At the very first glance Milan displays its proclivity for everything flashy – fashion, food, business and even the city attractions. Milan believes in living life king size and this gregarious attitudes makes this wonderful city one of the most traveled destinations in the world. It may not have the heritage of restaurant or the renaissance beauty of Florence, but it has that lifestyle that simply grabs you. One visit is never enough and people come here over and over for there is always something that got left out the last time around.

The city of Milan

Situated on the plains of the Po valley, Milan is Italy’s second largest country and the unofficial capital. It seduces visitors with its curious and engaging mix of the old and the new, of uber-chill, sober mornings and raucous night life. if there is the Duomo to be marveled at there is also the high street, designer labeled fashion that has an eye on the future. Money speaks loudest in Italy’s “Poster Boy”, creativity is all- pervasive and that is why Milan is the creative capital of Europe.

As a literal gateway between continents, Malpensa sees millions of passengers every year and tourist traffic to the city is always an astronomical figure. If people are not there for business, they are on a shopping spree and there is always a large bunch that arrives for the lure of all the architecturally superior monuments, for Da Vinci’s Last Supper and for Michelangelo’s last sculpture.

Whatever addiction is dragging you to Milan, beware that it’s not a city easy to let go and there would always be a second time. For the first timers – we are peeling the layers here.

The Milan Yarn

Remnants of Mediolanum

Milan was founded by a group of meandering Insubri Celts who claimed the land as their own somewhere around 400 B.C. They of course had to work at the Etruscans who were the original settlers but were by now in decline. The city was ultimately conquered by the Romans in 222 BC and names Mediolanum. There were the usual attempts at rebellion by the Gauls, but the Romans finally claimed the territory and it became a permanent Latin colony in 89 B.C. eventually being promoted to the status of the regional capital in 15 B.C. The Romans kept a tight hold over the city for its superior strategic position and Mediolanum acquired the name “Roma secunda”. After 313 A.D., the year in which the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Tolerance towards Christianity, the city saw the construction of many churches and the appointment of its first bishop - Bishop Ambrose who was influential enough to have the Church be named the Ambrosian Church.

Milan’s fortunes fell with the fall of the Roman Empire, Milan came into the hands of the blood-thirsty Barbarians, until it was conquered by the Longobards, better known as Lombards, in 569 A.D. Towards the end of the 8th century, the bishops managed to use the influence to full extent, forcing an alliance with the emperors: Ottone of Saxony, who was crowned King of Italy in the Church of Sant’Ambrogio, made this power even more legitimate.

In the first half of the year 1000, The Archbishop of Milan saw his political powers rise high enough to make him the most powerful political figure in the whole of Northern Italy. However, this was not a very happy situation for the populace and eventually, after a series of political ups and downs, Milan became a Commune in 1117 AD, freeing itself from the Archbishop. This new event gave Milan the confidence to expand its territories by declaring war on other municipalities in the nearby area. During this period the city was governed by democratic laws and built the Palazzo della Ragione as a seat of its political self-rule.

This was also the time when an attempt was made by Frederick I of Swabia to take over the city. This gave rise to the birth of the Lombard League, which fought for the city’s independence, and which ended in 1176 after the defeat of Barbarossa. From 1200 onwards, Milan’s fortunes saw a steady rise as it became an increasingly important city. The city converted from a Commune to a Seigniory, the city walls were extended, new buildings were built and roads were paved. A period of wealth and splendor began when the Visconti family, seigniors of Bergamo, Cremona, Piacenza, Brescia and Parma came to power in 1300. Milan saw the building of opulent monuments like the famous Duomo in 1386, which soon became the city’s symbol. The Sforza family took over from the Viscontis, and with them they brought peace after many years of warring against Venice and Florence.

