Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is “Centrale F. S.” To get downtown, the Metro is fastest (10 min.), but if you want
to see something of the city en route, take bus no. 60 from the station to Piazza del
Duomo. If you decide to walk, follow Via Pisani through the district of high-rise
office buildings around the station to the equally cheerless Piazza della Repubblica,
and from there continue south on Via Turati and Via Manzoni to Piazza del
Duomo.
Chances are you'll arrive at Stazione Centrale, but some trains serve Milan's
other train stations: Stazione Nord (with service to/from Como, among other
cities), Porta Genova (with service to/from Alessandria and Asti), and Porta
Garibaldi (with service to/from Lecco).
GETTING AROUND
An extensive and efficient
Metro
(subway system),
trams,
and
buses
make it very
easy to move around Milan. The Metro closes at midnight, though buses and
trams run all night. Tickets good for one Metro ride (or 75 min. worth of surface
transportation) cost
€
1. You can also get a
carnet
of 10 tickets for
€
9.20, or pur-
chase unlimited-ride tickets good for 1 day (
5.50). Tickets are
available at Metro stations and at newsstands. You must stamp your ticket when
you board a bus or tram—you can be slapped with a hefty fine if you don't. For
information about Milan public transportation, visit the information office in the
Duomo metro stop (
%
02-72524301 or 800-808181; www.atm-mi.it).
The main Azienda di Promozione Turistica del Milanese (APT)
tourist office
is in the Palazzo del Turismo
(Via Marconi, 1, on the south side of Piazza del
Duomo;
%
02-72524301; www.milanoinfotourist.com).
There is also an extremely
well-hidden office in Stazione Centrale (
%
02-72524360). To find it, as you exit
the train platform into the main commercial hall—before taking the escalators
downstairs to the ticketing areas—head to your left and look for the side corridor
on the right whose entrance is lined in flashing neon lights. The tourist office is
down that corridor, just past the rock shops flanking either side.
These offices issue maps, museum guides, hotel and restaurant listings, and
other useful information, but because they're now privately run, they charge nom-
inal fees for the majority of the more useful materials. The tourism section of the
city's website
(
www.turismo.comune.milano.it
)
is also helpful, as is
www.museidel
centro.mi.it
,
which covers several of the minor, special-interest museums in the
historical center. The private
www.hellomilano.it
is particularly good for events.
They publish a monthly events newspaper, free at the tourist offices; online, click
on “What's On” for the events calendar.
ACCOMMODATIONS, BOTH STANDARD & NOT
Most Milan hotels are oriented toward business types, with precious few left over
for the relatively few tourists who don't high-tail it for more popular cities such as
Venice or Florence. It's difficult to find rooms in
any
price category when fashion
shows and trade fairs are in full swing (often Oct and Mar). Many hotels raise
their prices at these times, too. August is low season, and hotels are often willing
to bring prices down considerably (though you really don't want to be here), as
they will sometimes do on slow weekends. Always ask for the lowest possible rate
when booking and be prepared to bargain.
€
3) or 2 days (
€
