Milan is the capital city of the Italian region Lombardy located in northern Italy and the second most populous city in Italy. It was founded by the Celts in around 400 BC and was subsequently conquered by Romans in 222 BC. In 286, Milan became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. However, it was only during the Middle Ages when Milan became a prosperous banking centre that they established control of Po Vally and routes from Italy across the Alps. During the following century, Milan was occupied by France, Spain and Austria until it finally became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1859.
In the first decade of 20th century, with the help of the industrial revolution, the nation became the centre of economic, social and political debate and was then effected by World War II and the Nazi occupation. In the post-war years, the city has enjoyed a prolonged economic boom and a large wave of internal migration from the south. This year Milan will host the EXPO 2015. Milan is the centre of industry and finance in Italy, with the headquarters for all the major banks located in the city. However, Milan is perhaps more famous for being a city of art and fashion, with one of the 4 fashion weeks being held in the city.
How to Get to Milan
Flying into Milan Airport
Milan Airport, otherwise known as Milano Malpensa, is the second largest airport in Italy with over 17 million passengers in 2014. It is located 40 km north-west of Milan and has 2 terminals, one of which is almost entirely dedicated to the services of easyJet. The airport is a major hub for easyJet and Cargolux and is a focus city for Alitalia, Blue Panorama, Meridiana and Neos Air. The busiest domestic routes are to Catania, Naples and Rome and the busiest within the European union are Madrid, Paris CD and Barcelona.
Getting from Milan Airport to the City Centre
There are several options available to access the city centre from Milan Airport. Costing just €12, the Malpensa Express train from terminal 1 of the airport takes only 30-40 minutes to access the city centre. Buses are also available connecting both terminals to the central train station of Milan, Milano Centrale, in under an hour away and costs €10 for a one way ticket.
Taxis are available from the airport, however, are considered an expensive option as it tends to cost around €90. Following the SS336 Highway via the A8 motorway will take you directly to the city centre of Milan by car.
Flying into Milan Linate
Milan Linate is the second airport for the city and is located just 7 km from the centre. It is the focus airport for such Italian airlines as Alitalia and Alitalia CityLiner and with over 8 million passengers handled in 2014, it is the 3rd busiest airport in Italy. It offers domestic routes to the capital Rome, as well as Catania and Naples. Some of the most popular international routes include those to London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Getting from Milan Linate to the City Centre
The location of the airport means there are a great deal of public transport options for those wishing to access the city centre. Provided by ATM buses, the number 73 bus connects Linate to San Babila square. Following the same route but stopping at fewer intervals, you can also take the X73 to the centre. Connecting the central train station of Milan with Linate is the Starfly bus, which is operated by Autostradale and runs every 30 minutes to and from the airport with a travel time of about 30 minutes. There are also taxis available from outside the station close to the arrivals gate. Driving from the airport should only take 25 minutes without traffic via Viale Enrico Forlanini.
Trains to Milan Centrale Station
Milan Centrale is the main train station in Milan and offers regular, express and high-speed trains that connect the station to cities all around Italy including Turin, Venice, Rome and Naples. International destinations include Barcelona, Zurich, Geneva, Munich and Paris. Milan Centrale boasts 23 platform and is located in Piazza Duca d'Aosta, just 3 km far from Duomo di Milano the cathedral.
Getting from Milan Central Station to the City Centre
The MM2 and MM3 lines of the metro can be found at Milan Central Station which will take you almost anywhere in the city. These trains depart every 2 minutes and take just 5 minutes to gain access to the city. The number 42, 60, 81, 82, 87 buses can also be caught from the station which will take you to the centre, and the journey is roughly 7 minutes to the centre. Trams are also available on hand, and the number 90, 91 and 92 which are located close to the metro line.
Taxis are also available outside the entrance to the station which can take you to the centre and anywhere within the city you wish to travel. The main taxi companies can be reached at 02 40 40, 02 69 69 or 02 80 80, or alternatively, from a land line dial 848 814 781. Stazione Centrale di Milano is located in the north-east part of the city. It is only less than 3 km far from Duomo and it takes 8 minutes without traffic.
