If you go to Milan expecting a beautiful city, chances are you will be slightly disappointed. The heart of industrial Italy used to be one its architectural gem, but the bombardments of World War II took their toll, and now charmless tower blocks dominate most of it. Luckily for visitors with a keen eye for a bargain or simply looking for a more unusual day out, the nicer areas of Milan are also the ones that host its famous markets. These are usually open until late afternoon, but some stall holders do pack up earlier, so going in the morning is highly recommended if you want to have the most choice.

On the third Saturday of every month there is a market on Via Brera selling antiques, toys and trinkets, but if your visit does not fall on the right date, Brera is still well worth a visit. With its interesting independent boutiques plus some of the best bars and restaurants, this is a chic pedestrianised oasis in the heart of the Milan which offers a welcome break from the mad traffic that dominates it. Nearest Metro: Cairoli or Montenapoleone.

The largest and most well-known of the Milanese Flea Markets is the Fiera di Senigallia. The stalls wind around the canals - Known as ‘Naviglio' - and picturesque old buildings, where you get a bit of a taste of what most of Milan used to look like. Here you'll find everything from used clothing to CDs, books and a lot of completely random bric-a-brac. Like in most crowded markets, there are pickpockets around, so do look after your bag and other belongings though. If you are after antiques, on the last Sunday of every month the Senigallia becomes the Antiquariato sul Naviglio Grande, with more stalls and a much larger selection of interesting objects. Finish off your day by having a lovely Italian ice-cream or popping into one of the wine bars along the canal for glass or red. Nearest Metro: Porta Genova.

The Mercato di Viale Papiniano offers you a true street market experience, but be prepared to hold your ground. On Saturdays it combines a buzzing Clothing and Shoes market with a great selection of food stalls selling everything from fried calamari and Sun-dried tomatoes by the kilo to your average fruit and vegetables. It is extremely crowded and people will not hesitate to push you out of their way, so don't be too polite, because giving way to the locals will leave you standing still for a very long time! On Tuesdays there is a smaller selection of stalls and it becomes a more traditional flea-market, so if you are not too desperate for shoe bargains and fake designer handbags this is probably a better option. Nearest Metro: Sant'Agostino