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City guide

Milan

Italy

Milan has two faces: the fashion capital rushing to work, and an Italian city where bambini are welcomed everywhere like heroes. With a historic French lycée, family-friendly trattorias and the lakes under an hour away, expat life here tastes of dolce vita.

Currency
Euro (€)
Language
Italian
Time vs Paris
None
Emergencies
112

FIAFE network

The Accueil for French-speaking families

In each city, a volunteer-run association from the FIAFE network welcomes, informs and helps French-speaking families settling in.

Milan Accueil

Since 1979

Since 1979, Milan Accueil has brought together the French speakers of Milan: welcome coffees, Bol d'air outings to the lakes, language and cooking workshops, and the TamTam, the association's magazine.

Where to meet them

Wednesdays 9am to 12pm at the association's office (Viale Ranzoni 17, De Angeli metro), outside Lycée Stendhal school holidays.

Visit the association's website Email the association See the FIAFE page

What they offer

  • Welcome coffees and back-to-school events
  • Bol d'air outings: lakes and villages of northern Italy
  • Workshops: languages, gastronomy, crafts, well-being
  • The TamTam, the association's magazine

Other support networks

Two large national networks also support the French abroad, each with its local chapter.

  • UFE

    UFE Italie du Nord

    The Union des Français de l'Étranger chapter for northern Italy, based in Milan: welcome, mutual aid and conviviality for the French in Lombardy.

    Visit the website
  • Français du monde – ADFE

    Français du monde – ADFE Lombardie

    The Lombardy section of Français du monde - ADFE supports French residents of Milan and its region with their paperwork.

    Email the chapter

The French business network

The local French chamber of commerce (CCI France International network) is a real asset for work: networking, job offers and help to restart a career or start a business locally.

CCI France International

CCI France Italie

The Franco-Italian chamber, headquartered in Milan, is the leading business network between the two countries: events, introductions and practical help to find a job or set up in Italy.

Visit the website CCI country page

The online community

The Facebook groups to join

Before you even land in Milan, Facebook groups are the best shortcut: ask your questions, find a flat, a nanny, a second-hand stroller, and often your first friends.

  • 🔥 Very active Public In English

    Expats Living in Italy

    👥 196,400 members · ≈ 153 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔥 Very active 🔒 Private In English

    Milan International Group - Expats & Students

    👥 51,300 members · ≈ 80 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In English

    Expats in Milano

    👥 31,800 members · ≈ 54 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    Foreigners in Milan / Stranieri a Milano

    👥 29,900 members · ≈ 21 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In English

    Milan international group - expats & students & travelers

    👥 22,300 members · ≈ 42 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In English

    English speakers in Milan

    👥 21,000 members · ≈ 8 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In English

    Milano Expats | Housing, Jobs, Schools & Life

    👥 15,700 members · ≈ 13 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In English

    Foreigners in Milan

    👥 13,600 members

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In French

    Francais à Milan

    👥 8,800 members · ≈ 3 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private FR + EN

    Français en Italie - Italiani in Francia

    👥 8,100 members · ≈ 15 posts/week

    View the group
  • Public In French

    Les Français d'Italie

    👥 7,400 members · ≈ 1 posts/week

    View the group
  • 🔒 Private In French

    Français (et V.I.E) de Milan et d'Italie

    👥 7,100 members · ≈ 8 posts/week

    View the group
💬 Explore the full group directory

Compiled from Facebook's public search, links checked in July 2026. Group sizes change all the time.

AEFE network

Accredited French schools

Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education follow the French curriculum: your child can continue their schooling seamlessly, abroad and back in France.

💰 Compare school fees

Source: official AEFE directory, verified June 2026. aefe.gouv.fr

Tutoring and private lessons

To support your children's schooling across two systems, two solutions designed for expat families.

  • Axiom Academic

    Private lessons and tutoring for expat families: French curriculum, IB and British curriculum, at home or online, with teachers who know the schools in your city.

    Discover Axiom Academic

  • IB Tutor

    Tutors specialised in the International Baccalaureate: online lessons in every IB subject, to aim for top grades from MYP to the diploma.

    Discover IB Tutor

Schools and education

The Lycée Stendhal, directly managed by the AEFE in the San Siro district, is Milan's only homologated French school: 1,200 pupils from nursery to final year. Around it, free Italian state school and a dense international offer.

Good to know

  • Stendhal is the only accredited French lycée in northern Italy: apply as soon as the move is confirmed.
  • Italian state school is free and takes children from age 3 at the scuola dell'infanzia: gentle immersion for little ones.
  • At primary level, the tempo pieno (full day until 4:30pm, lunch included) makes life easier for working parents.
  • Milan is full of international schools (IB, English-speaking): real alternatives, at a significant budget.

