Milan

Milan, depending on how you want to tour the city, is a great place to visit pretty much all year round. Keep in mind most places, including tourist destinations and museums, are closed on Mondays.

In autumn, the weather is warm or cool, and in later months can be quite rainy and foggy. All the major venues and shops are opened, since it is the working part of the year.

In winter, the city can become cold (often below or around freezing point), and the weather is usually foggy and rainy if not snowy. However, the city, in the few weeks before Christmas, becomes delightful to visit - the main sights are all illuminated by stunning lights, a huge Christmas tree is set up in front of the Duomo, vendors and markets can be found everywhere, many shop and display windows are decorated and the streets become bustling with locals and tourists alike. However, the only downside is that it can become extremely crowded, noisy and busy.

In spring, the temperatures are generally similar to those of autumn. The atmosphere becomes more serious from that of the festivities. Parks become nice to visit, as trees blossom. The city is also quite nice to visit at Carnival, where people dress up and celebrate, and during Easter, where there are special services held in churches and some special events.

In summer, Milan can become extremely hot and humid, with the odd powerful rainstorm here and there. Whilst in July, apart from the weather, most shops remain open, in August, as many locals go off to take their summer holidays, many businesses and venues shut down (with the notice Chiuso per ferie, or shut down for vacation). The city may become quite empty with some tourists strolling around, and with several of the main sights shut down. Although it is not the best time for shopping and the weather is not at all times very pleasant, it is good if you want to enjoy the city to yourself when it's hot and quiet, and maybe want to stroll around, sipping at some open bars or at an ice cream, or walking in a mostly silent park.

Milan's (MIL  ^IATA) two main international airports are Malpensa (the biggest, and 40 km away) MXP ^IATA and Linate (7 km from the city center). Orio al Serio airport near Bergamo (45 km east) and Parma airport (100 km south), sometimes referred to as Milan's additional airports, mostly host budget airlines. To get to and from the airports and Milan, buses are a cheap and popular option.

Main article: Milano Malpensa Airport

The main international airport is 🌍 Milano Malpensa Airport, about 40 km northwest of the city center. There are flights from many countries around the world. From Malpensa you can get into central Milano by train, shuttle bus or taxi.

• 🌍 Linate Airport (LIN  ^IATA). A small, efficient one-runway airport close to the city centre (7 km). Its focus is on domestic and intra-European flights, and on business travellers. ITA Airways has a major base there. Other European flag carriers also operate connections to Linate instead of, or in addition to, Malpensa. Connecting flights in Linate might take much longer than elsewhere because there is no through passage: you get off the airplane, get out of the security area, go through security again together with the passengers who have just arrived from Milan and not with a connecting flight, and only then can you board the new plane. If you're making a connection from outside of the Schengen zone it doesn't make much difference, because in these cases you have to go through security again (e.g. London to Palermo via Linate), but if both flights are within the Schengen zone then you don't have to go through security again if the airport has a through passage (e.g. Palermo to Genova via Linate). 

As the airport is close to the city, it is served by buses of the city public transport network: Bus no. 73 outside the terminal building goes to San Babila Square, in the city centre, which is served by metro line MM1. (Metro Line MM4 goes to Dateo railway station, although it is expected it will reach San Babila by June 2023.) The bus runs every ten minutes, the metro every seven: each costs €2.20, like normal public transport. Tickets are available from the newsagent inside the airport terminal or by the ATM vending machines close to the bus stop. This bus is not a dedicated service: it is regular city transport with many stops en route, and may get crowded during peak hours. This also means that the same things apply as for any public transportation in the city (see #Get around for more detail).

There are also other buses from this airport. Autostradale operates a shuttle bus just outside the Terminal Entrance 6 connecting Linate airport to Milan Central Railway Station (Milano Centrale) east side (Luigi di Savoia square) running every 30 minutes; tickets cost €5 per adult (ticket sold at local newsagent and on board). This bus also stops en route at Lambrate railway station. The journey takes approximately 27 minutes. Another bus service, operated by Malpensa Shuttle, connects Malpensa airport to Linate airport with a few stops en route enabling you to connect to downtown by metro (timetables, fares and ticket booking available online). The journey takes about 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions.

