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Price of a cup of coffee
Around € 1.50 for an espresso (il caffè). Please note that the price for coffee at the bar is often lower than at the table in Italy.
Dining in Milan
Many Milanese bars and cafés offer 'aperitivo' (also known as 'happy hour') in the evening. This usually means that you buy a drink which is slightly more expensive, and in return, you can eat all the food that is exposed during some hours. It is a very casual way of dining in a joyful atmosphere. Italians love it!
Tipping
Tipping is not required but welcome. Tips are typically up to € 5.
Tap water
The tap water in Milan is drinkable!
Shopping
Most of the shops in Milan are open every day from around 9.30h until 18h. The stores that are not located on the main shopping streets can be closed on Mondays and can have a break from 13.30h to 14.30h. Huge department stores are open until 21h on weekdays and until 22h on Friday and Saturday. Most stores close for at least two weeks in August due to the holiday Ferragosto. Summer sales typically start on the first Saturday of July, winter sales start after New Year and usually last 6-8 weeks.
Public transport
Public transport in Milan consists of a well-developed network operated by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi. By means of metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses all city areas are covered, and divided into zones from Mi1 to Mi9. The city centre corresponds to 3 tariff zones and is designated by codes Mi1 - Mi3. The cost of a ticket within the centre (3 zones) is about € 2 and increases by about € 0.40 for each additional zone.
Tickets must be validated in the dedicated machines when boarding transport. Do not throw it away, otherwise, you will face a fine if checked. You can find out all about tariffs in Milan here.
Metro
The Milan metro consists of only 4 lines: M1 (red) and M2 (green) have branches, while M3 (yellow) and M5 (purple) are direct lines. Terminal stations are open on Monday through Saturday from 5h to midnight. On Sundays, the stations are open from 6h to midnight. Plan your journey with the latest updates on the official website of ATM.
Buses and tramways
Ground transportation in Milan runs from 5.30h till midnight. The waiting interval is usually around 5-10 minutes and unlike southern Italy, they arrive in time. They typically make every stop, but better notify the driver that you want to get off by pressing the button.
Night buses
Night buses have an N or NM prefix and run at night on routes that are as close as possible to the metro lines. The operating hours of the lines are between 00.30h and 6h.
For your convenience, use the service GiroMilano to build your route and find the best transport options. It is also available for iOS and Android.
From the Airport to Milan
The two most important airports around Milan are Malpensa (MPX) and Bergamo (BGY).
From Malpensa Airport to Milan
Milan Malpensa Airport (MPX) has two terminals. The first one operates the flights of all the main airlines, the second one is reserved for EasyJet flights.
Train
You can get to the city centre on the special train Malpensa Express. It goes to Milano Centrale (45 minutes), Cadorna Station (35 minutes) or the Milano Porta Garibaldi railway station (in 40 minutes). It operates daily, every half hour from around 5.30h to 22.30h. Train tickets cost about € 13 and must be validated before boarding – note that the tickets can also be purchased in advance via the official website.
Bus
You can also get to the centre of Milan by bus. There are two main operators, Terravision and Malpensa Shuttle. They both reach Milan central station in about one hour, for a price of about € 10. The buses operate every hour – you can check their timetable on the official website of Terravision and Malpensa Shuttle.
Taxi
Malpensa Airport is located about 45 km from the centre of Milan. Therefore taxis are not cheap, and prices can easily be around € 100.
To find more information on how to get from Malpensa Airport to Milan, visit the official website of the airport.
From Bergamo Airport to Milan
Bergamo Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) is a transport hub in the city of Bergamo, close to Milan. It has just one terminal, operating primarily low-cost flights.
Bus
Bus tickets to Milan are sold at ticket offices in the airport. There are several carriers offering transport to Milan for just about € 8. They operate every hour and the ride to Milan takes about one hour. You can check the schedule on the official website of for example Terravision or Omio.
Train
If you need to travel to Milan, you can take the local train leaving from Bergamo. The train from Bergamo to Milan costs about € 5 and takes around one hour.
Taxi
Taxis are waiting outside the arrivals area. A trip to Milan centre typically costs around € 90 and takes roughly one hour.
See the official website of Bergamo Airport for the latest news and the various ways of getting there.
Events in Milan
Ambrosian Carnival
February is the traditional month of carnival in Italy. In Milan, this is the Ambrosian Carnival in honor of the saint patron of the city. The Milanese accompany the traditional festivities before the beginning of the Great Lent with street processions in clown costumes and masks of the characters of the Commedia dell'arte. Their main characters are an immortal couple – the jester Harlequin in a suit with a diamond-shaped ornament and the witty servant Meneghino in a characteristic brown frock coat. The largest procession involving huge floats takes place on the last day of the carnival, on Piazza Duomo in front of the Milan Cathedral.
Milan Fashion Week
The Milan Haute Couture Weeks are held two times a year – in February and September. The dates of the events are consistent with the other three fashion cities – New York, London and Paris. Within the framework of the Fashion Week, dozens of presentations of the latest collections of clothes, shoes, accessories and jewelry are held. The main participants in the fashion show are famous Italian fashion houses, known all over the world. And although the average visitor will not be able to get to the shows, you can nevertheless attend the parties organized in honor of this event on Via del Corso.
Easter
Easter is the most important Catholic holiday and in Italy, it always turns into a mini-vacation from Thursday to Monday. On Easter Day, believers visit the main cathedrals of Milan, including the Duomo and Sant'Ambrogio and then arrange a family holiday. Usually, Italians spend Sunday with their family, but on the Monday after, known in the country as Pasquetta, it is customary to spend time outside playing and having fun.
Design week
Every year in April, Milan hosts the largest international exhibition dedicated to design, Salone del Mobile. In fact, these are several exhibitions at once, which take place simultaneously on the territory of the most famous exhibition center in the city, the Fiera Milano. Since the start of the Salone del Mobile in 1961, the creations of Italian masters have firmly entered the history of world interior fashion and have made more than one breakthrough in the industry. Among the discoveries, for example, are the famous plastic Bauhaus-style chairs, lacy chairs, lighting systems and extra-durable cardboard furniture. The event can be attended by a regular visitor on the last Sunday of the week for about € 15. Ticket sales usually start one month before Salone del Mobile. For the programme, the latest news and for tickets, check out the official website.
Local pages
Bicycle sharing
It is convenient to ride a bike in Milan. The most widespread BikeMi network has over 300 stations throughout the city. The tariff is € 0.50 per 30 minutes. For using it, you will need to download the application and register first. The service works from 6h to midnight.
Bus tours
You can see the main sights of Milan in one go, using the services of hop-on hop-off bus routes. Among the most popular are City Sightseeing and Open Tour Milan. They offer a wide range of routes throughout the historical city centre.
Taxi
Official taxis in Milan are white, with a black Taxi sign on the roof. You can also use Uber in Milan.
Tourist office
There are only a few tourist offices in Milan: one is located in the Vittorio Emanuele II shopping gallery, the other is located at Milano Stazione Centrale. Also, from August 2 to September 10, there is a temporary point at Piazza Mercanti. The staff is always ready to help you, in various languages. For more background on Milan, check out their official website.
Train
Find detailed information like train schedules and fares on the official website of the Italian Railways. You can book your tickets directly online.
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