Milan is one of Europe's most desirable cities with lively bars, beautiful monuments and cozy cafes. No matter where you're from, Milan has something to suit every interest. However, before you travel there, there are a few things you should know to make your trip as smooth as possible.
Milan is one of Italy's most expensive cities
Because Milan is classified as one of Italy's richest cities and is a major import and export center, its prices reflect this. As a result, Milan can be a very expensive place to vacation as a tourist. The most important thing to do before visiting Milan is to check the cost of everything and budget so that you know you can afford to visit the city. It's also a good idea to check out restaurants before booking a table, as it's good to know how expensive the food is before you get there.
You need to book tickets for several attractions in advance.
Milan has many beautiful monuments, most of which are free to visit. But there are also some sights in Milan that you have to both pay to see and book well in advance because they are so popular. Two examples of this are the roof of the Duomo di Milano and the painting 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci which is located inside Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The Duomo di Milano is a cathedral where the Roman Catholic Archbishop has his seat. If you just want to look at the building, you don't have to pay anything and some parts of the cathedral are open to the public between certain hours. However, if you want to visit the roof and terrace (for which there are also guided tours), the St. Charles Crypt or the museum, you will need to buy a ticket.
Especially the tickets to the roof sell out very quickly as many people want to get the chance to watch the sunset from there. If you want to get tickets, you therefore need to be out in good time. The same applies to 'The Last Supper' which is located inside Santa Maria delle Grazie and you need to buy tickets in good time to get the opportunity to view the painting.
Milan is the birthplace of the aperitif!
An aperitif is a drink usually enjoyed before dinner as an appetizer and to make the meal more enjoyable. In Milan, where the phenomenon originated and spread, it also traditionally includes a buffet with both hot and cold dishes. Some bars also offer the buffet for free if you order a drink, but it is more common to have a choice of cold dishes only. The Navigli area in particular, with its many canals, is a beautiful place to enjoy an aperitif, especially in the evening when the sunset is at its most beautiful.
Before departure, it's a good idea to get a VPN.
Before you travel to Milan, or any other city for that matter, it's a good idea to get a Swedish VPN that has access to Swedish servers. There are two major advantages to getting a VPN for Sweden. First of all, you are completely protected if you sit down in a café and surf the public WiFi. On such networks, there is a high risk of your data being hijacked or your device being hacked.
To counteract this, it's good to use a VPN that hides you completely. Since some Swedish series, movies, and websites are only allowed to be shown in Sweden, it's also a good idea to use a VPN to change your IP address. Then you can choose a server in Sweden and get access to material that is actually geoblocked in Milan. A VPN therefore has many advantages for you as a traveler and you are fully protected throughout your trip.
Of course, there are several things to know about Milan, so it's important to do your own research before traveling there. But with this guide, hopefully you've made some progress in your travel planning!