Taxis from Linate to the city centre cost around €12-20 depending on traffic conditions. The minimum charge is €12. If you are going to the centre, ignore all the guys standing at the exit to the terminal saying "taxi"... they are for destinations outside central Milan (i.e., outlying cities) and will charge a minimum of €70. Queues for regular taxis can get long during peak commuter hours (early evening) and are particularly bad during Fashion Week.

A new metro line, MM4, is being built to connect the Linate Airport terminal directly with San Babila in the city centre in June 2023.

Some budget airlines fly to 🌍 Orio al Serio Airport (BGY ^IATA), about 45 km north-east of Milan, near the city of Bergamo. Ryanair refers to this as Milan Bergamo Airport. Orio al Serio is actually closer to Milan than Malpensa and getting from there to Milan takes about the same time. The most straightforward way from here to Milan, besides taking a taxi which will set you back around €100, is by bus. All buses leave for Milan from immediately outside the arrivals section of the airport and from Ferrante Aporti on the east side of Central Station in Milan for all the companies below.

The Orio Shuttle, from Orio Airport to Milano Centrale station is probably the best choice. Departure times may vary, but buses generally run every half hour during the day, less often at night, and take about 1 hour or more. However, beware of cutting things too fine, because the highway to Milan is very crowded during weekdays. Adult one-way fare starts from €4. Tickets are sold in Orio Al Serio Airport in Bergamo and at the Central Train Station in Milan. Be at the Milan bus stop at least 15 minutes before the nominal departure time, or you may get left behind. Tickets can be purchased online, but sellers at the airport and train station will offer 3 tickets for price of 2. Zani Viaggi also run a bus service from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale station with a stop at the Cascina Gobba MM2 station on the North Eastern outskirts of Milan. Adult fare: €9ish one way. Tickets sold at an office in the airport or online.

There are several other bus shuttle companies that offer direct bus service from Bergamo airport to Milan central, Malpensa and Linate airport. It is advisable to not buy the bus tickets online beforehand, because then the passenger has no choice but to wait for the bus that he/she has booked. Once you get out of the customs area, there are a lot of kiosks and agents, who will offer bus tickets to city center at €9 return, or €5 one-way. This gives flexibility to choose the first departing bus, instead of waiting at the airport.

You can also take a shuttle bus, a regular bus or taxi to Bergamo railway station (about 15-25 minutes from the airport), and a train from there to Milan. Buses to Bergamo are run by the local transport agency ATB at a cost of €2.60. Trains from Bergamo to Milan run every 30–60 minutes and take around 1 hour. Adult one-way fare is €5.80 (faster and more direct train, arrives in Milano Centrale) or €4.50 (arriving in Milano Porta Garibaldi) depending on the chosen route.

Milan is served by two major national companies: Trenitalia and NTV (usually known by its commercial name Italo), both of which are based at Milano Centrale. It is also served by other long-distance companies, such as SNCF. Finally, regional transport is managed by Trenord, which runs the entire regional train network.

The main railway station is 🌍 Milano Centrale (or Centrale FS). Regular express and fast trains serve all Italian cities including Turin, Venice, Rome, Naples, and Florence. There are international services to Zurich, Geneva, Munich, Vienna, Marseille by Trenitalia and NTV (but for Paris Gare de Lyon use Porta Garibaldi station). Trenord runs regional trains to Lecco, Sondrio, Tirano, Bergamo, Brescia and other cities.

(Trains from Paris normally take seven hours, but the route is blocked by a landslide at Modane in French Savoy. Workaround routes, eg via Annecy, take much longer. This is expected to continue to summer 2024.)

