the European Institute of Oncology
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Out of hours
Out of hours
When the work is done, our 'Out of Hours' section helps you to relax and unwind. Discover more about the cities hosting cancer conferences; not just where to stay and how to get around, but informed pointers on where to eat, where to drink and what to see. You can also find special offers on wine, books and accommodation.
Milan
Over-laden with the emphasis on fashion shopping and ‘cool’ guides to this elegant city often state the obvious. Well known for its cafes piazzas boutiques galleries and churches the ‘city in the midst of the plain’ is also Italy’s financial capital and centre of the industrial Lombardy region. Experiencing a significant architectural and urban design renaissance after some decline in the 1980s many new construction projects are under way with the aim of rehabilitating disused peripheral industrial areas a rebirth set to continue with the upcoming Expo 2015.
This guide is a brief glimpse at the options for your spare time - as well as where to stay and how to get around this stylish metropolis.
Getting in from the Airport
Malpensa (MXP).[2]
Express trains [3] leave every 30 minutes. 40 min journey to Stazione Cadorna. Can be crowded and slow in rush hour. €11-13.50. Ticket must be validated in the station before boarding.
Buses
Every 20 minutes for Centrale Station. €6 euros from 40 minutes-1 hour or more during weekday mornings. Buses are the best option if arriving at terminal 2 to avoid internal shuttle bus. There is always a bus waiting and they usually wait until the bus is completely full before departing.
Taxi
€70 fixed fee to the centre of town.
Linate (LN)
This small one-runway airport is closer to the city centre than Malpensa but with fewer airlines.
Bus
73 outside the terminal building to San Babila Square city centre. Every 10-15 min €1. Tickets available from Azienda Tansporti Milanesi (ATM) vending machines or newsagents.
An alternate dedicated bus service runs every 30 minutes. €3.00 on-board.
Taxi
Linate to the city centre costs €12-18
Orio al Serio / Bergamo (BGY)
About 45km north-east of Milan near the city of Bergamo. (Ryanair refers to it as Milan Bergamo Airport)
Trains
From Bergamo station which you can reach by shuttle bus or taxi but it is quite far from the airport. (Buses to Bergamo are run by ZANI and take 10 minutes at a cost of around €1.50). Trains from Bergamo to Milan run every 30-60 min and take around 1 hour. Approx €4.
Bus
Immediately outside the arrivals section of the airport:
‘Autostradale’ run a direct bus to ‘Milano Centrale station’ probably the best choice. Departure times may vary but buses generally run every 30min during the day less often at night and take about 1 hour or more longer in rush hours. Adult one way fare €7.90.Tickets are sold inside airport.
‘Zani Viaggi’ also run a bus service from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale station with a stop at the Cascina Gobba MM2 Metro station on the North Eastern outskirts of Milan. Adult fare €6.70. Tickets sold at an office in the airport.
Taxis
Around €100 to city centre.
Venue
The 10th Milan Breast Cancer Conference will be at:
Hotel Quark
Via Lampedusa 11A
20141 Milano
Tel. (39) 02 84431
Getting Around
Milan public transport (Azienda Tansporti Milanesi - ATM) is fairly efficient and on the whole modern and clean. It incorporates underground and overground trains trams and buses. To plan a journey visit the ATM website.
Single tickets cost 1€ and are available from newsstands bars and automatic machines in Metro stations. They are valid for 75min for any journey on any mode of transport. Daily (€ 3) and 2 day tickets can also be purchased.
Metro
The lines are: MM1 Red MM2 Green MM3 Yellow. The last trains run at around midnight (2 am on Saturday night/Sun morning).
Train
Green S on a blue background. Includes a special line known as 'Passante' usually considered the fourth subway line and has eight more lines each identified by a number (1 to 9). Note that suburban trains run less often than Metro trains (depending on the line they range from 1 to 4 per hour) but as some lines share tracks and stations you can expect as many as 10 trains per
hour in central Milan between Lancetti and Porta Vittoria stations. These lines are usually marked with a large blue line on maps.
Tram
More practical for shorter jump-on jump-off trips. Some date back to the 1920s so offer a more interesting way to see the city.
Bus
Less comfortable than the metro and streetcars but more routes to choose from. ATM tram and bus services stop around 2 am. Some lines end their service earlier and some do not have a night service at all. Check your route and timetable in advance if you want to travel at late night.
Radiobus
From 8 pm to 2 am a special shuttle service is operated by ATM: An on-call bus accessible only be pre-booking. A good cheap and efficient alternative to a taxi with the characteristic silver colour and diagonal strip of international flags: Book by phone on 02 4803 4803 at least 20 min in advance (a couple of hours is better). The bus will stop at dedicated places only these have an hexagonal panel with blue RADIOBUS logo and telephone number. Will take you to nearly any destination and the driver will also wait for ladies to enter the destination door. €2 per person. Pay on the bus.
