Coffee is really good her, Italy is the home of espresso and cappucino, but the prices are a mere fraction of what you see at e.g. Starbuck’s. You can get your coffe exactly as you like it, baristas here are used to special requests.
We have lots of suggestions for where to drink your coffee in the different areas in Milan here.
Different prices
Most other places a cup of coffee costs the same whether you enjoy it standing up at the bar, sitting down inside or taking it outside at the tables in front of the café. It doesn’t work that way in the south of Europe.
The cheapest version of coffee is enjoyed at the bar standing up, but it can become quite costly if you would like to sit down and want it served at a table.
What to order
There are countless variations of coffee; an espresso can be lungo (long), ristretto (concentrated), macchiato (stained- with a drop of milk) macchiato caldo o freddo (with warm or cold milk), cappuccino with eiter cow milk, soy milk , oat milk, almond milk or rice milk. or would you like a cortado? Just ask for a marrocchino. Furhtermore there is the caffè corretto which is an espresso with a shot of grappa or liqueur in it.
You can also get a Latte macchiato, which is the closest you can get to a latte
During summer it is nice and refreshing to get an ice coffee or “caffè shakerato” (shaked coffee) instead of the traditional espresso. Prices depend on where you drink it and whether you stand or sit outdoors .
There is also Affogato (drowned) coffee, a coffe based dessert with a scoop of vanilla or tartufo ice cream “drowned” by a shot of espresso coffee.
Hot chocolate like you’ve never seen it before
Then there is Cioccolata calda con panna – hot chocolate with whipped cream, which is a very different drink from the one you are used to, in Italy it is a very dense drink, more like a hot chocolate mousse, it’s delicious but be prepared for the difference.
Oh, and by the way Barista is just Italian for bartender 🙂
The metro lines, buses, trams and the railway link
Milan has 5 metro lines plus a lot of buses and trams.
The metro lines that connect the rest of the city to and from Milan’s different stations and Linate airport are:
Central Station (Milano Centrale) – the green and yellow lines (M2 and M3)
Stazione Cadorna – the red and green lines (M1 and M2)
Stazione Garibaldi – the green and purple lines (M2 and M5)
Linate airport – the blue line (M4)
The map also shows where to change between the different lines.
Furthermore Milan has the Passante Railway, an underground railway which runs through Milan and connects to the metro lines at the stops Porta Garibaldi (M2 and M5),Repubblica (M3), Rogoredo (M3) and Porta Venezia (M1).
Tickets and payment
As of May 7th 2024 paper tickets are no longer available for purchase, instead you have to get the rechargeable plastic card RicaricaMi at metro stations either at the newsstands or at the automatic checkouts in the metro, the card is nonnominal, and you can upload up to 30 tickets for the same area, one 24-hour ticket, one 72-hour ticket or 5 carnets to it at a time – if you want to upload tickets for other areas you must either first finish all the tickets on your card or get another one. Each person over 14 years of age need their own card.
1 ticket is valid for 90 minutes inside Area 1 (white on the drawing above), which consists of 21 municpalities and has the codes Mi1-Mi3, on all means of transport including trains. If you wish to go beyond this area, the price increases area from Mi4 to Mi9. You can also buy a carnet with 10 tickets and get a small discount on the price for each ticket. Children under 14 travel for free. You can also get a 24-hour ticket and a 72-hour ticket.
Furthermore you can use your creditcard or your phone app to buy tickets both in the metro, directly at the turnstile, and on buses and trams , if you use the same card more than 3 times in a day your ticket is automatically converted into a 24-hour ticket, thus making it cheaper. Remember to use the same card you used to check in to check out again.
The public transport app
Get the official app for Milan’s public transport (ATM Milano Official App) – read more about it and find the link to download here.
If you’re in Milan for 72 hours or less and want to visit a lot of museums while here it is a good idea to buy the Milan city pass MilanoCard which allows you to use all public transport for free and gives a lot of discounts to museums and restaurants. You must order it online hereand then you can choose whether you want to receive as an email attacment or download the Milano Card app and activate it here, the links for download of the app are here.
