Experience in Milano, Italy by irene

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

Milano is the centre of everything, but you can only get it in the very same centre of the city. Museums, galleries, shops, pubs, pizza, a good cup of coffee and even a good place to sit and read an English book! But don't worry fellas, this amazing city has some surprises for you, did you think just the centre has some amusement places for y'all? You went wrong. As long as you don't mind getting lost a bit in its many streets made for pedestrians you won't regret it a tiny bit. Do you think that street looks suspicious and you may end up having problems over there? Don't judge a book by its cover (be clever, if you see people fighting don't get in, that street may be trouble), just walk in and enjoy, you may discover the next best bar or the tiniest coffee which serves the best cups of capuccino!

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What is the student lifestyle like in Milan?

Student lifestyle you say? There's almost nothing else in Milano, with both two different student networks in that city you can imagine the amount of Erasmus parties, Erasmus apperitivi, Erasmus encounters, Erasmus trips and Erasmus hungovers you can find in Milano!

How much does it cost to live in Milan?

Well... if you want to enjoy a city at its best, you have to invest some money. And all the people that have lived in Milano for quite some time can second what I'm talking about. Specially it's really expensive the rent of student flats, specially if you want to live near your University or some "Campus" so to say. But as I've already said, don't worry and start getting lost in different streets or online searchers, there's a choice for everyone in Milano!

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

Not really, as long as you NEVER go in August, did you hear me kid? Never ever go in August. . Everyone is on holidays and you won't have a choice. So the best advise I can give to you is to pack, take a cheap flight with Ryanair and get the cheapest hostel for a week (you can always make your stay longer if you can't find the flat of your dreams in this very first 7 days). It's not easy, but you have to be patience. Some of the landlords simply ask too much for their flats just because they think they are in the centre of the world, but they aren't, so don't precipitate, take your time, you will need good shoes to walk the whole city and some extra patience to stand some ugly houses you'll wish you had never got in. But then, VOILÀ! the flat you were dreaming of will appear just in front of you and the best flatmates that you could ever imagine will be your best friends for the rest of the year! So just take a deep breath, and good luck!

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

The food is heavenly. Pasta, pizza, piadina, panzerotto, cotoletta, risotto... can you imagine? The best food in the cutest places. What's the best? You can have the famous "happy hour" or "Aperitivo" after 17:00h in every bar, and for just 5-8 € you can enjoy a drink and a free buffet of the best food in the place! My favorite dishes are "lasagna vegetale" and "risotto di funghi". The best place you can get this is at "Sans Ègal" right in the centre of the city close to the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, you can't miss it!

What places would you recommend visiting in Milan?

The places I enjoyed the most are, of course, my dear Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, The Duomo, the Gallery of Vittorio Emanuele, The Castle and the Columns of Saint Lorenzo! Whenever it's sunny you can find dozens of students drinking some beer at that beautiful place! it's just magic! Specially in summer when you can smell the holidays and everyone is so cheerful, I miss it with all my heart!

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

It is good to eat out in Milano, of course it is! Why? Because it is cheap, the food is perfect (always better than any dishes you can make yourself at home. Don't get yourself wrong, even if you're a good cook you'll never reach the expert level italians have). And my favorite sports, as I already said, are the centre (Brera area), and The are of Ticinese, over there you can find the best places to enjoy the happy hours, the also have a boat turned into a bar in which you can have dinner with your friends and it's not expensive at all!

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

The nightlife is amazing, the bad thing is that you have to pay if you want to get into the great majority of the pubs/discos in Milano. The good thing? They have Erasmus parties and Erasmus special days in which you get good discounts and good drinks as well. You can't miss the biggest place in the city, "Alcatraz". I'm sure you've already heard about it and I understand why. Concerts, young people, good music and always a good mood over there full of people!

What advice would you give future students heading to Milan?

The only and best advice I can give to you is: "Simply enjoy every little thing, you won't have he opportunity to do it again! "