Video:Tips for Visiting Milan

Transcript:Tips for Visiting Milan

Hi, I'm Gina Miller, and today for About.com we are going to go over tips for visiting Milan, Italy. Located in the northwest Lombardy region of Italy, Milan is about 30 miles south of the Alps and it's one of the richest cities in the world. It has a bustling cultural scene and it's a hub for fashion.

Tips for Getting to Milan

Milan has two airports, Malpensa which is international and a smaller regional airport Linate that services Italy and surrounding countries. You can also arrive by train at Milano Statzione Centrale, the main train station in the city.Traveling around the city is quite easy.

Transportation Tips for Visiting Milan

Taxis, trolleys and buses will take you anywhere you need to go, but the metro is my favorite mode. It's clean, safe, fast, and very inexpensive. A one trip pass costs 1.5 Euros and you can travel for an entire day for just 4.5 Euros. And like most places now in Italy, it's non-smoking.

See the Duomo When Visiting Milan

Typically Milan is known as a summer destination, but even the winter is mild, making it a great holiday getaway. While in Milan, you must check out the Duomo, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. It features 135 spires and 3,200 statues. Construction began in 1386, but wasn't finished until 1965! While at the cathedral you can light a candle in memory of someone special.

 La Scala Is a Must-See When Visiting Milan   

  Another great Milanese attraction is La Scala, the famous opera house that was built in 1778. If you want to take in a performance you might have to stand in quite a line, but right next door is the Bar della Scala where you can sit down, relax and enjoy a Milanese delicacy and a cappuccino.

  See "The Last Supper" When Visiting Milan  

Next you'll want to visit Santa Maria della Grazie, which contains da Vinci's masterpiece, "The Last Supper." Now here's a tip: taking pictures of the outside of these great historical buildings is absolutely fine, but in most places your camera won't be allowed inside, so buy a postcard for those places where you can't film.

  Do Some Shopping When Visiting Milan  

Finally, Milano is considered the Mecca to many in the fashion industry, there is great shopping in Milan. Check out Via Monte Napoleone, the most important street in Milan's fashion district. It houses some of the most famous designer's stores and fashion houses. Also the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II houses some of the top designer stores in the world. It's the Beverly Hills of Milan.

And those are tips for visiting Milan. Thanks for watching and for more information, visit us on the web at About.com.