Milan metro and transport guide — tickets, lines, and passes explained

A single ATM ticket costs €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes across all metro, bus, and tram lines within Milan. A 24-hour pass is €7.60, a 48-hour pass is €13.50, and a 72-hour pass is €19.50. For most visitors, the 48-hour pass is the sweet spot — it pays for itself after 7 journeys and gives unlimited travel across the entire city. Milan’s public transport network is excellent: the five metro lines cover most visitor destinations, trams serve the inner neighbourhoods, and night buses run when the metro closes.

The five metro lines

Milan has five metro lines, designated M1 through M5, each with a distinct colour. The network is clean, air-conditioned, and generally on time. Trains run from approximately 06:00 to midnight on weekdays, with extended service to around 01:30 on Friday and Saturday nights.

M1 (Red line)

The oldest line (opened 1964) and the one most visitors use. Runs east–west across the city, connecting key areas:

• Duomo station: the Duomo cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala opera house
• Cadorna station: connects to the FerrovieNord suburban rail network for Como and Varese; also connects to the M2 line
• Cairoli: walking distance to Castello Sforzesco
• Loreto: interchange with M2
• Lima and Buenos Aires: the long shopping street north of the centre

The M1 also serves Sesto San Giovanni to the northeast and Rho Fiera to the west (the exhibition and trade fair centre, useful during Milan Design Week or fashion weeks).

M2 (Green line)

Runs roughly north–south-east, with a branch. Key stations:

• Centrale FS: Milano Centrale railway station — the main hub for national and international trains, and where many travellers arrive
• Garibaldi: Porta Nuova business district, the new skyline with the Bosco Verticale towers
• Moscova: Brera neighbourhood, one stop north of the Duomo area
• Cadorna: interchange with M1
• Navigli / Porta Genova: the Navigli canal district, the aperitivo neighbourhood

The M2 is the most useful line for getting between the railway station and the canal district.

M3 (Yellow line)

The second most-used line for visitors. Runs roughly north–south:

• Centrale FS: interchange with M2
• Repubblica: the area north of Piazza della Repubblica, good for hotels near the station
• Turati: walking distance to the Pinacoteca di Brera
• Duomo: interchange with M1
• Missori: south of the Duomo, for the Santa Maria delle Grazie area (with a short tram ride or 20-minute walk to the Last Supper)

M4 (Blue line)

The newest line, fully open from 2023, running east–west from Linate Airport to San Cristoforo in the west. Key stations:

• Linate Aeroporto: direct connection from the airport to the city — 15 minutes to San Babila (see the Milan airports guide for details)
• San Babila: the eastern end of the Quadrilatero della Moda luxury shopping area; interchange with M1
• Sforza Policlinico: walking distance to the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and the southern Duomo area
• Dateo: interchange with suburban rail (Passante Ferroviario)

The M4 transformed Linate airport access and is now essential for visitors flying in and out of that airport.

M5 (Lilac line)

A fully automated driverless line running north from Garibaldi to Bignami:

• Garibaldi: interchange with M2, Porta Nuova
• Monumentale: near the Cimitero Monumentale, one of Milan’s most impressive open-air sculpture parks
• Ca’ Granda: useful for the Porta Nuova and Isola neighbourhood
• San Siro Stadio: during AC Milan and Inter Milan home matches (see the San Siro stadium guide)

ATM tickets — what to buy

All tickets are sold by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, the city transport authority) and are valid across metro, bus, and tram within the city limits. They are not valid on Trenitalia or Trenord suburban rail services (including the Malpensa Express).

Single ticket (Urbano) — €2.20

Valid for 90 minutes from first validation. Within those 90 minutes you can use unlimited metro, bus, and tram rides (you cannot re-enter the metro on the same ticket after exiting). This is the best option for occasional journeys or if you are using transport very infrequently.

Validate your single ticket immediately when you enter the metro barrier or board a bus/tram. Paper single tickets must be validated every time on buses and trams (the orange machines on board). Failure to carry a validated ticket on a bus or tram — even if you paid — is a fineable offence.

24-hour pass — €7.60

Valid for unlimited travel from first use until midnight of the same day, or for 24 hours from first validation (the 24-hour clock interpretation: check the printed ticket). Pays for itself after 4 journeys. Good for a full arrival or departure day with multiple transfers.

48-hour pass — €13.50

Valid for 48 hours from first use. Pays for itself after 7 journeys. The best value option for most travellers staying 2–4 days in the city.

72-hour pass — €19.50

Valid for 72 hours from first use. Pays for itself after 9 journeys. Good for a 3-night stay with frequent public transport use.

Weekly pass (Settimanale) — €19.50

Valid from Monday to Sunday (calendar week, not 7 rolling days). The same price as the 72-hour pass, but only useful if your stay happens to begin on a Monday.

Where to buy tickets

• Metro station machines (red and grey machines at every station entrance — take credit cards and coins)
• Tabacchi (tobacconists) — the T sign shops found throughout the city; often quicker than the machines
• ATMosfera tourist tram ticket offices
• ATM app on your phone (download ATM Milano app; tickets on mobile are more convenient for multi-day passes)
• Some hotel concierges sell passes

Contactless payment (bank card tap on barriers) is rolling out on the M4 and some bus lines in 2026 — useful for one-off journeys without needing to buy tickets.