The Sforza family's rule coincided with the Renaissance period in Italy and during Francesco's rule the city saw a golden era; the city was transformed into a powerful metropolis, building among other things the Castello Sforzesco (left) and the Ospedale Maggiore (now Ca' Granda). Also built during these years were the Castle and the Duomo along with the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Under the Sforza duchy the city also saw development in the sciences, arts and architecture. Ludovico Sforza proved to be a good ruler encouraging agricultural development and the silk industry and for patronizing architects like Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci to his court, making the city one of Italy's great centers of art and culture.

Two hundred years of Spanish rule started when Charles V came to the throne in 1535. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Austrians arrived in Milan and the city underwent a deep cultural changed under its new rulers; the La Scala Theater – where Giuseppe Verdi made his debut – was built, together with many neoclassical buildings and the Arco Della Pace. In 1859, the Austrians were driven out of Milan and the city was annexed to the Kingdom of Piedmont, which subsequently became the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Milan was immediately chosen as the economic and cultural capital of Italy, and has maintained this title up to modern days.

Spring, summer or when you can

The foggy cold winters and the hot and humid summers give Milan the same curious mix that defines everything else in the city. Blessed with a classic Mediterranean weather, the city is saved from the scathing Arctic chills by the mountains to the north but some just slip through the cracks, so watch out for this icy sabers. Summers almost always bring heat waves that get you all hot and bothered under the collar and the soggy, humid August is powerful enough to even drive the locals out.

That said the best time to get to Milan is springtime. You could also give early summer and autumn a shot for their mild weather. In the end, if you cut the summer months out, Milan is a welcoming place full of things to do and shops to explore, nearly all of the year… take your pick!

Flying on Wings

Milan has long been a crossroads for travel between the continent and the peninsula, and there are plenty ways to get in here. One of the easiest and least time consuming ways to get to Milan is by air and the first you would see of the city would be Malpensa airport (left) that handles almost all international flights. Malpensa is about 50km northwest of the city and well linked to the city center by the Malpensa Express train that connects it to Stazione Nord.

Train lines from Stazione Central (below, right) in Piazza Duca d'Aosta in the city centre run to all parts of Italy and Europe. There are two other stations, Nord and Porte Garibaldi, which may offer better deals. Trains run to destinations like Venice, Florence, Genoa and Turin in Italy as well as to most of the major cities in the continent.

If you are traveling from the mainland continent to the Italian peninsula, getting in by bus affords you great views of the country. However, the situation can quickly turn messy if you don’t know which bus station you would want to get in since they are scattered across the city. Driving in to the city always carries the risk of getting entangled on the roads, with special focus on Milan's ring road as well as having to face rage- happy drivers.

Legs or Wheels?

How to get about the city

Milan is a sprawling metropolis, but most of its attractions are concentrated in the city centre, between the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco. The Duomo is the best place to begin exploring the city and is within strolling distance of dozens of historic sites. Although, the city's efficient underground railway, the Metropolitana Milanesa (MM) has a stop here, walking around for sight seeing is a plum idea.

However, if you want to also go to the Brera area north of the Duomo or Navigli to the south, you might do well with a cab. Here’s a big hint – keep your pride and dignity intact by not trying to hail one off the street – they royally ignore you. Instead, go to a taxi rank and get one from there. The big relief here is that Milan has a fantastic public transport system; efficient and punctual. Make good use of the service by taking a bus ride across longer distances. ATM operates an efficient bus system working along side the underground rail and tickets are valid for up to 75 minutes travel on buses and trams. You can easily buy tickets at underground stations, tobacconists and newspaper stands.

Driving around is a big hassle since parking is hard to find, limited to just two hours and expensive. Driving works only if you plan to visit attractions outside the city. A better way to move around the city without tiring out your tootsies is to hire a bicycle for a few euros a day. Do remember that you would still have to navigate through all the traffic.

The underground rail comes up tops in the whole array, is quick and efficient. Run by ATM, the underground consists of four underground lines (red MM1, green MM2, yellow MM3 and blue Passante Ferroviario and can take you places faster.

