City Life

There is no better place to pursue a truly superb design education than Milan, the world’s capital of fashion and design. In Milan, you will be immersed in a stimulating artistic culture and a thriving commercial design industry. It is a creative environment like no other.

Milan is a magnet for innovative and forward-thinking creatives who share your passion for design. As a student, you will have the chance to meet some of Italy’s finest artisans and designers on visits to emerging-label boutiques, prominent fashion ateliers, architecture and design studios, and leading-edge communication agencies. You will also visit some of the production and fabrication facilities responsible for renowned Made in Italy craftsmanship. And of course, you will explore streets lined with the most important flagship stores of fashion and design—Cappellini, Driade, Kartell, Versace, Armani, and Valentino.

City Highlights

Every year, during Milan’s famous Fashion Weeks and the Salone del Mobile furniture fair, the city becomes one giant showroom where exhibitions, conferences, performances, and parties take place all day long—and all night, too. You can participate in these events and related contests. Some highlights of the city include:

Host of the world’s fair, Expo Milano 2015
Four Fashion Weeks per year, two for women’s fashion and two for men’s
International Design Week
Salone del Mobile, the world’s most important furniture fair
900+ fashion and design showrooms
1400+ innovative startups
Many galleries and museums, including the new private museums Fondazione Prada and Armani Silos
A broad range of theatre and other entertainment options
Buildings designed by renowned architects such as César Pelli, Zaha Hadid, and Daniel Libeskind (as well as the Bosco Verticale, designed by Boeri Studio with Gianandrea Barreca, a frequent lecturer at Domus Academy)

When you need a break from thinking and creating, you will have the rest of Europe within easy reach. Thanks to excellent air and railway connections, you can spend a weekend in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, or the UK. And if you love mountain sports, Milan is right next to the Alps and the lakes of northern Italy—amazing landscapes that have inspired artists for centuries.

Useful Links

City of Milan

On the official website of the City of Milan, you can find updated information about city services, public transportation, free performances, and events. The site also has a section geared toward Italian and foreign tourists who are looking for thematic itineraries and new places to discover.

Study in Milan

The Study in Milan website is a service for Italian and foreign students in Milan, offering advice about housing services and administrative procedures. Through this website, students can get the Milan ID Card, which grants discounted admission to Milan cultural centers (e.g., the Triennale di Milano, Piccolo Teatro, Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica, and more). The card also offers discounts on some local transportation options.

Public Transportation

The official website of the Milan Transportation Company provides information about metro, bus, and train timetables, maps, itineraries, and services. You can download an app that will guide you through the city, suggesting the best route to reach your destination via public transportation.

Entertainment Resources

Zero.eu – Calendar and information about entertainment, cultural events, and nightlife.

ViviMilano – Portal of the Corriere della Sera newspaper, reporting information about events, restaurants, clubs, theatres, shopping, and more

TimeOut Milano – The Milan edition of the most famous international magazine about events and entertainment in the major cities of the world.