Milan (Italian: Milano) is financially the most important city in Italy and the region of Lombardy (Italian: Lombardia). It is one of the fashion capitals of the world: a paradise for shopping, opera, and nightlife.

Understand

If Rome represents the "old" Italy, Milan represents the "new" Italy. Milan is the most modern of all Italian cities, and it still keeps most of its past history intact.

Get in

By plane

Malpensa airport The main international airport is Malpensa (Milan Malpensa, IATA: MXP). It's a large, modern, two-runway airport, well connected to the center of the city by public transportation. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 being the largest (international and intercontinental flights). Terminal 2 is used by a number of budget airlines, such as Easyjet, and has grown consistently in the last few years (2004-2008). The two terminals are connected by a shuttle bus service (running every 10 minutes).

• SEA Aeroporti di Milano [2] — The firm operating Malpensa and Linate airports.

• Malpensa Express Trains [3] leave every 30 minutes from Terminal 1 and arrive at Milan's Cadorna train station after 40 minutes (Cadorna station is connected to Milan's subway network). By far recommended as the easiest and fastest connection to Milan, it is a rather efficient, speedy link (may be crowded at rush hours). Ticket: single trip €11 (€13.50 if bought on the train), round trip (single day) €14 (€17 if bought on the train). Your ticket must be validated in the station before boarding. Last trains depart from Malpensa Termilan 1 at approx 11:20pm so if you arrive on a late flight or are delayed then you will need to take a bus or taxi.
• To save a little bit of money, at the expense of changing trains, buying two separate tickets and waiting some time at the connecting point, you may use the special train from Malpensa airport to Saronno and a regular service from Saronno to Milan (total cost for a single trip bought at the ticket office €8.10). An even cheaper way but with a much more difficult connection is changing in Busto Arsizio FN train station (total cost for a single trip bought at the ticket office €5.95).

• Buses leave every 20 minutes for Centrale Station and Linate airport, costing about €6 (€10 for a return ticket). Travel can take from 40 minutes (weekends) to 1 hour or more (during weekday mornings). Buses are the best bet if you arrive at Terminal 2. Since you need to take the slow airport internal shuttle bus to get to the train station, and you might as well get on a bus directly to Milan. There is always a bus waiting, and they usually wait until the bus is completely full before departing.

• Using a taxi to get from Malpensa to the city center is expensive: €70 (fixed fee for a City-Airport trip, without further stops). Note that only taxi's registered in Milan itself have signed up tot he fixed fee agreement - taxis from outlying cities (which you will also find at Malpensa) have not signed on to the agreement, will still take you to Milan but will charge you the meter reading (generally €80+ in light traffic). If upon entering a taxi you do not see a card on the window or rear of the driver/passenger seats then you are in a non-Milanese taxi. You can request the fixed fee, if the driver refuses then take the next taxi in the rank. You may find that if you take the fixed fee from a non-Milanese taxi then they take a slower non-toll road rather than the toll paying motorway (tolls are ALWAYS paid by the driver so are included in the meter or fixed fee).

Linate airport

Some European or national flights arrive at Linate Airport (IATA: LIN). This small but rather efficient, one-runway airport is very close to the city centre (7 km). It is mostly serviced by airlines to domestic destinations and some European destinations.

• Since the airport is so close to the city, it is served by buses of the city public transport network: Bus no. 73 outside the terminal building goes to San Babila Square, in the city centre, which is served by metro line MM1. Note that this bus is not a dedicated service but a city transportation network bus with many stops en route, may get crowded during peak hours. The bus runs every ten minutes and costs €1. This bus service is managed by ATM [4], the public transport company of Milan. Tickets can be purchased from the newsagent inside the airport terminal or by the ATM vending machines close to the bus stop. With the same ticket, you can transfer to the metro (subway) system once and unlimited buses or tram streetcars in a 75 minute period. You can also directly use a comprehensive ticket to many places in the suburbs. For more detail see #Get around. Information and timetables from the ATM web site.

To catch the right 73 bus to Milan look for direction "SAN BABILA M1" and avoid Line 73 buses directed to "S.FELICINO". 