The station building itself is worth a visit being a masterpiece of rationalist architecture, and was extensively renovated in 2008. (Try as they might, they couldn't altogether erase the word "fascisti" from the imposing facade.) There are lots of small shops and cafes, both "landside" and "trainside" of the ticket barriers. There's a supermarket (Sapori & Dintori Conad) in the west side of the station in the basement, and internet points in the main square outside the station. The luggage store (daily 06:00-23:00) charges €6 for the first five hours, thereafter from 6 to 12 hours €0.90/hour, from 13 hours onwards €0.40/hour. You will need to show an ID card or passport.

At night, parts of the Central Station become a sleeping area for vagrants. Usually around the station there are children aggressively targeting tourists for pickpocketing, so pay attention to your bag. The station area is not in a great part of town at night, though in the area there are a number of decent budget hotels (see Sleep below) and some business-oriented international brand hotels. In general, the area south of the station (characterised by a few skyscrapers) is a business and local government centre, pretty active during working hours but almost deserted at night.

Central Station is on Metro lines MM2 (for Castello) and MM3 (for Duomo). Taxis stops are on the side and ATM buses on the West side (IV November Square) and buses to Linate, Malpensa and Orio airports on the East side (Luigi di Savoia square).

🌍 Milano Porta Garibaldi is effectively two stations, with the main one on the surface, with 20 platforms used by regional and national trains and some commuter lines. There are trains to the main cities of Lombardy (Como, Bergamo, Lecco, Varese, Pavia, Lodi amongst others) and to Malpensa airport. It's also the terminal of SNCF trains to Paris Gare de Lyon; tickets have to be bought at the separate SNCF ticket booth. The other station (usually referred as Milano Porta Garibaldi Passante or Sotterranea) is beneath it, with two underground platforms used by suburban commuter lines. For instance you can reach the Rho fairgrounds on commuter lines S5 toward Varese and S6 toward Novara, getting off at Rho Fieramilano.

Porta Garibaldi station is on Metro lines MM2 and MM5 (see #Get_around).

Another important railway station is 🌍 Cadorna, served by Trenord, where the Malpensa airport Express stops and which is also a stop for MM1 and MM2 metro lines. Trains to Malpensa and Como Lago station leave here.

Other main train stations are Lambrate (connected to MM2 metro line), Greco-Pirelli, Rogoredo (connected to MM3 metro line) and Porta Genova (connected to MM2 metro line) and Bovisa (connected to the Passante suburban commuter train link) and Domodossola (connected to MM5 metro line) . Domodossola station is very close to the city section of the Milan Exhibition Centre - fieramilanocity, also connected to the subway system by the MM1 metro line (Amendola stop).

Milan is an important road traffic hub with motorways coming in from all directions, both from elsewhere in Italy and from nearby France and Switzerland. As elsewhere in Italy, they're toll roads operated by Società Autostrade per l'Italia. The road connections are thus excellent, but this also means a whole lot of traffic passing through (in addition to going to and from Milan itself) and road congestion is probably even more of a problem than usual around cities of this size. Going to Milan by car is not a good idea, see the #Get around section for more information.

Because of heavy traffic, it is strongly recommended not to drive in Milan during working days. Driving is much better during weekends. A recommendation is to leave your car in one of the well-marked, huge commuter car parks near several exits of Milan's motorway ringroad; they're managed by ATM and are easily connected with Milan's underground metro lines, but they close around midnight. They're near highway exits in Cascina Gobba (East), Lampugnano (North West), Molino Dorino (North West), Bonola (North West), Rho-Pero (North West), Bisceglie (South West) and San Donato (South East).

Milan's main bus terminal is 🌍 Lampugnano station, connected to the rest of the city by metro. The main national bus lines are operated by Autostradale. Flixbus serves domestic and international routes. Also some small companies also offer international routes to / from Milan. Don't get scared by the filth of this place. Not much around. The stop for the airport bus is at 2,5 km away (Fiera Milano City)

Azienda Trasporti Milanesi S.p.A. (ATM) operates a public transport network which is pretty efficient (especially the underground lines and the trams (streetcars)). There are three payment methods: traditional paper tickets, credit/debit cards, and app.

