Milan: know before you go

Milan has three airports and a giant central train station. Malpensa (MXP) is the main intercontinental hub, about 50 km northwest. Linate (LIN) sits just 7 km east of the center and is the closest, handling mostly European flights. Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) serves budget carriers and is about 45 km northeast. Milano Centrale is the main rail station, with high-speed connections to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Turin. From any of the three airports, you can reach the center in under an hour without a car.

Milan's transit network is run by ATM and covers the city with four metro lines, an extensive tram network, and buses. The historic trams are as much a sight as a way to get around: orange 1920s cars on routes like the 1 and the 5. The metro is fast and frequent; trams are slower but cover neighborhoods the metro misses. A single ticket works across all three modes within the Mi1–Mi3 zone, which covers everything a visitor is likely to need. Tap any contactless card or your phone at the turnstile or on-board reader; the system applies the cheapest fare automatically.

The tourist tax in Milan is a per-person, per-night charge added to your accommodation bill at check-out. It applies to everyone 18 and older and is not included in most online booking prices, so budget for it separately. The city raised rates in 2025 using a provision tied to the Jubilee year, and another increase is planned for 2026 ahead of the Winter Olympics. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere in Milan, though small bars and market stalls may have a minimum (usually €5 or €10).

Milan is a safe city for visitors. Violent crime is rare. The issue to watch for is pickpocketing, especially in crowded places: Milano Centrale station, the metro at rush hour, the Duomo square, and on the M1 and M3 lines. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you, and do not accept unsolicited help at ticket machines; scammers hang around Centrale and Duomo stations offering to assist, then demand money or lift your card. At night the center, Brera, and the Navigli are busy and well lit. Avoid the area directly around Centrale after dark, and steer clear of Quarto Oggiaro, Corvetto, and Barona, which have little for a visitor anyway.

Milan's tap water is clean, regularly tested, and safe to drink. You can refill a bottle at any of the city's public drinking fountains. Pharmacies (farmacia) are plentiful and marked by a green cross; they rotate night and weekend hours, and every pharmacy posts the nearest one that is open outside normal times. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is accepted at public hospitals, but travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Milan has good 4G and 5G coverage across the city. Free WiFi is common in hotels, cafes, and at the main stations. The city also runs a public WiFi network called "Open WiFi Milano" with hotspots in the center and at major transport hubs. If you need a local SIM, TIM, Vodafone, and WindTre shops are everywhere; bring your passport, as it is required by Italian law to register a SIM.

Milan is Italy's most dress-conscious city. Locals dress sharply even for a grocery run, and you will feel out of place in sportswear at a restaurant in the evening. Aperitivo is the city's daily ritual: buy a drink between about 6 and 9 p.m. and you get access to a buffet of snacks. It is not a full dinner unless you pay for it, but at many bars it is substantial enough to replace a light meal. At a proper restaurant, bread is brought to the table without asking and a cover charge (coperto, usually €2 to €4) appears on the bill. Tipping is not expected; rounding up or leaving a euro or two for good service is appreciated but never required. On the metro, let passengers exit before you board, and stand on the right on escalators.

Italian is the official language, and in Milan you will hear a fair amount of the Milanese dialect among older locals, though everyone speaks standard Italian. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants in the center, and at major sights, but less so in neighborhood trattorias and shops outside the tourist core. A few Italian phrases go a long way: "buongiorno" (good morning), "grazie" (thank you), "per favore" (please), and "il conto, per favore" (the bill, please). Milanese are direct and move fast; a brusque exchange is not rudeness, just pace.

Milan's newer metro lines (M4 and M5) are fully accessible with step-free access and level boarding. The older M1, M2, and M3 lines have elevators at many but not all stations; check the ATM website or app for real-time elevator status before you travel. Trams are a mixed bag: the modern low-floor trams are wheelchair accessible, but the iconic orange 1920s trams are not. The historic center has cobblestone streets in places like Brera and around the Navigli, which can be challenging for wheelchairs and strollers. Most major museums, including the Duomo (with a ramp entrance on the south side), Castello Sforzesco, and the Pinacoteca di Brera, have accessible entrances and elevators.

Milan's own public holiday is December 7, the feast of Sant'Ambrogio, the city's patron saint. Schools and many offices close, and the day is marked by the opening of the opera season at La Scala, a major social event. Shops in the center generally stay open, but neighborhood businesses may shut. During Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week, usually in April), the city is packed and hotel prices can triple; it is not a holiday, but it affects the city more than one. For national holidays that affect the whole country, see the Italy country guide.

A few Milan sights sell out weeks in advance, and showing up without a ticket means you will not get in. The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano) is the tightest ticket in town; reservations open in blocks and vanish within hours. The Duomo rooftop terraces are best booked ahead to skip the long ticket-office queue, especially in high season. La Scala opera and ballet tickets go on sale months before performances and sell quickly for popular productions. If you want to see the Brera Pinacoteca or the Museo del Novecento on a free-first-Sunday, arrive early. For design fans, Salone del Mobile events require separate registrations and often fill up. Book hotel rooms early if your dates overlap with Fashion Week, Design Week, or a major trade fair at Fiera Milano Rho.