Charlotte Boswell - November 26th, 2025
Senior Travel Consultant Katie Hanes recently travelled to Milan for a three-night trip exploring the city’s sights and experiencing three different hotels.
“Milan excels in shopping, from major fashion brands to charming boutiques, and you are never far from excellent gelato! With exceptional food, rich culture, and walkable sights, it’s a city that’s both easy to enjoy and rewarding to explore.”
If you are looking to plan a trip to Milan contact Katie today, or view our Milan Opera Holiday.
During my trip to Milan, I stayed at three very different hotels, each offering a unique way to experience the city.
My first night was at Magna Pars L’Hotel à Parfum, a luxury boutique hotel in Zona Tortona, a design and creative district within walking distance of the Armani Museum (Armani/Silos). Once a perfume factory, each of its 68 suites carries a scent theme — floral, woody, fruity, or aromatic. I also visited the Perfume Laboratory, where I could explore all the different scents and learn a bit more about them, a truly fascinating experience.
The next night I stayed at Hotel VIU Milan, a sleek five-star hotel in Porta Volta / Garibaldi, near Milan’s Chinatown. Its vertical garden and rooftop VIU Terrace with a 360° pool make a striking impression. I took part in a cocktail-making class, which was great fun! The food was exceptional, the staff incredibly welcoming, and the atmosphere wonderfully relaxing, easily my favourite hotel of the trip. From there, a 30–40 minute walk through Parco Sempione led to Castello Sforzesco, a calm and scenic route through open gardens to the castle’s brick towers.
My final night was at Galleria Vik Milano, an art-focused boutique hotel inside the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in the heart of the city with by far the best location. Each of its 89 rooms showcases artwork from different artists, making every room completely unique, with murals and distinctive furniture blending old and new pieces. From the hotel, it’s only a short walk to La Scala Opera House, which is impressive inside, especially the museum with its historic costumes and set designs. I also visited the Duomo rooftop terrace, taking the lift most of the way. The remaining steps were easy, and the views over Milan were well worth it.