To and from the airports – metro and train
If you’ve come to Milan by plane you’ve landed in either Linate, Malpensa or Orio al Serio. There are good connections with public transport from all three.
Linate is the airport closest to the city. Metro line 4 connects it to the city centre to metro stop San Babila where you can change to metro line 1.
Malpensa airport is about a 1-hour drive from Milan. You can either take the train (Malpensa Express) which goes to Cadorna in the center of Milan, a return ticket is cheaper than 2 one-way tickets, if you purchase it online, or you can take the Malpensa Shuttle, which brings you to the central station (Milano Centrale) here you also get a discount if you purchase a return ticket. We recommend that you take the shuttle at the weekend but the train during the week, because you risk getting stuck in traffic jams with the bus.
Departures from Milano Cadorna: first departing train 4.27 am, last departing train 23.27 pm. Trains run every 30 minutes Departures from Malpensa Terminal 2 – direction Milano Cadorna: first departing train 5.27 am last departing train 0.20 pm. Trains run every 30 minutes Departures from Malpensa Terminal 1 – direction Milano Cadorna: first departing train 5.43 am, last departing train 0.26 pm. Trains run every 30 minutes
If it’s summer, or really any time of the year, and you want a really great chocolate ice cream there is a great place very close to Cadorna station Chocolat Milano at 9, Via Bocaccio (find on map).
Departures from Milano Centrale are once an hour and run between Milano Centrale, Milano Porta Garibaldi, Milano Bovisa and Terminals 1 and 2at Malpensa, The first departing train from Milano Centrale is 5.35 am, last departing train 11.25 pm. The first departing train from Malpensa direction Centrale is 5.43 am, last departing train is 10.43 pm.
Orio al Serio is actually closer to Bergamo than Milan and it’ll take you about 50 minutes to get to Milan. There is a shuttle service which goes to Milan’s central station (Milano centrale). You can also take a the public transport bus (ATB) , which gets you to Bergamo central station in about 10 minutes and here you can get the train to Milan. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Take into account that it’s a better idea to take the train during the week, because of possible traffic jams.
If you want to book train tickets from home you do that here
As in every big city in the world you must keep an eye on backpacks and bags when in the metro, there are many pickpockets that operate there, taking advantage of the fact that it’s crowded. Don’t keep your backpack on your back. Hold it in front of you.
The Central station is another place to be extra vigilant; lots of pickpockets take advantage of visitors’ distraction; one trick, they often use, is to ask if you need help when buying tickets. Refuse politely, but firmly
Taxis to and from the airport
Taxis with fixed fares Of course you could also take a taxi.There are fixed fares from the airports
IMPORTANT: Watch out for illegal taxis – the legal ones are white and have the Comune di Milano coat of arms on their front doors.
If you need to call for a taxi and don’t speak Italian the easiest thing is to use the official app FreeNow. Read more about it and find the link for downloading it here.
If you speak Italian, the phone number is: +39024040
GoOpti Airport Transfer
If your plane lands or departs at an ungodly hour (you’re the judge of that) there is an alternative to public transport and taxis; the company GoOpti offers cheap rides between airiports or from your door step to the airport and vice versa. You can book either shared or private rides. The sooner you book the cheaper it is. Book here.
Car sharing to and from Malpensa airport
Another option to go to and from Malpensa airport are two of the car sharing companies; Free2move and Enjoy, you must get and park these cars at the specially designated areas in the parking lots Read more about them and get the link for downloads here.
Milan’s municipality offers free outdoor WiFi to residents and visitors – It is continually evolving and the areas that are covered (hotspots) are getting larger and larger.
There are no limits to how much data you can use per day when you are within reach of Milan’s excellente OpenWiFi.
You can log in with your email address and a password you create yourself. Read more here
The app WiFi Map tracks when you are within range of a WiFi hotspot.
Ferragosto is a very important holiday in Italy, but most big stores and restaurants in the center are open, however you have to book a table at the restaurants.
Ferragosto is a religious holiday celebrating the Assumption of Mary. According to Italians it is also the hottest day of the year and is celebrated with lots of good food and wine. Below is a list of things taking place on and around August 15th.
