Even in Italy's glossy, glamorous fashion capital, there's more to life than shopping.
Milan is a city where a love of beauty can be seen in the very fabric and layout of the city, as well as in its up-scale boutiques.
From the top of the Duomo, which took 500 years to perfect, you can see the ancient metropolis spread out before you, framed by the distant snow-topped Alps.
For a less lofty perspective, you can rent some wheels from the BikeMi scheme for a few euros and explore the canals and quirky independent cafés of the Navigli district, where locals drink macchiatos in the sunshine or haggle over antiques at the sprawling Sunday market.
Even more chilled out is the Idroscalo, the nearby man-made lake, where locals go to swim, sun and watch the world go by behind designer shades. It's the perfect place to recover from a night - and probably a morning - dancing in the clubs of Corso Combo, where scruffy artistic types and glossy clothes-horses meet and mingle on outdoor terraces dotted with sofas and plunge pools.
If all this sounds a little frivolous, then an afternoon in the labyrinthine Castello Sforzesco complex, with its dozen small museums and endless historical treasures, should help redress the balance.
And if your credit card is still burning a hole in your pocket, there's always the Quadrilatero d'Oro – the Rectangle of Gold, if you want to do some serious splurging. Savvy locals tend to opt for outlet stores like Il Salvagente - the Lifesaver, or the lively, bustling Fiera di Senigallia flea market, where you're much more likely to bag a bargain. Or combine retail therapy with a little history, and join the ladies who lunch at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Built in 1867, the Milanese claim this gorgeous construction is the oldest mall in the world. And since this is Milan, it's no surprise that it's certainly the most stylish. Book flights to Milan and see for yourself.