EANM Executive Secretariat, Hollandstrasse 14 / Mezzanine, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43-(0)1-212 80 30, Fax: +43-(0)1-212 80 30-9, E-Mail: office@eanm.org
Travel to Milan
General Information (A-Z)
Banks and ATMs
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 – 13:30 and again from 14:30 – 16:40. ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) can be found everywhere in the city and in the congress venue.
City of Milan (or Italian “Milano”)
Milan is Italy’s cultural, industrial and financial centre. The capital of the Lombardy (North of Italy) is also one of the main fashion centres in the world, and the second biggest city in Italy. What has definitely made this city famous is its design industry. Each visit offers an opportunity to discover the manifold aspects of Milan, a lively and dynamic city.
Churches, Synagogues, Mosques
The majority of the population in Italy is Roman Catholic. Nevertheless, various places of worship for different religions can be found in town.
Climate
The climate in Milan is Mediterranean. October temperatures range from 8 – 18°C and rainy days are likely.
Credit Cards
All major credit cards including Eurocard, Diners, Visa and Mastercard are accepted in restaurants, hotels, shopping centres and stores. Travel cheques can be cashed in most banks and exchange offices.
Currency
The official currency in Italy is the Euro (€). You can exchange your currency without any limits for a total amount at all banks and exchange offices in Milan. When you are exchanging your currency, you will need your passport or official ID card. If you do not have it with you, the bank may refuse to exchange your currency.
Electricity
The power supply in Italy is 220/240 V. Most electrical outlets adhere to the continental standard (Schuko). Appliances from North America require a transformer and British ones an adaptor for the two-pin sockets in use in Italy.
Museums
The museums of Milan are wonderful and likely to be a true highlight of any Italian vacation. Packed with heritage information about the city’s past, Milan’s museums also concentrate on a variety of different subject matters such as science, technology, movie making, art and famous individuals. This is your opportunity to see Da Vinci’s Last Supper, closed for over 25 years for renovation, and finally open to the public again at Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
Public Bicycle Sharing System
Milan offers a Public Bicycle Sharing System called “BikeMi”. Stations are located in strategic points all over the city. You can choose between a weekly or daily subscription and registration is possible online on the BikeMi website www.bikemi.com and at ATM Points, where assistants will help you to register. You can find ATM points at the following metro stations: Duomo, Cadorna, Loreto, Romolo, Centrale FS and Garibaldi FS.
Please refer to the BikeMi website for detailed information on the rental procedure and to have a look at a map of all BikeMi stations.
Rates (status November 2011):
Daily subscription: € 2,50 / Weekly subscription: € 6,00.
The first 30 minutes of use are free. After the first 30 minutes you will pay € 0,50 for
every subsequent half hour or fraction of a half hour, for a maximum of two hours.
Remember that the bike cannot be used for more than two hours. After the two hour limit, you
will be charged a € 2,00 penalty per hour or fraction of an hour.
Public Transportation Ticket
All congress participants who book a hotel through the online registration page of EANM that is not within walking distance to the congress venue will receive a public transportation ticket upon check-in at the hotel desk.
For an overview of hotels and their respective distance to the congress venue, please refer to the section ‘List of Hotels’.
Restaurants and Nightlife
Milan has an active nightlife and each neighborhood hosts its own variety of pubs and restaurants. In the Brera, for example, you can find the popular, old-school-style Bar Jamaica. Hollywood is a current club-style bar in the area, favored by the fashionable, including models, actors and sports stars. Rolling Stone is one of the oldest music venues in the city, open since the 1950s. The Magenta & Brera also have a great deal of restaurant options. In the fashion district, where everyone is on the go, grab a cup of the best coffee ever and a pastry and indulge in window-shopping. You can also dine at Il Teatro, an award-winning restaurant in the Four Seasons Milano that is consistently ranked in the top five restaurants in the city.
Shopping
Many believe that if any city could ever challenge Paris for the title of global fashion capital, it would be Milan. This ultimate Mecca for all fashion addicts never fails to amaze with the number of designer flagships it is home to. The exclusive boutiques and studios sell some of the most sophisticated fashion. Here are some recommended shopping streets: Quadrilatero d’Oro (Montenapoleone, Della Spiga, Borgospesso, Sant’ Andrea, Manzoni and Santo Spirito), Navigli, Corso Buenos Aires or Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
Taxes & Tipping
In Italy VAT (or IVA) is applied with a standard 21% rate. Tipping in Italy is quite discretionary, with taxi drivers usually being given a 10% gratuity or thereabouts – although this is not essential. In restaurants a gratuity of around 10% is usually expected in recognition of prompt and courteous service.
Telephones
Pay phones in Milan are rare and operate by use of credit cards or coins. There are no public phones available in the congress venue.
Time Zone
Milan is 6 hours ahead of US – Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Visas
All visitors entering Italy must possess valid passports. For citizens from the European Union Member countries a valid identity card is sufficient.
PLEASE CHECK THE CURRENT VISA REQUIREMENTS WITH YOUR LOCAL ITALIAN CONSULATE/ EMBASSY BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE TO MILAN!
