Is Milan expensive to visit?

Round-trip economy fares from New York (JFK) to Milan Malpensa (MXP) usually start at $600–$950, including one checked bag up to 50 lb (23 kg) and a carry-on. Flying time is about eight hours eastbound, and several US and European airlines fly the route nonstop.

Fares peak from June to August and around Christmas, and they rise during Design Week and the fashion weeks. Late fall and January usually bring the lowest prices outside the holidays. Milan also works well as the northern end of a longer trip. Our 7-day Rome, Florence, and Milan itinerary links all three cities by high-speed train.

Prices for a 4* hotel in Milan start at about $160 per person per night. You can also stay in a 2–3* hotel from around $100. Rates rise sharply during Design Week in April, the fashion weeks, and major trade fairs at Fiera Milano. Book months ahead for those dates, or plan your trip around them.

The city also charges a tourist tax per person per night, paid at the hotel. At the top end, the Bulgari, the Mandarin Oriental, and the Park Hyatt regularly charge $1,000+ per night for a standard room. Entry-level 5* hotels start at around $400 per person.

Neighborhood matters more than star rating here. Brera has cobbled streets, art galleries, and small boutique hotels. The area around the Duomo puts you closest to the main sights. Porta Venezia and Isola offer better value and a lively local food and bar scene. The Navigli suit travelers who want to spend their evenings by the canals.

Guided tours in Milan typically cost $40–$100 per person. That covers a guided visit to the Last Supper, a walk through the Quadrilatero della Moda, or a small-group tour of the Duomo and its rooftop.

Tickets to the main sights cost $6–$30. The Last Supper is about $18. A Duomo pass covering the cathedral, rooftop, and museum costs about $26 by stairs or $30 by lift. The Pinacoteca di Brera is about $17. It holds works by Raphael, Mantegna, and Caravaggio, and entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.

The Castello Sforzesco museums cost about $6, and the castle courtyards are free to walk. So are the Navigli, the streets of Brera, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. For a fully private day, a three-hour guide starts at around $300 per group.

Milan has one of Italy's most efficient public transport networks. A single ticket costs about $2.60 and covers the metro, trams, and buses for 90 minutes. A 24-hour pass costs about $8.80, and a three-day pass about $18. You can tap in with a contactless bank card, and the system caps your fare at the day-pass price.

From Linate Airport, the M4 metro reaches the center in about 15 minutes for the standard fare. From Malpensa, the Malpensa Express train costs about $15 and takes around 50 minutes. Shuttle buses cost about $12, and a fixed-fare taxi starts at around $110. Short taxi rides within the city cost $15–$25.

You won't need a car in Milan. Driving into the center also means paying a daily fee for Area C, the city's restricted traffic zone. For Lake Como, regional trains are faster than driving, at $6–$11 each way.

Expect to pay $20–$35 for risotto alla milanese or ossobuco at a trattoria, and $25–$40 for a proper cotoletta alla milanese. A three-course dinner with wine costs $60–$110. Most restaurants add a coperto (cover charge) of $2.50–$5 per person.

Aperitivo is a Milan institution. From about 6:30pm to 9:00pm, a cocktail or glass of wine costs $12–$20 and comes with snacks, sometimes a full buffet. Try a Negroni sbagliato or a glass of Franciacorta, Lombardy's sparkling wine, for $9–$15.

Daytime eating is quick and affordable. Locals have a cappuccino and brioche standing at the bar for $3.50–$5, and a fried panzerotto near the Duomo costs about $4. Tasting menus at Michelin-starred restaurants start at around $200. Dinner usually starts at 8:00pm.