• A dedicated bus service connects Linate airport to Milan's center running every 30 minutes and tickets cost €3.00 per adult. (Ticket sold at local newsagent and on board.)

• A bus service, operated by Malpensa Shuttle [5] connects Malpensa airport to Linate airport as well as Malpensa to Milan's Central train station. (Timetables, fares and ticket booking available online). The journey takes 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions.

• Taxis from Linate to the city centre cost around €12-20 depending on traffic conditions. The minimum charge is €12. If you are going to the centre, ignore all the guys standing at the exit to the terminal saying "taxi"... they are for destinations outside central Milan (ie, outlying cities) and will charge a minimum of €70. Queues for regular taxis can get long during peak commuter hours (early evening) and are particularly bad during fashion week.

To catch the right 73 bus to Milan look for direction "SAN BABILA M1" and avoid Line 73 buses directed to "S.FELICINO". 

• A dedicated bus service connects Linate airport to Milan's center running every 30 minutes and tickets cost €3.00 per adult. (Ticket sold at local newsagent and on board.)

• A bus service, operated by Malpensa Shuttle [5] connects Malpensa airport to Linate airport as well as Malpensa to Milan's Central train station. (Timetables, fares and ticket booking available online). The journey takes 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions.

Orio al Serio airport

Some budget airlines fly into Orio al Serio Airport (IATA: BGY), [6]. About 45km north-east of Milan near the city of Bergamo. Ryanair refers to this as Milan Bergamo Airport. Public transport into Milan is slightly less convenient than Malpensa or Linate:

• Trains to Milan leave from Bergamo station, which you can get to by shuttle bus or taxi, but is quite far from the airport. Buses to Bergamo are run by ZANI and take 10 minutes, at a cost of around €1.50. Trains from Bergamo to Milan run every 30-60 minutes and take around 1 hour. Adult one-way fare approx €4.

• Bus Services — All buses leave for Milan from immediately outside the arrivals section of the airport and from Ferrante Aporti on the east side of Central Station in Milan for all the companies below.

• station, which is probably the best choice. Departure times may vary, but buses generally run every half hour during the day, less often at night, and take about 1 hour or more. However, beware of cutting things too fine, because the highway to Milan is very crowded during weekdays. Adult one-way fare: €8.90. Tickets are sold in Orio Al Serio Airport in Bergamo and at the Central Train Station in Milan. Be at the Milan Bus stop at least 15 minutes before nominal departure time, or you may get left behind. Tickets can be purchased online, but sellers at the airport and train station will offer 3 tickets for price of 2
• Zani Viaggi [9] also run a bus service from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale station with a stop at the Cascina Gobba MM2 station on the North Eastern outskirts of Milan. Adult fare: €6.70 one way. Tickets sold at an office in the airport or online.

• Taxis will set you back maybe €100 from Orio to Milan.

By train

Central railway station

• The main railway station is the Central Station ('Milano Centrale')[10], which is served by Trenitalia [11], the State Railways. Regular express and fast trains serve all Italian cities (Turin, Venice, Rome, Naples, Florence and many others), and some European cities (Barcelona, Zurich, Geneva, Munich, Paris, Stuttgart, Zagreb, Vienna, etc.).

The station building is in itself worth a visit being a masterpiece of rationalist architecture. Note that the station area is not in a great part of town at night, though in the area there are a number of decent budget hotels (see "Sleep" below) and some business-oriented international brand hotels. In general the area south of the station (characterized by a few skyscrapers) is a business and local government center, pretty active during working hours but almost deserted at night. Should you need a few supplies for your trip, there is a small supermarket in the western side of the station at ground level, as well as cafes and other small shops. Internet points in the main square overlooking the station. In 2008 the station is completing extensive renovation. At night, parts of the Central Station become a sleeping area for vagrants. Usually around the station there are some foreign gipsy children aggressively targeting tourist for pickpocketing, so pay attention to your bag. The Central Station is served by MM2 and MM3 metro lines and is a masterpiece of Rationalist architecture worth a visit. Taxis stops directly in front of the station (on the sides during the renovation period), and ATM buses on the West side (IV November Square) and buses to Linate, Malpensa and Orio airports on the East side (Luigi di Savoia square).

