Transport in Milan

Milan has many ways for people to get around, making it a busy city to visit or live in. The city has a big network of public transport that helps millions of people travel every day. You can ride the Metro, which is an underground train system, or take the Suburban Railway that connects Milan to nearby towns.

There are also trams, buses, taxis, and even services where you can share a car or bike with others. Milan is not just important for its own transport; it is also a key place for travel in all of Italy. Many airplanes, trains, and cars pass through Milan when they travel across the country.

History

Early public transport in Milan began in 1801 with horse-drawn carriages. When Milan became the capital of the Italian Kingdom in 1805, new services started, linking the city to places like Vienna, Marseille, and other Italian cities, still using carriages. The Navigli canals were also used for transport back then.

The first bus line opened in 1827, traveling from Milan to Lodi. The first railway, going to Monza, began in 1840. Today, this railway is part of the Milan-Chiasso international line.

Public transportation

Main article: Milan Metro

Main article: Milan suburban railway service

See also: Milan Passante railway

Main article: Trams in Milan

Main article: Trolleybuses in Milan

Milan has many ways to get around using public transportation. The Milan Metro is an underground train system with 5 lines. It has many stations and is used by many people every day.

The suburban railway service has lines that connect Milan to nearby areas. It started in 2004 and has many stations.

Milan also has a large tram network with many lines and tracks. Trams have been in Milan since 1876.

There are many bus lines and some trolleybus lines. Night buses run on weekends, and many people use them.

National and international rail

See also: Railway stations in Milan and Rail transport in Italy

Milan is a very important place for trains in Italy. People use trains to travel inside Italy and to other countries. Milan Central station is one of the biggest and busiest stations in Italy. It helps fast trains travel in northern Italy. Other important stations in Milan are Milano Cadorna and Milano Porta Garibaldi. Because of its location, Milan is a main entry point for travelers from other European countries. Trains go every day to places like Bern, Lugano, Geneva, Zürich, Paris, Nice, Marseille, Vienna, Barcelona, and Munich.

Milan is also a central point for trains in the region of Lombardy. Since 2011, a company called Trenord runs all the regional trains in Lombardy.

Roads

See also: Ecopass, Milan Area C, and Autostrade of Italy

Milan is an important place for roads in Italy. It connects east-west roads like the A4 highway to Turin and Venice, and north-south roads like the A1 highway to Rome and Naples. Other roads, such as the A7 to Genova and the A8-A9 to Switzerland, also help people travel to and from the city. These roads connect through a big circle road around Milan called a ring road.

Milan has a lot of traffic because many people drive there. To help with this, some rules were made, like not letting private cars into the city center on Sundays. In 2008, a charge was added for cars entering the city to help reduce pollution. Later, in 2012, a new charge was added to help control traffic.

Taxis

Milan has taxis that are white and can be found at special spots or called by phone. They have set prices for trips to and from the airports.

Car sharing

Milan has many car-sharing services. One service, GuidaMi, has many users. Another service, Car2go, started in 2013 and has many cars and users. Other services include E-vai, DriveNow, Twist, and Enjoy. In 2015, an electric car service called Sharen'go also started in Milan.

Cycling

Main article: BikeMi

Milan’s flat land makes it good for biking. The city is growing its bike paths and was one of the first in Italy to start a bike-sharing system.

Airports

Main article: Airports of Milan

Milan has very busy airports, even busier than Rome. The city has three main airports: Malpensa Airport, the largest in northern Italy; Linate Airport, close to the city center for flights within Italy; and Bergamo Airport, near the city of Bergamo, used by low-cost airlines.

The three main airports are connected to the city center by buses. Malpensa Airport has a special train called the Malpensa Express that goes to major train stations in Milan. Linate Airport is now connected to the city center by Metro line 4. Bergamo Airport will soon have a train line to the city of Bergamo, from where you can reach Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi quickly.