Trains to Milano Porta Garibaldi
Though often not considered the main train station in Milan, the station has the highest proportion of passengers with 25 million people being handled each year. The station is located in the modern district of Garibaldi-Repubblica and has 22 tracks served by Trenord and Trenitalia, which operate high-speed trains as well as being part of the underground system. The S1, S2, S5, S6 and S7 of the suburban railways also stops at the station.
Getting from Milano Porta Garibaldi to the City Centre
The M2 line of the underground system stops close to the station, and from there it is easy to access the city centre. To access the Duomo, simple take the M2 line to Cadorna or Loreto and change to the M1 to get to the Duomo. Porta Garibaldi is located 3.2 km north of the city centre and will take just 10 minutes to drive without traffic.
Buses to Terminal Bus Lampugnano
Terminal Bus Lampugnano is located in Giulio Natta close to the MM1 Lampugnano subway station. The main bus providers servicing the areas include Autostrada, Eurolines, iDbus and Movibus. These providers connect Milan with other major Italian cities, as well as international destinations across continental Europe.
Getting from Terminal Bus Lampugnano to the City Centre
Accessing the city centre from Lampugnano is best done by taking the MM1 metro line; trains leave the neighbouring station very frequently and only last a duration of 15 minutes. The bus station is located 6.5 km north west of the city centre and will take 16 minutes to drive without traffic via Diomede.
Driving to Milan
Though driving directly into the city centre is not always recommended, the motorway links into Milan are very extensive and modern. The Autostrada del Sol (highway of the sun) is a six lane motorway linking Milan with Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples. If you are accessing Milan from the west, the A4 connects the city with Turin, the western Alps and France. The A4 eastbound is an 8 lane motorway and connects Milan with Bergamo, Brescia, Verona, Padua and Venice, as well as further on to Trieste and Slovenia. The A8, often referred to as Autostrada dei Laghin (Highway of lakes), links Milan to Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Lugano and the rest of Switzerland.
How to Get Around in Milan
Public Transport in Milan
The public transport system in Milan is provided by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi). The services include the subway service which comprises of 3 lines; MM1, MM2 and MM3, buses, trams, bike sharing and tram sharing. The public transport is the most popular way to get around the city and can get you to all corners with ease; it has 4 zones, however for those visiting the area, you are not likely to leave zone 1.
- Public Transport Provider: ATM
- Cost of a Ticket: €1.50 for a single ticket, valid for 90 minutes
- Discounted Ticket Types: Student under 26: €22 per month, over 65 €16 per month and children under the age of 6 travel for free if a parent or guardian has a monthly pass
- Availability of Public Transport at Night: On Friday and Saturday nights, 15 lines of public service extends their services to past midnight. During the week, night service are covered by the M1, M2 and M3 in addition to the N15, N24, N27, N42, N50, N54, N57, N72, N94, N90 and N91
Cycling in Milan
Cycling is not the most common mode of transport around the city, and this is partially due to the limited availability of cycle lanes. However, cycling is constantly growing more and more popular within Milan. There are still currently 140 km of cycle lanes, mostly on the main roads with 20% being in parks and green areas, that are perfect for exploring the city by bike.
- Official Municipal Bike Provider: BikeMi
- Rental Costs: A subscription is necessary prior to usage and costs €2.50 per day, €6 per week and €36 for the year
Taxis in Milan
Taxis are an extremely popular way of getting around Milan and can be found outside most major attractions within the city centre or can be booked ahead of time very easily.
- Base Minimum Fare: €3.20 (weekdays) or €5.20 (weekends or holidays)
- Cost: €1.03 per km
Driving in Milan
As a rule of thumb, all the major cities within Italy are very congested once you get into the city centre and as a consequence people tend to avoid driving directly into the city centre. Those who do drive tend to be residents of Milan who live and work there. The availability and cost of parking is also a problem when driving in Milan.
Walking Around Milan
All the main attractions of Milan are within walking distance of each other and much of the centre is also pedestrianised. Problems may arise when you wish to walk further than the centre as the suburban area of the city is quite vast.
