Practical information : Going out Milan
Timetable
The bars get ready for the evening from 6.30pm. Once the aperitif is over at 9pm, the night begins with live music and a cocktail parade. As in France, nightclubs open their doors at 11pm, but the crowds don't start arriving until around midnight.
Budget & Tips
Budget. An evening cocktail costs between €10 and €15, and a glass of wine between €7 and €10. To get into a nightclub, expect to pay between €25 and €30 with a drink.
A ticket for a play costs between €15 and €40. Tickets for an opera or ballet at La Scala can cost from €15 to €250, and even more on the opening night of the season on December 7.
Good deals. For each performance, 140 seats in thepiccionaia- the last row of boxes, galleries with seating but limited visibility - go on sale 2h30 before each performance at the ticket office under the arcades in via Filodrammatici, from €5 to €15. You'll need to come early in the morning to register, and return in the evening to collect your seat, which may be more or less central depending on the order of arrival. For the lucky ones, 1 hour before the show, the same ticket office sells out the seats still available in the theater at a discount of around 25%.
Night transport
The metro runs between 6am and around 0.30am, while buses and streetcars slow down after 10pm. The night-time transport network is quite efficient, but it's a good idea to plan an alternative for your evening out: cab, bike or walk!
Age restrictions
Entrance to nightclubs is highly selective and reserved for those over 18.
What's very local
It can't be said often enough: in Milan, fashion is an institution! The Milanese dress to go out: color-coordinated, well-ironed clothes, accessories and make-up, all done with the utmost casualness. Chic, elegant and, above all, trendy!
Smokers
As in France, smoking is banned in all indoor areas.