In this guide to transport in Milan, we’ll cover everything you need to know before your trip – how to get from the airport to central Milan, Milan’s metro and public transport, parking and bike and scooter hire.
Milan, the global centre of fashion, finance and design in Italy, is not only a city of style but also of transport infrastructure. As the second most populous city in the country, Milan needs a robust and efficient system to meet the needs of millions of residents and tourists. And today we’ll take a closer look at transport and public transport in Milan.
How to get to Milan?
By air to Milan
Milan is very well connected to many major European cities including Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna, London and others. You can choose from 3 airports:
- Bergamo Airport (BGY) – Bergamo Airport is located northeast of Milan on the outskirts of Bergamo. If you are flying with Ryanair, you will land here.
- Malpensa Airport (MXP) – Malpensa Airport is located northwest of Milan. For example, Wizz Air and Easy Jet fly here.
- Linate Airport (LIN) – this airport is the closest, in the east of Milan
How to get from Bergamo Airport to Milan city centre?
From Bergamo Orio Al Serio Airport, direct buses to Milan cost €10 per hour. If you can, we always buy our bus tickets in advance. There are lines at the ticket windows or vending machines, so we don’t have to linger along the way.
Follow the signs for the buses in the arrivals hall, which stop right outside the hall. At the bus, show the staff your ticket on your mobile phone and you can go right in. Both carriers from this link run regularly, are comfortable and have WIFI connection.
You can use the ticket for any connection on any given day. It is not limited to a specific time.
The bus will drop you off at Milano Centrale Train Station, where you will also board on your way back to the airport. The platform is located on the left side of the station.
How to get from Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre?
Buses
Malpensa Airport operates similarly to Bergamo Airport. Just outside the arrivals hall, you can take a direct bus to Milano Centrale Train Station.
The ticket costs 10 € and the journey takes 50-60 minutes. We again bought our tickets in advance – you don’t have to look for anything on the spot – you go straight to the platform and show the ticket on your mobile. A staff member will scan the code and you can board.
Just be aware that Malpensa Airport has 2 terminals that are relatively far apart. Terminal 1 is used by Wizz Air, while Terminal 2 is the base for Easy Jet flights. Buses leave from Terminal 1 and after a few minutes stop at Terminal 2, where they go directly to Milan.
This is something to keep in mind on the way back to the airport. If you’re flying Easy Jet, you’ll need to get off one stop earlier at Terminal 2 – you won’t be the only one, so you can’t miss it.
Trains
The other option to get from Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre is Malpensa Express train. Tickets cost €13 and the journey takes a similar amount of time as a bus. Trains depart from Terminal 1.
You can also choose a taxi – the flat rate is 95€ (taxis are white). Uber’s in Milan, too.
How to get from Linate Airport to Milan city centre?
Linate Airport is the closest airport and the commuting distances are the shortest. At the airport, you can take the Airbus bus to Centrale Station. The journey takes about 25 minutes.
Another popular option is the local bus 73, which stops right by the Duomo (1 hour ride).
Read: Itinerary for Milan in 2 days
By car to Milan
If you are travelling to Milan by car, there are various charges along the way. Depending on the countries you are travelling through, the charges may be as follows:
- Motorway vignette for Austria for €11.50 for 10 days and for motorbikes for €4.60
- Payment of 11 € for crossing the Brenner Pass between Innsbruck and the Austrian-Italian border.
- Swiss vignette for 40 CHF. It is more expensive because only vignettes valid for 1 year are sold.
- The toll in Italy comes out to about €8-9 per 100 km. You can pay in cash or by card. Each payment gateway has a symbol at the top showing how you can pay.
Useful links:
The Brenner Pass vignette and payment for Austria can be purchased online in one place. This also applies to the Swiss vignette.
Petrol and diesel prices vary from country to country. For current fuel prices, please follow this link.
Follow this link for up-to-date information on traffic in Italy (tolls, closures, etc.). Google maps will also provide you with sufficient information.
Read: Itinerary for Milan in 3 days
Metro and public transport in Milan
In Milan, you can take the metro, trams or buses.
Metro in Milan
The fastest and easiest way to get around the city is by metro. It is divided into 5 lines (2 of them stop at the Duomo):
- Red M1
- Green M2
- Yellow M3
- Blue M4 (only part currently open – under construction)
- Purple M5
The M2 and M3 stop at Milano Centrale Station, the M1 and M3 at the Duomo, and the M4 at San Siro Stadium.
The metro is reliable, clean and runs regularly at 5:30 until about midnight. Each station has two platforms depending on which direction you are travelling.
Trams and buses in Milan
The metro is supplemented by trams and buses. The orange historic trams in particular have been criss-crossing the city for 100 years. We personally enjoyed them very much.
