Milan, Italy

• Milan mixes old and new - Renaissance palaces in Brera are a short walk from the glass towers around Porta Nuova. The coffee rules are real (cappuccino only before 11am), and aperitivo from 6-9pm is standard - you buy a drink and get access to buffet food at most bars.
• Eating or drinking alone won't get you weird looks here. English works fine in tourist areas and business districts, less so in residential neighborhoods. The main safety issues are pickpockets around the Duomo and Central Station, plus the usual tourist scams. Police are around, and 112 has English operators.
• The metro runs until midnight most nights, 2am on weekends. Night buses cover the routes after that. Central neighborhoods stay active late, but skip the area around Central Station at night, and avoid Corvetto, Rogoredo, and Quarto Oggiaro entirely.
• Milan is expensive compared to other Italian cities. The fashion culture is noticeable - people dress well even for everyday activities. August sees many restaurants and shops close for 2-3 weeks as locals leave for summer holidays.

Italian is the official language. English works in tourist areas (Duomo, Brera, Navigli, Porta Venezia), hotels, and upscale restaurants. The 112 emergency number has English operators. Tourist offices have multilingual staff. Police stations may have limited English - bring an Italian speaker for filing reports.

• People dress well here - you'll stand out in gym clothes or athletic wear. Jeans and a blazer work fine for most places. Churches require covered shoulders and knees.
• Coffee culture: cappuccino is a breakfast drink, don't order it after 11am. Lunch is 12-2pm, dinner starts after 7pm (8pm is more common). Aperitivo (6-9pm) means you buy a drink and get food from the buffet. Don't ask for cheese on fish dishes.
• English works in tourist areas and upscale places, less so elsewhere. Basic Italian helps (buongiorno, grazie, per favore). Greetings are handshakes or cheek kisses (left first) once you know someone.

The first hour after landing is when you're tired, carrying everything, and easiest to take advantage of. Three things to sort before you fly:

• Your ride from the airport. A driver who meets you in arrivals, at a price fixed before you fly — no haggling at the taxi rank.

  Book an airport pickup

• Data the moment you land. Maps, ride apps and a way to call for help as soon as you switch your phone on. An eSIM installs at home.

  Get a good eSIM

• The emergency number. European Emergency Number: 112. Save it in your phone, not just on this page.

  All emergency contacts

• Four metro lines (M1-Red, M2-Green, M3-Yellow, M5-Purple) run from 5:30am weekdays (6am Sundays) until midnight-12:30am. Night buses take over until 2am weeknights, all night Friday-Saturday. Single tickets are around €2.20.
• The city is phasing out paper tickets for RicaricaMi cards and contactless payment. Pickpockets work crowded buses and metro during rush hour - keep your bag closed and phone out of reach.
• Central areas are walkable - Brera to Duomo to Navigli is 20-30 minutes on foot. Taxis and Uber work fine, useful for late nights.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.

Explore Milan with local guides and curated experiences.