Pickpockets do exist in Milan. Watch your belongings carefully, particularly at the train station and at tourist sites. Burglary is also a problem. Put valuables in the safe in your hotel room or ask the front desk to secure them for you. Never leave anything of value in a parked car; suitcases, purses and backpacks aren't safe, even in a locked trunk. Violent crime is not a serious problem in Milan, but walking in areas where drug dealers might congregate, such as Parco Sempione, underground passageways or in the area around the train station, is discouraged after dark. Try not to consult your map on the street, which can make you a target for purse snatchers who prey on tourists. If you're carrying a shoulder bag, cross the strap over your chest.
The metro is safe, usually even in the evening. Be vigilant on crowded buses and trains, where jostling may disguise pickpocketing. The line of Filobus 91/92 is especially notorious for pickpockets. Do not fall for shell games and do not buy tickets from black-market sellers (bagherini); they will either be overpriced or fake.
For the latest information, contact your country's travel-advisory agency.
Dos & Don'ts
Do take more film along than you think you will need (assuming you have not yet gone digital). It is expensive to purchase it in the gift shops.
Don't forget to tour the city streets. If you only visit the indoor museums, you'll be missing a lot of great architecture.
Do recall that you may be on holiday but the people of Milan are not. Think "smart casual" and leave the beach attire for the beach regardless of how hot it may be.
Don't make appointments that would require people to miss a meal: Food is important in Italy, and mealtimes are sacred. Lunch is taken in Milan between 1 and 2 pm, and dinner is eaten usually around 8 pm.
Do note that many elevators in Italy do not "memorize and prioritize." So if several people get in and each pushes his or her preference, the elevator will travel to the floor chosen by the first person to push, not the floor closest to where one started. That's why Italians get into elevators and tell the other occupants where they're going. Then, one person "does the honors."
Do avoid shopping on a Saturday. Every shop will be full of people, and even the expensive designer shops will have queues in front of the changing rooms.
Don't smoke in public restaurants or bars, or you may face a hefty fine. Very few places have separate smoking areas.
Do say "buongiorno" when you enter a shop, even if you then have to wait your turn. When you have finished, say thanks and then "buongiorno" before you leave. Use "ciao" as a greeting with friends and acquaintances, not with people you don't know.
Don't be surprised when leaving a shop if you are asked by an official of the Italian Guarda de Finanza (tax authority) to produce the receipt for the goods you just bought. This is done to stem tax fraud. If you don't have the receipt, you could have to pay a fine (although this is rarely enforced with tourists).
Don't order your espresso on the terrace of the cafe, unless you really want to sit down for some time and watch the world go by. It may cost you three times more than at the counter of the bar.