Children's healthcare

Italian healthcare runs on the SSN, the national health service: once the family is registered with the local ASL, every child is entitled to a free family paediatrician. Many families add private care for speed.

Good to know

  • First step: register with the SSN at the local ASL, which issues everyone's tessera sanitaria.
  • The pediatra di libera scelta follows children for free up to age 14.
  • For quick appointments, private polyclinics help a lot; check your expat coverage.
  • 112 is the emergency number; the Buzzi children's hospital is the city's paediatric reference.

French-speaking community

Milan's French community gravitates around San Siro and De Angeli, in the wake of the Lycée Stendhal. Milan Accueil has animated it since 1979, supported by UFE Italie du Nord and Français du monde Lombardie.

Good to know

  • Milan Accueil (FIAFE network) holds its weekly drop-in on Wednesday mornings, steps from the lycée.
  • San Siro, De Angeli and Wagner concentrate the French families, a scooter ride from the Stendhal.
  • The Institut français in Milan, at Palazzo delle Stelline, keeps the cultural link alive: cinema, library, classes.
  • Paris is a 1h30 flight away, and a direct train links the two cities: grandparents visit often.

Family outings and events

Milan works wonderfully at child height: hands-on museums, a castle in the city centre, gelato rewards and the lakes for weekends.

Good to know

  • The Leonardo da Vinci science museum, Italy's largest, hides a real submarine and kids' workshops.
  • The MUBA children's museum gets ages 2 to 11 playing at the Rotonda della Besana.
  • Sempione park and the Sforza castle form the great playground of the city centre.
  • Como, Maggiore, Garda: the lakes are under an hour by train for the weekend escape.

These landmarks change fast: the MumExpat community will keep them up to date.

The arrival reflex

The apps to download when you land

Drop your bags, download these and you're set: the apps everyone in Milan uses to get around, get things delivered and organise daily life.

Getting around

  • ATM Milano

    The official Milan transit app (metro, tram, bus): live schedules, buy tickets and passes, and scan your QR code straight at the turnstile.

    App Store Google Play

  • Citymapper

    Expats' favourite journey planner in Milan: it combines metro, tram, bus and walking in real time, and picks the smartest connection.

    App Store Google Play

  • Free Now

    THE reflex for hailing an official taxi from your phone in Milan: you see the estimated fare and pay in-app, no scrambling for cash.

    App Store Google Play

  • Uber

    In Milan, Uber connects you to licensed taxis and chauffeur-driven sedans (no cheap ride-hailing, banned in Italy); your existing account works fine.

    App Store Google Play

  • BikeMi

    Milan's bike-share, with docks all over the city centre: daily or yearly subscription, both classic and electric bikes.

    App Store Google Play

Food delivery

  • Glovo

    The most versatile delivery app in Milan: restaurant meals, but also groceries, pharmacy and last-minute essentials brought to your door in minutes.

    App Store Google Play

  • Deliveroo

    Well established in Milan, loved for its selection of good restaurants and careful delivery; the Plus subscription drops delivery fees.

    App Store Google Play

  • Just Eat

    The long-standing food-delivery player in Italy, with lots of neighbourhood restaurants and sometimes cash payment at the door.

    App Store Google Play

Groceries

  • Esselunga

    Milan's flagship supermarket delivers your groceries with its famous little yellow van; book your slot ahead, they fill up fast.

    App Store Google Play

  • Everli

    A personal shopper picks your groceries from the supermarket you choose and delivers the same day; handy when Esselunga is fully booked.

    App Store Google Play

  • Cortilia

    The online farmers' market born in Milan: fruit, vegetables and local artisan produce delivered in baskets, for fresh, seasonal eating.

    App Store Google Play

  • Amazon

    The go-to for everything else as you settle in: small appliances, school supplies, hard-to-find French products; fast delivery with Prime.

    App Store Google Play

Everyday life

  • Satispay

    The payment app every Italian has: to pay each other back between parents, settle at the bar or the market, without sharing your IBAN.

    App Store Google Play

  • TheFork

    The go-to for booking a restaurant in Italy: reviews, live availability and often 20 to 50% off the final bill.

    App Store Google Play

  • Too Good To Go

    The anti-waste app, very active in Milan: surprise bags from neighbourhood bakeries, pastry shops and restaurants at a small price, late in the day.

    App Store Google Play

Coming soon: the full Milan guide.

Verified addresses, paediatricians recommended by mums, a family agenda updated every week. Join the waitlist to discover the Milan page first.

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