10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO MILAN

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This guide of tips for traveling to Milan It will help you prepare a getaway to the city of Italian fashion, making the most of your time.
With an impressive mix of styles, this city has in its small old town, a great historical-cultural heritage, in which the Duomo and the fresco of The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci and exclusive shops and stores, which allow visitors to enjoy many of the pleasures of travelers.
In addition, its location in the north of the country in the beautiful region of Lombardy, allows you to make some excursion to the wonders that are closer like Lake Como or the Swiss Alps, among many others.

Based on the time we spent in the city during our trip to Milan and Bergamo, we have made this list of 10 essential tips for traveling to Milan. We start!

1. What is the best time?

The best time to make a trip to Milan They are the seasons of spring and autumn, when the temperature is pleasant and the parks look splendid. At this time the famous Milan fashion week is also celebrated during which the city is transformed to receive celebrities and designers and although prices tend to be much higher, it can also be a good time if you are interested in this topic .
Summer is undoubtedly the worst time, since the city does not have the sea nearby that lowers the sweltering heat, which can reach over 40 degrees and even some shops and restaurants close due to this embarrassment and the low presence of tourists .
Winter is also one of the worst moments because it has few hours of light and it is very cold, with temperatures below 0 degrees that make walking in the city somewhat difficult.

2. Entry requirements

For travel to MilanIf you are from Spain or another country of the European Union, you only need to show your ID or Passport. If you are not an EU citizen, you may need to obtain a visa, depending on the relationship between both countries. In this case, we always recommend consulting online or calling the Italian Embassy or the Foreign Ministry of your country, to find out exactly what the mandatory documents are.

Another of the very advisable requirements if you are a citizen of the U.E., is to carry the European Health Card. The holder of this card has the right to receive the health benefits that are necessary from a medical point of view, during the stay in any country of the European Union.
In spite of this, if you are not from an EU country or want to have a wider coverage in which cases such as repatriation are included, we recommend you to take a good travel insurance to Europe to have the best medical care in case of be necessary.

We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.

3. How to go from Milan airport to downtown?

Milan has three airports to access the city: Malpensa located 50 kilometers away, Linate 10 kilometers away and Bergamo 45 kilometers away, all of which are very well connected by public transport with the Milan Central Station.

Malpensa: It has the Malpensa Express train that for 13 euros will take you to the city, the Terravision bus and the Malpensa Shuttle for 10 euros that you can book here, the taxi that costs about 100 euros and this comfortable private transfer.
Linate: bus lines 73 and X73 will take you to the center for 1.50 euros, the taxi for about 35 euros and you also have the private transfer service.
Bergámo: It has the Terravision and Orio Shuttle bus companies that cost 5 euros that you can book here, the train that leaves from Bergamo station for 7 euros, the taxi that costs 100 euros and the private transfer.

You can find all these options in this post on how to get from Milan airport to downtown.

Milan

4. Where to sleep?

If you go to travel to Milan In the best months of spring or autumn, it is advisable to book the hotel several months in advance to find the best price and have the best offer to choose from.

Our favorite area to stay in Milan is around the Central Train Station, since you have good communication with the airport by bus and train and with the historic center, by subway or walk (25 minutes).
We stayed at the Andreola Central Hotel, located 200 meters from the central train station and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city. In addition to its excellent location, the hotel offers comfortable and spacious rooms, a 24-hour reception and a varied and quality breakfast.
The most expensive sleeping area is the historic center, where hotels do not usually go below 120 euros per night although you have the advantage of being able to reach all the tourist attractions of the city on foot and in a few minutes.
Other places in the city with more affordable accommodation prices are the charming Brera neighborhood, located 10 minutes walk from the center and the Navigli canal district, which has a great offer in restaurants and places to go out at night.
If you prefer to sleep in a quieter area we recommend the surroundings of the Sempione Park, located near the historic center and with several metro stations.

You can use this recommended search engine to find your hotel at the best price.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

5. How to get around when traveling to Milan?

If you have booked a hotel in the historical center of the city, between Piazza del Duomo and Sforzesco Castle, you can reach all the tourist attractions of the city on foot.
If you are staying in more remote areas of the center or want to visit neighborhoods like Navigli, located about 20 minutes walk, it is advisable to use the cheap and efficient public transport of Milan, especially the 4 metro lines that cover all points of the city with a schedule between 06h and 00: 30h.
Another good option if you do not want to get off the subway is to use the historic trams that run through the center and remember that there are night buses when the subway and the tram are not operational.
Tickets can be purchased at subway, kiosk and tobacconist stops, being valid for all public transport in the city and the price of a single ticket is 1.5 euros, the 24-hour ticket costs 4.50 euros and the 48 hours out for 8.25 euros.
Another alternative is to buy 10 simple tickets for 13.80 euros in case this option fits you more per number of trips.

If you do not have much time you can book the Milan tourist bus that stops at the main points of interest in the city and has comments recorded in Spanish.

Use the tram when traveling to Milan

6. Tourist attractions

Prior to travel to Milan It is important to make a list of all the places you want to visit and the experiences you want to enjoy, so you don't miss anything.
Among the most famous places in Milan, stands out above all, the Duomo or the Cathedral of Milan, one of the most beautiful in the world. In addition to visiting its interior, we recommend you book this entrance to the cathedral with access to the terrace without queues, to enjoy fantastic views and above all save time due to the long lines that usually form.
Next to the cathedral is the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, another of the wonders of the city, full of historic shops and stores, which you cannot miss.
In addition to the places mentioned above in the city center there is also the exclusive Quadrilatero d'Or, formed by 4 streets where the most luxurious and well-known shops are located in addition to Piazza Mercanti, the La Scala Theater and the Sforzesco Castle, with Several museums inside.
After these visits and to rest for a while, we recommend taking a walk through the Sempione Park, located right next to the castle and considered one of the lungs of the city.

