Milan Metro
Despite the Milan Metro only having four lines and 111 stations, it is currently the longest metro line in Italy – measuring 58.7 miles – 94.5 km. It surpasses the metro in Rome, which only consists of three lines.
The Milan Metro is one of Europe’s most modern metro systems. Although the first projects to build a metro rail network were designed at the beginning of the twentieth century, it wasn’t until 1957 that the first metro line was set up. The Milan Metro was inaugurated nearly ten years later, in 1964.
Lines
The four metro lines in Milan are numbered and have various colors:
- Line M1 (red): This line is useful, especially if you are traveling to Milan on business and want to reach the Fiera Milano. The line also stops at the Duomo and San Babila.
- Line M2 (green): The M2 stops at Milano Centrale.
- Line M3 (yellow): The M3 is probably the most convenient line for tourists. It stops at the Duomo, in Via Montenapoleone (the most important commercial area in Milan) and Milano Centrale.
- Line M5 (purple): The M5 is integrated with the regional trains. Visitors will find the following stops interesting: Garibaldi station and Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
- The Milan Metro is currently working on the fifth line (blue line).
Note that if you are staying in the center of Milan, it is probable that you will not need to take the metro except to go to the airport.
Where to purchase the metro tickets?
The metro tickets and travel cards can be purchased in the metro stations, kiosks and off-licenses.
If you need to take the metro on a regular basis, we recommend buying various one-way tickets at a time or purchasing a travel card.
Schedule and frequency
The metro opens every day from 6 am until 12:30 am (midnight). On 25 December and 1 of May, the metro opens from 7 am until 7:30 pm.
The frequency of the Milan Metro depends on the time of day, on the line and the day of the week, but generally, the trains arrive every 2-4 minutes. Outside the city center, for example, the last stops of the M2 line, trains run every 30 minutes.
Trams in Milan
The Milan tram network system consists of 18 lines that run until past midnight. The trams in Milan have longer schedules compared to the Milan Metro and the city’s local buses. The trams are numbered from 1 to 33.
Compared to the Milan Metro network, which was inaugurated not very long ago (in the second half of the twentieth century), the trams in Milan have been running since 1876, when they were pulled by horses. Unlike in Paris and other European cities, Milan has always kept its tram network system running.
The trams in Milan are one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city, thanks to its extensive network.
Historic trams
Trams from several periods run in Milan, from the most modern and “psychedelic” to the most classic. The most peculiar are the 1500 series trams, which date back to 1928-1930. These models of trams can also be seen in Lisbon, Porto and San Francisco.
San Francisco’s case is even more extraordinary since the American city bought their trams from Milan.
Where to purchase the tram tickets?
The tickets for the tram (or any other means of transport in Milan) can be purchased in the metro stops, kiosks or off-licenses.
If you are planning to use Milan’s public transport, we recommend buying several one-way tickets or buying a 24-hour or 48-hour travel pass.
Schedule and frequency
Trams run in Milan from 4:30 am – 5 am until 2 am – 2:30 am at night. On 25 December and 1 May, the trams run from 7 am until 7:30 pm.
Local buses in Milan
Milan has over 80 local bus lines and a few trolleybus lines (electric buses that run with overhead wires). Since the city’s metro network is so limited, Milan’s urban buses are one of the best ways to get around the city.
Night Buses
Since 2015, Milan’s night buses run every day of the week. There are fifteen routes that travel from midnight to 6 am. These depart every 30 minutes.
The buses depart from various neighborhoods in Milan, most of them are the city’s most famous nightlife areas (Valtellina with Stelvio, Milton with Pagano, Sturzo with Como, Piazza XXIV Maggio, Umbria with Tito Livio, Umbria with XXII Marzo, Castelbarco with Tantardini and Ripamonti with Pietrasanta).
You can use the same tickets and travel cards on the night service as on the day ATM network. Tickets can be purchased from any of the parking meters found in Milan for €1.50.
Bus to Linate Airport
If you fly to Linate Airport you can take a local bus to the city center. The buses 73 and X73 connect the airport to the metro station San Babila. The ticket costs €1.50, just like any other one-way ticket. This is definitely the cheapest alternative to get to the city center from Linate Airport.
Where to purchase the bus tickets?
The bus tickets and travel cards (which can also be used on the city’s other means of transport) can be purchased at any metro station, kiosk, off-license or in any of Milan’s parking meters.
Schedule and frequency
The buses run in Milan from 5:30 – 6 am in the morning until 12:30 am (midnight) – 1:45 am. The 25 December and 1 May the buses run from 7 am until 7:30 pm.
Taxis in Milan
Milan is a relatively small city with an efficient and extensive public transport system. What’s more, if you stay in the city center you will be able to walk to most of the city’s attractions by foot. Nevertheless, it is always useful to read about Milan’s taxis as you might want to take one during your stay in Milan.
Contrary to most cities in Europe, taxis in Milan rarely stop when someone hails them in the street. To catch a cab, you will need to walk to the nearest taxi stop or, otherwise call to book one in advance.
Tariffs
Taxis in Milan are relatively expensive, although they aren’t as expensive as in Florence, Amsterdam or London. These are the official tariffs:
- Minimum fare on weekdays: 6 am – 9 pm: €3.30
- Minimum fare on public holidays: 6 am – 9 pm: €5.40
- The minimum fare at night: €6.50
- Tariff per kilometer: €1.09
- Tariff per hour waiting: €28.32
Extra charges
When the taximeter reaches € 13.25, the price per kilometer becomes more expensive and costs €1.50 instead of €1.09. The price per hour of waiting time is also higher, costing €39.27.
If the car is driving faster than 50 km/h for over 60 seconds, the price per kilometer becomes € 1.70, so be careful if you decide to take a taxi to Linate or Bergamo Airport. If you are flying from Malpensa Airport, you shouldn’t have any problem because there is a fixed rate from the city center.
If you book a taxi by phone, note that you will be charged as soon as they receive the call, meaning that the taxi could cost you double what it would normally cost you, depending on how long the taxi takes to get to your location.
Examples
Taking into account the minimum fares and the tariffs per kilometer, it is practically impossible for a taxi to cost you less than € 6. On a positive note, since Milan is relatively small you can get from one side of the city to the other for about €10.
Radio Taxi Companies
- Radio Taxi 02 8585
- Radio Taxi 02 6767
- Radio Taxi 02 5353
- Radio Taxi 02 8383
- Radio Taxi 02 3100