Walking is definitely a possibility, and although Milan is a large city, many of the main tourist attractions are within an easy walk from one another. In recent years, several tourist hot spots, such as the Corso Vittorio Emanuele or the Via Dante have been made pedestrian, so walking shouldn`t be a problem. Get a decent map of the city before setting out though, as the roads do not always maintain a straight line, and the various piazza can be confusing if you`re unfamiliar with the layout of the city.

Milan`s extensive subway system (Metropolitana Milanese), trams and buses make it very easy to move around the city. The Metro closes at midnight (1am on Saturdays); buses and trams run all night. Tickets cost €1.50 for one Metro ride (or 1 hour and 15 minutes of tram/bus transportation). You can also purchase a ticket for unlimited travel for 1 day (€4.50) or 2 days (€8.25). Tickets are available at Metro stations and at newsstands.

Lines 1 (red, with stops at Cairoli for Castello Sforzesco and Duomo for Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Duomo) and 3 (yellow, with a stop at Via Montenapoleone) are the most useful for sightseeing.

Word of warning! Stamp your ticket when you board a bus or tram. You can be charged an expensive fine if you don`t.

The Metro has a big white M on a red background as a logo and has four lines, each commonly identified by a color and is the best way to get around Milan. The subway network is rather extended (lines split into different sections and its 103 stations cover most areas of town). Trains run every 1-3 min, 6:00-midnight (2:00am on Saturday nights).

Ticket machines at the more important metro stations will often have beggars standing around them, offering to `help you` buy a ticket. If you accept their help, they will harass you for a tip or simply steal your change as it comes out of the machine.

(Streetcars) run above-ground on rail lines running through the streets. Milan tramway lines are everywhere, and they are a true symbol of Milan, just like red double decker bus is for London. Being above ground means you get a view of the city you are passing by, so if you don`t need to go far, they`re convenient and fun. Some tram lines are operated by the ultramodern `jumbo' green tram, others are run by yellow or orange antique traditional carriages (similar to the ones in San Francisco) with wooden paneling inside. There is also a restaurant tram and a party tram with disco music. Many tram stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service. These are known as trams and an Italian (or non-American foreigner for that matter) will have no idea what you are talking about if you ask them where to find a `streetcar`. Many trams are really museum pieces, which makes of Milan a sort of an open air transportation museum. The most important historical trams are the `serie 1500` type, dating back as far as 1929! They survived even to the WWII bombings and are still now in perfect conditions. Since their historical value, no retirement option is even considered for these tram types.

Buses should probably be your third public transport option. They are comfortable, clean, and generally always on-time with many routes to choose from. ATM tram and bus services stop around 2:00am. However, some lines end their service earlier and some do not have a night service at all. In any case check your route and timetable in advance if you want to travel late at night.

Several buses connect suburban cities and towns surrounding Milan. Some are managed by ATM. You can travel on most of them with an inter-urban ticket (biglietto interurbano) which are sold in two forms: including travel in Milan or without. In the without form you can only go to the end of the line, while with the cumulative version you can transfer to any ATM line. There are several rules and distance limits which apply, so be aware of them when you purchase your ticket.

Many bus stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service.

To get a taxi in Milan, you must walk to the nearest taxi stand, usually located near major piazze and major Metro stops. In the city center, there are taxi stands at Piazza Duomo and Piazza della Scala. Taxi meters start at about €3.30 with a nighttime and Sunday surcharge; and a Sunday surcharge.

We don`t recommend driving a car in Milan due to heavy traffic and the convenience of public transportation. Also, there are heavy fines for driving in restricted traffic zones and special permits are required for street parking.

If you must have a car while in the city then your hotel may offer a car park (for a fee), but the best bet is to park your car at Cascina Gobba, South Milan metro station (green line) or at Sesto San Giovanni, North Milan metro station (red line) where there are large parking lots (parking garages can be recognized by a square blue sign with a white P), then take the metro into the center.

If you are renting a car we suggest you pick it up as you depart the city to avoid excessive rental/parking expenses.

During working hours traffic is often blocked, inside the city as well as on the highway ring surrounding it. It is much better at night, but you`ll probably have problems finding a place to leave the car near enough to nightlife attractions. And a Congestion charge will be applied anywhere from €2 to €10 per day to enter the second city ring (i Bastioni) in accordance with how much your vehicle pollutes. The charge is only applied on weekdays, 7:30am - 7:30pm. Drivers will have to buy a ticket either on-line or from key points in the city.