• Another important railway station is Cadorna, served by Ferrovie Nord [12] (North Railways), where the Malpensa airport Express stops and which is also a stop for MM1 and MM2 metro lines.This is a good station if you are travelling to Como Lago station

• Garibaldi station is the terminus for most commuter railway lines and is served by the state railways. It is also a stop for the MM2 metro and for the Passante suburban commuter train link (see #Get_around).

• Other main train stations are Lambrate (connected to MM" metro line), Greco-Pirelli, Rogoredo (connected to MM3 metro line) and Porta Genova (connected to MM2 metro line) for the FS Trenitalia railways and Bovisa (connected to the Passante suburban commuter train link) and Domodossola for the Ferrovie Nord railways. Domodossola station is very close to the city section of the Milan Exhibition Centre - fieramilanocity, also connected to the subway system by the MM1 metro line.

By car

The main motorways linking Milan to the rest of Italy are:

• A1, the Autostrada del Sole (Highway of the Sun), a six-lane motorway linking Milan to Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples.
• A4 Westbound, a six-lane motorway linking Milan to Turin, the Westyern Alps and France.
• A4 Eastbound, the Autostrada Serenissima, an eight-lane motorway linking Milan to Bergamo, Brescia, Verona, Padua and Venice, and further to Trieste and Slovenia.
• A7, a four-lane motorway linking Milan to Genoa, the Ligurian Riviera and the Cinque terre.
• A8, the Autostrada dei Laghi (Highway of the Lakes), an eight-lane motorway linking Milan to Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Lugano and the rest of Switzerland.
• A9, a four-lane motorway linking Milan to Varese and Western Ticino in Switzerland.
• A50, A51 and A52, respectively the West, East and North Ringroads (Tangenziale Ovest, Tangenziale Est, and Tangenziale Nord) connect the various motorways forming a six-lane ringroad around Milan.
• A53, a four-lane motorway linking Milan to Pavia.

The main highway operating company is Società Autostrade per l'Italia [13]. Because of heavy traffic, it is strongly recommended not to drive in Milan during working days. Driving is much better during weekends. Perhaps you should leave your car in one of the well-marked, huge commuter car parks near several exits of Milan's motorway ringroad; they're managed by ATM and are easily connected with Milan's underground metro lines, but they close around midnight. They're near highway exits in Cascina Gobba (East), Lampugnano (North West), Molino Dorino (North West), Bonola (North West), Rho-Pero (North West), Bisceglie (South West) and San Donato (South East). If you must drive in Milan during weekdays, then make sure you have an up-to-date map showing the one-way system. Traffic congestion fee - As in London, since January 1, 2008 cars entering Milan's central area within the former walls of the city (cerchia dei navigli) must pay a fee (€2,€3, €5 or €10 depending on the engine and age of the car): there are cameras in all entrances to this area and all registration plates are recorded. Payment can be made by purchasing entrance cards at newspaper stands, online or by sms (call 020202 for information). Failure to pay within 48 hours from entering the area implies a fine of €36.

By bus

FS Garibaldi Train Station is also Milan's main Bus terminal. The main national bus lines are operated by Autostradale [14], but there are many other small companies offering even international travel.

Get around

Milan metro

metro ride and for one ride on the urban part of the suburban train. Your time starts once you validate it by inserting it into a box which prints the date and time on it. These are found inside trams and buses and at the turnstiles at the metro If you've first used a single ticket on a bus or tram, you must also validate it when you enter the metro or before taking the urban part of the suburban train. Note that as at late 2008 there still exist 4 different types of ticket machine on trams and buses... to validate the new-style paper with magnetic strip tickets (these should that you will ever be sold now) you need to use the orange and yellow machines. If you have a new magnetic credit-card type ticket, you should validate it every time you board on a new bus or streetcar as well. 

• The Metro (short for Metropolitana [16], the logo is a big white M on a red background) has three lines, each commonly identified by a color as shown below, and is the best way to get around Milan. The lines are: MM1, red (rossa); MM2, green (verde); MM3, yellow (gialla). Lines 4, 5 and 6 are under construction to be completed by 2015. The subway network is rather extended (lines split into different sections and its 72 stations cover most areas of town). Trains run every 1-3 minutes. Service starts at 5.30 AM and the last trains run at around midnight (2AM on Saturday nights). 

