Milan

Milan is the financial capital of Italy, and together with Paris it is one of the fashion capitals of the world
Historically Milan has been the most industrialized city in Italy, and now it is its foremost financial centre.
At first contact Milanese life can seem a bit hectic and Milanese people a bit brusque, especially in respect to the rest of Italy.

Get in By plane

The main international airport is Malpensa (Milan Malpensa Airport, code MXP). It's a two runway airport, well connected to the center of the city by public transportation.
SEA Aeroporti di Milano - official site of SEA, the firm operating Milan Malpensa Airport and Milan Linate Airport.
Malpensa Express trains leave every 30 minutes from the Airport and arrive in Stazione Cadorna after a 40 minutes travel. Tickets are pretty cheap (about 9 euros).
Buses leave every 20 minutes for Centrale Station, costing about 5 euros.
Using a taxi to get from Malpensa to the city centre can be pretty expensive: it may cost 60-75 euros.
Many European or national flights arrive at Linate Airport (LIN). This small one runway airport is closer to the city centre than Malpensa but less well connected by public transport.
There is a public transport bus stop for the 73 line outside the terminal building, linking to San Babila Square, in the city centre, which served by MM1, the first underground line. The bus runs every ten minutes and costs one euro. Get an ATM ticket from the newsagent or the ATM vending machines. Italian Information
Taxis from Linate to the City Centre cost 12-18 euros.

Get in By train

The main railway station is Central Station, which is served by Trenitalia, the State Railways. Note that the station is not in a great part of town, though there are a number of decent budget hotels in the area (see "Sleep" below). Options for food and drink in the area a pretty much limited to the cafes inside the station. At night, parts of Centraal Station become a sleeping area for vagrants.
Central Station is served by MM1 and MM3 underground metro lines.
The main taxi companies are 063570 and 065551. There is a taxi stand directly infront of the station.
Another important railway station is Cadorna, served by Ferrovie Nord (North Railways), where the Malpensa Express stops and which is also a stop for MM1 and MM2.
Garibaldi station, is the stop for most commuter railway lines, and is served by the state railways. It is also a stop for the MM2 and for the Passante (see "Get Around").

Get in By car

The main highways linking Milan to the rest of Italy are:
A1 , the Autostrada del Sole (Highway of the Sun), linking Milan to Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples; Car Hire Italy
A4, linking Milan to Turin, Brescia, Bergamo, Verona and Venice; Car Hire Italy
A8, the Autostrada dei Laghi (Highway of the Lakes), linking Milan to Como Lake, Maggiore Lake and Switzerland.
A7, linking Milan to Genova. Car Hire Italy
The main highway operating firm is Società Autostrade.

Get in By bus

The main national bus lines are operated by Autostradale and stop near Garibald Station.

Get around Milan

ATM operates a public transport network which is pretty efficient (especially the underground lines and the streetcars).
Taxis are pretty expensive and can be hard to find while walking around, since taxi drivers prefer waiting in long lines near major landmarks.

See Museums

Pinacoteca di Brera, on Brera Street
Poldi Pezzoli Museum, on Manzoni Street

See Churches

Some of the most beautiful churches one can see in Milan are:
The Duomo, in Duomo Square, is Milan's main Cathedral, a massive late gothic church in white marble, with hundres of spires and thousands of statues on its exterior.
Saint Mary of the Graces, where the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is housed. Make a reservation in advance to avoid waiting in line.
Saint Ambrose, in Sant'Ambrogio Square, a beautiful early romanic church which was almost destroyed by allied bombing in World War 2.

See Historic Monuments

The Sforza Castle, where the Sforza-Visconti ruling families of Milan resided. Later it was the Austrian governor residence, when Lumbardy was part of the Hapsburg empire.
La Scala Theatre, one of the most renowned opera house in the world, now under extensive renovations, slated to finish in 2005. While La Scala is close, all opera representations have been moved to the new Arcimboldi Theatre, in the Bovisa district.

Other sights

Galeria Vicctore Emmanuelle, the mother of all shopping malls, upscale shops in splendid 19th century palace of a mall.
Biblioteca Ambrosiana historical library with treasures such as drawings by Leonardo on display