Getting around Milan: public transport, passes and taxis

Milan is compact and flat. Almost every trip a visitor makes is 10–30 minutes by metro, tram or on foot, which is why the pass question matters more than the taxi question.

Prices below are 2026 estimates for the city network (STIBM zone Mi1–Mi3, which covers the city and the closer suburbs). Confirm current fares at the ticket machine or in the app before you buy.

Tickets are sold at metro station machines, at tabacchi shops, in newsstands and in the ATM Milano app. The same ticket covers metro, tram, bus and the suburban lines inside the paid zone, so you tap or validate once and change as often as you like within the time window.

The 24, 48 and 72-hour tickets are the ones most visitors want: they start from first validation, not from midnight, so a 72-hour pass bought on Friday morning still works on Monday morning. If you are in Milan for two days and mostly walking, singles can be cheaper than a 48-hour pass — count your rides before buying.

Children and some residents travel free or reduced; ask at the machine or check the operator's site for current rules. Keep the paper ticket until you leave the last vehicle: inspectors do fine passengers without a validated ticket.

The metro is the fastest way across town. M1 runs from Duomo and Cadorna out to the fairgrounds and Sesto; M2 links Centrale, Cadorna and Porta Genova; M3 crosses the centre north–south; M5 loops the north-east through Garibaldi and Bicocca. Signage is clear and English is used on maps and announcements.

Trams are slower but they put you on the street: the historic line 1 and the circular routes through the centre are useful for short hops when the metro would mean a long walk to a station. Buses fill the gaps, especially after the metro closes.

Peak hours are roughly 07:30–09:30 and 17:30–19:30 on weekdays. At those times the metro is packed and pickpockets work the doors; keep bags in front of you and your phone out of your back pocket.

Official taxis are white and metered. Take them from a rank — Centrale, Cadorna, the Duomo, the airports — or book by phone or app; hailing on the street works but is less common than in London or New York. Fares are higher at night, on Sundays and with luggage, and airport runs are usually a fixed price rather than the meter.

Ride-hailing apps operate in Milan and are a reasonable alternative when no taxi is nearby; the quote you see before booking is the advantage. In heavy rain or at closing time, expect a wait and possible surge pricing.

For a group of three or four with luggage, a taxi from Centrale to a central hotel often costs less than four single tickets plus the walk, and it is the only sane option after midnight.

A visitor who uses the metro and trams four or more times a day should buy a 24-hour ticket; below that, singles are cheaper. Budget about €8–16 a day per person for city transport, and €10–13 each way for the Malpensa train or bus (2026 estimate).

Taxis inside the city usually land between €12 and €25 for a cross-town ride depending on traffic and time of day; airport runs are the big-ticket item and are a fixed price rather than the meter (check). Driving in adds the Area C congestion charge on weekday daytime entries and risks ZTL camera fines if you stray into restricted streets.

Buy your ticket before you reach the barrier; machines at busy stations have queues and some only take cards or coins. The app avoids the queue entirely and stores your pass on the phone.

Stay near a metro station when you book a hotel: the difference between a 5-minute walk to M1 and a 20-minute walk to a tram stop is the difference between a two-ride day and a five-ride day. If you are still choosing, see where to stay in Milan.

Milan is a good base for day trips by train: Como, Bergamo, Turin and the Lakes are all reachable without a car, and the same station logic applies — Centrale for long-distance, Cadorna for Malpensa and some northern lines.