Tickets are available from news stands, tabaccherie (tobacconist - look for a large T sign), coffee bars, tourist information offices as well as automatic ticket machines in metro stations, and come in the following variations:

• Single ticket – €2.20
• 24h ticket – €7.60
• 3 day ticket – €13.00
• 7 day ticket – €19.50
• "Carnet" of 10 single trips – €19.50; beware that unlike in cities in neighbouring France or Switzerland, these 10 rides cannot be shared between two or more people, meaning most visitors will be much better off buying one of the other ticket types depending on the duration of their stay.

If your journey starts with the Metro, you can also use contactless credit/debit cards and in this case fees are limited so that you do not pay more than the 24 hr rate on any day. If you are staying for a few days it is cheaper to buy a paper 3 day or weekly ticket. Only certain turnstiles are equipped with card readers so look for the orange signage. Keep in mind that the M2 has stations outside the urban fare zone, for which the ticket price is higher depending on the fare you start, terminate or pass through your journey. These tickets works just the same way as the normal urban ticket and can be used on multiple means in a time interval from validation that depends on the ticket fare (the higher the price, the further you can ho outside the city and the longer the ticket will be valid).

There is an ATM app for iOS and Android that you can use to buy single or daily tickets.

When boarding the bus or tram or entering the metro system through the turnstiles, you need to validate your ticket by pushing it into a ticket machine. For single tickets, the machine will print time and date on the ticket and from that time it's valid for 90 minutes. During that time the ticket allows unlimited travel on trams and buses, one entry to the metro (you may transfer between metro lines but not exit) and one ride on the urban part of the suburban train.

There are still three different types of ticket machines on trams and buses. To validate the new-style paper with magnetic strip tickets (these should be the only ones that you will ever be sold) you need to use the orange and yellow machines. If you have a new magnetic credit-card type ticket, you should validate it every time you board on a new bus or a streetcar as well.

The Metro (short for Metropolitana, the logo is a big white M on a red background) has four lines, each commonly identified by a color as shown below, and is the best way to get around Milan. The lines are:  M1  (rossa);  M2  (verde);  M3  (gialla);  M4  (blu);  M5  (lilla). The M4 is partially complete, with more sections to open mid-2024, and many other extensions of existing lines are under construction. The subway network is the most extensive in Italy (lines split into different sections and its 113 stations cover most areas of town). During peak hours trains run every 2 minutes on M1 and M2, every 4 minutes on M3 and on M5. Service starts around 6:00AM and the last trains run around midnight. From midnight to 6:00AM there is a substitute bus line (NM1, NM2, NM3 - M5 line doesn't have a bus line) running every 30 minutes. Take into account that the NM2 travels only inside Milan proper, between the station of Cascina Gobba and Abbiategrasso, while the NM1 travels between Molino Dorino and Sesto San Giovanni (excluding Rho and Rho Fieramilano) and between Bisceglie and Cadorna (where you can transfer for further stops along the M1 line).

Trams (streetcars) run above-ground on rail lines running through the streets.

Being above ground means you get a view of what you're passing, so if you don't need to go far, they're convenient and fun. Some tram lines are operated by the ultramodern 'jumbo' yellow tram, others are run by orange antique traditional carriages (older than many in museums in other cities) with wooden panelling inside and glass chandeliers. Most tram stops have electronic information panels with indications of how many minutes to wait before the next available service and a line scheme with all stops. Tickets are not available on board, but there are electronic dispensers in all metro stations, or buy them from newsagent kiosks in metro stations.

ATM also organizes dinners on a special restaurant tram (ATMosfera), you can enjoy your dinner while strolling the city on the old streetcar.

Buses should probably be your third public transport option. Equally comfortable, rather punctual and clean with many routes to choose from. Lines usually stop between midnight and 2AM, however, some lines, especially in the suburbs, end their service earlier. There are 11 lines (N6, N15, N24, N27, N42, N50, N54, N57, N80, N90/91 and N94) that run every night with a frequency of 30 minutes, connecting the city center to suburbs and most major streets. In any case check your route and timetable in advance if you want to travel late at night.

