City guide: Milan

Friday, 8pm Check into Hotel Five, a modern and stylish hotel that's close to travel links. Double room from €e70 per night. (Corso Lodi 4 Angolo Via Salmini, www.hotelfive.it)

Saturday, 10am Take the metro to Duomo (metro lines 1 and 3) and visit the Piazza Del Duomo, the central square in Milan. Take in the incredible Duomo cathedral, (00392 7202 2656, admission free), visit the designer shops or see famed opera house El Teatro Alla Scalla (www.teatroallascala.org) or the Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie (00392 4676 1123, free) and see Da Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper.

1.30pm Have lunch at Cafe Miani (Piazza Del Duomo 21, 00392 8646 4435) or baking institution Luini Panzerotti to sample pastry delights (Via Santa Radegonda, 00392 8646 1917).

3pm Take the metro to Garibaldi (line 2) and visit 10 Corso Como, a "lifestyle emporium" that includes an art gallery, bookshop, cafe, wine bar, garden and shop (00392 2901 3581, www.10corso como.com).

7pm Have dinner at a restaurant in the Corso Como district, such as the Nordest Caff (Via Borsieri 35, 00392 6900 1910, www.nordestcaffe.it). Spend the rest of the evening at the Blue Note Jazz Bar (Via Borsieri 37, 00392 6901 6888, www.bluenotemilano.com).

Sunday, 10am Visit one of Milan's renowned markets, such as the Mercatone del Naviglio Grande.

Noon Take the metro to Porta Genova and follow the crowds. You'll find fashion, antiques, furniture and artwork stalls along the picturesque Naviglio Grande canal (www.navigliogrande.mi.it).

5pm Take the metro to Cadorna and visit the Palazzo d'Arte design museum (00392 7243 4248, www.triennale.org, admission e8). Eat at the cafe then have dessert at the Chocolat cafe (ia Boccaccio 9, www.chocolatmilano.it).

The Facts Flights to Milan from Edin-burgh start from 157 with easyJet (www.easyjet.com)

This article was first published in The Scotsman on Saturday, 18 September, 2010