After this break, you cannot miss other of our favorite visits to Milan, the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the fresco of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.
To see this painting, which had a great role in the book and the film The Da Vinci Code, you can book this visit in Spanish that will allow you to know the history of the painting or this offer that also includes a guided tour in Spanish through the city.
Remember that due to its success it is necessary to book well in advance, since it is practically impossible to find last minute tickets.

In the afternoon we recommend you to stroll through the picturesque neighborhood of Brera and Navigli, which stands out for its two large channels surrounded by terraces where you can make this 50-minute cruise on the Navigli canals.

If after these visits you have time we recommend you take the subway to reach the Monumental Cemetery, an incredible open-air museum, which we are sure, will be the perfect complement to everything seen before.

Another of the best tips for traveling to Milan is to complete this list of the places to visit in Milan essential and this one of the best things to do in Milan.

7. Routes through the city

A weekend trip to Milan It is enough to see all the most important places in the city, being as we said before, most concentrated in the historic center. Likewise, it is also important to keep in mind before leaving the hotel, to have clear routes on foot through the city to make the most of the time.

If this is your first time in the city, a great way to learn about the history of the city and its anecdotes is to book this free tour of Milan Free!, Considered one of the best free tours in Milan.

Based on our experience in the city, we have made these routes optimized according to the days you have:

Sforzesco Castle

8. Where to eat?

One of the best reasons for travel to Milan It is to try the delicious Italian cuisine, one of the best in the world. Some of the most typical dishes are:

Risotto alla milanese: risotto with a stir-fried bacon and seasoned with grated Parma cheese and saffron.
Ossobuco alla milanese: a stew prepared with a jar of veal.
Carpaccio: slices of raw meat or fish, seasoned with oil and lemon.
Vitello Tonnato: Veal with a sauce made from cooked egg yolks, tuna, vegetable oil and anchovies.
Caprese salad: tomato salad with mozzarella cheese.
Prosciutto: slices of serrano ham that are eaten with bread.
Cotoletta alla milanese: Veal schnitzel with double breaded.
Tiramisu: homemade dessert based on coffee, sponge cake and mascarpone cheese.
Amaretti: almond cookies.

To finish the meal nothing better than a shot of limoncello or amaretto, the favorite drink of the Milanese, made with almonds.

Among the most recommended restaurants in the city to try these typical dishes, you have: Chiosco Squadre Calcio, Il Politico, Altra Pasta, Piz, Taglieri e Bicchieri, Nabucco, Il Vinaccio, El Barbapedana, Ciaccia Coi Ciccioli and the ice cream parlors of Ciacco or Venchi,

Carpaccio

9. Tours and excursions

Once you have made all the visits to the city, if you still have time, we recommend you complete the trip with one of the best excursions from Milan.
These day tours will allow you to know some of the most essential places to see in Italy such as Lake Como, Cinque Terre or the Swiss Alps.

The first recommended excursion to travel to Milan It is the visit to the beautiful Lake Como, surrounded by mountains with picturesque villages and luxurious villas located on the banks.
To get to the lake, if you don't want to rent a car, you can get on a train at the Central Station that will take you to the city of Como in an hour. From this city you can take a boat to reach the most beautiful villages such as Bellagio and Varenna and the luxurious villas of Balbianello and Carlota.
Another more comfortable option is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish by bus and that includes the lake cruise.
For more information you can read this post on how to go from Milan to Lake Como.

The second proposal is a fantastic trip on the Bernina Express, a panoramic train of more than 100 years that reaches the alpine landscapes of Switzerland.
To catch this train you have to arrive by car or public transport to the town of Tirano, where the tour begins. Another more comfortable way that includes transportation to Tirano and Bernina Express train tickets is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish.

The last excursion that we propose is the visit to the 5 villages of Cinque Terre, five picturesque villages located between cliffs, are on all the lists of the most beautiful in the world.
To reach all the places to see in Cinque Terre, if you don't have a car, you can take a 3-hour train to La Spezia and from there take another local train that runs through the villages.
Another easier way is to book this bus tour with a guide in Spanish that includes a cruise to see the villages from the best perspective.

Lake Como

More tours and excursions in Milan here

10. More tips for a trip to Milan

Other of the most important tips for traveling to Milan are:

If you are hungry and do not want to wait for dinner, nothing better than having the typical Italian snack (buffet + drink), in one of the many bars that offer it.
The historic center has a free Wi-Fi service called "Open Wifi Milano", a great option if you don't have roaming and don't want to buy a SIM card.
Although Milan is a safe city, watch your belongings when you visit the busiest places like the Duomo, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
If you also want to travel to Milan, get to know other regions of the country, we recommend following this list of tips for traveling to Italy.
Learn some Italian words like Buon giorno (hello formal), ciao (hello and informal goodbye), prego (you're welcome), per favor (please), bene (good), grazie (thank you), non lo so ( I don't know), scusa (sorry) and non capisco (I don't understand).

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Do you want to organize a trip to Milan?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Milan here
The best hotels at the best prices in Milan here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Milan in Spanish here
Book your Airport⇆Milán transfer here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
10 essential places to see in Bergamo
How to go from Milan to Venice
Rent your car in Italy at the best price here