From the airport to the city centre Milan
Linate
- By metro. The convenient metro line 4 connects Linate airport with the center of Milan (San Babila) for the price of a metro ticket (€2.20). It also stops at Dateo station, where various regional trains can be taken (S lines, also known as passanti). The journey between Linate and San Babila takes 12 minutes. The M4 is open from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. every day. At night, night buses provide the same service.
- If you need to get close to the Stazione Centrale, the main railway station, the Airport Bus Express (airportbusexpress.it) may also be a solution: leaves every hour (9am to 10:30pm, from the station to Linate 7:30am to 9pm), ticket €5, allow about 30 min.
Malpensa
- The most convenient is the Malpensa Express train(www.malpensaexpress.it), which links the airport with Cadorna, Centrale, Garibaldi and Bovisa Politecnico stations. Departures approximately every 15/20 min (from 5.43 a.m. to 10.43 p.m., from T1) in both directions. Journey time from Terminal 1 to Centrale is 50 min, and 57 min to Terminal 2. Ticket price €13. The fastest.
- The Malpensa Shuttle bus(www.malpensashuttle.it) runs from the airport to Stazione Centrale, stopping at Fiera di Milano and Piazzale Lotto (5:30 a.m. to 01:20 a.m. every 30 min. approx.), and takes 1 hr 10 min. Ticket: €10. Return ticket: €16.
- Autostradale bus(www.airportbusexpress.it) also to Stazione Centrale, from the airport departures from 5 a.m. to 2.30 a.m., in the opposite direction from 3.20 a.m. to 00.50 a.m., journey time 1h10. Ticket €10.
Bergamo Orio Al Serio
There are several bus companies (Terravision, Autostradale...) to take you to Bergamo airport from Milan (1h journey). Among them, the Orio Shuttle bus: departs between 4 a.m. and 00.15 a.m. from Stazione Centrale (in the other direction from 3.50 a.m. to 1.30 a.m.). Tickets cost €10.
Cab
Regulated fares between Malpensa and downtown at €110, between Linate and Malpensa at €124. For a trip between Linate and the center, expect to pay around €30 (no fixed fare).
Arrival by train Milan
Two stations for international travel in the city: Milano Centrale and Porta Garibaldi.
Stazione Milano Centrale. Frequent trains to major Italian cities, including high-speed trains (Frecciarossa) to Turin (50 min), Bologna (1h), Florence (1h40) or Rome (3h). Trains also to and from Switzerland (Geneva). Metro (M1 and M3), buses and cabs.
Stazione Milano Porta Garibaldi. TGV to and from France. Metro (M2 and M5) and cabs.
Important: following the landslide in the Maurienne on August 27, 2023, high-speed rail traffic between France and Italy is currently suspended. Although this closure complicates travel a little, the SNCF offers a convenient shuttle bus service between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Oulx stations. At the time of updating this guide, the date of resumption of the full service has not been communicated. Please note: it is also possible to reach Milan by train from Paris, via Switzerland. You'll need to take a train to Geneva or Zurich, then another to the capital of Lombardy. Alternatively, you can travel via Nice or Cannes, then take a train to Ventimiglia, and another to Milan.
Arrival by bus : Autostazione Lampugnano
Milan's bus station is in Lampugnano(www.autostazionidimilano.it), a district to the northwest of the city (M1 Lampugnano). Regular daily bus service to most major Italian cities. Flixbus departure point for some French cities (Paris, in particular) and European cities.
Public transport Milan
ATM (www.atm.it) provides a dense and efficient public transport network. At the Duomo metro station, an information point distributes free maps of the various lines. Tickets can be purchased from station ticket offices, vending machines, tobacconists and newsagents. It is also possible to pay with a contactless bank card on most public transport systems, including Malpensa Express (terminal on the station platform, before boarding).
Tickets cost €2.20 (valid for 90 minutes on metro, bus or streetcar); 24h/7.60 €; 3 days/15.50 €; book of 10 tickets costs €19.50.
Bus. The various bus lines cover all areas of the city. Several have priority lanes. Orange signs mark bus and streetcar stops. To check bus timetables, use the ATM website (www.atm.it) or the Moovit application.
Streetcars. Although modern carriages have almost entirely replaced the old ones, historic models from the early 20th century can still be seen on some lines.
Metro. Five lines (M1 red, M2 green, M3 yellow, M4 blue and M5 lilac), operating from 6 a.m. to midnight. In addition, there's the Passante Ferroviario (symbolized by the S in Suburbane), which connects Milan's railway stations to each other and to Lombardy towns such as Saronno and Pavia. But beware! The Milan metro is nowhere near as extensive as its Parisian counterpart. It is therefore not customary to refer to a metro station when entering an address, as is the case in Paris.
Bike, scooters & co Milan
Milan, a flat city, lends itself well to cycling. The Milanese make great use of them, all the more so as distances between districts remain reasonable and the network of cycle paths is fairly well developed. Beware, however, of the cobbled areas of the city center and the tramway tracks, where bicycle wheels can get stuck.
BikeMi is Milan City Council's bike-sharing service. 24h rate: €4.50.
Jump (www.uber.com) and Ridemovi (https://www.ridemovi.com) are two of the bike sharing companies you'll find in the city. Rates depend on the length of the trip. You can locate the nearest bike via the mobile app.
With a driver Milan
Cab fares: There are fixed fares between Milan and the airports. From and to Malpensa: €114; from and to Orio al Serio: €128; between Malpensa and Linate: €128.
Within the city: €4.10 for pick-up during the day (€6.60 on public holidays) and €7.90 at night. Then €1.32/km.
To contact a cab: the single number (+39)027777 (or the Milano in cab app) will put you in touch with the nearest cab rank. Be aware that it can often take a while to find a cab in Milan.
Remember: cabs must always allow you to pay by credit card, and fares must be clearly displayed.
By car Milan
It's best to forget about the car in downtown Milan: the public transport network is efficient and allows you to get around with peace of mind. Parking spaces are expensive and in short supply (blue or white stripes, not yellow! these are reserved for residents). What's more, access to the historic center(Area C) is taxed; a measure adopted in an attempt to contain the very high pollution levels. Vehicles wishing to access Milan's hypercentre, Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., are required to pay a €7.50 congestion charge (two-wheelers and vehicles for people with reduced mobility are exempt). Payment is made at parking meters; some garages offer a package that includes the parking space + Area C.
On the other hand, if you're planning to visit the surrounding area (abbeys, lakes, art cities...), a vehicle will certainly come in handy, even if trains generally serve the towns and major tourist attractions quite well.
Accessibility Milan
Almost all metro stations have elevators to the platforms, making access much easier for people with reduced mobility. Beware, however, of the old tramway lines, which have no access ramps. In town, the cobbled streets of the historic center can also make walking difficult; fortunately, many sidewalks have ramps for getting on and off.