Cash or card in Milan — what do locals actually use?
Card is the default in Milan for almost everything above a coffee. Contactless payment is widely accepted at restaurants, shops, supermarkets, and the ATM transit network, and younger Milanese rarely carry cash at all. That said, a small amount of euros remains useful in specific situations: some neighborhood bars (particularly the old-school ones in Navigli or Porta Romana) still expect cash for a quick espresso at the counter, as do market stalls at the Mercato di Porta Genova or Fiera di Senigallia on Saturdays, and the occasional family-run trattoria outside the center. Budget roughly 50 euros in cash for a long weekend and you will cover every edge case without thinking about it. Avoid airport exchange booths; withdraw from a Bancomat (the local term for ATM) using a card with no foreign transaction fees. Euronet machines scattered around the tourist center charge punishing rates and should be skipped entirely.
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