From 8PM to 2AM a special shuttle service is operated by ATM, called Radiobus, an on-call bus accessible only by pre-booking. Radiobus is a good, cheap and efficient alternative to taxis. You may book them by phone at 02 4803 4803 at least 20 minutes in advance (a couple of hours is better). The bus will stop at a dedicated place (these have an hexagonal panel with blue writing RADIOBUS and telephone number on white) and will leave you virtually any place. Memorize the pick-up location. The driver will wait for ladies to enter the home door as a courtesy. Costs €2 per person. You may buy the tickets in advance, or pay on the bus.

Several buses connect suburban cities and towns surrounding Milan. Some are managed by ATM. You can travel on most of them with an inter-urban ticket (biglietto interurbano) which are sold in two forms: including travel in Milan or without. In the without form you can only go to the end of the line, while with the cumulative version you can transfer to any ATM line. There are several rules and distance limits which apply, so be aware of them when you purchase your ticket.

Most bus stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service.

Taxis can be expensive and drivers are allowed to pick passengers up from designated taxi ranks, through phone bookings and directly from the sidewalk of a street. The main taxi companies can be reached at 02.40.40, 02.69.69 or 02.80.80, or alternatively, from a land line dial 848.814.781 to be connected to the nearest taxi stand. If you book a taxi by phone you'll start paying from the moment the driver accepts the call and comes to pick you up.

Local law define some fixed fee trips: Milan to Malpensa Airport €70, Malpensa Airport-Rho Fair €55, Malpensa Airport-Linate Airport €85, Linate Airport-Milan Fair €40. All fees are intended for a one-way, non-stop trip; taxi waiting time and booking are extras. A surcharge will apply in the evenings so don't be surprised if the meter has €6+ on it when you enter, even if at a taxi-stand.

The Suburban Railway System or S-lines (the logo is a big green S on a blue background) includes a special line known as Passante ferroviario (railway link), considered Milan's fifth subway line (although trains run every 6 mins), and has eight more lines, each identified by a number (S1, S2, S5, S6, S12, S13 through Passante Ferroviario and S3, S4, S8, S9, S11 through other railways), connecting metro area towns with Milan. Suburban trains run less often than Metro trains (usually every 30 minutes or 1 hour) but, as some lines share tracks and stations, you can expect as many as 10 trains per hour in central Milan between Lancetti and Porta Vittoria stations. Suburban Railway 'S' Lines are usually marked in blue on subway maps. The Passante is not heavily used by the Milanese and in non-peak hours stations can be deserted so would not be recommended for lone (and particularly female) travellers.

Keep in mind that every Trenord ticket with destination Milan will allow you to use every railways inside the city up to 6 hours from validation

Driving is definitely not a good idea to get into the city centre. Like most major cities traffic is a considerable problem, not to mention the hassle of parking. During working hours traffic is often blocked, inside the city as well as on the highway ring surrounding it. It is much better at night, but you'll probably have problems finding a place to leave the car near enough to nightlife attractions.

If you must drive in Milan make sure you have an up-to-date map showing the many one-ways present in the city.

Since January 1, 2008, cars entering Milan's central area within the former walls of the city (cerchia dei navigli) must pay a fee (€2,€3, €5 or €10 depending on the engine and age of the car), the fee and the fee area are both known as Area C. There are no exemptions for foreign cars (cars with a foreign licence plate).

There are cameras in all entrances to this area and all registration plates are recorded. Payment can be made by purchasing entrance cards at newspaper stands, online or by SMS (call 020202 for information). Failure to pay within 48 hours from entering the area implies a fine of €75.

There are two car sharing services in the city, Car2Go and Enjoy. With a small rental, from 25 to 29 cents per minute, it's possible to rent a Smart car or a Fiat 500, respectively, in order to move freely within the city. There are no extra costs, and even the congestion charge is included in the rent.

