If you’ve saved Design Week for the weekend, you’re not alone. In fact, you're in great company: the optimistic procrastinators, the last-minute planners, and those who spent the week at the office with Instagram half open. For you, this is the moment to catch up.

The good news? Despite the daily guides and FOMO chasing you down, almost everything is still there. The bad news? There will probably be more people than you've ever seen on the subway at Christmas. So, you need a selection – quick but thoughtful – aimed at getting you out alive and, hopefully, a little inspired.

Let’s start with the monumental installations – those that are worth the time (even the time spent waiting in line). First on the list: Gucci at Chiostri di San Simpliciano. You can only enter by booking, but if you’re lucky (or have a savvy friend), you’ll be immersed in Bamboo Encounters, a 2050+ project that rethinks space with the slow rhythm of bamboo. Very contemplative, very quiet, and very Instagrammable. 

Very different, but equally impressive, is Es Devlin at Brera with Library of Light. Sure, the lines are guaranteed, but so is the experience: a light installation that turns the cloister of the Accademia into an emotional time machine.

Another “worth the wait” stop is Hermès at La Pelota: a magical setting, suspended volumes, and a dreamy color palette. And, as always, the feeling of seeing something truly grand without feeling small.

If you’d rather skip the lines, though, consider some less crowded, but equally well-curated spots. One gem is Capsule Plaza at Spazio Maiocchi. It’s a group exhibition, but with a strong identity, spread across several venues, including the cultural center Spazio Maiocchi.

What animates Capsule? Projects like the suspended dance floor by Nike x Pan and the gallery space in Piazza Risorgimento. It’s easy to navigate, not yet overcrowded, and even has a large courtyard for your Saturday dose of sunshine (Sunday, please be kind).

Still in the “smaller but conceptually rich” category, don’t miss 6:AM at Piscina Cozzi. One of this year’s most surprising locations: a former public pool transformed into immersive spaces of glass and light. You’ll leave with the feeling you’ve seen something truly different – and maybe that’s exactly what Design Week is all about.

Then there are the projects that give you the perfect excuse to explore the buildings hosting them. For example, the Albers Foundation at Torre Velasca: the installation is subtle, made of textiles and silence, but the skyline outside the windows is more than enough to fill your eyes. 

The same goes for Campeggi at Torre al Parco, designed by Magistretti, which gives you at least two great reasons to go up: five prototypes of transformable furniture created by the designer himself, and the view.

Finally, if you still have time (and energy), just follow your heart. Take a stroll through the gardens of Porta Venezia, the hidden courtyards of the 5Vie district, or check out the Citywave construction site at CityLife, designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). It’s not finished yet, but it’s already a spectacle.

Nothing’s stopping you from attempting Alcova, but know that at this point in the week, it requires time, patience, and a certain urban (and suburban) survival spirit. If you don’t have it, don’t worry, no judgment.