The 7 Best Experiences in Milan

Italian cooking class and market tour

Take home more than just a suitcase full of souvenirs and a phone full of travel snaps: this experience gets you a diploma in Italian cooking so you can recreate your favourite dishes wherever you are. Start the morning at the market, where Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and certified sommelier Clara will help you pick the best local, organic ingredients. Back in her charming kitchen, you’ll cook four different traditional recipes (and get to eat it all at the end too).

Pasta master class at Liccumi’a

Learn how to make fresh pasta in this fun group class. Get your hands in the dough and discover how to create four different pasta shapes: tagliolini, cavati, ravioli and tortelli. With easy-to-follow instructions and close guidance along the way, you’ll also make accompanying sauces. At the end, you get to sample your finished creations with a glass or two of wine. Dessert is served courtesy of the chef.

Ferrari test drive

Re-enact your own Mille Miglia race by getting behind the wheel of the Italian brand Ferrari supercar. After a driving theory lesson and full training on how to operate one of the fastest sports cars in the world, you’ll get to hit the road for what promises to be a breathtaking 30 minutes. Travel along the legendary superhighway between Milan and the Swiss Alps for 10km (6mi) with an expert co-driver at your side the whole time.

Scooter rental

Don your helmet and make like a true Italian by zipping around town on a scooter. This popular mode of transport is not just a convenient way of dodging traffic and nabbing a parking spot; it also lets you experience the sights in an exhilarating way. Speed around historical landmarks such as the Arco della Pace city gate, the Duomo cathedral and the Teatro alla Scala opera house, or go all the way to Lake Como for a bit of fresh air.

Outdoor painting class in Bergamo

Follow in the footsteps of Italy’s Baroque and Renaissance painters and create your own original painting to remind you of your trip. In Bergamo, a medieval city north of Milan, you’ll join a local artist and other art enthusiasts within the walls of the ancient city centre to learn the tricks of the trade. From creating a pleasing composition to learning the rule of thirds, you’ll get to spend an insightful and creative afternoon en plein aire (outdoors) unleashing your inner artist.

Dinner and a show at Maison Milano

Enjoy an evening like no other at this elegant venue housed in a former early-1900s post office. You’ll be served a four-course meal of local fare in chic surroundings. And with a rotating roster of burlesque performances, DJs and live music acts, your evening is bound to be entertaining.

Italian perfume workshop

Discover the secret to Milanese style at the Merchant of Venice, a luxury Italian perfume atelier in the trendy Brera district. Learn about the history of perfume before creating your own custom scent with the help of a dedicated guide. Discover a world of different ingredients before mixing your own personalised perfume. You’ll get to take your beautiful bottle home with you at the end.