Don’t underestimate Milan’s style. The fashion capital of Italy welcomes fashion moguls, supermodels and paparazzi when the city rolls out the catwalk for the spring and fall fashion shows. Italy’s richest city certainly has a soft-spot for drama – just ask Valentino, Versace or Armani, who, among others, board flights to Milan to debut the upcoming season’s new trend. But there’s more to Milan than star-studded stilettos.
Rich in wealth and in culture, visitors booking cheap flights to Milan will get a lot more than they paid for. The city’s historical value is priceless. Visit the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, which survived a direct hit in WWII. Explore Milan’s central Cathedral and take a walk through Mussolini’s central station. Whether your flight to Milan is pre-empted by a history lecture or a fashion lesson, there’s nothing more marvelous than Italy’s stylish city.
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Summers are hot and muggy, especially in July and August with temperatures reaching the upper 80s (F). Milan is damp and cold in winter with temperatures below freezing, but the mountains protect the city from the Northern European winters. Spring and fall temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. October and November typically get the most rain.
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Peak Season:
The Italians and foreign visitors descend on the lakes in July and August, especially on weekends. Lake Como is the most popular, and most crowded, destination. Many Milanese are on vacation for the month of August, but the city is filled with foreign visitors booking flights to Milan as part of their Italy tour. If you're visiting Milan during the semi-annual fashion week (held in Spring and Fall), book Milan flights early and plan your accommodations months in advance to ensure your reservation.
Off Season:
Spring into early summer and fall are the best times to see Milan and the lakes while the weather is comfortable and there are few crowds. Cheap flights to Milan can be found during the winter months, but keep in mind that many of the ferry services stop running in October and do not start back up again until May.
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Buses leave regularly for the Central Station in Milan and the Piazza San Babila underground station; the journey takes 30 minutes. Taxi services are also available.
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Milan’s city center is walkable, and the efficient public transportation makes it easy to get around town. The metro is extensive and closes at midnight, but the buses and trams run all night. Tickets have a time limit, and you buy them at Metropolitana Milanese (MM) stations and some newspaper stands. Make sure to stamp your ticket when you board a bus or tram or be prepared to pay a high fine.
Taxis must be picked up at a stand or you can call for one from a stand. There are extra charges for luggage, late night trips, and Sundays.
Driving in Milan is difficult at best. One-way streets are difficult to navigate, local drivers are reckless, and parking is miserably hard to find. Illegally parked cars are ticketed or towed. It is best to leave the car at an MM station outside the city and rely on public transportation and foot power.
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- The quadrilatero della moda, made up of via Montenapoleone, via della Spiga, Sant’Andrea and via Manzoni is home to the high priests of fashion including Gucci, Moschino and Giorgio Armani. Those without gold cards can find last year’s stock at Salvagente. Fashion houses in Milan include Versace, Roberto Cavalli and Giorgio Armani. And for more shopping, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a huge shopping arcade with cafés, restaurants, and shops.
- The Duomo (cathedral), in the center of town, was started in the 14th century and only finished in the early 19th century – it has a mix of architectural styles. The views from the roof are beautiful and take in the city and the Alps.
- Leonardo da Vinci spent almost 20 years in Milan under the patronage of the Sforza family. His Last Supper fresco can be seen in the Church and Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie. He also worked on the city’s waterways, designing canals and locks. Although many of the navigli have long since been paved over, the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese are still operating. Where they meet, the Navigli district, is home to bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Visit in the early evening. The bars have free nibbles for a short time.
- La Scala opera house is world famous. Built in 1778, it has had a major renovation in the past couple of years. It has a museum, which has paintings, costumes, statues and other artifacts covering the opera house’s long history.
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