Why go to Milan? The 10 good reasons to go Milan

Museums and national sites are generally open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., often closing a little later in summer and a little earlier in winter. Closing day is Monday or Tuesday.

You can't see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper without booking in advance via the website (cenacolovinciano.org). You'll need to book at least two or three weeks in advance, and even two or three months in advance for Christmas vacations, summer vacations and the first Sunday of the month (when admission is free). Since January 2024, however, to meet tourist demand, the number of tickets has been increased (110 more entries each day). These extra tickets go on sale online every Wednesday at 12 noon, for the following week and for the .15 and .45 slots of each hour. Think about it if you haven't booked in advance! Finally, if you really can't find a slot available, you can always ask at reception if there are any cancellations that day... and keep your fingers crossed!

You'll also need a reservation to see the Enrico Toti submarine at the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica (www.museoscienza.org).

Budget. For a visit to a municipal museum or site, you'll need to calculate between €5 and €10, a little more for entry to a private museum, especially if it holds a few masterpieces - for example, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana at €15 - or the Cenacolo Vinciano, home to Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper , at €15.

Visitors under the age of 18 who are nationals of the European Union are entitled to free admission, while teachers, young people between 18 and 24 and senior citizens over 65 almost always benefit from discounts.

With the exception of the Duomo, all of Milan's churches are free of charge. You will, however, have to pay a few euros for access to the sacristies, chapter houses and crypts containing church treasures. Proper attire is essential (no shorts for men, no bare shoulders or miniskirts for women).

Good deals. The permanent collections of Mudec, the Casa Museo Boschi di Stefano and the Pirelli HangarBicocca are open all year round.

As in France, every^1st Sunday of the month, free admission to all the city's municipal museums (including the Musei del Castello Sforzesco, the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, the Museo Archeologico and the Museo del Risorgimento).

Young visitors. The Museo di Storia Naturale offers plenty to keep young visitors entertained with its animal exhibits, while the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica introduces them to Leonardo da Vinci's ingenious machinery. Finally, the municipal aquarium will keep them busy on a rainy afternoon.

Several associations offer guided tours of the city in several languages(www.milanoguida.com, www.miguidi.it, www.scopriremilano.it). Special mention must be made of the Milano Free Tour volunteers(www.freetour.com/milan): enthusiastic young guides who accompany you on a tour of the historic center. All free of charge, but a good tip is of course in order.