Hunting for the perfect room

Hunting for that ‘just right’ room in Milan is not difficult if money is no object. However during the time Milan goes berserk with major trade fairs and the Milan Fashion Week, not a room can be had for love or money, unless you had booked in advance.

Milan spoils one rotten for choices when it comes to a decent place to sleep for since nearly all hotels – luxury or budget (of which there are few in this Mecca of the Sybarites) – are top drawer in terms of service, efficiency and ambience. So, if you can play around with the ol’ inheritance, pick the ultra- luxurious Bulgari (via Fratelli Gabba, €550), if old-world charm is what you are looking for then your eye would undoubtedly settle on Antica Locanda dei Mercanti (via San Tomaso €150-€275) and the London (via Rovello €100-€150). Another one on your list of probables should be the uber-chic The Chedi Milan. A gem with a surprisingly refreshing Asian flavor, this one has Indonesian-inspired interiors and mouth watering delicacies from India and Thailand.

The Ariston (largo Carrobbio €230) is one for the eco-conscious and the Gran Duca di York (via Moneta from €110) is well suited for those who want to waste no time commuting to all the city attractions in the center of town. Another place worth exploring is the Antica Locanda Solferino (via Castelfidardo €190-€220) that is chic, exudes charm and usually houses a set of gregarious (okay noisy) travelers making the most of what Milan has to offer.

Another gamut of five-star and four-star luxury hotels in Milan runs from the Carlton Hotel Baglioni to the Sheraton Diana Majestic Hotel. In between you can choose from The Four Seasons Milan, Grand Hotel Brun, Grand Hotel Duomo, Hotel Pierre, Melia Milano Hotel & Convention Center, Park Hyatt Milan, The Westin Palace Milan, Brunelleschi Hotel Milano and Le Meridian.

The easier on the pocket options aren’t many but the best of the lot are: Bed and bread, Foresteria Monforte, the Milan Inn and Althea.

Shopping is hard work and especially in Milan where there is a boutique or store worth exploring where ever you look. And hard work makes you hungry! So its no surprise that the city has very discreetly added new eateries to its market-scape every year and now there are so many excellent places to eat that it becomes tougher than shopping when it comes down to pin pointing your lunch place. But, don’t you worry, for we have simplified the process by outlining some of the best restaurants for you to make reservations at.

Cracco Peck: Get some great starters, mains and scrumptious desserts at Milan’s best restaurant. Close to the Duomo, it is the perfect place for a fine dinner after a day of sight seeing. (Pic right)

Don Carlos: Don Carlos is the one place to go to when you want a mouth watering six-course tasting menu in the midst of a dreamy early 19th century ambience. Watch out for the little shaded lamps illuminating original prints and sketches from early opera productions at La Scala and some of the best Italian food.

IL Luogo di Aimo e Nadia: Aimo e Nadia has been serving up flavorful Italian ingredients, prepared with an artful simplicity, for almost three decades. The pasta dishes are to die for and the ambience makes the experience richer by half.

Armani/Nobu: Housed in the giant white stone Armani World on Via Manzoni, Nobu is where the pipe-thins and the fashionistas go to when the washboard body demands more than nicotine and H2o. Sink your teeth into famous dishes like black cod in miso sauce as well as sushi and sashimi; sip sake with everything and come back feeling oh-so-satiated.

Marino alla Scala: This first-floor restaurant above the designer ground-floor shop and cafe is situated in a Truddardi-owned palazzo. Situated on the shoulder of the famous La Scala opera house, Marino alla Scala is famous for its fish and vegetable specialties.

Along with the luxurious designer restaurants, Milan does the budget eating out routine just as well. Try Anema e Cozze for its tasty Neapolitan pizzas topped with fresh seafood or Brek for the double-barrel combo of tasty and affordable pastas, fresh pizza, salads and gargantuan desserts. Sadler Wine & Food

offers excellent food and the wine. If you are one for the traditional fare try Antica Trattoria della Pesa that has been dishing up local cuisine since 1880.

