Milan is "in" every season. Whether you alight here for a fashion show, trade fair, or just to spend a few priceless moments in front of Da Vinci's Last Supper or Michelangelo's final Pieta, Milan delivers.

Considering its position in Italy, too, many travelers venture here before making their way on to Lake Como (known for being George Clooney's second home) and Turin. Milan is also well poised for those wishing to visit Genoa.

True, Milan may not be cutesy and overly warm (hey, we can't all be Bruges, but much of its charm lies in the fashionable chaos it offers in the form of haute couture shops, flea markets, and some of the most gorgeous Gothic architecture around.