Milan Short Stay Guide — Essential Tips for Visitors
Everything you need to know before your trip: weather, transport, food, money, and practical advice for a smooth visit.
Planning a short stay in Milan? This guide covers the practical essentials — from the best time to visit to how the metro works, what to eat, and how much to tip. Whether you're here for a weekend getaway, a football match at San Siro, or a quick business trip, these tips will help you hit the ground running.
Best Time to Visit Milan
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots. Temperatures are comfortable (15–25 °C), the city is lively, and you'll enjoy long daylight hours without the summer heat.
Summer (July–August) can be brutally hot, with temperatures regularly hitting 35 °C. Many locals leave the city in August, so some smaller shops and restaurants close. On the plus side, you'll find fewer crowds at major attractions.
Winter (November–March) is cold and often foggy — Milan's famous nebbia. Temperatures hover around 0–8 °C, but the city has a cozy charm with Christmas markets, La Scala's opera season in full swing, and significantly fewer tourists. If you don't mind bundling up, winter can be an excellent time to visit.
Weather Overview by Season
- Spring: 12–24 °C, occasional rain. Pack layers and a light jacket.
- Summer: 25–35 °C, humid. Bring light clothing, sunscreen, and a hat.
- Autumn: 10–22 °C, increasingly rainy. An umbrella and medium layers.
- Winter: 0–8 °C, fog and occasional snow. Warm coat, scarf, and waterproof shoes.
Language
The official language is Italian. In tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, you'll find English widely spoken — especially by younger staff. In residential neighborhoods like San Siro, less so. Learning a few basics goes a long way:
- Buongiorno — Good morning / Hello
- Grazie — Thank you
- Per favore — Please
- Scusi — Excuse me
- Quanto costa? — How much does it cost?
- Il conto, per favore — The bill, please
Italians genuinely appreciate even small attempts to speak their language. A buongiorno when entering a shop will earn you a smile every time.
Money & Currency
Italy uses the Euro (€). Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted — even at small shops and cafés. Contactless payments are standard. You'll rarely need cash, but it's handy for small purchases at market stalls or tipping.
ATMs (bancomat) are everywhere. Use those attached to banks to avoid high fees from independent machines.
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory in Italy, and there's no expectation of American-style percentages. Service charge (coperto) is usually included in your restaurant bill (€1.50–3 per person). If you want to show appreciation, simply round up the bill or leave a euro or two. For exceptional service, 5–10% is generous.
Safety
Milan is a very safe city for visitors. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. Use normal big-city precautions: watch your bags on crowded metro trains, keep valuables in front pockets, and be wary of distraction scams near the Duomo and Stazione Centrale. Walking at night is generally safe in most neighborhoods, including San Siro.
Tourist Tax (Tassa di Soggiorno)
Milan charges a tourist tax of €9.50 per person per night (2026 rate for short-term rental apartments). This is paid directly to your host, not included in booking platform prices. Children under 18 are exempt. The tax applies for the first 14 nights of your stay.
SIM Cards & Connectivity
If you need a local SIM card, the three main providers — TIM, Vodafone, and WindTre — all have shops at Milan's airports and throughout the city. Tourist SIM packages with 50–100 GB of data typically cost €10–20 and last 30 days. Bring your passport for registration (required by law).
EU visitors can use their home SIM with roaming at domestic rates. Free Wi-Fi is available at airports, many cafés, and in our apartments.
Power & Plugs
Italy uses Type L (three-pin in a row) and Type F (Schuko) power outlets at 230V, 50Hz. If you're coming from the UK, US, or Australia, you'll need an adapter. Most modern Italian sockets accept Type C (Europlug) as well. Our apartments provide adapters on request.
Getting Around Milan
Milan's public transport is excellent and affordable. The system is run by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) — not to be confused with cash machines!
Metro
Five lines cover the city: M1 (red), M2 (green), M3 (yellow), M4 (blue), and M5 (lilac). The M5 runs directly through San Siro and connects to Garibaldi station, CityLife, and the Duomo area within 15 minutes. Trains run from approximately 5:30 AM to midnight (1:30 AM on weekends).
Trams & Buses
Milan's iconic orange trams are both transport and sightseeing. Buses fill the gaps between metro lines. A single ticket (€2.20) is valid for 90 minutes across metro, trams, and buses.
ATM App
Download the ATM Milano app to buy tickets, plan routes, and check real-time departures. You can also tap contactless cards directly at metro turnstiles.
Tip: If you're staying more than a day, buy a 24h pass (€7.60) or 48h pass (€13.80) for unlimited travel.
Eating in Milan
Food in Milan follows a rhythm, and knowing it will improve your experience enormously:
- Colazione (breakfast): Light — a cappuccino and cornetto (croissant) at the bar, standing up. €2–3 total. Don't order cappuccino after 11 AM (Italians consider it a breakfast drink).
- Pranzo (lunch): Usually 12:30–14:00. Many restaurants offer a menu del giorno (daily menu) for €10–15 with primo, secondo, and water.
- Aperitivo: Milan's signature ritual, from 18:00–21:00. Order a Spritz, Negroni, or Campari (€8–12) and enjoy a generous buffet or plate of snacks included in the price. In many places, aperitivo is dinner. The Navigli and Brera neighborhoods are famous for this.
- Cena (dinner): From 20:00 onwards. A full dinner at a trattoria runs €25–40 per person with wine. Milan's specialties include risotto alla milanese (saffron risotto), cotoletta alla milanese (breaded veal cutlet), and ossobuco.
What to Pack
- All seasons: Comfortable walking shoes (Milan's sidewalks are unforgiving), a crossbody bag, and a universal power adapter.
- Spring/Autumn: Layers, a light waterproof jacket, an umbrella.
- Summer: Light breathable clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, a refillable water bottle (Milan's public fountains — vedovelle — have excellent water).
- Winter: A proper warm coat, scarf, gloves, and waterproof boots. Milan's damp cold cuts through thin layers.
- For events: If attending a match at San Siro or a concert, check the events calendar for any specific entry requirements.
Quick Reference
- 🇮🇹 Language: Italian (English widely understood in tourism)
- 💶 Currency: Euro (€) — cards accepted almost everywhere
- 🔌 Plugs: Type L/F, 230V
- 🚇 Metro: 5 lines, runs 5:30 AM – midnight
- 🏷️ Tourist tax: €9.50/person/night (under-18 exempt)
- 🍸 Aperitivo: 18:00–21:00, snacks included with your drink
- 📱 SIM: TIM, Vodafone, WindTre — €10–20 for tourist package
- 🚨 Emergency: 112 (universal EU emergency number)