When you first enter a new place, it can be overwhelming. There are cultural differences, possibly a language barrier, and societal nuances that can be difficult to navigate in the beginning. I will be sharing with you my guide to Milanese culture; how do people dress, communicate, rest, and everything in between. Breaking down Milano into five categories, you’ll have a better understanding of the fashion, cuisine, restaurant etiquette, social culture, and public transportation. This is not comprehensive, but it’s a start to understanding the Milanese culture and preparing for your own epic adventures here.

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Table of Contents

1. Fashion

It should be no surprise, since Milano is the fashion capital of the world, but the Milanese people take their style very seriously. Very iconically, the color of choice is black. Whether it be shoes, pantyhose, or a purse, it’s black. Accessories include jewelry, piercings, scarves wrapped around the neck once and tossed behind the shoulder, boxy totes, and bold sunglasses. If you really want to look like a local, sport over-the-ear headphones while walking around town. Trench coats pair with almost everything, but brown or black leather jackets are also seen everywhere. Don’t neglect your shoe choice either, as they can make-or-break the outfit. Take a walk down Corso Buenos Aires to get a good sense of the current trends then pop into one of the many stores on the street to grab yourself a copy of the hottest items. Loose and baggy denim jeans or knee-length shorts are often seen with a black top for an effortless look. Minimal, monotone, possibly layered looks are all the rage at the moment.

Girl poses for a mirror selfie in an elevator. — I should obviously be a model for Milano.

2. Cuisine

To quote an Italian friend of mine, “Italian food is so simple and easy, so I don’t understand why the rest of the world makes such a big deal about it.” And yet, Italian restaurants with true Italian chefs are touted as the classiest all around the world. But to be fair, the ingredients are often quite simple and redundant. The trick, however, is true Italian cuisine is made with love and takes time to prepare from scratch. Olive oil, salt and pepper, oregano, and tomatoes can be found in almost every dish in healthy amounts. The most important food group in Italia, however, is coffee. Although, put that cappuccino down after noon, you tourist. Breakfast is usually a bakery item such as a croissant with an espresso. Lunch can often be cold, or you can find “workers meals” in trattorias and restaurants for cheap, large-portion meals. Dinner is typically later in the evening, starting after 1930, and meant to be shared. While bread is not as much as a staple in the Italian kitchen as movies make it out to be, “la scarpetta” or “do the little shoe” is a common way to scoop the rest of the sauce off the plate with pieces of bread. A nice glass of wine, or two, or four, with friends and family is commonplace. Perhaps you will even enjoy a shot of Limoncello to help with digestion or have a cup of coffee after the meal. Snacks and desserts throughout the day include a multitude of bakery goods and treats such as cannoncini or tiramisu, and of course the occasional gelato cone on a hot day. If you need any recommendations for restaurants and pasteries, find over fifteen options on my destination guide here.

A dish of saffron risotto. — Saffron risotto with parmesan that I made with an Italian friend of mine!

3. Restaurant Etiquette

With the exception of fine dining, seat yourself and wait for a server to notice you are there. Practice the art of patience and enjoy the slow life in Italian restaurants. If there’s one thing Italians hate, it’s to be rushed. If you need or want something, ask for it and don’t expect it. Meals are to be enjoyed, so don’t feel rushed to finish your food and get out. In fact, if you don’t take a tea or coffee after your meal, it will be obvious you’re not from here. Often, you will find restaurants that are exclusively or mostly with outside seating, but you won’t mind because the weather and atmosphere are so nice. If you are planning to eat in some, choose Mondays as those are typically “rest days” for restaurants and shops. While the occasional shop will be open for limited hours, plan your big meals out during the rest of the week. If the service was absolutely exceptional, a 10-15% tip is acceptable, though 5% is more common, and it’s not considered rude to leave nothing if you deemed the service subpar.

Big groups of family and friends socialize together, whether in homes or in public, though it’s not uncommon to see individuals or a couple walking the streets alone or spending the afternoon in a garden. While roaming the streets and parks, it’s also normal to see alcoholic drinks in hand, so stop into the nearest mini market for yours while walking around with friends. Smoking, e-cigs, and vapes are extremely popular as well and shops for refills can be found on every street corner. With many food establishments having outside seating, don’t be alarmed if you smell smoke while eating. Italians also love to take their dogs with them everywhere, and you can find cute canines sitting under tables and walking the parks of the city every day. You might want to carry around an umbrella with you during the springtime, though, as you will never find an unprepared Italian for pop-up showers. While out in public, you might also hear many loud phone conversations and videos, as it’s accepted to use the speaker function of your phone. That being said, many still choose to use earbuds and stay in their own little world, particularly while commuting.

Heads, hands, and flags raised up in a celebration with lights and fog in the air. — A celebration for an FC Inter Milan football victory that took up the entire Piazza del Duomo.

5. Public Transportation

If you’re unfamiliar with public transportation, Milano is the perfect place to begin getting acquainted. Azienda Transporti Milanesi, or ATM, is an integrated fare system extending to all nine fare zones of the greater Milano area. Whether you want to take the metro, bus, or tram, an ATM ticket will take you anywhere. In addition to those, you of course have trains, with some popular lines taking you to surrounding cities and regions of the country. Tap-and-go with your bank card, buy a singular ticket, or a multi-day pass based on your needs. Validating your ticket is easy and convenient on all modes of transportation. To learn more about the different tips and tricks for getting around, take a look at my destination guide for Milano, which you can find here. My personal trick is to use the Citymapper app for extensive options on how to reach your destination within the city.

Bicycle locked to a bike rack. — A BikeMi bicycle ready for use.

Takeaways

The best way to prepare for Milano is to simply go and find out. Although, hopefully knowing more about these five categories of Milanese culture will help you integrate seamlessly during your adventure. Fashion, cuisine, restaurant etiquette, social culture, and public transportation are all very big pieces of being in Milano and you will surely find more nuances and subtleties on your own. If you find any of this useful, let me know! If you have questions, comments, or concerns, share them! My goal is for this to be a platform for like-minded travelers to share and help others. If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, you will find that’s the easiest place to interact with a community of wanderers. On my YouTube channel, I will share tips, tricks, and lessons learned from each destination I go to, and my podcast will have similar content in a different format. I hope that you find this information helpful and use it as a starting point for your own wonderful, magical adventures! Happy wandering.

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