Air
Milan is reachable direct by air from the United States and from most major cities in Europe. Non-stop flight time from the east coast of the US is about 8 hours. Transatlantic passengers might be offered the cheaper option of making a short stop-over at one of the European hubs such as Paris, London or Rome. Milan has two airports, Malpensa and Linate. Most international flights land at Malpensa, which is about 30 miles north-west of the city centre and has good connections. The Malpensa Express train travels to Milan’s Cadorna railway station every 30 minutes. The journey time is about 40 minutes and the fare is 9 Euros one-way. Another option is a regular shuttle bus, which links the airport with Milan’s central railway station. The journey time is about 50 minutes and the fare 4.50 Euros. There are also other bus services outside the two arrivals terminals serving various destinations in the city. Metered taxis are available. The journey time to central Milan is about 50 minutes and the fare will be between 65 and 75 Euros.
Linate airport is 8 miles east of Milan. A bus service (no 73) runs every 30 minutes to the central station; the journey time is about 20 minutes and the cost 2.50 Euros – buy your ticket on the bus. If you opt for a taxi, expect to pay about 15 Euros plus tip.
Milan’s airports now have a new website with full information about transportation and other services: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/newsea/en
Train
For travellers going to Milan from other parts of Europe, a rail journey might be an option worth thinking about. The most direct way from the UK is to take the Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) to the Gare du Nord in Paris, then cross to the Gare du Lyon for overnight services to Milan. For information on rail services in Italy, visit www.trenitalia.it
Road
Motorists planning to take their vehicle into Italy need a full driving licence, an International Motor Insurance Certificate and a Vehicle Registration Document. The use of seatbelts is obligatory – fines for non-compliance are stiff. In keeping with its importance as an economic centre, Milan is served by an extensive motorway network. Visitors coming from Switzerland can approach the city by motorway via Aosta, Sesto Calende, Chiasso and Como; those travelling from Austria can head over the Brenner Pass to Verona. There are toll charges on all motorways in Italy. The Azienda Trasporti Municipali (ATM), the municipal transport system, has a series of supervised car parks along the major roads into the city.
With the proliferation of no-frills airlines within Europe, the cost of travelling to Italy by scheduled coach is not much cheaper than travelling by air – and you’re a long time sitting. National Express Eurolines run coaches from London Victoria via Paris. www.eurolines.com
