Surviving Milan
Your step-to-step guide on how to survive your semester abroad in Milan, Italy including how to get a metro card, apps to download, permit of stay and ESN.
by Daniella Gonzalez, Caroline Fulghum and Hannah Archuleta
Hello Everyone! This is Caroline Fulghum, Daniella Gonzalez and Hannah Archuleta. We are three students from American currently on a study abroad in Milan, Italy. Welcome to our blog! We are currently enrolled at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore studying Mass Media and Marketing. Through our blog, we hope to provide helpful tips, suggestions and general directions on how to navigate living in Milan as a student on a budget. Since we are all students that had never been to Milan before, we can provide special insight into how to survive and thrive in the fashion capital of the world. We will discuss many useful apps that will help you get around the city and save some money. We will also provide some tips on activities we struggled with when arriving to Milan, such as getting your permit of stay and metro card.
APPS TO DOWNLOAD:
EVENTBRITE: Eventbrite is an app that allows people to find free events near them. For example, during Milan Fashion Week, dozens of private fashion shows, cocktail hours and celebratory brand events are accessible at the click of a button. Most events solely require an email address and name to register in order to send an official ticket QR code.
Car2go: Car rentals like Enterprise, is really popular in America, but forget car rentals, carsharing is just like having your own car in Milan! Car2go is the world’s first free-floating carsharing service. All you need is the app. Grab a car2go anywhere in the Home Area1 of Milan. Join for $5 + get $10 car2go credit and when you’re done, park it back on the streets for free. For a low price per minute that includes everything from parking to fueling, you now have a fleet of cars in the city. It’s just like renting a scooter… but safer!
CITYMAPPER: Using public transportation can be hard, imagine using it in a city you have never been before. Luckly for us, Citymapper exists! According to Wired.com, Citymapper knows all about trams, buses, subways and trains in the area; warns you of delays on the routes you use the most; it shows you the nearest stations to the destination you have chosen and guides you turn by turn; alerts you with a notification when it’s time to get off; even counts the calories you consume on the way.
WHER: For our solo female travelers, don’t fret! We have found a very special app just for you. Wher is the first navigator (take Citymapper for example) where the roads are suggested by women according to how safe they are. With Wher you can search for information about streets, find the most recommended route for you based on reviews and give your opinion about streets you’ve walked through.
BIKEMI: BikeMi is the first example in the world of an integrated Bike sharing system and it is located right here, in Milan. By using BikeMi you will be able to use both traditional bikes and pedelecs at any of the docking stations. Depending on the type of the bike you choose, only the tariffs conditions change. Tariffs range from daily subscription 4.50 €, weekly subscription 9.00 € and annual subscription 36.00 €.
NAVIGATING MILAN
METRO CARD: Milan is a city that revolves around public transportation. It is the fastest and easiest way to get from one side of the city to the other, and most study abroad students use it every day. Milan has busses, above ground trams and a giant underground metro system, which many people rely on to get to school. We all take the metro each day, and so it was necessary for us to get a metro card. A 90-minute ticket for the metro is 2€, which adds up when you take the metro frequently. The metro card is 22€ a month with a 10€ one time fee for the card. Having a metro card will save time and money if you take the metro to and from school. However, getting this card is not as easy as it seems. We will describe the steps in this blog.
- First, you will need to locate the nearest ATM point. These points are in the major metro stations, such as the Duomo, Centrale, Cadorna FN and others.
2. Download the ATM app that we have discussed above, to get in the line online.
3. There is a metro card request form that you will need to fill out in order to get the card. It is just basic information about yourself (name, address, passport number). We suggest going and grabbing one before your appointment and filling it out, so that you have it ready when it is time for your appointment.
4. You will need to get a passport photo taken to have on the metro card. This can be done in the photo booths located at the metro stations, near the ATM points. IT will cost a couple of euros (5 euros), but it is necessary for the metro card!
5. Now that you have a number, go to the ATM point and wait until your number is called. Make sure to bring your passport because they will make a copy of it! Also bring your student ID card to get the student discount.
Once all of this is completed, you will have a metro card! The card needs to be re-filled each month; this can be done at any metro station at a ticket kiosk. You can also request to just pay the duration of your stay upfront, so you won’t have to refill it each month.
PERMIT OF STAY:
Obtaining your permit of stay can be a confusing and frustrating task for new international students entering Italy. It is only necessary to get if you are living in Italy for more than 90 days, and you have to have many required documents to obtain it. Here is how you can find the documents needeed for the permit of stay.
Once you have all of these important documents and stamps, you can take them all to one of the many Poste Italiane (Postal Offices) around town. You have to show your passport, along with your filled out form and all of these documents, then they will give you your receipt for the permit of stay. It will cost 101€ to process, and this will be paid at the post office. The post officer will give you your receipt of proof that this is completed, and your appointment letter, indicating a date and time to return and get your permit of stay card- this is usually a couple months away. The receipt is all that is needed in the meantime.
ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK:
We all came into this experience not knowing other students, causing anxiety about making friends while abroad. To all prospective students with similar concerns, do not worry! The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is here to help! ESN is an on campus group that is here to help integrate students into the Italian culture to make their study abroad experience the best it can be. There is a chapter for each school in Milan, dedicated to planning fun trips, city tours and experiences for all study abroad students to enjoy. It is a great way to meet friends from all different cultures, and have fun at the same time. We have interviewed one of the ESN leaders, Matilda, to get more information into what ESN is and how it can be a part of your study abroad experience.
ESN is not only beneficial for study abroad students who are looking to meet other students. ESN offers many great resources to help study abroad students save money. Erasmus holds events for study abroad students to attend dinners, trips around Europe and explore the night life scene in Milan. Erasmus requires students to pay a small fee in order to be a member. Every organized event requires a payment, depending on the type of event.
Some of this year’s events included nights out to clubs such as Old Fashion, Hollywood and Alcatraz. Additionally, students had the opportunity to go to Bologna, Oktoberfest in Munich, as well as many others.
ESN also partners with organizations such as travel sites and restaurants in Milan to offer students a discount. For example, one of ESN’s partners is Ryan Air. Ryan Air offers flights to many locations around Europe. The discount allows students to book four flights for 15% off and a free 20 Kg bag.
Questions:
- What is ESN?
ESN stands for the Erasmus Student Network. It is an organization that helps integrate students participating in study abroad by hosting off campus and in campus events, weekend excursions and milan nightlife.
2. How did you get involved with ESN?
I volunteered to become one of the leaders for ESN because I enjoy helping foreign students acclimate to italian culture.
3. Why should study abroad students join ESN?
Students should join ESN because it is an easy way to make friends and travel around italy.
4. How much does it cost to join ESN?
Joining ESN is priceless but an official membership card costs 10 euro
5. What kind of events does ESN host?
ESN hosts tours around milan and all over Italy, member weekend trips, aperitivos, and sponsored club nights
6. Which event is your favorite?
My favorite event is Integration Weekend. Integration Weekend is when we travel with 50+ students to Bergamo and stay in a cabin like house. We play sport games and fun arranged bonding.
7. Does ESN partner with any companies to give students discounts?
Yes. We partner with many, some including
- Ryanair: 15% off flight + free 20kg luggage
- Flixbus: 15% off bus ride
- Bar Magenta: 20% off everything
- Palo Alto Cafe: 25% off everything
