Useful Information for Living in Milan: Tips for Bocconi, Navigli and Nearby Areas

Here you can find essential tips for living in Milan as an international student

If you are moving to Milan for your studies or for a medium-term stay, here you can find some practical information that may help you settle in more easily.
Many of these tips are especially useful if your apartment is in the Bocconi, Navigli or nearby areas, but most of them can be helpful wherever you live in Milan.

Living in a new country can feel a little overwhelming at the beginning, so I hope this page will make your first weeks in Milan easier and more comfortable.

Emergency numbers

The general emergency phone number in Italy is 112.

For a gas leak, call 800 933301.
For an electricity emergency, call 800 131000.

Shops and opening hours

Many shops in Milan close during lunch time, usually from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
Many are also closed on Monday morning.
Food shops such as bakeries, greengrocers and small grocery stores are often open on Monday morning and closed in the afternoon instead.

In general, most shops are closed on Sundays, while supermarkets are often open, sometimes with reduced opening hours.

Public transport in Milan

To buy public transport tickets and check the best route to your destination, I recommend downloading the ATM Milano App.
It is very useful for getting around the city by metro, tram or bus.

How to reach Bocconi University

To check how to get to Bocconi University from your apartment, simply enter your address and choose whether you prefer to walk or use public transport on this Google Maps link.

Italian SIM card

If you need an Italian SIM card, I suggest the Vodafone shop in Corso San Gottardo 5, Milan.
Telephone: +39 02 84563157

Opening an Italian bank account

If you would like to open an Italian bank account, you may contact:

Unicredit Bank
Corso San Gottardo 5, Milan
Telephone: +39 02 8681 3206
Open from Monday to Friday, 8:35 am – 1:35 pm and 2:45 pm – 4:15 pm.

Insurance information

If you need information about insurance in Italy, you may contact my broker:

Fabrizio Casati
Generali
Telephone: +39 039 6083652 – ext. 205
fabrizio.casati@realtointermedia.it

Supermarkets and grocery stores

Some useful supermarkets in the area are:

Esselunga
Viale Tibaldi 7, Milan
Open Monday to Saturday: 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

Conad
Corso San Gottardo 29, Milan
Open Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

Should you bring food from your home country?

Many students ask me this before coming to Milan.
In most cases, there is no real need, because Milan has many international food shops where you can find products from all over the world.

Apartment maintenance: plumber and electrician

For apartment maintenance issues, plumbing or electrical problems, you can contact:

Mr Jose Oliva
Telephone: +39 348 522 1500

Heating and hot water

If you have a problem with the heating or hot water, the first thing to check is the boiler pressure.
The boiler is usually installed on a wall and sometimes it is inside a kitchen cupboard.

The pressure, shown as BAR, should usually be around 1.2.
If it is lower, you can normally increase it by turning the small valve or handle under the boiler to let more water in.

If the problem is only with the heating, you may also want to check the radiators.
If they are not completely warm, they may need to be bled slightly to let the air out, until a little water starts coming out.

Pharmacies

Some useful pharmacies in the area are:

Pharmacy in Via Pavia 1
Open every day: 8:30 am – 8:00 pm

Pharmacy in Corso San Gottardo 1
Open Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am – midnight
Sunday: 8:00 pm – midnight
For urgent medicine delivery, you can call +39 02 89403433.

Doctors and dentist

The general doctors I would recommend are:

Dott. Gianluca Galdabino
Via Pavia 2/a, Milan
Telephone: 39 02 8375885

For dental care, I would recommend: Adec
Via De Amicis 28, Milan
WhatsApp: +39 333 366 4627

How to get an Italian tax code

If you need to obtain an Italian codice fiscale, you can find an easy and free procedure here: How to get an Italian codice fiscale online.

Weather in Milan and what to pack

If you would like to know what clothes to bring and what the weather is usually like in Milan, I suggest checking the forecast here: Milan weather forecast.

House Rules

I also invite you to read our House Rules, where you can find additional useful information for anyone renting an apartment in Milan.

I hope these tips will help you enjoy your stay in Milan from the very beginning.