Expo, 10 suggestions (plus one) on how best to experience it

It’s a beautiful sunny day, there’s the relaxed pace of Sunday, and you’re a little curious. These are three good reasons that might inspire you to visit Expo in Milan on Sunday. We have already been several times, and we would like to give you some advice on how to enjoy the visit. Here it is:

1 – Don’t expect to see everything in one day. It’s impossible, trust us. Either choose beforehand, or allow yourselves to be carried away by the moment (or by the queues).

2 – Set out from Pavilion Zero. Some say it’s the most beautiful of all Expo, but in any case, it will help you understand how to see the exhibition.

3 – Don’t miss the opportunity to alternate visits to the pavilions at different (and relaxing) times, and thereby take full advantage of your day. There are events every day that will make your visit unique: meetings, music, small shows, tastings. You can find out about them on the Expo website, or when you get there, by asking at the infopoints or interacting with the information boards.

4 – Allow yourselves to be carried away by the pavilions. Each one has a story to tell, experience it. And if one is a bit dull (and some are), move on.

5 – Go to the Italian Pavilion. Not only because the visit is quite interesting, but because you can sign the Charter of Milan, the document that will leave a lasting legacy after the end of the Universal Exposition.

6 – Enjoy the nighttime at Expo. When lit up, the pavilions make an extraordinary spectacle (incidentally, entrance in the evening costs only €5).

7 – Head down to Cascina Triulza, the home of the associations and the third sector, to the Mediterranean Hill and to the tree of life. Here, every hour, there is a show of lights and colors. Enjoy it, especially in the evening.

8 – Remember that in addition to Cardo and Decumano – the two main streets from which Expo stretches out – there are many other streets. Explore them, you won’t regret it.

9 – Expo is not a village festival. Forget about eating for free (well, it’s not as easy as some might think). There are a great number of restaurants, some with not exactly low prices, but the prices are always on display. If you don’t have much money to spend, there are a lot of reasonably priced street food kiosks.

10 – While you’re at Expo, forget about the inquiries, delays and bribes. The legal profession will deal with them. You should grasp the message of the Exposition, because to “feed the world“, we need everyone.

11 – Finally, two or three very practical pieces of advice: first of all, wear the most comfortable shoes you have (you will walk a lot), and when you can’t go on anymore, look for the free shuttle buses that run around the outer perimeter of the Exposition, and can save you a lot of effort. Bring some plastic cups: you can find water-points everywhere (still and sparkling), that dispense this precious liquid (but not the cups) free of charge. Finally, if you want to rest, there’s no shortage of places: look in the areas furthest from Decumano (the wide covered street) and you will find lawns, armchairs, deckchairs, benches (some shaped like a gianduiotto or a chocolate), also near many water-points, where you can stay cooler and calmer.

Enjoy your visit!