Public Transport in Milan

The public transport system in Milan includes the metro network, trams, buses, and suburban trains. These are managed by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi). Near the main transport stations, there are park & ride facilities where you can leave your car (see also the article Where to Park in Milan). In addition, you can also get around by taxi or take a tour with the sightseeing bus.

Tickets and Passes

The transport system in Milan is integrated, which means you can use the same tickets for all public transport operated by ATM (metro, bus, tram, and suburban train).

Tickets for Mi1-Mi3 zones - usually the ones you'll need when on a city break in Milan - have the following prices:

Standard ticket: €2.20 (valid for 90 minutes after validation, for multiple journeys)
One-day pass: €7.60 (valid for 24 hours from the time of validation)
Three-day pass: €15.50 (valid for 3 consecutive days from validation, until the end of service on the third day at 03:45)
10-journey pass: €19.50 (tickets cannot be used by multiple people at the same time)

Children under 14 travel for free (in case of inspection, an ID proving the age will be required).

You can buy tickets from the vending machines in metro stations, from tabaccheria kiosks, via the ATM Milano app (available on Google Play or the App Store), or directly at the metro entrance or on-board trams and buses using a contactless card (one card for one person only).

A useful tip: use the same card everywhere (including when exiting metro stations, even if the gates are open), so the system can calculate and charge you the most convenient travel pass based on your journeys within a given period. Often, an initial amount will be held, then adjusted, and you'll only be charged the most advantageous fare for you. Make sure to tap your card each time you switch to another mode of transport. On buses in the Mi1-Mi3 zones, you'll only need to tap your card again when getting off if you're traveling on lines 121, 130, 140, 165, 166, or 327.

If you're planning to visit several tourist attractions in Milan, consider getting a YesMilano card, which also includes free public transport.

Means of Transportation

Metro

The metro network in Milan consists of five lines, each identified by a number and a color.

M1 (red line): Sesto 1º Maggio F.S. - Rho Fiera Milano/ Bisceglie
M2 (green line): Piazza Abbiategrasso/ Assago Forum - Gessate/ Cologno Nord
M3 (yellow line): San Donato - Comasina
M4 (blue line): Linate Airport - San Cristoforo
M5 (purple line): Bignami Parco Nord - San Siro Stadium

The metro runs approximately between 5:30 AM and 12:30 AM from Monday to Saturday, and from 6:00 AM on Sundays. The schedule is shorter on May 1st and December 25th.

The metro lines in Milan are marked wtih different colors.

Trams

Trams have been operating in Milan since 1876. Even today, you can see many charming, vintage trams built during the interwar period, which are part of the city's unique charm.

Trams run approximately between 4:30 AM and 2:30 AM. On May 1st and December 25th, the schedule is shorter. On trams, you only need to tap your card when boarding.

Many historic trams run on the streets of Milan.

Milan also features two restaurant trams called ATMosfera. These are historic trams from 1929 that have been restored, offering you the chance to enjoy lunch (on Sundays only) or dinner (daily) while admiring the city through the windows (also check out the article on what to eat in Milan).

The trams depart from Piazza Castello, in front of Sforza Castle, and follow a route that passes by landmarks such as the Arco della Pace (at one end of Sempione Park), the Milan Cathedral, and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The experience lasts around 2 hours and costs €90 for dinner or €75 for lunch. Online reservations are mandatory. It's a good idea to book well in advance, as availability is limited. Otherwise, you might not find a table, or you could end up with, for example, only a 4-person table available when you only need seats for 2 (you must pay for all the seats at the reserved table).

Buses

Buses in Milan run approximately between 5:30 AM and 1:45 AM (with a shorter schedule on May 1st and December 25th). On buses in zones Mi1-Mi3, you only need to tap your card when boarding, except if you're traveling on one of the following lines: 121, 130, 140, 165, 166, or 327 - in those cases, you must also tap your card before getting off.

There is also a night bus network that operates after the metro has stopped running.

Buses on lines 90 and 91 run non-stop, 24/7.

Hop On Hop Off Sighseeing Bus

You can also get acquainted to the city through a Hop On Hop Off Milan sightseeing bus tour. You can choose tickets for 24h, 48h, or 72h, allowing you to hop on and off at any station you want, with an audio guide in several languages available onboard.

With the Hop On Hop Off sightseeing bus, you can get from one tourist attraction to another.

Use the CIAO5 code before completing your reservation on Tiqets and you will have a 5% discount.

Train

Milan has 12 suburban train lines marked on the local transportation maps with the letter S, which connect the city center with nearby towns in Lombardy, such as Varese, Novara, or Pavia. The routes in the city center (zones Mi1-Mi3) are included in the regular integrated AMT transport tickets.

Trains are a very convenient means of transport for taking trips to the surrounding areas of Milan.

The city has a total of 24 train stations. The main station, built in 1931, is called Stazione Centrale. It is the second largest station in Italy (after Termini Station in Rome) and one of the largest in Europe. The area around the station is home to many hotels and apartments (see also the article Where to Stay in Milan).

Stazione Centrale is the most important train station in Milan.

In Piazza Duca d'Aosta, in front of the station, you'll find the art installation la Mela Reintegrata ("The Reintegrated Apple"), created for the opening of EXPO 2015 and initially placed in Piazza del Duomo for a while. According to its creator, Michelangelo Pistoletto, "The symbol of the reintegrated apple represents the recomposition of opposing elements: nature and artificial. The apple means nature; the bite from the apple relates to artificial, as we see it used in a popular computer brand, as an emblem of technology that completely replaces nature. With the reintegrated apple, the artificial takes on the task of repairing the bitten part and reuniting humanity with nature, rather than continuing to distance it from nature".