Canal tours on the Navigli
On August 13th, 14th and 15th in the Navigli area of Milan (find on map) you can go on the canal boat trips but you must book your seat by August 12th 5 p.m. (read more here).
Outdoor swimming pools
All the city’s other outdoor swimming pools are open on August 15th, read more about them here.
The Bagni Misteriosi (the outdoor swimmingpool in 18, Via Carlo Botta (find on map) is also open for aperitivo on August 15th 7-10.30 pm.
Museums
You can visit almost all museums and all the city’s civic museums free of charge on August 15th. Find out where they are here.
Note that Triennale offers free admission thorugh the entire month of August.
Restaurants
Book a table at Milan’s restaurants well in advance of August 15th because everybody wants to eat out on that day. Check out our recommendations here.
Events in red have yet to be confirmed, we are on it!
November 28th-December 1st
Fiera del Re Panettone / The King Panettone Fair
November 28th 4-8 pm, November 29th 10 am-8 pm and November 30th10 am-7 pm Milan’s traditional Christmas Cake is celebrated during this weekend at the Parco Esposizione Novegro (find on map) it is located an 11-minute walk from Linate airport metro stop (blue line).
Le Pulci Pettinate – The Combed Fleas
November 30th 10 am-8 pm Christmas Market at Salumeria del Design at 18, Via Stazio (find on map).
December 2nd-7th
Artigiano in Fiera – The Fair for Artisans
December 6th-14th from 10 am-10 pm we have the huge Fair for artisans – also get your free mandatory pass at this link – from all over Italy and the world, it is held at the Fair in Rho (find on map). You can get beautiful handmade Christmas gifts and taste culinary specialties from Italy and the rest of the world. In order to get a free ticket you must register on their website here, where you need to click on “Ottieni il tuo pass gratuiro” and enter your email address and choose a password, you then receice your pas which gives you access anytime during the fair.
Milan’s Christmas tree
December 7th-January 8th the traditional Milanese Christmas tree can be admired in Piazza Duomo (find on map) The lighting ceremony is on December 6th 5 pm. This year’s tree will be blue in honour of the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Fiera degli Obej Obej
December 7th-10th 8.30 am-9 pm in Piazza del Cannone (find on map) – behind Castello Sforzesco – there is the traditional market Fiera degli Obej Obej which dates all he way back to 1288 and is always held on the days around December 7th where the Milanese celebrate their patron saint Sant’Ambrogio – the day before the national holiday for the Immaculate Conception. The atmosphere is wonderful and there are lots of local specialties to taste like vin brulè (mulled wine) and chestnuts.The name Obej Obej originates according to tradition from the exclamations of the Milanese children “Obej, Obej” (dialect for oh belli,oh belli which means “How pretty!”) when they saw the gifts Pope Pio IV’s emissary brought to the city of Milan in 1510.
December 7th-8th 11.30 am-8.30 pm at Bagni Misteriosi at 18A, Via Carlo Botta (find on map). Entrance fee €5.
Portanuova Pop Xmas
December 7th-January 7th Portanuoava Pop Xmas in Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map) with stands, a 15 metre tall Christmas tree and Warner Music Italy stands for the soundtrack. There is also an ice skating rink – it opens on November 29tth.
December 8th-14th
Artigiano in Fiera – The Fair for Artisans
December 5th-13th from 10 am-10 pm we have the huge Fair for artisans – also get your free mandatory pass at this link – from all over Italy and the world, it is held at the Fair in Rho (find on map). You can get beautiful handmade Christmas gifts and taste culinary specialties from Italy and the rest of the world. In order to get a free ticket you must register on their website here, where you need to click on “Ottieni il tuo pass gratuiro” and enter your email address and choose a password, you then receice your pas which gives you access anytime during the fair.
December 11th-12th 12-7 pm Christmas market with live gospel music in collaboration with Blue Note Milano and holiday workshops for adults and children at BiM, 10, Viale Piero and Alberto Pirelli (find on map)
Saturday in Lambrate
December 13th 10 am-7 pm Christmas market at REDROOM, 9, Via Conte Rosso (find on map)
Green Christmas
December 13th 10 am-8 pm and December 14th 10 am-7 pm Green Christmas eco Christmas market with jewellery,clothes amd things for your home at Fonderia Napoleonica di Milano at 21, Via Thaon de Revl (find on map).