Can’t stop rocking

The Best of Milan Nightlife

Everyone expects Milan to have a loud, flashy, thoroughly decadent nightlife and to no one’s surprise Milan gives them more than that. The young cosmopolitan Milan has a vibrant nightlife that can rock the socks off even the toughest pub crawler and the most energetic dance floor claimer.

The bar scene in Milan is mostly pointed at the after-work crowd who pile in for the perfect aperitivo and to see & be seen. The hottest bar in town in the CorsoComo (left) with its oriental tinge and is followed by the Victoria Café in Via Clerici. Il Gattopardo Café in Via Piero della Francesca is located in a deconsecrated church in the upwardly mobile northwest of the centre and is the love of the idle rich. Explore The Garden Bar of the Sheraton Diana Majestic if fashion is your tic and if you are there during the Milan fashion weeks. In the Navigali district, La Biciclette, on Conca del Navigalo with its artwork displays that transform into something more beautiful and completely unexpected every month attracts a motley crowd to its cocktails as well as its classic buffet.

The bars are usually in their element between 6 and 9 pm after which the city’s scorching hot clubs take over the entertainment baton. For mind altering techno and Italian house, the Oracle says KillerPlastic at Viale Umbria is the best. HollywoodRythmoteque (right) at Corso Como is the haunt of the freshly bronzed and glammed set, especially on Sundays. CaféL'Atlantique in Viale Umbria offers fantastic hip-hop and house music and the newly re-opened ShockingClub on Bastioni di Porta Nuova shakes some with its new minimalist décor. Try this one on Wednesdays for its outrageous theme nights.

Milan also has one of those Vegas – style XXL clubs that rave all night and can gulp a sea of glittering humans in one go. Try Propaganda on Via Castelbarco and Alcatraz on Via Valtellina.

Make the most of Milano!

Top 10 places you must visit

Dominating the city’s skyline, smack in the middle of the city, Milan's Duomo (left) is the world's largest gothic cathedral. Construction started on this enormous and fascinating structure in 1386 and the Cathedral was embellished with details in each century thereafter. The Duomo is the final resting place of St Charles Borromeo; it’s most important benefactor. Once inside the Cathedral visit the underground octagonal chamber where Borromeo is buried and the adjacent Treasury. Of particular interest to shutterbugs is the cathedral’s roof that escaped WWII bombs and makes an inspiring picture with its buttresses, spires and pinnacles. Get a good look at the small gilded copper statue of the Virgin, the ‘Madonnina', erected in 1774 and the Il Museo del Duomo next door.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Right) across the piazza in front of the cathedral is a glass-domed beauty and a vast belle époque shopping arcade. Built originally to link the Piazza del Duomo to the Piazza della Scala, it soon transformed into Milan's conservatory. A grand place, visit it for gawking at the exclusive shops and its button-cute bars.

Another Milan attraction that would be sacrilegious to miss is the Museo Teatrale alla Scala or the Theatre Museum at La Scala. It is the opera lovers Disneyland hosting rich mementoes of the celebrated opera house, La Scala. Two collections are devoted to Milan's darling Verdi, who gave Italy its unofficial anthem – Nabucco from the ‘Slaves Chorus'.

Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”

Anyone going to Milan cannot escape the temptation of visiting Santa Maria delle Grazie to have their heart’s fill looking at Da Vinci’s The Last Supper or Il Cenacolo – one of the most celebrated and most recognized paintings in the world. Lodovico Sforza commissioned Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, which took two years (1495-97) to complete. The painting is a delight to look at and the whole experience will haunt you forever.

Museum of Historic Art of the Sforza Castle or the Museo d'Arte Antica del Castello Sforzesco is home to Michelangelo's last work, the unfinished Pietà Rondanina (Left), depicting the Virgin cradling the body of Christ, which was bought by the museum in 1952. An arresting sculpture, Pieta Rondanina is accompanied by several other sculpture galleries upstairs and a large collection of paintings, including notable works by Mantegna, Antonello da Messina and Leonardo da Vinci. Also visit the Pinacoteca Del Castello, housing Italian painting from the 13th to 18th centuries, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Archaeological Museum next door.

