Cheap entertainment in Milan

24-hour transport pass in Milan

Reader Trinh Hang from Hanoi took a trip to Italy in February. She shared the destinations and experiences she had during her nearly two-week stay there.

Milan is renowned as one of the most vibrant cities in Italy and Europe – a captivating tourist destination. It boasts countless designer brands, numerous unique architectural masterpieces, and unparalleled works of art. While it's also one of the most expensive cities in Europe, there are ways to "hack" your budget when visiting this fashion capital.

Take public transport.

Visitors should make the most of this city's public transport system. The system, called ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi), includes the subway, trams, trains, buses, and a network of bicycles and electric scooters available for rent at reasonable prices.

The most common "travel pass" in this city is the ATM24h transport card, costing 7.6 euros (approximately 190,000 VND), allowing you to travel for 24 hours on all public transport, with no distance or trip restrictions, except to the airport. To get from the airport to the city center, the most popular option is the Malpensa Express train, costing 13 euros one way (approximately 325,000 VND), with a travel time of 45-50 minutes.

If you're staying for several days, consider buying a 3-day ATM card for 15.5 euros (approximately 387,500 VND). This averages out to about 130,000 VND per day for getting around the city. This is a great deal compared to buying individual tickets at 2.2 euros per trip. Tourists with large luggage, pets, strollers, or electric scooters can bring them on trams, the subway, and buses in Milan.

Transportation cards are widely available at all train stations in the city, and can be purchased directly at counters or from automatic ticket vending machines. Additionally, the city has a network of newsstands where visitors can easily purchase transportation cards at the same price as from vending machines. Visitors should install the ATM official app (the city's official transportation app) and purchase tickets directly through the app. The card is activated upon first use and expires after a number of hours corresponding to the type of card purchased.

In a rented apartment

Milan is an expensive city, so a room costing 60 euros a night can be considered low. The most convenient option is to book a room on Airbnb or popular websites like Booking or Agoda. Tourists can also find apartments in apartment buildings in the city center. These are usually studios for rent, although some might rent a room in a multi-room apartment owned by a landlord.

Most rental rooms are safe, clean, comfortable, and fully equipped. To save money, choose a room with a kitchen and cooking utensils so you can buy your own food and prepare breakfast, or even late-night meals. In Milan, it's not always easy to find a place that serves breakfast. And it's also not easy to find a place that serves dinner at a reasonable price.

Please note that check-in and check-out times vary greatly from place to place, and may even depend on the owner's schedule. Before arriving in Milan, contact your owner or hotel to inform them of your arrival and departure times, and if you need to leave your luggage outside of these hours, you should also discuss this with them beforehand.

Inside a rented apartment in Milan

Seasonal shopping

It's advisable to exchange Vietnamese Dong for euros before arriving, as currency exchange fees in Italy are quite high.

If you're visiting Milan for shopping , go during the off-season to take advantage of big sales. For household goods or gifts, choose the largest supermarket chains in Italy such as Conad, Coop, Esselunga, Carrefour, and Despar, as these offer a wide selection and frequent sales. Sweets, chocolates, cheeses, olive oil, wine, and Italian spices are all good quality items at reasonable prices.

Souvenirs such as postcards, keychains, fabric decorations, and T-shirts printed with typical Italian images are widely available in Milan, but prices are relatively high compared to some other Italian tourist centers like Florence or Venice, so consider this before buying these items.

Visit during the off-season.

Avoid peak season; every tourist knows this, but it's especially true for Milan. From June to August each year, millions of tourists flock to Italy, including Milan. The immense traffic pressure often leads to overcrowding, accommodation prices skyrocket, and restaurants and other establishments risk being overwhelmed. In particular, when visiting popular tourist attractions, you risk having to queue for hours.

Therefore, if you have the time, visit Milan in the early months of the year or late autumn, when the number of tourists has decreased. Milan will still be crowded then, but you can spend more reasonably and avoid long queues.

TH (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/vui-choi-gia-re-o-milan-380499.html