December 14th 9 am-8 pm Christmas party at Cascina Cuccagna, 2-4, Via Privata Cuccagna (find on map) Christmas market and different workshops, there will be food and wine.
December 20th-21st, artisinal Christmas market at BASE Milano (find on map).
Antiques Market at the Naviglio Grande
December 21st 8 am-6 pm, this market normally takes place on the last Sunday of every month but they have moved their Christmas edition up to before Christmas.
November 30th-January 6th Christmas market on Piazza Duomo (find on map) with crafts and gastronomic specialties from all over Italy. The market is open every day from 11 am.-8 pm.
Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie
November 15th-January 6th 10 am-9 pm “Il villaggio delle meraviglie” in the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli (find on map) for the youngest, there are rides, meetings with Santa (starting December 6th) and an Ice skating rink, where you can rent skates. Another popular feature is Christmas street food. There is an admissions fee, buy your tickets and book times for the skating rink here.
Christmas paintings
Free visit to Milan’s municipal Palace and paintings
December 3rd-January 11th 9.30 am-8 pm (last admission is at 7.30 pm) there is a free exhibit of The Crivelli Brothers’ painting “Monte San Martino Polyptych” at Palazzo Marino on Piazza della Scala (find on map)
Museo Diocesano’s Christmas Painting
October 28th 2025-February 1st 2026 you can see Lorenzo Lotto’s Nativity -from the 16th century, this is a Christmas event at Museo Diocesano (find on map)
Christmas Concerts
December 19th 8 pm Christmas Carol Show at the Auditorium La Verdi on Largo Gustavo Mahler (find on map), buy your ticket here.
December 12th 7.30 pm. free Christmas concert in Milan’s cathedral Duomo di Milano (find on map) admission to the concert is free but booking is oblgatory and you can do that here, from December 3rd at 5 pm – you need to be fast to get a seat.
January 6th 11.15 am this Procession of the Three Wise Men in costume from Piazza Duomo (find on map) to the church La Basilica di Sant*Eustorgio (find on map) is one of Milan’s oldest traditions.
Events witten in red have not yet been confirmed /or it’s not the season, either way we are on it!
Bagni Misteriosi
The season in Bagni Misteriosi, 18/A, Via Carlo Botta (find on map) starts on December 7th with a Christmas market and the beautiful floating ice skating rink. Between December 7th and 22nd opening hours are 10.30 am-8.30 pm only on the weekends + December 8th, which is a holiday, After Christmas the rink is open every day with the same opening hours as above.
Porta Venezia
Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie
Until January 6th at the Christmas village Il Villaggio delle Meraviglie inside the park Giardini pubblici Indro Montnelli (find on map) there is an ice skating rink open every day 10 am-9 pm, the price for skating includes rent of skates.
Piazza Città di Lombardia
02Ice
November 23rd-January 18th Milan’s largest indoor skating rink in Piazza Città di Lombardia (find on map). Opening hours can be found (in Italian) here.
Portanuova Pop Xmas – Let it Glow
November 29th-January 11th The Ice skating rink in Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map) is back!
Milan’s traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks display takes place on Piazza Castello (find on map) at midnight.
The evengt ends shortly after midnight once we’ve wished each other a happy new year.
Night clubs
Additionally there are the many clubs in Milan, which organize New Year’s Eve events, remember to book asap, tickets quickly sell out. You can read about them and get the links to their Instagram accounts here, as this is where you most often need to book your tickets.
Giardino dei Visionari (Garden of visionaries) – The magic forest
A big New Year’s party on December 31st 11 pm-5 am with DJ sets, a cosmic room and much more, read more about this event on their website where you also buy your ticket here. The event is held at Gate Milano at 21, Via Valtellina (find on map).
New Years with Gospel
Jazz club and restaurant Blue Note, at 37, Via Borsieri (find on map) features a gospel concert with the Harlem Gospel Choir and New Year’s Dinner here.
Package deals
You can also choose a package with hotel, restaurant and party here.