Walking is definitely a possibility, and although Milan is a large city, many of the main tourist attractions are within an easy and pleasant walk from one another. Several tourist hot spots, such as the Corso Vittorio Emanuele or the Via Dante are pedestrian-only, so walking shouldn't be a problem. No matter how hot the day, you'll see elegantly dressed people of both sexes in timeless fashion without a drop of sweat. There are many places to sit, apart from the ubiquitous cafes, especially in the parks. Get a decent map of the city before setting out though, as the roads do not always maintain a straight line, and the various piazzas can be confusing to the newcomer. In the many parks, there are dog-only areas, but be careful when walking as the two things you will see on the ground in the streets are cigarette ends and dog faeces.

Bikes are available through the bike sharing service BikeMI. You can register for annual or temporary subscriptions at any BikeMi station. If you register for a temporary subscription (weekly or daily), a user code, along with your password, will be sent to the e-mail address, chosen during your registration. Your codes are active as soon as you receive them. BikeDistrict is a website that offers cycling directions to get around safely in the city. Entering the departure and destination addresses, BikeDistrict finds the best itinerary for bikes, avoiding as far as possible cobblestones, tram rails, busy streets and the routes which are potentially dangerous for cyclists. The suggested route is displayed on a map and colored according to the cycling level of every street, together with real-time information about bike sharing stations and with the location of cycling-related services, such as bike repair shops.

• If you're into Italian fashion, there are few if any better shopping destinations than Milan. All the usual suspects have their brand stores in the historical center. Moreover, Milan Fashion Week, one of the "big four" fashion industry events in the world are held twice yearly (Feb-Mar and Sep-Oct).
• If you're into Salone del Mobile, Considered the most important fair in the world of Design.
• Corteo dei Re Magi. Jan 6, yearly. A parade in Milan featuring the Biblical Three Wise Men who visited Jesus on Epiphany. 

For people wanting to spend a bit less while still buying beautiful pieces, other areas are better. One of these is Corso Vercelli (MM1 Pagano, MM1 Conciliazione subway stations), another one is Corso Buenos Aires (MM1 Porta Venezia, MM1 Lima, MM1/MM2 Loreto subway stations), reputed as being the longest shopping street of Europe.

The Brera district (Lanza, or Montenapoleone metro stops) is also not to be missed for trendy and young, yet stylish, boutiques. The Brera district is great for other things, such as browsing through traditional rare art stores and galleries, sipping a hot drink at a refined-air cafe, attending a funky disco, or looking for exotic furniture. However, today, there are a lot of young designers who have up-and coming boutiques, which are slightly less expensive than their Montenapoleone counterparts, but are quite fashionable and of high quality. The Brera district is great because it combines chic, old-air shops, with zeitgeist, modernist and youthful ones. Jewelry stores include Papic oro e argento or Alcozer & J. Bijoux, fashion shops include Accessori or Laura Ashley, and furniture stores include Zohar or Lucitalia.

Also in the Centro Storico are the Piazza del Duomo, Via Dante, Piazza San Babila, and the Corso Giacomo Matteotti which are excellent shopping places. In the Galleria, you get brand fashion stores, two bookstores (Rizzoli and Libreria Bocca) and a silverware store called Bernasconi plus a Gucci cafe (and many, many more!). In the Corso Giacomo, you can find Abercrombie & Fitch, in Piazza del Duomo you have Grimoldi, Ruggeri, Donna and La Rinascente department store, in Piazza San Babila you can find Upim, Eddy Monetti, Guess and Valextra, and there are loads of shops in the Via Dante, so there are really heaps of shopping opportunities in this area.

For hipsters, there's the elongated Porta Ticinese area, especially on Saturday, when the flea market Fiera di Senigallia takes place near Porta Genova MM2 subway and train station. This is a great place to wander and browse, and save money if you've somehow survived Milan's high end boutiques. Sort through new and second-hand clothes, old furniture, fake art nouveau lamps, perfumed candles and every kind of essence, books, comics, records, videos and DVDs. In the Corso Ticense, several shops, such as Diesel, RVM Orologi, Dress, Energie, Colors & Beauty, Tintoria La Boutique, Blu Max, Le Jean Marie, Brazilian, Ethic, L'Uomo outlet, Les Tropezziennes, Atelier Cucine e ..., Panca's Show Room, or Cinius (and loads more) are present. There are also several banks and post offices, such as the Banca Popolare and Poste Italiane, and a CTS Viaggi travel agency. Thus, with so many shops, you can keep your shopping bags full, and browse even further.

