To get an overview of Milan and its surroundings, travelers don't primarily turn to the old tourist brochures and map books. There are plenty of interactive maps and guides online, either on websites or apps.
A good place to start to get an overview of Milan and its surroundings is Google Maps, which shows Milan both in a satellite view and as a map.
Good overview of Milan
A good application for digital media is Milan Offline city mapwhich can be downloaded for both Android and iPhone.
It creates a map of Milan based on the Openstreetmap project. Once installed, the app does not require an internet connection to view the map or to perform searches.
Another useful app is the ATM Milano Official App. ATM is the company responsible for public transport in Milan.
The app will soon be upgraded to make it easier to buy tickets and integrate information for easier, faster and more sustainable travel around the city, based on map features of the city and its public transport.
The new version of the app will include all the features needed when using Milan's public transport system, as well as information on car services and bike tours.
Interactive map
The website introducingmilan.com provides travelers with an interactive map of some of the most interesting sights in Milan.
On the website's map you can find out where the most important sights, monuments, museums, squares and churches are. By clicking on the icons, you can see what the sights are and where they are located in the city.
For the traveler interested in doing walking tours in the city, the Milan Map and Walks app is useful. The app consists of 16 expert-designed self-guided walking tours so that travelers can explore Milan on foot at their own pace.
Each walk includes a detailed walking map as well as pictures and background information for the described attractions. The app works offline so no network connection is needed to use the app.
Walks in Milan
A similar app that can be useful for the traveler when walking in Milan is voicemap.me. At a cost of 3.99 US dollars, it can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.
It provides detailed descriptions of Milan's medieval history and how it was transformed into a fashion capital. The traveler goes behind the scenes of Europe's most stylish city.
Below are several apps that are useful for travelers in Milan.
Free apps Italy Travel Guide by Triposo featuring Milan: Your one stop shop, shows you where to find the exciting nightlife, among other things. Locations of restaurants and the current exchange rate are part of its features. You can also find a nearby hotel or check the weather forecast for the week.
Useful app
A useful app is Eat Milan: Italian cuisine at your fingertips. Food expert Elizabeth Minchilli gives tips on where to find the best restaurants in Milan. Milan is full of mouth-watering food and it would be a shame to miss the cuisine that is such an important part of the Italian character.
In her app and on her blog(elizabethminchilliinrome.com), Elizabeth shares her insights on where to find (and taste!) the best of the best. The price for the app is 1.99 US Dollars.
Another free app is Ulmon: No internet, no problem. The maps in the app are extremely detailed and offer information on where to eat, drink, shop, find a hotel and sightseeing. These features are all available offline, so there are no data roaming costs.
Free apps WeTap: Never be thirsty again shows where the city's nasoni (public drinking fountains) are located in the city. Milan has hundreds of these fountains. It's perfect if you're traveling and want to refill your water bottle.
App for the metro
The Easy Metro Milano appPublic transport is useful for those who want to use the metro to get around Milan.
The app is free, but you can upgrade it for US$0.99 to get 'Pro Access', which offers offline maps and detailed directions.
The app informs the user of any strikes, other events or disruptions to metro services.
Milan Travel Guide: Milan in your pocket is an app that provides information on the geography, climate and economy of Milan. It provides tips on fashion and shopping, hotels, restaurants, nightlife and other interesting things. The app is free but for 3.99 USD you can access more detailed street maps and a metro map completely offline!
Another useful website is oldmapsonline.org.
It gives you an opportunity to see what Milan looked like two hundred years ago via a digitized map. Here is a map of the whole of Italy.
There is also a feature that overlays this old map on top of today's Milan, giving the viewer an interesting picture of how the city has changed over two hundred years.
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