Getting Around Milan: Metro, Trams and Buses, Trains, Rental Cars and Boats on the Lakes

The simplest way to get around Milan is the ATM network: metro, bus, tram and trolleybus all run on the same tickets, and you can tap in with a credit card, debit card, smartphone or smartwatch. The metro reaches Linate airport on line M4, and Trenord trains cover Lombardy and Malpensa airport. Contactless payment works only on ATM services, so Trenord trains need a ticket.

At a glance

• Simplest way for a typical stay: ATM metro, bus, tram and trolleybus
• Single ticket: €2.20, valid 90 minutes from first validation
• Day ticket: €7.60, valid 24 hours
• Contactless: credit and debit cards, smartphones and smartwatches, on ATM services only
• Linate airport: metro line M4
• Car: A8 from Malpensa to Milan, approximately one hour

Do you need a car in Milan?

For a stay in Milan itself, public transport covers the ground. Metro lines reach Rho Fieramilano, San Siro stadium, the MiCo convention center and Linate airport. A night bus service runs in the urban area. A car mostly matters for the lakes and smaller towns, and in the historic downtown areas it brings the risk of fines.

• Town base: metro, bus and tram · one ticket covers all of them in zones Mi1 to Mi3
• Airports: metro M4 to Linate, Malpensa Express or Trenord to Malpensa · both run to the city center
• Lake and Lombardy day trips: Trenord train · it links Milan to Como, Bergamo and Garda
• Longer road trips: car · the A1, A4 and A7 motorways leave Milan for Naples, Turin to Trieste and Genoa

How does the bus work in Milan?

ATM runs the city’s metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses. Tickets for zones Mi1 to Mi3 are valid on all of them and on the S lines run by Trenord. A single ticket costs €2.20 and lasts 90 minutes from the first validation.

Other options: the day ticket costs €7.60 for 24 hours, the 3-day ticket €15.50, and the weekly pass €18.50, valid Monday to Sunday of the same week. A book of 10 tickets costs €19.50, and each ticket can’t be used by more than one person at a time. Children under 14 ride free in the municipalities covered by the integrated fare system.

• Rho Fieramilano: line M1 (red), terminus station
• Rho Fiera railway station: lines S5, S6 or S11
• San Siro stadium: line M5 (lilac), San Siro Stadio terminus
• MiCo convention center: line M5 (lilac), Portello station
• Unipol Forum: line M2 (green), Assago Forum terminus
• Linate airport: line M4 (blue)
• Malpensa airport: Malpensa Express rail service to the city center
• Bergamo: a bus runs every 10 minutes between the railway station and the airport

Renting a car in Milan: what to know

From Malpensa, the drive to Milan takes approximately one hour on the A8 motorway. The A1 runs from Milan to Naples via Bologna, Florence and Rome, the A4 links Turin and Trieste via Milan, Bergamo and Brescia, and the A7 goes to Genoa via Pavia and Voghera.

The U.S. State Department says seat belt use is mandatory, and outside cities you must always use headlights. Authorities fine drivers without the proper permits in historic downtown areas of cities and towns across Italy. Cameras photograph license plates, and the fines are sent to the driver’s home in the United States.

How much is a taxi in Milan?

For short trips, a day ticket at €7.60 or a single ticket at €2.20 covers metro, tram and bus, and the M4 metro goes straight to Linate.

Can you get around Milan by boat?

Boats serve the lakes near Milan. On Lake Maggiore, Navigazione Lago Maggiore boats to Isola Superiore dei Pescatori leave from Stresa, Baveno, Verbania Intra and Verbania Pallanza, since the island can’t be reached by car. On Lake Como, a frequent boat service runs from Varenna to Bellagio.

A boat runs from Luino harbor to the Castles of Cannero. On Lake Garda, ferries from Desenzano del Garda or Peschiera del Garda go to Sirmione.

What are the driving rules in Italy?

According to the U.S. State Department, drivers often pass on the superhighways (autostrada) at high speeds. Rural roads are generally narrow and often have no guardrails and inconsistent speed limits.

If authorities stop you driving a car registered abroad, you must pay the ticket immediately under certain conditions. Be prepared to pay in cash in local currency.