The Poldi-Pezzoli Museum is a very popular tourist haunt and lures people to its exquisite collection of art, furnishings and historic arms put together by the 19th-century aristocrat Gian Giocomo Poldi Pezzoli. The museum is also home to Antonio Pollaiolo's Portrait of a Lady and the profile portrait of the elegant lady is an icon for Milan's own style and elegance. The museum also hosts paintings by Andrea Mantegna and Sandro Botticelli.

The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum built by two brothers in 1883 as their ideal Renaissance household, was only opened as a museum in 1994. The brothers ferociously collected antiques from the 15th and early 16th centuries and furnished the rooms with their vast collections. The result is a fascinating insight into an authentic 19th-century Milan, having just snatched its independence, nostalgically looking back to the days of the Sforza. Concentrate on the fine painting of Santa Giustina by Bellini and the exquisite majolica and Venetian crystal glassware.

Napoleon, whose statue by Canova stands in the courtyard, opened the Brera Picture Gallery in 1809, a collection that was enriched with objects confiscated on his Italian campaigns. Today it is a hugely popular tourist point regaling visitors with its fabulous collection of works by Venetian and Lombard masters. Three pieces that deserve special attention are the lyrical Pietà by Giovanni Bellini, depicting the death of Christ, Mantegna’s virtuoso treatment of the same subject and Tintoretto's gruesome depiction of the spirit of St Mark hovering over his cadaver, appearing to the Venetian merchants in the gloom of the Alexandrian catacombs. Also sneak a peek at Raphael's Wedding of the Madonna before leaving.

Going to Milan and not visiting the Leonardo da Vinci National Science and Technology Museum (Left) is at best, blasphemous. As a second guess, it will also be a huge loss to not view what the creative genius of Leonardo da Vinci has produced. Do visit the very popular Leonardo Gallery, with its host of models that illustrate da Vinci's intuitive genius. Tell us if you did not get not completely mesmerized with his designs for war machines, flying machines, architecture and even the unsuccessful rotating screw, claimed to be the precursor to the helicopter.

Our top ten count down would be incomplete without nudging you in the direction of the Civica Galleria d'Arte Moderna or the Modern Art Gallery.

A treat for 19th- and 20th-century art aficionados, the Modern Art Gallery is housed in Napoleon's former summer palace on the edge of the Giardini Pubblici. The enormous collection covers neo-classicism to the modern day with the Impressionists well represented in the Grassi collection that includes works by Bonnard, Cézanne, Corot, Renoir, Sisley and Vuillard.

Drool or Pay Up

Shopping in Milan Rocks

Shopping in Milan can take you all the way up to the shop-O-Holic stratosphere if you have the Euros to play marbles with or whump you down on the street with its chic, trendy stuff that costs and eye and an eyebrow! It really is all about the money! If your Euro situation is a happy one, start throwing some around the Fashion District that comprises the elegant and rather forbidding Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant'Andrea all the way to Via Manzoni, Via Borgospesso and Via Santo Spirito. Around here luxury is the queen and her consorts are the most famous names in dazzling jewelry, clothes and accessories. There are shoes to kill for and bags to beg for. Milan’s omnipresent hubris does not let you even once think again about that store bought dress or the regulation shoes from the dollar store.

Start off at Via Montenapoleone (below, right) where you can find the glossy ateliers of Gucci, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Fratelli Rossetti, Etro, Loro Piana, Luis Vuitton, Prada, Valentino, Cartier and Tanino Crisci. In Via Sant'Andrea, a street that crosses Via Montenapoleone you can loose yourself in Chanel, Fendi, Armani, Moschino, Kenzo, Cesare Paciotti, Hermés, Prada and Trussardi. The famous via Della Spiga is right across and here you can enjoy the shop windows at: D&G, Krizia, Sergio Rossi, Gianfranco Ferré, Bottega Veneta, Tod's, Genny, Prada, Bulgari and Chopard.