Taxi
Can be expensive and drivers may only pick up at designated taxi stands or through phone bookings. The main taxi companies can be reached at 02.40.40 and 02.69.69 or alternatively from a land line dial 848.814.781 to be connected to the nearest taxi stand. If you book a taxi by phone you'll start paying from the moment the driver accepts the call and comes to pick you up.
Download a Milan ATM transport map here.
Where to Stay
Milan Breast Cancer Conference accredited hotels:
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Address |
Stars |
Price |
Price |
|
Quark Hotel |
(conference venue) Via Lampedusa 11/a |
4 |
195 |
165 |
|
Jolly President Hotel |
(city center) Largo Augusto |
4 |
270 |
230 |
|
Grand Visconti Palace Hotel |
(south Milan) Lodi square |
4 |
250 |
210 |
|
Major Hotel |
(south Milan) Lodi Square |
4 |
180 |
145 |
|
Una Hotel Mediterraneo |
(south Milan) Lodi Square |
4 |
200 |
160 |
|
Crivi’s Hotel |
(south Milan) Porta Vigentina |
4 |
200 |
160 |
|
Sporting Hotel |
(south Milan) Opera Sporting Mirasole |
4 |
150 |
115 |
|
Dei Fiori Hotel |
(south Milan) Via Renzo e Lucia |
3 |
140 |
150 |
Budget
Hotel Porta Romana Milan Via Lazzaro Papi 18 20135. Tel. +39 02 55185890 Fax +39 02 55180189 Website. Hotel di Porta Romana is a 3 Star accommodation nicely located in the city centre ideal for business clients or holidaymakers who love to shop.
Hotel Arno / Hotel Eva Via Lazzaretto 17 20124. Tel. +39.02.6705509. A 10 min walk from the central station and 5min Metro. Free internet access. Rooms spacious and clean staff friendly and helpful.
Mid-range
Adam Hotel Milan Via Palmanova 153 20132. Tel. +39 0229 404483. Beautiful 4 star hotel well placed for the historical centre of Milan.
Ambasciatori Hotel Milan Galleria del Corso 3 20122. Tel: +39 02 76020241 4-star hotel located in historical city centre close to the Duomo.
Brunelleschi Hotel Milan Via Baracchini 12 20123. Tel. +39. 02 88431. 4-star in the centre of Milan close to the Duomo and La Scala Theatre. Prices range from €100 upwards.
Country Hotel Borromeo Via Bruno Buozzi 04 20068.Tel: 0039.02.553771 4-star hotel located 5 min from Linate Airport. Air conditioning satellite TV mini-bars.
Four Points Sheraton Milan Via Cardano 1 20124. Tel: +39 02 66746131 City centre hotel with 8 meeting rooms restaurant bar and exercise room.
Grand Hotel Puccini C.so Buenos Aires 33 20124 Tel: +390229521344 4-star city centre hotel. Good transport links for the Central Railway Station airports and trade fair area.
Hotel Bernina Via Napo Torriani 27 20124 Tel. +39 02.66988022 A stroll from the Central Station. Single rooms from 55€ Double from 75€.
Hotel Fenice Corso Buenos Aires Tel: +39 02.29525541 Short distance from Via Montenapoleone Via della Spiga and the fashion stronghold with its famous boutiques. Singles from €65 Double from 100€ night.
Residence Loreto Via Rancati 3 20127 Tel. +39 02. Comfortable studios and apartments with baths fully equipped kitchens quality service.
Top End
Antica Locanda dei Mercanti Via San Tomaso 6Tel. +39 (0)28054080. With/without private terraces. Large double rooms. In an old palazzo in the heart of the city. Charming boutique hotel.
Hotel Andreola Central Via Domenico Scarlatti 24 - 20124 Tel. +39 02.6709141 4-star hotel located 200m from central train station.
Hotel Ascot Via Lentasio 3 20122. Tel. +39 02.58303300 A few meters from Corso di Porta Romana and 10 min walk from the Duomo and the National University. Single from 83€ Double from 124€.
Hotel Baviera Via Manuzio Aldo 9 20124 Milan Tel. +39 02 6590551. Classic Milan 4 star hotel with friendly professional service comfortable surroundings convenient facilities.
Park Hyatt Milan Via Tommaso Grossi 1 (+39 02 8821 1234) 5 star hotel very close to Piazza del Duomo and Teatro alla Scala opera house. Host to La Cupola a prominent restaurant on Milan's elite social scene.
What to Do
Shopping may be Milan’s most famous pastime though with the rich display of historical architecture museums churches and monuments it needn't dominate your spare time. Done with the conference for the day? Try these:
Duomo
Italy’s largest cathedral after St.Peter’s Basillica and the second largest gothic cathedral in the world stands tall as a reminder of mediaeval craftsmanship. Started in 1386 and strictly speaking still under construction its white marble facades myriad spires and elegant statues consistently impress the daily streams of tourists. Great views from the roof as far as the Alps on a clear day. Metro lines MM1 or MM3 Duomo Station or with many buses and trams. Roof opens 09:00 - 17:30.
