| City of Milan | Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the planes of Lombardy, and is one of the most highly developed urban centres in Europe. The city is known all over the world as Fashion City, the leading centre of fashion in Italy and probably the world. Milan is also one of the major artistic hubs of northern Italy; its chief landmarks include the Duomo, the second largest church in Italy and world’s third, the Teatro alla Scala, one of the most important in the world for opera, and the famous painting “Last Supper” from Leonardo da Vinci. The commercial metropolis of Milan is also home to many key business centres, financial institutions and Italy’s stock market.
For further information on Milan please visit the following website: www.milanoinfo.eu |
| Climate | The climate in Milan is typically Mediterranean, with high temperatures and sunny days in the summer. In the spring temperatures in Milan are at their most pleasant. |
| Credit cards | Most hotels, restaurants and main shops in Milan accept major credit cards; however, it is also recommended that visitors carry small amounts of cash at all times. |
| Currency | The Euro (€) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents. Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and traveller’s cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining Euros. |
| Electricity | Electrical current in Milan is 220 V / 50 Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used. |
| Language | The official language is Italian. Some foreign languages, especially English, are widely studied. |
| Shopping | Milan is without doubt the one of the main centres for shopping in Italy and the numerous districts in Milan provide a shopper’s paradise. Whether you are looking for high fashion, antiques, furniture or home accessories, rest assured that shopping in Milan, Italy, will provide you with a huge choice. Milan is renown for its pride in craftsmanship and if you want to see real craftsmen at work, simply wander around Milan’s Piazza Santa Spirito or any other of the narrow streets of the Oltrarno, the part of Milan that stands on the south side of the river. You can also admire the wonderful monuments, statues and fountains as you walk downtown for some serious Milan shopping. |
| Time | The time zone in Milan is GMT +1 hours. |
| Tax / Tipping | It is common practice to tip both waiters in restaurants and taxi drivers between 5–10% of the bill. In restaurants a service charge of around 15% is usually already added to the bill, but this additional tip is still expected Tax is included in the price of all goods in Italy. For items purchased over EUR 155, tourists from outside of the EU can get the tax reimbursed. This can be done by filling in a form in the shop and then presenting it to the customs officials at major airports or border crossings. |
| Visa requirements |
The Schengen visa is valid for the following 24 European countries: Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
American Citizens do not need a visa when they travel to Italy for business or for personal travel. The stay in the Schengen area should not exceed 90 days in a 6 month period. Please note that the American visitor will need to present a valid American passport (valid three months beyond intended stay), proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket. |
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