Trams

Milan has an extensive tram network that predates the metro by decades. The historic orange trams (some dating from the 1920s) are one of the city’s visual signatures. For visitors, the most useful tram lines are:

• Tram 1: runs across the city connecting Centrale to the Duomo and west towards Santa Maria delle Grazie (useful for the Last Supper visit — see the Last Supper guide)
• Tram 2 and 14: serve the Navigli area from the Duomo
• Tram 24: connects Porta Genova station to the city centre

The ATM ticket (same single ticket or pass as for the metro) covers trams. Validate on the orange machines inside the tram immediately when boarding — inspectors board without warning and fine passengers €50 for unvalidated tickets, including tourists who did not know.

Buses

Buses fill the gaps between metro lines and serve residential neighbourhoods. For most tourist itineraries, buses are less necessary than the metro and tram. Night buses (marked with “N” on route numbers) run from midnight to about 06:00 when the metro is closed.

Getting around the key neighbourhoods

Duomo and city centre

M1 or M3 to Duomo. The cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala, and Piazza della Scala are all within 5 minutes’ walk of the station.

Brera and Sforza Castle

M1 to Cairoli (for the castle) or M2 to Moscova/Lanza (for Brera). The Brera neighbourhood is compact and easily walkable between the two stations.

Navigli canals

M2 to Porta Genova. The main canal, the Naviglio Grande, runs south from the station. The navigli aperitivo guide covers the neighbourhood in detail.

Porta Nuova and Isola

M2 to Garibaldi or M5 to Ca’ Granda. The Porta Nuova and Isola neighbourhood is the modern Milan of glass towers and design studios.

Quadrilatero della Moda

M1 or M4 to San Babila. The Quadrilatero della Moda luxury shopping area (Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea) is within 5 minutes’ walk.

Santa Maria delle Grazie (Last Supper)

No metro station nearby. Options: M1 to Cadorna then walk 20 minutes west; M1 to Cadorna then tram 16 or 19 two stops; or walk 35 minutes from the Duomo area. Taxi from Centrale costs around €10–12.

Cycling and e-scooters

Milan has a public bike-share scheme called BikeMi — docking stations throughout the city, first 30 minutes free with a subscription. For visitors, day passes (€4.50) and week passes (€9) are available from the BikeMi app or from machines at major stations. Electric-assist bikes are also available (extra charge).

Electric scooters from providers including Lime, Helbiz, and others are widespread. Download the app, register a payment method, and unlock on the spot. Good for short trips in the centre but be aware that cycling and scooting on pedestrianised areas (like around the Duomo) is prohibited.

The C Area and traffic restrictions

Milan has a congestion charge zone called Area C covering the historic centre within the inner ring road (the Cerchia dei Bastioni). If you are hiring a car, you need to pay Area C to drive into this zone (€5 per day for petrol/diesel vehicles, free for electric). For visitors using public transport, Area C is irrelevant — metro, tram, and bus access to the zone is unrestricted.

Practical tips

Always validate: the single biggest mistake tourists make on Milan transport is boarding a tram or bus without validating the ticket. On the metro, the barriers enforce this; on buses and trams, there is no barrier — but there are plain-clothes inspectors who can fine you €50 on the spot.

Night transport: the metro closes around midnight (01:30 on Friday and Saturday). Night buses cover most routes but are less frequent. An alternative for late-night returns from the Navigli or restaurant districts is a taxi — the urban flat rate is €10–15 for most central journeys. Book via the inTaxi app or ITTaxi app to avoid waiting at a rank.

Luggage: large suitcases are allowed on the metro but can be awkward in peak hours. The M2 from Centrale can be very crowded at rush hour (08:00–09:30 and 17:30–19:00 Monday to Friday).

Pocket maps: the ATM website and app have downloadable metro maps. Most hotels and the tourist office at Centrale also stock free paper maps.

For information on the city pass that bundles transport with museum entry discounts, see the Milan Card review. For airport transfers that fall outside the ATM network, see the Milan airports guide.

Frequently asked questions about Milan transport

How much is a single metro ticket in Milan?

A single ATM ticket costs €2.20 in 2026 and is valid for 90 minutes on all metro, bus, and tram lines within Milan.

Does the Milan metro go to Malpensa airport?

No. Malpensa is not served by the metro. Take the Malpensa Express train (€13, 52 minutes) from Malpensa Terminal 1 to Milano Centrale or Cadorna. See the airports guide for full details.

Does the Milan metro go to Linate airport?

Yes — the M4 (blue line) has a station at Linate Airport. Trains run to San Babila and the city centre in about 12–15 minutes for €2.20 (standard ATM ticket).

Is there a tourist pass for Milan transport?

Yes. The 24-hour pass is €7.60, the 48-hour pass is €13.50, and the 72-hour pass is €19.50. These cover unlimited travel on all ATM metro, bus, and tram lines. They do not cover Trenitalia or Trenord trains.

Can I use a contactless bank card on the Milan metro?

Contactless payment is being rolled out in 2026 but as of mid-2026 is available on M4 and select bus lines. For other lines, buy a ticket from the machine or tobacconist. Check the ATM website for current rollout status.

How late does the Milan metro run?

Until approximately midnight (00:30) on weekdays, and until 01:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. Night buses replace the metro after closing.

What is the fine for not validating a ticket on a Milan tram?

€50, issued immediately. This applies to tourists and locals alike. Inspectors board without warning and ask to see validated tickets. The excuse “I did not know” does not reduce the fine.

Is the Milan transport network accessible?

The newer metro stations (M4, M5, and newer M2/M3 stations) have lifts and are fully accessible. Some older M1 stations have lifts but coverage is patchy; stairs are the default at older stations. The ATM website lists accessibility status for each station. Trams vary — the older historic orange trams are not step-free, while newer trams have low floors.