Language
Italian, with a Milanese accent. Italian is delightfully easy on the ear and relatively easy to learn. A few polite phrases might break the ice. Try Buongiorno (Good morning) or Bueno sera (Good evening). Come sta? (How Are You?) or Quanto costa? (How much?)
Currency And Tipping
The Italians use the Euro, made up of 100 cents. Tipping is not expected for all services, and rates are lower than those elsewhere. As a general guide, cabs: round up to the nearest 50 cents, porters: 1 Euro a bag. Restaurants are required by law to issue an official receipt to customers. Valued Added Tax (IVA) will be included in the bill, but service (servizio) may be added as an extra and in grander places there tends to be a cover charge (coperto) in addition to this. Even if you see the words Servizio compreso, a small tip is expected (say, a round-up to the nearest Euro). Check the menu and bill carefully.
Safety
Milan is generally safe, but take precautions. Pickpockets are the main worry so carry money and valuables in a belt or pouch, wear your camera and leave valuables and jewellery in the hotel safe. Beware of street scams involving seemingly well-meaning and well-dressed locals.
Weather
Like the whole of the River Po Basin, Milan has a continental climate, with fairly harsh winters and hot, muggy summers. The weather can change fairly rapidly, meaning that on any one day, variations in temperature can be considerable. The best times to visit are the spring and autumn (fall) when the average temperature lies between 59 and 66F (15-19C). During the summer, the city bakes in temperatures around 86F (30C). Like many other areas of the Po Plain, Milan can also get very misty in winter, with fogs lasting up to two or three weeks.
Getting Around
Milan is Italy’s business capital as well as host to major fashion and design shows and the transport system matches Milan’s international image. It’s slick, inexpensive and user-friendly. The bus and tram service (ATM: www.atm-mi.it/ATM/eng/) is fast and efficient. Tickets must be bought in advance at tobacconists (tabacchi) or news-stands and are valid for 75 minutes of travel. The Metropolitana Milanese (MM: urbanrail.net/eu/mil/milano) is the city’s subway and the best in Italy. It has four colour-coded lines which serve almost all the city and its outskirts. Trains run from about 6am until after midnight. Tickets are sold in stations, in most tobacconists and at news-stands. A single ticket costing 1 Euro allows transfer, within 75 minutes, between the different means of transport – bus, tram and metro. A one-day pass costs 3 Euros and a two-day 5.50 Euros. Milan’s distinctive white taxis can be hailed at any of the many designated ranks in the city. Travelling by cab tends to be relatively expensive with a minimum charge plus surcharges for extra luggage, night-time journeys (between 10pm and 7am) and travel on bank holidays. Although Milan is an easy city to navigate on foot, Italian drivers are infamously fast and furious, so take great care when crossing the road. Even when the light is green at a pedestrian crossing, take an extra look around. Parts of the city are, however, pedestrianised.
The travel agency Autostradale (www.autostradale.com) organises bus tours of Milan, lasting three hours and covering all the major sights. There’s also a hop-on, hop-off tour in a restored tram car (Tram Turistico) with an audio commentary in four languages – a great way to get to know the city a little better. A good website to pre-plan your visit is www.centroguidemilano.net
