Milan has four metro lines and they actually work. This guide covers every line, every tourist-relevant stop, the airport connections, and the full ticket system.
Plan my Italy trip →Milan's metro is the opposite of Rome's: it works. Four lines with color codes and clear signage, reasonable frequency, air-conditioned trains, and actual connections to both major airports. The M4 line, opened in stages from 2022 and completed in 2023, finally fixed the Linate Airport problem that had frustrated Milan visitors for decades. If you understand the four lines and the ticket system, you understand how to move around Milan efficiently.
Milan has four metro lines. M1 (red) runs east-west through the center, connecting Sesto San Giovanni in the northeast to Bisceglie and Rho Fiera in the west — passing through Duomo, Cadorna (Castello Sforzesco), and the main commercial districts. M2 (green) runs roughly northeast-southwest through Centrale station, Garibaldi, and Navigli/Porta Genova. M3 (yellow) runs north-south directly through the Duomo and down to the Stazione Centrale area. M4 (blue) — the newest, opened 2022-2023 — runs east-west from Linate Airport through Forlanini, Dateo, San Babila, and all the way to San Cristoforo in the west. San Babila and Duomo are the central interchange points where multiple lines meet.
A single BIT ticket costs €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes from first validation — covering unlimited metro rides plus one tram or bus journey within the timeframe. Daily passes: 24h €7, 48h €12.40, 72h €17.10, weekly €18. The 3-day pass at €17.10 is excellent value for most multi-day visits. Contactless bank card tap payment works at most metro gates (Visa, Mastercard, and Apple/Google Pay). The ATM Milano app sells digital tickets. Buy tickets before entering: machines in all stations, tabacchi (tobacco shops), and newsstands. Fine for no valid ticket: €54.90 on the spot — inspectors work regularly on all lines.
Milan's first metro line (M1, the red line) opened on November 1, 1964 — the first underground railway in Italy, and it came after Rome despite Rome being the capital. The project began planning in 1952 and construction in 1957, during Italy's postwar miracolo economico when Milan was the engine of a manufacturing boom — Alfa Romeo, Pirelli, Olivetti, Breda — and the city's population was growing fast. The M1 route followed the main commercial east-west axis, and the opening was attended by national fanfare. M2 opened in 1969, M3 in 1990. The M4 (blue line) was the result of a 15-year planning and construction saga — the line was approved in 2008, delayed by the financial crisis and technical complications, and finally completed in 2023. It resolved the single biggest frustration for Milan visitors: Linate Airport had no direct rail connection to the center for decades, forcing travelers onto slow buses or expensive taxis.
The M4 blue line now runs directly from Linate Airport station to San Babila (M1 interchange) in approximately 12 minutes, and to Duomo in about 15 minutes. The line runs from approximately 5:38am to 12:30am. A single BIT ticket (€2.20) covers the full journey. Follow signs from the arrivals hall to the M4 station, which is integrated into Terminal 2. This is by far the quickest and cheapest airport transfer — before the M4, the only options were the slow bus 73 (45 min) or a taxi (€25-35 fixed rate). Note: Linate serves mostly short-haul European and domestic flights; Malpensa handles transatlantic and long-haul routes.
There's no direct metro to Malpensa — it's 50km northwest of the city. Options: the Malpensa Express train from Terminal 1 to Cadorna station (M1/M2 interchange, 52 minutes, €13) or to Centrale (M2, 67 min, €13), running every 30 minutes. The Malpensa Bus Express from Terminal 1 to Centrale takes 50-60 min (€10, runs 24h). Taxi: the fixed rate from Terminal 1 to the city center is €90 — legally required to be offered as a fixed tariff, so demand it before getting in and refuse metered taxis from Malpensa. The Malpensa Express is the most reliable option in normal conditions; the bus is more flexible at odd hours. Terminal 2 (low-cost carriers, mainly easyJet) has a separate express bus connection.
Duomo (M1/M3): The cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza della Scala, and the fashion district within walking distance. Cadorna (M1/M2): Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione, and the Malpensa Express terminal. Lanza (M2): Best stop for the Brera art neighborhood. Porta Genova (M2): Start of the Navigli canal district — walk south from the station. Moscova (M2): For Brera northern area and Corso Garibaldi. Porta Venezia (M1): Arco della Pace area, good aperitivo zone. Rho Fiera (M1): The Fiera Milano trade fair complex, relevant during Design Week (April) and the Furniture Fair (Salone del Mobile).
Standard operating hours: approximately 5:40am to 12:30am Monday-Thursday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday nights, M1, M2, and M3 run until approximately 1:30am to accommodate nightlife. The M4 follows a similar schedule — check atm.it for current timetables as these are updated seasonally. After the metro closes, ATM night buses (prefix N) cover the city at 30-40 minute intervals. During major events — Salone del Mobile in April, Fashion Weeks in February and September — extended metro service is sometimes added. The ATM app shows real-time service alerts and can be downloaded before your trip for offline use.
