Shopping in Milan – shopping districts

Shopping in Milan – is it worth it?

Milan is the undisputed capital of fashion and design and the center of Italian business. The city is full of stores offering different assortments at different prices, making it possible for everyone to find something for themselves. Here are some reasons why you should go shopping in Milan:

1. Wide selection of brands: Milan offers products from the world’s most famous brands, including luxury brands such as Gucci, Versace, Prada, and Cartier.
2. Outlets and discounts: Numerous outlet stores in and around the city, such as Serravalle Designer Outlet and Fidenza Village, offer significant discounts on products from well-known brands.
3. Seasonal sales: Milan is known for its seasonal sales, during which products are available at much lower prices, especially during the summer and winter sales.
4. Variety of shopping options: Milan offers shopping for every budget, from upscale boutiques on Via Montenapoleone to popular chain stores on Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
5. Malls: Milan has modern shopping centers that offer a wide selection of clothing, shoes, and accessories.
6. Fashion and design: Milan is a city of fashion and design, offering access to the latest trends and collections.
7. Shopping culture: Shopping in Milan is part of the city’s culture, and shopping has become an iconic activity.
8. Convenient access: Milan is well connected to the rest of Europe, making it easy for a short shopping trip.

When to go shopping in Milan?

Shopping in Milan can be done virtually any time of the year, but the best time is during the SALDI sales period. Sales take place twice a year in Milan: in winter and summer. Saldi Invernali (winter sales) begins on the first Saturday in January, and Saldi Estivi (summer sales) begins on the first Saturday in July. Sale periods last 60 days.

Black Friday, which falls on the last weekend of November, is also worth considering. Although it is a typical American tradition, it is also practiced in Europe and Italy for good, so this is another time of the year to go shopping in Milan.

If you can, reserve a day during the week instead of the weekend for a shopping frenzy. Many smaller boutiques and other stores are closed on Mondays, so the optimal time to shop is Tuesday through Friday afternoon before the weekend hustle and bustle begins.

Districts and stores in Milan – where to go shopping in Milan?

Below is a list and description of the main shopping districts and streets in Milan. Depending on their budget and preferred style, everyone can find something for themselves.

Quadrilatero della Moda (Fashion Quadrilateral)

Quadrilatero della Moda is one of the districts in the center of Milan where the city’s largest number of big and small brand clothing stores, ateliers, and showrooms are concentrated. The Quadrilatero della Moda becomes the city’s true center during Milan Fashion Week (Settimana della Moda / Fashion Week), held every September. The district owes its name Quadrilatero owes its name to the four streets bounding it: Monte Napoleone, Manzoni, Via della Spiga, and Corso Venezia, which form a quadrilateral. It is a favorite place for fashion and shopping enthusiasts.

Via Monte Napoleone / Via Montenapoleone

Via Monte Napoleone, often spelled Via Montenapoleone, is an exclusive shopping street in Milan, Italy. It is the most expensive street in Europe and the second most expensive worldwide after Fifth Avenue in New York.

Since the 1950s, Via Montenapoleone has become one of the most important streets in international commerce. Today, it is characterized by a large presence of stores and showrooms of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses. It is home to stores of brands such as Versace, Armani, Valentino, Gucci, and Prada. It is the most luxurious street in Milan.

Via Montenapoleone was formerly known as the “Contrada del Monte” and owes its name to the financial institution of the same name, which was established in the Napoleonic era to manage the public debt.

Via Monte Napoleone is in Milan’s historic center, about a 10-minute walk from the Duomo Cathedral.

Via Manzoni

Via Manzoni, connecting Piazza della Scala to Porta Nuova (Gate), was the most luxurious street in 19th century Europe, formerly known as “Corsia del Giardino” today dedicated to Alessandro Manzoni, one of Italy’s most famous novelists. It is part of the Quadrilatero della Moda, and you can find not only showrooms of the world’s most prestigious brands but many famous buildings such as the Gallerie d’Italia, the Poldi Pozzoli Museum, Teatro Manzoni, and others.

Via della Spiga

Also, Via della Spiga is one of Milan’s most luxurious neighborhoods and one of the world’s major fashion centers. It connects Corso Venezia with via Manzoni and, unlike Montenapoleone, is completely closed to traffic. The street is paved, with a large presence of stores and showrooms of major international brands. The street is named after the “Contrada della Spiga” historic district of Milan, part of the Porta Nuova neighborhood, one of the six ancient neighborhoods of Milan’s inhabited center. The name “della Spiga” itself is said to derive from the Spiga family present in Milan during the reign of Francesco II Sforza.

Corso Venezia

Milan’s street connecting Piazza San Babila to Porta Venezia. Known as one of the most elegant streets in Milan, Corso Venezia is the last of the four “sides” of the fashion district (Quadrilatero della Moda). Formerly known as Corso di Porta Orientale, this Milan street connects Piazza San Babila to Porta Venezia. Next to Corso Venezia is the Indro Montanelli Park (Giardini Pubblici di Porta Venezia) – this, and the presence of many beautiful buildings, makes it one of Milan’s more elegant streets – a favorite place for strolls and meetings of Milanese nobility, and the perfect area to relax after a frenetic wander through the stores or a hard day’s work.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy’s oldest operating shopping mall and one of Milan’s main attractions. Located in a four-story double walkway in the city’s center, it is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy.