Trams run from 4:30 to 2:30 and buses from 5:30 to 1:45 (times are approximate – may vary slightly by route).
Public transport in Milan is managed by Azienda Trasporti Milanesi – ATM.
Public transport and metro tickets in Milan
All types of transport use the same ticketing system. This greatly simplifies movement around the city.
The Milan area and the surrounding areas are divided into fare zones. The further you go, the more you pay. However, most visitors will be in the first zone M1-M3, which includes the whole centre, including the Duomo and Sforza Castle, San Siro Stadium, Milano Centrale Station, etc.
If you look at the Milan metro map below, the M1-M3 zone is marked in white. It is followed by a zone marked in purple, but which extends to the outskirts of Milan.
The basic ticket costs €2.20 and gives you 90 minutes of unlimited travel within the M1-M3 zone. Children up to 14 years of age travel free of charge.
In addition to the basic ticket, you can also purchase tickets for longer periods:
- 24 hours for 7,60 €
- 3 days for 15,50 € (valid in calendar days)
- pass with 10 tickets for 19,50 €
Tickets can be purchased via the ATM app or at a machine in the metro station (some metro stations also have ATM ticket offices).
Contactless card payment
The easiest option is to pay with a contactless credit card (Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, VPAY). That way, you only pay for what you actually drive. Over 4 rides, you travel for free that day. At the same time, you don’t have to buy paper tickets or download an app. This is the option we choose wherever we can.
However, not all turnstiles have contactless card payment – look for orange turnstiles in the metro that offer card payment in the top right corner.
When you exit, you put the card back on the orange turnstile (only at the metro) and the amount you have actually travelled is deducted. Always insert the card in the metro, even if the turnstile is free to exit.
You can also attach your card when boarding at the turnstiles on buses and trams – you don’t have to when getting off.
Read: Itinerary for Milan in 1 day
Bike and scooter rental
Milan has a bike-sharing service called “BikeMi”. You can register and rent a bike at various locations in the city.
In addition, there are several e-scooter sharing services in Milan, which can be accessed via the respective apps. You’ll find bike and scooter rental shops on every corner, making it even easier to rent and return.
By car in Milan
Milan is a progressive city that in recent years has become increasingly committed to sustainability and ecology. The centre is a ZTL zone, which is subject to special requirements. Find out more here.
For this reason, I recommend leaving the car further away from the centre and taking public transport to the rest. This works great, is thick and relatively cheap. Plus, you’ll save yourself a lot of nerves when looking for a parking space.
The parking spaces are colour-coded as in other cities – yellow spaces are for residents, blue spaces allow parking for a fee and white spaces allow free parking.
Car rental in Milan
Are you planning to rent a car in Milan and go exploring in Lombardy? It’s very simple. At Rentalcars.com you fill in the necessary details and present your ID card upon collection. The price also includes insurance and free cancellation. You can pick up your car at the airport.
This was our guide and tips for transport and metro in Milan. If you have a question, we’ll be happy to answer it in the comments below. Have a safe journey!
More information about Milan
MILAN: Get inspired by the most beautiful places in Milan. To help you plan your trip to Milan, we’ve created an itinerary for 3 days in Milan, including a map.
Do you have less time? Check out the itinerary for Milan in 2 days or the itinerary for 1 day in Milan.
In this article we share our tips on where to stay in Milan. We have compiled practical tips for visiting the Duomo di Milano in a separate guide.
Read even more tips on travelling in Italy.
Summary: Transportation and public transport in Milan, Italy
Metro (Metropolitana): the Milan metro consists of 5 main lines, which are marked with different colours (M1-red, M2-green, M3-yellow, M4-blue and M5-purple). It is one of the fastest ways to get around the city.
Trams: Milan has an extensive tram network that covers areas where the metro cannot reach.
Buses: Buses complete the network, covering most of the city and suburbs.
Regional trains (Passante Ferroviario): these trains connect the city centre with the suburbs and other towns in the region.
ATM counters: kiosks available in metro stations where you can buy tickets and top up ATM cards.
Authorised dealers: Many newsstands and cafes around the city.
Online/App: Use the official ATM Milano app to purchase and validate tickets.
Ticket machines: At most metro stations and main tram/bus stops.
Yes, and it’s very simple. Simply attach the card to the turnstile when boarding or at the entrance. at the subway when you get off. After the fourth ride, you travel for free that day.
A single ticket costs €2.20 – valid for 90 minutes and allows transfers. There are also 24-hour tickets for €7.60 or 3-day tickets, or tickets for 3 days. 10 tickets for a discounted price. See the article for current prices.