SantaMaria delle Grazie
Houses the famous Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Tickets sell out days or weeks in advance but queuing from 8.30 may provide a lucky returned ticket. Metro line MM1 and MM2 Cadorna Station.
La Scala Theatre
One of the most renowned opera house in the world. It first opened in 1778 and re-opened in 2004 after extensive renovations.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
The grandest of all shopping malls: Upscale shops in a splendid 19th century palace of a mall. More than 120 years after its inauguration the four-story arcade includes elegant shops selling most things from haute couture to books as well as restaurants cafés and bars. It is prominently sited on the northern side of the Piazza del Duomo in Milan and connects to the Piazza della Scala.
Castello Sforzesco
This grand castle modified over the centuries from 1450 to 1905 and badly damaged in the second world war (since then well restored) now houses several of the city's museum and art gallery collections.
More Shopping
For designer shopping or window shopping the best area is the Quadrilatero around Via Montenapoleone and via Della Spiga. The most prestigious shopping areas are the Piazza San Babila (Via Montenapoleone Via della Spiga and Via Sant'Andrea) housing the top designer stores. For an interesting ramble try the shabby but fascinating canal district Navigli or the Brera a picturesque quarter with a trendy arty vibe. For a wider variety of stores and competative prices a sure bet would be Corso Buenos Aires (metro Porta Venezia Lima or Loreto) an avenue overflowing with department stores and boutiques. Closer to the Fiera area of the city is Corso Vercelli (metro Pagano or Conciliazione). The biggest department store in the city is Rinascente situated in Duomo square.
Museums
Pinacoteca di Brera Brera Street One of Italy's most important art collections Metro MM2 Lanza Station Station streetcar lines 148121427 or buses 61 and 97.
Bagatti Valsecchi Museum a late 19th century aristocratic mansion with Italian Renaissance art collections located in via Gesù 5 between via della Spiga and via Montenapoleone Metro MM3 Montenapoleone MM1 San Babila. Visit website.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology S.Vittore Street. Reach by bus or Metro: MM2 Sant'Ambrogio
Where to Eat
Avoid the restaurants around the Duomo as they tend to be tourist-only with low quality at a high price.
If you have to eat near the Duomo Brek with several locations throughout Milan is a good place to stop for a quick bite.
For an artistic dining experience try Lacerba on via dei Orti 4 which serves dishes inspired by early 20th century art.
At Osteria del Gnocco Fritto the €4.5 cover charge includes baskets of fried square hollow hand-size pastries (similar to sopapillas) accompanied by meats cheeses or jams (€ 8 -11). Via Pestalozzi 16 (tel. 02 8912.2631) and off the Grand Canal at Via Pasquale Paoli 2 (tel. 02 5810.0216).
The Osteria dei Formaggi on the Grand Canal (Alzaia Naviglio Grande 54) serves all manner of excellent cheese dishes in an intimate dining room heavily decorated with cows. (tel. 02 8940.9415)
The best areas for pizza are near Marghera street at the end of Vercelli Avenue and on the Navigli on Brera on Paolo Sarpi. Expect to pay €8-15 for a pizza and a beer.
If you are in the Northeast area there are many little pizzerias on viale Fulvio Testi (the northern extension of viale Zara) in the Greco area of which an excellent choice is Pizzeria De Pino. The lasagne. Here you may also get homemade Mirto (as you can at many other places).
The prices are very reasonable in these establishments expect to pay about €4-5 for pizza and €3-4 for beer. These places are where the locals eat friendly and helpful but few speak anything but Italian. Take the phrase book with you.
Where to Go at Night
A great starting point is Corso Como (Como Avenue) near Garibaldi Station full of bars and flashy clubs in the summertime the street is packed with the young and glamorous crowd.
Navigli quarter near Porta Ticinese Avenue and XXIV Maggio Square boasts a slightly more hip ion of bars and clubs in many of which you’ll find the free booklet ‘Zero2’ an insider’s guide to Milan nightlife. If you’re at a loss grab one and take your pick.
Other popular night spots for late night drinks are: Via Monte Nero (on wednesday it's packed of people in the piazza in front of a bar called "Momo") Piazzale Susa (and Citta' Studi area) Colonne di San Lorenzo (not far from Navigli quarter) Brera Corso and Sempione (near the "Peace Arch").
Bars and clubs open all week long with Wednesday night often popular among the younger crowd and the weekend thronging as with most Italian cities.
Clubs: Alcatraz The Base Magazzini Generali Hollywood
Bars: Cafè Atlantique G Lounge Il Gattopardo Roialto
