Milan, the city of over 2 million people, the fashion, shopping and economic heart of Italy, is kept in motion by a network of 4 metro lines. Although the tourist attractions in the centre are accessible on foot or by an extensive network of trams, the metro will always be the clearest and fastest transport for longer distances, for example from all of Milan's stations to the centre.

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For information on other modes of transport, see the Transport chapter.

Metro lines

The metro in Milan has 5 lines. They are marked with a number and each has its own colour. The metro trains are modern, spacious and clean, the metro is definitely the most reliable form of transport in Milan.

• Line M1 (red) - runs across the centre in a west-east direction and connects it with Cadorna station or Lampugnano bus station. It also passes under the entire fashion district of Quadrilatero della Moda
  • Sights and attractions - Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione, Palazzo Reale, Museo del Novecento
• Line M2 (green) - runs along the western edge of the centre and connects all the major stations in the city: Centrale, Porta Garibaldi, Cadorna and Porta Genova. It is the longest line in the east and goes far beyond Milan.
  • Sights and attractions - Navigli, Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione, Brera, Piazza Gae Aulenti, Corso Como, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
• Line M3 (yellow) - connects the centre from north to south with both Centrale and Rogoredo stations
  • Sights and attractions - Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala, Palazzo Reale, Museo del Novecento, Quadrilatero della Moda
• Line M4 (blue) - connects Linate Airport with the city centre and continues towards the south-west of the city
  • Sights and attractions - Colonne di San Lorenzo, Quadrilatero della Moda, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
• Line M5 (purple) - the least touristy line, running from the north and west to Porta Garibaldi station, but also to the San Siro football stadium
  • Sights and attractions - Cimitero Monumentale, Piazza Gae Aulenti

Metro tickets and prices

The metro in Milan is operated by the ATM and tickets are therefore valid for trams, buses and trolleybuses. You can use 3 basic types of tickets:

• 2,20 eur - 90 minutes
• 7,60 eur -24 hours (valid for a full 24 hours from the first marking)
• 15,50 eur -3 days (valid for three calendar days, not 72 hours)

The 90-minute ticket can be used for an unlimited number of transfers within the metro network, as long as you don't get off in a pay zone. You do not leave the zone when transferring and do not go through the turnstiles. However, if you use the metro first during your journey, the ticket can no longer be used on surface transport.

Where to buy tickets?

There are 3 ways to buy tickets in Milan.

• With your own contactless card (also possible with NFC technology, i.e. with your mobile phone or watch)
  • the easiest way
  • the fare is always charged after 24 hours, when the maximum charge on your card is 7,60 eur
  • if you would like to use a 72-hour ticket, it is preferable to purchase a paper form or via the mobile app
  • Official information: atm.it//contactless_cards
• Paper tickets
  • can be purchased from vending machines at all metro stations and selected bus and tram stops (card and cash payments are possible) and from all newsagents ("Tabacchi")
• ATM mobile app (Google Play / App Store)
  • To purchase tickets, you must first register and log in
  • each ticket must be validated before boarding, which will display a QR code. This is attached to the QR code reader when you enter the metro (all turnstiles are equipped with them), while on trams or buses you don't have to attach it anywhere, only when the inspector checks

How to use tickets on the metro?

When you enter and exit the metro station, you go through turnstiles.

There are two different types of turnstiles in each station - one for paper tickets only and one for payment by contactless card or mobile app.

Contactless payment

Attach your card, watch or mobile phone to the reader at the turnstile when entering and leaving the station.

Paper ticket

Insert your ticket into the turnstile, wait about a second before the turnstile opens and the ticket comes back out. Don't forget to take the ticket and keep it, as you will need it again on exit.

Again, you have to insert it into the turnstile, the problem with the 90-minute ticket is that the turnstile will open, but it won't come back out, even if you haven't used the full 90 minutes. Therefore, this ticket cannot be used further.

This is not a problem with longer tickets, which always come back out when you leave the metro.

Mobile app

If you use your tickets on your mobile phone via the ATM app, at the turnstiles, just attach your mobile phone with an open valid ticket with a QR code to the reader.

Milan metro map

The official up-to-date map of the Milan metro can be found on the transport company's website atm.it. The official line diagram below also shows the S train lines, which can be used for travel around Milan without any problems on the above tickets.

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In the white and pink zones, Mi1 and Mi3, the tickets described above are valid, for the other zones you have to pay a special suburban fare.

We've also created an accurate metro map to give you a better idea of where specific lines actually go.

Links

• Transport company's website: atm.it
• Search for connections: giromilano.at.it
• Transport to Bergamo BGY, Malpensa MXP, Linate LIN