• Streetcars (trams) run above-ground on rail lines running through the streets. Being above ground means you get a view of what you're passing, so if you don't need to go far they're convenient and fun. Some tram lines are operated by ultramodern 'jumbo' green tram, others are run by yellow or orange antique traditional carriages (similar to the ones in San Francisco) with inside wooden panneling and glass chandeliers. There is also a restaurant tram and a party tram with disco music. Many tram stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service. Note that these are known as trams and an Italian (or non-american foreigner for that matter) will have no idea what you are talking about if you ask them where to find a 'streetcar'. 

• Buses should probably be your third public transport option. Equally comfortable, rather punctual and clean with many routes to choose from. ATM streetcar and bus services stop around 2AM. Please note, however, that some lines end their service earlier and some do not have a night service at all. In any case check your route and timetable in advance if you want to travel late at night. From 8PM to 2AM a special shuttle service is operated by ATM, called Radiobus [17], an on-call bus accessible only by pre-booking. 

• The Suburban Railway System (the logo is a big green S on a blue background) includes a special line known as Passante ferroviario, considered Milan's fourth subway line (although trains run every 10 mins), and has eight more lines, each identified by a number (S1 to S10, lines S7 and S8 being completed), connecting metro area towns with Milan. Note that suburban trains run less often than Metro trains (depending on the line, they range from 1 to 4 per hour) but, as some lines share tracks and stations, you can expect as many as 10 trains per hour in central Milan between Lancetti and Porta Vittoria stations. Suburban Railway 'S' Lines are usually marked in blue on subway maps. The Passante is not heavily used by the Milanese and in non-peak hours stations can be deserted so would not be recommended for lone (and particularly female) travellers. 

• €40. All fees are intended for a one-way, non-stop trip; taxi waiting time and booking are extras. A surcharge will apply in the evenings so don't be surprised if the meter has €6+ on it when you enter, even if at a taxi-stand.

• Radiobus is a good, cheap and efficient alternative to taxi. Shuttle buses operated by ATM, with the characteristic silver color with a strip of international flag painted diagonal, operate after 8PM and until 2AM; you may book them by phone at 02 4803 4803 at least 20 minutes in advance (a couple of hours is better). The bus will stop at a dedicated place (these have an hexagonal panel with blue writing RADIOBUS and telephone number on white) and will leave you virtually any place. Memorize the pick-up location. The driver will wait for ladies to enter the home door as a courtesy. Costs €2 per person. You may buy the tickets in advance, or pay on the bus.
• Several buses connect suburban cities and towns surrounding Milan. Some are managed by ATM. You can travel on most of them with an inter-urban ticket (biglietto interurbano) which are sold in two forms: including travel in Milan or without. In the without form you can only go to the end of the line, while with the cumulative version you can transfer to any ATM line. There are several rules and distance limits which apply, so be aware of them when you purchase your ticket.

Many bus stops have electronic information panels with indications on how many minutes to wait before the next available service. 

• Cars are definitely not a good idea to get into the city centre. Like most major cities traffic is a considerable problem, not to mention the hassle of parking. During working hours traffic is often blocked, inside the city as well as on the highway ring surrounding it. It is much better at night, but you'll probably have problems finding a place to leave the car near enough to nightlife attractions. And a Congestion charge will be applied anywhere from €2 to €10 per day to enter the second city ring (i Bastioni) in accordance with how much your vehicle pollutes. The charge is only applied on weekdays, between 7:30AM and 7:30PM. Drivers will have to buy a ticket either online or from key points in the city. 

• Walking is definitely a possibility, and although Milan is a large city many of the main tourist attractions are within an easy and pleasant walk from one another. No matter how hot the day, one will see elegantly dressed people of both sexes in cutting edge or perhaps timeless fashion without a drop of sweat. There are many places to sit, apart from the ubiquitous cafes, especially in the parks. Get a decent map of the city before setting out though, as the roads do not always maintain a straight line, and the various piazza can be confusing to the newcomer. In the many parks, there are dog only areas, but one should always be careful when walking as the two things one will see on the ground in the streets are cigarette ends and dog feces.