The Gallery is home to many luxury brands, such as Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, as well as other exclusive boutiques. Numerous elegantly decorated restaurants are also located there, including some of Milan’s oldest establishments, such as Café Biffi, founded in 1867.

Other attractions at the Victor Emanuel II Gallery include bookstores, art galleries, souvenir stores, and even a hotel. The mall is also home to several bars, cafes, and restaurants that are popular hangouts for Milanese locals and tourists.

The Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery is a shopping destination and an important meeting point for the city’s residents. Milanese often meet here for lunch, aperitifs, or dinner.

The gallery is between Milan’s main monuments: the Duomo Cathedral and La Scala Opera House. It can be easily reached by subway (MM1 or MM3, Duomo stop).

Corso Vittorio Emanuele

Corso Vittorio Emanuele is one of the most important streets in the center of Milan. Formerly known as Corsia dei Servi, after the name of the monastery of Mary’s “servants,” it was the first section of the road connecting the Piazza Duomo to the Porta Orientale (Porta Venezia).

Shoppers can find affordable clothing at H&M, Bershka, Zara, Sisley, Banana Republic, Diesel, and Max Mara.

In addition to clothing stores, there are ice cream parlors, restaurants and many bars and small eateries that stay open late into the evening, filled with locals enjoying an evening of relaxation after watching a movie.

Via Dante

Via Dante is one of Milan’s most famous shopping streets. It connects the Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) to Piazza Cordusio (Cordusio Square). It is an elegant pedestrian street in the heart of Milan, known for its beautiful buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Via Dante is lined with stores, cafes, restaurants, theaters, palaces and bars, making it a lively place for locals and tourists alike. The street offers a mix of chain stores and souvenir stores, as well as upscale boutiques.

Stores on Via Dante include Biffi, known for its elegant interiors and fashion, and Cavalli E Nastri, an authentic vintage store in Milan. It is also a great place to find fashionable clothes, accessories and other products in different price ranges.

Via Dante is easily accessible due to its proximity to the MM1 Cordusio and MM1 Cairoli metro stations.

Via Torino

Via Torino is next to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a street with plenty of stores offering cheaper products than in Quadrilatero della Moda. There are plenty of opportunities to make fashionable purchases without spending a fortune among clothing and accessory stores, department stores, and temporary stores. No matter what your style or your age, browsing through storefronts will inspire you to renew your closet and learn about new trends.

Naviglio and Corso di Porta Ticinese

From Via Torino you can reach Corso di Porta Ticinese and then Navigli. Alongside the great works of Milanese architecture, such as the Colonne di San Lorenzo (or the Basilica itself), you will find many original shops offering unusual accessories, vintage shops, casual or military clothing stores and clothes suitable for fans of rock and punk music.

District and Via Brera

The Brera district (in my opinion one of Milan’s prettiest neighborhoods) is a great place for a Sunday stroll, a visit to the museum (Pinacoteca Brera), a visit for lunch or dinner in one of the many restaurants, but also a place for shopping. In the Brera district, among other things, we can admire the storefronts of various studios and craftsmen’s workshops or antique stores. Via Brera itself is the queen of vintage-style stores, where you can buy, for example, handmade jewelry, antiques, and various other unusual items. There are also perfumeries selling top brands, as well as small stores that allow you to create your own fragrance on demand.

10 Corso Como

10 Corso Como in Milan is a store and a meeting place for fashion, art, and design lovers. Founded by former Vogue editor Carla Sozzani, the store is often called a “concept store” and is one of the first of its kind in the world.

The store offers an eclectic and elegant selection of clothing and accessories from brands such as Alexander McQueen and Valentino. You can find the latest fashion trends and accessories, as well as luxury products from all the leading brands, such as Prada, Etro, Comme des Garçons, Galliano, Paul Smith, and many others.

10 Corso Como is not just a clothing store. It also has a bookstore on site, offering an interesting selection of books on art and design, photography, and fashion. In addition, there is an art gallery, a restaurant, and a café.

La Rinascente

La Rinascente in Milan is a prestigious department store in the heart of the city, right next to the Piazza del Duomo. It offers a wide selection of products from some of the world’s most famous brands.

La Rinascente department store has ten floors and offers exclusive fashion collections for men, women, and children. Brands include Gucci, Valentino, and Armani. In addition to clothing, the store also offers cosmetics, accessories, and even technology gadgets.

Of particular note is the recently expanded Wine Shop area. It is a unique place dedicated to the highest-quality wines from Italy and around the world, where you can taste and buy products from world-class producers.

La Rinascente is not just a place to shop. The top floor has a terrace overlooking the spires of the Duomo, which is the perfect place to find luxury food gifts.

