How to get to Milan: complete transport guide
How to reach Milan by plane, train, car and bus. Malpensa, Linate and Orio al Serio airports, stations, motorways and local transport to the centre.
How to get to Milan by plane
Milan is served by three airports. **Milano Malpensa (MXP)** is the main international airport, located about 50 km north-west of the city. The **Malpensa Express** connects the airport to Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna in 50-55 minutes, departing every 30 minutes. Terravision and Air Bus coaches reach Centrale station in about 50 minutes. A taxi costs around 100 euros (fixed rate).
**Milano Linate (LIN)** is the closest airport to the centre, just 7 km away. It is reachable by metro line M4 (Linate to San Babila in 12 minutes), ATM bus 73, or taxi (about 25 euros). It is ideal for domestic and European scheduled flights.
**Orio al Serio Airport (BGY)**, near Bergamo (45 km from Milan), is the main hub for low-cost airlines. Orio Shuttle and Terravision buses connect the airport to Centrale station in about 60 minutes. Alternatively, take the ATB bus to Bergamo station and then Trenord to Milan.
How to get to Milan by train
**Milano Centrale** is the main station, an imposing Art Nouveau building and one of the largest in Europe. Services include:
- **Frecce Trenitalia and Italo**: Rome (2h55), Florence (1h40), Venice (2h15), Turin (50 min), Bologna (1h05), Naples (4h25)
- **TGV SNCF**: Paris in about 7 hours (direct)
- **International trains**: Zurich, Munich, Vienna
**Milano Porta Garibaldi** is the second hub, served by Italo and many regional trains. **Milano Cadorna** is the terminus for Trenord lines to Malpensa, Como, Varese and the pre-Alpine areas. **Milano Rogoredo** is useful for high-speed arrivals from the south.
All stations are connected by the metro.
How to get to Milan by car
Milan sits at the centre of northern Italy's motorway network:
- **A1**: from Bologna, Florence, Rome (south)
- **A4**: from Turin (west) and Venice, Verona (east)
- **A7**: from Genoa (south-west)
- **A8/A9**: from the lakes, Varese and Switzerland
The city centre is subject to **Area B** (ban on polluting vehicles on weekdays) and **Area C** (congestion charge of 7.50 euros/day in the Bastioni ring). Convenient park-and-ride options include:
- **San Donato M3** (free parking + metro)
- **Cascina Gobba M2** (east)
- **Lampugnano M1** (west, near the ring road)
- **Molino Dorino M1** (north-west)
How to get to Milan by bus
The main bus station is **Milano Lampugnano**, connected by the M1 line. Operators include:
- **FlixBus**: all of Italy and Europe
- **MarinoBus**: southern Italy
- **International coaches**: Balkans, Eastern Europe, Spain
Some services also stop at Centrale station. Prices are very competitive compared to trains, especially for long distances.
Getting from the arrival point to the centre
Milan has an excellent public transport network run by **ATM**. The metro has 5 lines (M1 red, M2 green, M3 yellow, M4 blue, M5 lilac) covering the entire city, plus historic trams, buses and trolleybuses.
A single urban ticket costs 2.20 euros (valid 90 minutes on all services). A day pass costs 7.60 euros, a 3-day pass 13 euros. Tickets are available from machines in metro stations, newsstands or the ATM app.
From Centrale to the Duomo takes 15 minutes on the M3. From Cadorna to the Duomo is a 5-minute walk or one M1 stop.
Practical tips
If you arrive at Malpensa and your accommodation is in the centre, the Malpensa Express is the most reliable option. For Orio al Serio, book the bus in advance online to save money. Milan is perfect for cycling: the **BikeMi** bike-sharing service is widespread and can be integrated with an ATM pass.
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