The other market in Milan is the Mercatone del Naviglio Grande. This takes place along the Alzaia Naviglio Grande on the last Sunday of each month. Dedicated to antiques, the market has over 400 exhibitors, so you're certain to find something that catches your eye.

In bars you can enjoy great caffè espresso, cappuccino and a brioche for as little as €2. At bars in the Duomo and San Babila areas, breakfast can be very expensive if you sit down. If in doubt go to the bar and eat there, you'll pay what the Italians do- and they will admire your audacity too.

Milan, as a big city, is filled with several different forms of fast-foods, from the foreign giants and national chains, to independently owned take-aways and sandwich bars. Most fast-food restaurants are found in the Duomo, Buenos Aires and central station areas, as these are the most crowded and busy ones in the city. In the Piazza Duomo and Galleria, one can find international fast-foods such as McDonald's and Burger King, but Italian chains of the Autogrill group such as Spizzico and Ciao and Autogrill can be found all over the city. There are several Ciao outlets in places such as no. 12 Corso Europa or no. 54 Via Montebianco, and for McDonald's, you get a restaurant in the Piazza del Duomo and Galleria, and also some in the Corso Buenos Aires, plus some others in places such as Corso Vercelli or Piazzale Lotto. Other fast-foods which can be found in Milan include Garbagnati (Cordusio metro station) which is a self-service restaurant and bakery, which has several vegetarian courses, or the Luini (Duomo metro station) which is a restaurant which is famous for making Southern Italian-style pieces of dough with mozzarella and tomatoes inside.

Although Milan cannot claim to be the birthplace of pizza, (that claim belongs to Naples), you can still find good pizzas in Milan. The best areas for pizza are near Via Marghera, and on the Navigli. Also the northeastern outskirts of the city have some good and non-touristy pizza places.

Expect to pay €8-15 for a pizza and a beer. In Milan, pizza is often eaten with a knife and fork, but of course eating with one's hands is possible and welcome. Most people do both.

Watch out for frozen pizza in Milan (it usually states it on the menu). Always check the restaurant has a wood burning oven and that they are using it.

Milan has established a local version of the Aperitivo or Happy Hour. Italians drink very moderately and "happy hour" is not a drinking, but a social event.

Roughly from 19:00 to 21:00, many bars offer drinks and cocktails at a fixed price (€5-8 each), accompanied by free all-you-can-eat buffets with snacks, pastas, and many other small appetizers. But be careful not to confuse "aperitivo" with "free dinner". It's a snack to be enjoyed with a drink. Italians will immediately see you as a buffoon- and it's seen as tacky to fill up on finger food for dinner, although it's common to spot them doing so.

A whole lot of these places can be found in Southern Milan. Another great area for aperitivo, not far from Duomo, is Corso Buenos Aires.

In summer enjoy gelato, excellent Italian ice cream. The quality mark gelato artigianale ("artisanal ice cream") indicates gelaterias that produce their own ice creams, without industrial processing.

Bakeries are open every day, you can enjoy great and inexpensive bread-related food, such as pizza and focaccia. You can find a bakery almost everywhere in Milan, even in the Duomo area, and is a good alternative to bars for a fast lunch.

Milan has a great variety of places where you can have fun. A great starting point is Corso Como, near Garibaldi Station, full of bars and glamorous clubs. In the summertime, this street is packed with young and attractive people.

Another place where you can go is the Navigli quarter, near Porta Ticinese Avenue and XXIV Maggio Square, where you can find a lot of small pubs, open air cafes and restaurants by the water canals (navigli). In many pubs and bars you can find a free booklet named Zero2 which is a guide to Milan Nightlife: if you don't know what to do or where to go, do grab one!