Corso Buenos Aires

Corso Buenos Aires is one of Milan’s main shopping streets. It is known for Europe’s largest concentration of clothing stores—more than 350 boutiques and outlet stores—and stretches for about 1.2 kilometers, from Piazzale Oberdan in the Porta Venezia district to Piazzale Loreto.

The area’s architecture dates mainly from the late 19th and 20th centuries, with many Neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings. Corso Buenos Aires is a popular destination for tourists and locals, offering a wide range of shopping options for every budget. You can find such well-known brands as Zara, Sisley, Mango, Benetton, Upim, OVS, and Playlife, outlets, boutiques of young designers, niche creators, and vintage stores.

The street is also an important thoroughfare, connecting the city center to the large industrial center north of Milan. Discounts are often available, making clothing from well-known designers accessible to the average shopper. In addition to shopping, Corso Buenos Aires is home to many cafes, restaurants, and take-out food places.

Corso XXII Marzo

It is worth visiting Corso XXII Marzo because it is not far from Piazza Cinque GIornate, where a monument commemorates the victory over Radetzky and the Austrians. It’s a long street, almost 2 kilometers long (along with Corso Buenos Aires, one of the longest), with more than a hundred stores. However, it’s less crowded and, therefore, much quieter than Corso Buenos Aires, so shopping there is more relaxed…

Via Paolo Sarpi

Last on my list, though equally busy, is Via Paolo Sarpi, located in the heart of Milan’s Chinatown, just north of Parco Sempione. It offers numerous stores with excellent value for money, and is the ideal place to shop for leather goods, shoes, belts or bags. In addition, there are also many stores selling glassware, handicrafts and souvenirs.

Outlets in Milan and surrounding areas

Scalo Milano – Outlet & More

Located just 15 minutes from the center of Milan, it offers some 130 single-brand fashion, design, and food stores. Karl Lagerfeld, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Levi’s are the best-known brands.

Scalo Milano Outlet & More is open seven days a week, including Sundays and holidays from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (“food” stores until 11:00 PM) except January 1, Easter, August 15, and December 25.

On 24.12 and 31 December, the outlet closes at 18:00.

You can get there by car or the Shuttle bus (three round trips daily). Tickets can be reserved here. The bus departs from Piazza delle Repubblica 5, corner with Via Turati, in front of the newspaper kiosk.

Address: via Milano 5 – 20085 Locate di Triulzi (MI)

Official website of Scalo Milano

Il Salvagente

Il Salvagente is the oldest fashion outlet in Milan, operating since 1978 on Via Bronzetti. This outlet is known for its products from many well-known brands at attractive prices.

At Il Salvagente, you can find men’s and women’s clothing, bags, accessories, and shoes that are discounted from a minimum of 60% to as much as 85% during seasonal sales. Among the brands available are Versace, Fendi, and Armani.

Il Salvagente also offers online shopping through its website, where you can find an overview of the season’s top products at very affordable prices.

Address: Via Fratelli Bronzetti 16, 20129 Milan

The Highline Outlet

It’s an outlet for those who don’t want to leave Milan. It is in the city’s heart, near Piazza Duomo on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. More than 6 million visitors visit annually, and in its more than 400 square meters, it brings together clothing and other items from more than 400 different brands.

Open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Address: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 30 – 20121 Milan (MI)

Serravalle Designer Outlet

It is said to be the largest outlet in Europe, and if not the largest, then certainly one of the largest. It is located about 95 kilometers from Milan, and you will find stores of about 240 different brands there.

You can get there from Milan by car or by bus – 8 courses leave daily from the Duomo, Stazione Centrale, Corso Buenos Aires, or Foro Bonaparte. Cost – 20 euros per person, children 10 euros, under four years old for free.

Vicolungo The Style Outlets

Vicolungo outlet located near Novara. It is a place that combines quality, style, and convenience. With 150 stores of prestigious brands, we can buy men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, sportswear, accessories, and cosmetics at discounts of 30% to 70% all year round.

You can get there by car, or by Shuttle Bus departing from Foro Bonaparte, 76 at 10:30 am. Bilety można zakupić online u przewożnika Zani Viaggi.

Open daily, year-round, except December 25, January 1, and Easter, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Address: piazza Santa Caterina 1 – 28060 Vicolungo (NO)

Official website Vicolungo

FoxTown Factory Stores

This outlet is located outside of Italy, in Switzerland, but only 50 km from Milan. It features about 160 stores of primarily luxury brands, including Gucci, Hogan, Valentino, Burberry, Saint Lauren, and Michael Kors.

Najłatwiej jest tam dostać się samochodem.

Franciacorta Outlet Village

It’s an outlet not far from Brescia, which has been able to house more than 160 stores in more than 32,000 square meters. It offers many brands, from Adidas and Calvin Klein to Fratelli Rossetti, Roncato and Timberland.

Fidenza Village

This outlet is located between Milan and Bologna and offers more than 120 prestigious brands, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Polo Ralph Lauren, Furla, Prada, Lacoste, and others.