tower. Built in the 1950s, it is much admired in architectural circles and is still the tallest building in Milan. Take the hop-on hop-off bus, or get your bearings from the rooftop terrace of famous Gothic Cathedral the Duomo, then head to 14th century Castello Sforzesco.

Devote the afternoon to art. Visit Da Vinci's Last Supper. The painting is rapidly fading, so book a ticket and move it to the top of your travel list. Stop by one of the many bars to sip an aperitivo in the golden sunset light and snack upon olives and cheeses, before the opera at La Scala.

Day 2: Shop 'til you drop 

Milan: world center for glamor. Tour the design ateliers and showrooms for inspiration, then visit one of the designer outlets and outfit yourself in Prada, Dolce and Gabbana and Versace for a fraction the retail cost. Head for the Fashion Quadrilatero, the crisscrossing streets with the big fashion labels. Visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele - Milan's 'drawing room' is a four level, glass vaulted shopping arcade dating from 1870. Full of cafes, restaurants and Prada's original store. Very elegant.

Day 3: Day Trips from Milan

Milan sits in the middle of some of the most spectacular places in the world. Visit the playground of the rich and famous in Lake Como, enjoying a boat cruise in beautiful Bellagio town. Take a day trip to unique Venice, historic Verona or the delightful fishing villages of Cinque Terre.

Spend an afternoon exploring Bergamo, or ride the Bernina Express railway line through the Swiss Alps to luxurious St. Moritz.