If your stilettos could take you faster you would be at the Giorgio Armani multi-concept store at Via Manzoni faster than yesterday to sample the Emporio Armani showrooms, Armani casa, and Armani fiori. Shopping is hard work and someone mercifully planted the Emporio Armani Cafè right here so you can rest the five-inches of pleasurable torture, sip an aperitif and get ready for the next round of Euro – burning.

That was the fairytale and if you want some affordable shopping, there are four places you need to get to…and this time trade in your stilettos for more sensible Reeboks. Corso Vittorio Emanuele (left), Corso Buenos Aires, Via Torino and Corso di Porta Ticinese are going to be your new haunts and here you can sample the Milanese shopping that is sure to result in a good dose of bliss at the end of the day.

For those with a more bohemian outlook or just the plain desire for adventure and a good bargain Milan’s Flea Markets are the perfect antidotes. Try Fiera di Senigallia on a crisp Saturday morning for Indian, South American and African craftwork; new and second-hand clothes, old furniture, fake art nouveau lamps, perfumed candles and every kind of essence, books, comics, records, videos and DVDs. Alternatively you could spend a Sunday afternoon navigating through the human sea at Mercatone del Naviglio Grande that takes place along the Naviglio Grande canal. Pick up any or all: furniture, home décor objects, old books, jewelry, and lots more too.

A perfect Day in Milan

Frankly, the perfect day in Milan would be spent shopping with abandon, getting some great coffee and sampling fine Milanese cuisine at some of the best restaurants in the city. A trip to the Duomo and an hour gazing at Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” before returning home for a re-fix would be great. Finally, the perfect day would wrap up with a racy night out on the town…and we know you wouldn’t mind turning this into a groundhog day!

However, Milan is also home to so many beautiful, museums, galleries and monuments that get hidden under all the designer labels that just a shopping trip wouldn’t do justice to the city. So, get the full blown flavor of this chic city by starting off your perfect day at the Piazza del Duomo where you contemplate this late-Gothic wonder and its 135 spires before realizing you also need time to visit the accompanying Museo Del Duomo.

Sight seeing and window shopping go hand in hand in Milan as you will soon learn. Put this new lesson to its first use by hopping across the piazza Del Duomo to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for some window at its exclusive shops and for getting a Campari and Soda on the side while you people watch. Once you’ve had your fill of observing what makes Milan tick, sitting in one of the elegant cafes at the Galleria, make some time to get to the Santa Maria delle Grazie. Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” rests here, regaling one and all with its brilliance and the way it has captured light, the essence and the mood of the event. Of course, interest in the masterpiece has heightened after Dan Brown’s epic novel The Da Vinci Code made people re-look at the painting.

Whether you have a day or more, there is a slim chance you would want to leave Milan without getting a good look at Michelangelo’s last known work – the Pieta Rondanina and for that you would have to peel yourself off from Il Cenacolo and get to the Museum of Historic Art. After this, pick one from the Poldi-Pezzoli Museum or the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum and spend an hour there, for both museums have enough to keep you glued for longer.

Put on your shopping gear and attack the Golden Quad with vigor, because, admit it – you’ve been dying to do that! Go where your fancy takes you – the glossy stores on Via Montenapoleone or to Via Sant’Andrea for a good fix of Chanel, Moschino and Fendi. You would just need to cross the street to drown in the exquisite shops on Via Della Spiga with their insides crammed with Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Bulgari and Chopard.

