5 Tips for partying in Milan!

Milan is a very cosmopolitan city, full of life and the nights here are not an exception. There are plenty of places for those who want to have fun, "shake the helmet", or simply drink a cocktail after dinner. However, there are some measures that can be taken in order for this experience to be even more fun and relaxed.

The city is big and sometimes it is easy to get lost or enter, by mistake, in less recommendable areas in the city. Nothing that some advices from those who are living here could help in order to avoid, in an informed way, possible problems so to have a more pleasant night.

P. S. As opposed to what happens in Lisbon, the milan night happens way more often indoors, what can seem a little strange at the first, but has to do not only with cultural issues but also with climate matters (the winter is colder here than in Portugal and, concretely, in Lisbon). That said, the milan night happens essentially inside of bars and clubs. For those who don't really appreciate this kind of fun, the closest experience you could have from Bairro Alto (in Lisbon) is Corso Como here, near the Garibaldi station - the only downside: it is a place often frequented by teenagers and it is located in one of the expensive areas of the city.

For those who are fine with going to clubs, there is the so known Alcatraz - an enormous club with many dance floors (that I've never seen before), and various types of music. Coming from myself, a person that doesn't really appreciate going to clubs, I could say that the atmosphere is not too heavy there.

Alcatraz club indoors

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Hollywood, Old Fashion and Le Banque are other club suggestions. There might be more clubs than the ones I am suggesting, but these are undoubtedly the most known and attended by the locals.

Attention: It is crucial to look up at the club's calendar online: sometimes there they throw some concerts indoors, specially in Alcatraz, and for that reason some dance floors are closed. Other times, there are thematic parties in which you can only get in if you pay for it or if you have your name on the guest list in advance.

In some other clubs you can get a free entry, which is ideal for students who are in saving money mode.

All these places have social media channels, so it is even easier to have a first look in there: Perhaps it can be your lucky day - or maybe not!

Let's now go through some tips about places to party at night in Milan. All of these tips are really basic. Some of them may seem the usual advice but the truth is that even I would have liked to be warned about most of it before having taken my first experience here when I went out for the first night.

Corso Como by night

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1. Taking only a small purse

Girls, forget the big purses. The smaller they are, the better. Take only a purse where the essentials fit. I don't even take my wallet in these occasions: I just grab my cards that I know I will really need - like my transportation card to come back home, my ID, my student card for the discounts, and that's pretty much that - I then roll it in an elastic band and place it in my purse. I do not need my debit card in these situations: Firstly, because bad things happen and it is a big issue if you lose it when living abroad. I always calculate more or less how much I would spend on that night and then I withdraw the right amount I think I would need plus little extra on top of that amount.

In many clubs - at the Alcatraz, for example -, there is a wardrobe that you have to pay to use. Watch out. The prices are not so welcoming. You would have to pay a significant amount even if you want to leave a small purse or umbrella.

One of the two: Either you take a very basic and not heavy shoulder strap purse that allows you to "shake the helmet" without bothering you, or opt for the masculine version once in a lifetime, because in these situations they know better: The jacket pockets - the inner outside ones - that can be tighten up around your waist and like the small purses it wouldn't bother anyone.

2. Arriving before 1am

Here the nightlife doesn't start as late as in Portugal.

Even before midnight you can see many people queuing for the night spots already: not only to assure their way inside through less crowd, but also because the night finishes earlier and they don't really have the habit to stay until "early morning".

Another good reason to have dinner and getting ready earlier is the closing time of the metro. When it comes to taking us anywhere in the city in a very short period of time, the metro in Milan is very fast and efficient. The metro closes around 1am, but until there it is very regular. The timetables are everywhere on the walls inside the metro station, in the waiting area, so there is nothing that can go wrong about it.

Navigli by night

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In terms of conclusion: Going in early in clubs can also mean free entrance. Yes, that's it! Everything has a cost in Milan, but sometimes it is possible to find amazing ways to escape it. Between going in for free or pay 10, 20 or more euros entry - Go in for free, without any doubts!

3. Buying a beer outside

If inside the club the drinks are already more expensive than in Portugal, then just imagine the prices in Milan: small fortunes unless you find a combo including entry and a few drinks. For example, this can happen in Alcatraz - those who enter before 1am pay 10euro entry and there are two drinks included in the price, which is not so bad.

There are many stores selling beers for a better price with way more attractive prices. It is true that in a club the security don't let us in with drinks, but you can always go out of the club, spend a good time outside and then go back in again.

It is an excellent way to save money. I am totally against spending money for drinks or to get drunk - control yourself! - sometimes would just be nice to have a drink before and while dancing like a hyperactive kid.

4. Taking a jacket around your waist

The best would actually be to forget the jackets at home - yes, but the cold is real in the winter here and the jackets are essential to protect us from it. For the ladies I recommend the impermeable bomber jackets or perhaps a tight leather one that doesn't occupy you much space and that it could be easily tighten around our waist and tick - to generate some warmth after leaving the club late at night and going back home feeling comfortable without catching a pneumonia.

5. Taking the transportation card or daily ticket

The metro closes but the good part is that after Expo 2015 has happened, Milan got a very good transportation network which works in an efficient way even during the night. Until certain period of time the trams are an option and then nothing like taking the bus, which will be crowded too, but takes you to your destination in an effective way. Almost all the the central areas in the city have a good connection (the buses made actually a similar itinerary that the metro does during the day time but nothing like using Google Maps); having money on your transportation card or a valid daily ticket means not having to worry about troubles as Milan during the night doesn't have a place to buy a ticket and you cannot buy it from the drivers.

Isola's Bars

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There is no need to use taxis in Milan: the city is very calm from a certain hour, but if you want to avoid trouble there is nothing like going home with company. I've made the way back home alone or partially alone: I never had problems but there is nothing like prevent less nice situations and be aware of the environment around your living place.

These were in fact very general tips but in my view they are very useful when it comes to the milan nightlife. Besides of me not being a huge fan of going out at night in general, I myself do it sometimes when the environment pushes for it. Milan has a very nice and pleasant atmosphere and, above all, it has choices for every taste. Nothing like experiencing, in a responsible way, what the city has to offer!

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