So, you got to Milan, and now aim for shopping or sightseeing. If there are no problems with finances, then taxi drivers, of course, will be pleased to satisfy any traffic whim. If you are not averse to saving, then the public transport system of Milan is at your service. Moreover, the latter is very well thought out and, at times, can save not only money, but also time.
The public transport management company in Milan is called Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM). The transport network falling under ATM jurisdiction covers three metro lines and about 80 tram, bus and trolleybus routes.
Helpful advice: Before we move on to the topic of transport, we recommend downloading an audio guide on Milan for iPhone. The audio tour consists of 60 points on a convenient map of Milan, and the built-in GPS will help you easily navigate the city even without the Internet.
In the trial free version of the audio guide, the first 5 points of the tour are available, and you can open the entire route for only 5 Euros. It is many times cheaper than even the most economical excursions. You can download a trial version on your iPhone on this page.
Milan metro
Most of the subway in Milan is located underground, but there are also land sections. The metro network consists of four lines indicated by various colors (Milan Metro scheme):
- Line M1 Red - 38 stations
- Line M2 Green - 35 stations
- Line M3 Yellow - 21 stations
- Line M5 Violet (put into operation in 2013)
Line length metro in Milan is over 80 km, making it the largest network in Italy. Currently, the network continues to expand both through ongoing work on new subway lines, and the refinement of existing ones.
Metro stations in Milan are marked with signs in which the white letter M is inscribed in a red square. Milan metro works daily from 6:00 to 00:30.
Trams in Milan
The Milan tram network consists of 17 city lines and 1 intercity line. The route network is 170 km long. Milan Tram Network is the second largest in Italy after Turin.
8 different types of trams operate on Milan's city routes
It is also noteworthy that on the routes of Milan operates up to 8 different types of trams that operate from 4: 30-5: 00 in the morning to 2: 00-2: 30 at night.
Buses and trolleybuses in Milan
Milan's public transport network also includes 67 bus and 4 trolleybus routes. However, most lines do not work at night.
Buses in Milan work from 5: 30-6: 00 am to 0: 30-1: 45 nights, depending on the route. Milan also has a night bus system on Fridays and Saturdays. Details about their work schedule can be found here.
Features: 2 days a year - December 25th and May 1st - public transport in Milan operates on an abbreviated schedule: from 7:00 to 20:00. On the same days, the metro in Milan is open from 7:00 to 19:30.
Metro stations in Milan are indicated by a red square with a white letter "M"
Public Transport Tickets in Milan can be purchased at newsstands or tobacco shops, as well as at subway stations in special vending machines or cash desks. We also note that not all stations have a cash desk, but most have a newspaper shop.
The price of tickets for public transport in Milan
The same ticket can be used on all three types of public transport for 90 minutes. That is, by composting a ticket, you can make an unlimited number of transfers.
An exception to this rule is the metro - during the validity period of the ticket it can be used only 1 time. At the same time, leaving the metro, you can continue the journey with the same ticket on other types of ground public transport.
Ticket prices in Milan public transport
Please note that at many metro stations in Milan, you must reuse a ticket to exit the station. Therefore, the ticket must be kept until the end of the trip. In addition, controllers are not uncommon on Milan's public transport lines.
In Milan’s public transport system, there is a whole range of different tickets, but most often tourists use a one-time ticket, as well as 24 and 48-hour tickets.
Standard ticket
The cost is 1.5 euros. Valid for 90 minutes after composting and allows you to use public transport throughout the city. The ticket is also valid for 1 trip in the subway and city rail network, including the Trenord and 'Passante Ferroviario' lines (city rail network).
Daily ticket
The cost is 4.5 euros. Valid for 24 hours after composting, and its effect extends to the entire Milan public transport system. The ticket is also valid on the inter-city rail network, including the Trenord and 'Passante Ferroviario' lines (city rail network).
2-day ticket
The cost is 8.25 euros. Valid for 48 hours after composting. Grants the right to use the entire Milan public transport system. The ticket is also valid on the inter-city rail network, including the Trenord and 'Passante Ferroviario' lines (city rail network).
Features of using tickets at night
On night routes, you can use regular one-time tickets. Moreover, if the ticket is validated after midnight and until 4:30 in the morning, then it is valid until 6 in the morning. If the ticket is validated after 4:30 in the morning, then it is valid for 90 minutes. Regardless of the time the ticket is composted, you can use it only once in the subway.
Useful links
- Map of the center of Milan with public transport - here
- ATM official site
- Milan: How to get from Malpensa Airport to the city center
- Bergamo airport and how to get to Milan