Rest your feet at the Emporio Armani Café while planning on the route of your pub crawl and the restaurant where you would be meeting up friends for dinner. Try the Naviglio Grande for a Milanese must - aperitivo hour; we recommend La Biciclette on Conca Del Navigalo. End your day in this glamorous city by sousing your gustatory senses in some of the most delectable dishes at Cracco Peck. Stroll around the Piazza del Duomo, which is right next to this fab restaurant before tucking in for some dream time. Tell us, if you are not wishing for a sequel of the day!

My Secret Milano!

The first secret that we are going to tell you about Milan isn’t in Milan at all – it is in the town on Pavia. A few hours away from Milan, this perfect little town must be visited for the Certosa di Pavia - a Carthusian monastery built in the fourteenth century. Watch out for the extraordinary Gothic architecture of the monastery and pay close attention to the sacristy built in 1409… it is built entirely out of hippopotamus teeth!

Make a side trip to the small village of Velio-Mosso, about 105 km from Milan. You will certainly be enthralled by the disarming beauty and the crisp weather of the mountains but peel your eyes off to do some bungee – jumping off the gigantic Colossus eight tiered bridge into a dazzling view of a mountain gorge. The Colossus is almost five hundred feet high and you are not going to forget this for a really long time!

Perhaps eating on a tram isn't the most appetizing setting and on an outside guess most cities would forbid it. However, this is Milan and anything with a sliver of creativity and a pop of great food is always welcome. So ATM – the company responsible for all public transport in the city – has turned one of its cute orange trams into a night time restaurant. The multi-course meal with fine wines is all yours for just € 50. Very cute, very memorable.

There are a lot of cafes in Milan but none come close to the Marchesi café and patisserie on via Santa Maria alla Porta. The secret here is in more than its fab coffee in the fact that it is the oldest shop in Milan! Born in 1824, Marchesi Café is a small, wood-paneled secret hideout where dandy barmen make some of the best espressos and cappuccinos. Definitely a guilty pleasure that everyone else is hiding!

Tipster Strikes Again!

Here are some tips we gleaned from the local Milanese and veteran tourists about this beautiful city. Although it is great to discover a city through the Hit & Miss routine, who wouldn’t love to get some help; so here goes:


General

One of the best things about being in Milan is that you are never too far from an ATM so don’t carry too much cash with you. Except for some of the smaller establishments everyone else accepts credit cards as well, so even if you are not able to get to an ATM, you can still sail smoothly.
Change your travelers’ cheque only at Banks and post offices – these are the most reliable places for changing currency and would give you the best rates
Milan is a relatively crime-free city and violent crime is very uncommon. However, you need to safeguard against petty theft bag snatching and pick pocketing.
Food and accommodation costs in Milan are quite high and life isn’t easy for a budget traveler. You can reduce your expenditure by pre-planning and staying in Bed & Breakfasts or apartments where you can do some cooking.
You are not expected to tip at restaurants but if you are particularly happy with the service, consider adding 10% to the total value of your bill

Families

Accommodation is going to cost you a bomb, no matter where you stay. But you can offset this injury to your budget by choosing to stay in an apartment where the whole family can get more privacy and where you have a small kitchenette to at least cook breakfast and the occasional dinner.
If there are small kids in the group, carry dry snacks like granola bars and wafers for those in between times
Buy handmade ceramics and kitchenware to take back as gifts

Couples

Hop on to one of those old, rattling trams of yore and travel around the city…the number 1 with wooden seats and retro lighting is especially fun
Hit the bar at the Grand Hotel et De Milan (Left) for impeccable service and some great cocktails
People in Milan really dress up for dinner, though not all restaurants have dress regulations. So bring one good suit or a dress for a night out
Milan is the fashion capital of the world and if you cannot afford to buy a lot, get at least one smart outfit from a designer label – it will be worth it

Hear! Hear!

The New York Times says the top three places to eat in Milan are: Antica trattoria Della Pesa, Bebel’s Ristorante and Biffi.

Fodor’s recommends staying at Il Sole di Ranco or Villa D’Este.

The Guardian recommends lunch at Robert Cavalli’s Just Cavalli with special focus on the smoked Salmon