Other popular night spots with bars and people are Viale Monte Nero (on Wednesday it's packed with people in the piazza in front of a bar called "Momo"), and Piazzale Susa (and nearby Citta' Studi area). In the Centro Storico, nights are overwhelmingly crowded at the Colonne di San Lorenzo (not far from Navigli quarter), and in the cozy Latin-quarter of Brera. Another good spot is the pedestrian part of Corso Sempione near the Peace Arch (Arco della Pace).

There are bars and clubs open all week long but usually few people go out at night on Mondays or Tuesdays, the vast majority prefer to have fun on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. However, Wednesday night appears to be one of the coolest to go out in stylish VIP-frequented clubs.

Milan has an alternative club scene, with a few crews making electronic music parties outside clubs. Ultracheap, every time in a different location (lofts, warehouses, farms, pools, city parks) those kind of parties attract people aged 20–28. The biggest one is called RESET! and attracts 1500-2000 people once a month.

Main article: LGBT Milan

Although Milan has a variety of bars, clubs, restaurants and venues for gay and lesbian travellers, many only operate one night a week. Choosing from one of the "mainstays" listed in the district articles and asking anyone where to go should lead you in the right direction. Also, venues are not concentrated in one area of town, but rather spread throughout the city.

Foreign travellers are often confused by the ARCI card regime that is required for entry into many clubs. It's a relic from the times of police raids that has now conferred tax benefits on these private club owners. No need to fear—just show up and purchase one at any of the clubs. You must bring some ID or you cannot purchase one.

Open air meeting places such as Parco Nord, the gardens behind Cadorna station or Ortomercato are not recommended (criminals and hustlers). The safest way to cruise is to take the late night metro and get into the second-last coach, which is usually occupied by the gays and lesbians.

• 🌍 Plastic, Via Gargano, 15, Milano. a very special club, where he spent a lot of time from Andy Warhol to Giorgio Armani and Dolce e Gabbana. It is located in the coolest area of ​​the city, Milano Sud. (updated Jan 2021)
• Milano Pride. a parade and festival, is held at the end of June each year. (free). (updated Jan 2021)

• Austria, Piazza del Liberty 8/4, 20121 Milano (in Duomo quarter, 350 m (1,150 ft) from San Babila  1  4  or Duomo  1  3  station), ☏ +39 02 77 80 78-0, fax: +39 02 78 36 25, mailand-gk@bmeia.gv.at. M–F 09:00–12:00. 

• 🌍 France, Via Mangili, 1, 20121 Milan (in Porta Nuova quarter, 200 m (660 ft) from Turati  3  station; corner of via della Moscova and via Turati, in front of US consulate), ☏ +39 02 65 59 141. M Tu Th F 09:00–12:00, W 13:30–16:30. (updated Sep 2019)
• India, Piazza Paolo Ferrari, 8, 20121 Milano (in Scala quarter, 300 m (980 ft) from Cordusio  1  or 350 m (1,150 ft) from Duomo  1  3 ), ☏ +39 02 80 57 691, +39 02 86 53 37, fax: +39 02 72 00 2226, +39 02 86 45 1458. 
• Japan, Via Privata Cesare Mangili 2/4, 20121 Milano (in Porta Nuova quarter, 250 m (820 ft) from Turati  3  station), ☏ +39 02 624 1141, fax: +39 02 659 7201, info@ml.mofa.go.jp. MF 09:1512:15 & 13:3016:30. 
• Romania, Via Gignese 2, ☏ +39 02 4009 8207, +39 02 4007 4018, milano@mae.ro. (updated Dec 2021)
• Slovenia, Via San Senatore, 5, 20122 Milano (in Porta Romana quarter, 400 m (1,300 ft) from Missori  3  station), ☏ +39 02 481 7646, fax: +39 02 481 7646, consolatoslovenia.mi@alice.it. 
• United Kingdom, Via San Paolo, 7, 20121 Milan (in Duomo quarter, 400 m (1,300 ft) from Duomo  1  3  station), ☏ +39 02 723 001, fax: +39 02 864 65081, Milan.ConsularEscalations@fco.gov.uk. 
• United States (in Porta Nuova quarter, few meters from Turati  3  station).