Experience in Milan, Italy by simone

What is it like to live in Milan? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Living in Milan is synonym of living in a frenetic city: everyone is always either running to work or to eat or to come back home. Milan is frenetic but has a lot to offer for those who are able to slow down a bit. It's full of churches to visits, daily events to take place to and a ginormous diversity of restaurant to try out. What I like about Milan is its diversity: each part of it has its own story and, in recent years, almost any suburbam area has been redeveloped, so it's very nice and safe to explore almost any part of it.
I'd recommend Milan for anyone who wants to live in a city where you can feel where you can feel like you're never alone and always have something to do. Milan has a lot to offer for those who are willing to live it 100%

What is the student lifestyle like in Milan?

Student life in Milan, especially in the last few years, has become easier and easier. Universities have really practical locations, all of them are close to the city center (at least with the underground, which very is fast and efficient here), and they often work with ESN. That said, erasmus and exchange students will be offered thousands of activities meant for them.
Secondly, there are a lot of offers and discounts around the city, both in museums, cinemas,..
In "pre-covid" times, lots of parties where organized as well, and students where always welcome there.

How much does it cost to live in Milan?

Living in Milan is really no more expensive than other capitals in Europe. Undoubtedly, having dinner in Domus Place is not a great choice to save some money, but there are many restaurants all around the city that are very cheap and high quality too.
The transports are, all in all, quite cheap if you buy an annual ticket, which allows you to use any metro and surface transports. Plus, Milan is the city of "Aperitivi and apericena" (aperitifs), and you can often get an all you can eat dinner plus a drink for less than 15 euros, almost anywhere in the city.
Something that I find quite expensive are the movies, while many museums are either cheap or free in the first sunday of any month.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Milan? Is there any advice you can give?

I've never really looked for one, but I know that any univeristy has some rooms in student housing. Plus, it is not hard to find a shared apartment to rent. Depending on the area you choose, you can find a room for 400 to 600€ easily, but the price can obviously get higher as you choose a more central position. Personally, I wouldn't recommend to choose a house in the actual city center because the metro is very efficient and you can get to the center in around 25/30 minutes from almost any part in the suburb.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Milan doesn't have much to offer in terms of typical food (which you can find in smaller cities like Pavia, Brescia..), but, as I said, it's the home of diversity. You can find almost any kind of food there, ethnic or italian, fast foods or trsttorias..
One thing I would recommend any student to do as soon as he sets foot in Milan is to download TheFork. The app shows hundreds of restaurants that have high discounts (I'm talking about 20% to 50%) and that hare high quality as well.
From sushi (ayce) to pizzerias you can find anything, so it's quite hard to suggest some restaurants.
Anyway, for a good africaan or indian food, i'd suggest the area around Porta Venezia, for aperitifs I'd suggest the Navigli area.
My favourite milaneses dishes anyway, coming back to traditions, are "Cassoeula", which is a stew made with pork ribs and tons of veggies (collard greens is king here) and "ossobuco con risotto", which is a cut of meat cooked with its bone and mellow (you'll eat it as well!) which is eventually served with the typical risotto alla milanese (with saffron)

What places would you recommend visiting in Milan?

First among all, you have to visit Domus Square. It's always full of tourists due to the majesty of the cathedral, you never get used to it!. Secondly, remaining in the center, there is Castello Sfrozesco, which was once a medieval fortification and has a quiet park behind where lot of people can chill out beneath the trees. Apart from other tourist attractions, like the "Quadrilatero della moda" or "corso como", the best of Milan is what the people organizes daily all around the city. To always know what to do and visit, I'd suggest to visit two sites that collect al the weekly events in the city. One is "eventimilano" which is mainly about cultural events. The second one, which young people love, is "milanodascrocco". This site has been created by three students who wanted to share "the free side" of Milan with others. They are always updated about inauguartions or free stuff all around milan, and can get you a free visit in a museum or a dinner for free, if you keep yourself updated!!

Is it good to eat out in Milan? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

eating out in Milan has nothing to envy to other cities, thanks to it's diversity. Some of my favourite places are:
Felice a testaccio: it has very high quality roman cuisine, but it's better to go there for lunch due to its prices
cocciuto: one of the best pizza in Milan
assaje: another great pizza to have
miscusi: high quality pasta dished all around the city
ammu: sicilian bakery that serve frsh cannoli and granite
cioccolatiitaliani: one of y favourite ice cream in Milan

Is the nightlife good in Milan? Where is good to go?

Milan is full of lively bars and clubs that are apon all night long, and most of them are chape for students as well. As I said before, usually young people prefer to have aperitifs in the late afternoon and stay outside until 1 a.m. with their friends, mostly with a cocktail in the hand. Anyway, there are a lot of pubs where you can chill or play board games as well, which are very nice to have a different kind of night. Despite Milan is quite safe now, you don't want to end up alone in some park or square in the night: nightlife in Milan is enjoyable but it's better staying on the lookout sometimes.

What advice would you give future students heading to Milan?

As i said before, I'd take advantage of free events as much as possible. I'd also enjoy the many events organized by universities and i'd say yes to ay kind of experience which is offered to me. Lots of exhibitions and fairs are daily set up and can be a pleasant way to spend your day.