Generally yes. Pickpocketing is the primary concern and concentrates at Centrale station (the most complex interchange with multiple intersecting lines and heavy foot traffic), at Duomo (tourist area), and on the M1 during peak hours. Standard precautions: bags in front with zipper accessible to you not strangers, phone in your pocket not your hand while standing at busy stops, awareness of crowds pressing close at turnstiles. Late-night M1 and M2 on Fridays and Saturdays can be lively and occasionally loud, but not dangerous. The M4 is new and well-monitored. There are no no-go metro stops in Milan for tourists.
Milan's tram network (ATM tranvie — historic trams dating from the 1920s still running alongside modern ones) is useful for areas the metro doesn't reach well: Navigli (tram 2 or 14), Porta Romana (tram 9), Isola neighborhood (tram 33), and the Duomo-to-Navigli scenic route. Same BIT ticket works on both. For the city center to suburbs or airports: metro is always faster. For moving between neighborhoods within the centro storico when you want to see the city from street level: trams. The historic orange ATM trams operating on some lines are genuinely pleasant and you get views of the city that underground travel obviously can't provide.
The closest metro stop to the Navigli canal district is Porta Genova on Line M2 (green). From Porta Genova, walk south on Via Vigevano or Via Corsico for about 5-8 minutes to reach the Naviglio Grande canal. Alternatively, Tram 2 and Tram 14 both serve the Navigli from the Duomo area and cover the route along the canal — often more scenic than the metro for this specific trip. The Navigli stretch worth visiting runs from the Darsena basin (where the two main canals meet) southward along Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese. Evening aperitivo here (6-9pm) is Milan at its most pleasant — the bars line the towpaths and the canal reflects the lights.
Two options, both fast. Take the M3 (yellow line) from Centrale directly to Duomo — 4 stops, approximately 6 minutes. Or take the M2 (green) from Centrale to Cadorna (4 stops, then a 5-minute walk to the Duomo area, or interchange to M1 at Cadorna and one stop to Duomo). The M3 direct to Duomo is simpler. From Centrale, the M3 platform is clearly signposted; follow yellow line signs. The journey takes less than 10 minutes city center to city center. This is also the route from Centrale for anyone arriving on the Malpensa Express (Centrale terminal) — take M3 to Duomo as your first orientation move.
The official ATM Milano app (available iOS and Android) allows ticket purchase, provides real-time service information, and includes the metro map. You can buy single BIT tickets or passes in the app and show them at the gate on your phone screen. For contactless bank card payment: most metro gates now accept tap-and-pay with Visa, Mastercard, and Apple Pay/Google Pay — tap your card or phone at the card reader, and the system charges you a single BIT rate (€2.20) per entry. This is convenient but means each tap is a new single ticket; if you're planning multiple trips, buying a day pass in the app is more economical. Contactless payment is most reliable at M4 stations (the newest line) and major M1/M3 stations.
The metro reaches Sesto FS (end of M1 red line), where you can connect to regional trains northward. For Lake Como: regional train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni (40 min, €5.30) — the metro gets you to Centrale. For Bellagio (the most scenic Como point): train to Varenna-Esino (1h from Centrale, €5.80) + ferry across the lake (15 min to Bellagio). For Bergamo: regional train from Centrale to Bergamo (50 min, €5.80) — the metro gets you to Centrale. For Brescia: Frecciarossa or regional from Centrale to Brescia (35-50 min, €12-20 on high speed). All Lake Maggiore boats depart from Stresa (1h from Centrale by regional train). The Milan metro functions as the city-center connector to Centrale, from which all regional train connections depart.
Five recurring ones: (1) Buying a single ticket for every trip instead of a day pass — if you're making more than 3 metro trips in a day, the €7 24h pass is better than €2.20 each time. (2) Confusing Cadorna and Centrale — both are major hubs but different lines; Cadorna is M1/M2 and the Malpensa Express terminus; Centrale is M2/M3 and all regional/national trains. (3) Not having a ticket for the bus or tram after using the metro — the BIT is multi-modal but needs validation each time you switch to a different vehicle. (4) Assuming the metro goes everywhere — Navigli, Brera, and some key tourist areas are better reached by tram or on foot. (5) Missing the M4 for Linate — many visitors still take the old 73 bus (45 min) to Linate out of habit; the M4 takes 12 minutes.
For most journeys within the city center: yes, the metro is faster, cheaper, and more predictable. Milan taxi fares start at €3.30 (standard call) or €5.40 (radio taxi) and run €1.10-1.60/km depending on time of day. A typical cross-center journey by taxi costs €12-18. The same journey by metro takes 10-15 minutes and costs €2.20. For airport transfers, the calculation changes: Linate is €2.20 on the M4; a taxi to Linate is a fixed €20-25. Malpensa is €13 on the Malpensa Express; a taxi to Malpensa is a fixed €90. The metro always wins economically. Taxis are better for: very late night when the metro is closed, travel with heavy luggage to nearby destinations, and trips to areas not served by any metro or tram line.
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