Milan Design Week 2025, set to take place from April 7-13, will once again transform the city into a global hub for design, creativity and innovation. As the world’s largest design event, it draws industry leaders, design enthusiasts and curious visitors from all corners of the globe.
At its heart lies the prestigious Salone del Mobile, a huge furniture fair that showcases cutting-edge design from both renowned global brands and emerging talents. Beyond the fair, Milan comes to life with Fuorisalone — a series of off-site events that turn the city’s neighborhoods into an open-air design playground. Expect immersive installations, exclusive product launches, designer talks, open showrooms and of course, plenty of parties.
The theme for Fuorisalone 2025, Connected Worlds, highlights the intersections between design, technology and culture. This year’s edition will dive into how design links physical and digital spaces, sparks cultural exchange and shapes how we interact with the world around us. It’s the next chapter in a running conversation (past themes include Forms of Living and Matter Nature), but with an extra dose of AI, innovation and collective creativity thrown into the mix.
Milan is a whirlwind during Design Week (the 2024 edition saw over 500,000 visitors), and with hotels quickly filling up and experiences selling out fast, it’s essential to plan ahead. Connect with a Fora Advisor to secure your stay and unlock exclusive VIP perks at our partner hotels.
Where to stay
Image courtesy of Portrait Milano
Portrait Milano
Housed in one of Europe’s oldest monasteries, this stately hotel feels like a sumptuous haven in the middle of one of Milan’s busiest shopping districts. True to the Ferragamo family’s legacy of exceptional hospitality, it offers a five-star experience, with impeccable service and personal touches like a bottle of Ferragamo fragrance left on your pillow at turndown and a pillow menu offering seven different options. Overlooking the Piazza, the fashion district’s grandest square lined with colonnades, boutiques and alfresco dining, it’s the perfect spot for an aperitivo. Don’t miss the majestic swimming pool framed by columns beneath ancient vaulted ceilings.
Fora Reserve perks include $100 food and beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Casa Cipriani Milano
Image courtesy of Casa Cipriani Milano
The second outpost following the Manhattan flagship, this boutique hotel and private member’s club brings Cipriani’s signature swagger to the historic Palazzo Bernasconi by Giardini Indro Montanelli. Designed by Michele Bönan, rooms channel vintage Italian glamour with striped wallpaper, plush royal blue sofas and crisp custom linens. The Club Restaurant and Living Room span the top two floors, serving up Porta Venezia views and primo people watching. Downstairs, there's a subterranean spa with a Finnish sauna, saltwater pool and a red marble hammam. Sustainability’s on point too, with LEED certification and a carbon-neutral pledge. Plus, there’s a courtesy Maserati — naturally.
Fora Perks include $100 food and beverage credit, $45 daily breakfast credit per person and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Speronari Suites
Image courtesy of Speronari Suites
Speronari Suites is a former 19th-century palazzo transformed into twenty-two super-stylish suites just steps from the Piazza del Duomo. Think earthy tones, oak flooring and bronze finishes that make it feel contemporary, personal and homely. With its unbeatable location, it's the perfect city pad for exploring Milan — everything you need is within walking distance. After a day of sightseeing, unwind with a glass of wine from the impressive selection at the hotel’s intimate Argentinean restaurant, El Porteno, or recharge in the basement sauna and fitness center.
Fora Reserve perks include €40 food and beverage credit, daily breakfast, welcome amenity, upgrade and extended check-out whenever possible.
Armani Hotel Milano
Image courtesy of Armani Hotel Milano
Sleek, sophisticated and unmistakably Armani — this is designer Giorgio Armani’s vision of luxury in Milan’s fashion district. Every detail bears his signature touch, from the Armani/Casa furnishings to the pebble-shaped soaps inspired by his beloved Pantelleria. Rooms are spacious and private, with discreet vestibules for room service drop-offs and in-room iPads controlling everything from lighting to temperature. The light-filled eighth-floor spa offers skyline views — a rare treat in Milan — along with a relaxation pool and steam rooms. For a stylish aperitivo or nightcap, the seventh-floor Armani/Bamboo Bar delivers panoramic city views, creative cocktails and lively atmosphere.
Fora Reserve perks include $100 hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Hotel Principe Di Savoia
Image courtesy of Casa Cipriani Milano
Principe di Savoia, part of the Dorchester Collection, has set the gold standard for Milanese luxury for nearly a century — and it’s the place to see and be seen. Despite its grand scale, the hotel feels intimate and exclusive, with jewel-toned rooms dressed in soft velvets, antique wood and marble. The rooftop Club 10 spa offers a heated pool and panoramic city views, while the chic Principe Bar draws fashion royalty and local celebrities. Expect impeccable service and don’t miss the in-room dining—especially the lobster club, a star from the Taste of the Dorchester menu that features signature dishes from the brand’s hotels.
Fora’s Dorchester Diamond Club perks include €100 hotel credit, breakfast daily and upgrade whenever possible.
Mandarin Oriental, Milan
Image courtesy of Mandarin Oriental, Milan
Set across four interconnected 18th-century palazzos, just a short stroll from La Scala and the Duomo, this refined retreat blends Italian sophistication with the brand’s signature Eastern flair. The Michelin-starred Seta reinvents Italian classics with a contemporary edge, while the Mandarin Bar & Bistrot buzzes with a ‘70s-glam vibe — think monochrome-checked walls, marble-streaked floors and dogtooth chairs. Its courtyard is the scene for aperitivo hour, where DJ sets, craft cocktails and gourmet bites set the mood. Beneath it all, a serene, stone-clad spa offers feng shui-inspired treatments, plus a heated turquoise pool, sauna and steam room for unwinding in style.
Fora’s Mandarin Oriental Fan Club perks include $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.