How to navigate public transport in Milan – according to a local

The metro is often the fastest way to get around Milan, even if it doesn’t quite help you get your bearings like the city’s above-ground trams do. Five colour-coded lines run through the city, with the M1 (red) and M3 (yellow) stopping at the Duomo. The M2 (green) connects to Milano Centrale, the city’s main train station, while the M4 (blue) – fully opened in 2024 – links to Linate Airport. Most major neighbourhoods, including Porta Venezia, Porta Romana and Navigli, are served by at least one metro line.

Trams are one of the most charming – and practical – ways to get around Milan. Some of them have been rattling through the city since 1876, making them moving pieces of the city’s history. Many lines link outer neighbourhoods with the historic centre, while cross-city routes almost always pass through central stops. They also run later into the night than the metro and buses, typically until 2.30am. Tickets can be bought at metro stations or tabacchi (tobacco shops) as well as on the ATM app or through a RicaricaMi card, and must be validated once you board. Inspectors regularly check tickets on board and at stops.

Buses are rarely a visitor’s first choice in Milan, but they come in handy when you’re hopping between neighbourhoods outside the centre and there’s no direct metro or tram to save the day. Think of them as the city’s connective tissue rather than its star attraction.

Tickets work the same way as on trams: buy them at metro stations or tabacchi (or on the app/ rechargeable card) then validate once you’re on board. You won’t be asked to show your ticket when you get on or off, but don’t be fooled: ATM inspectors do spot checks both on buses and at stops, often in ‘civilian’ clothing.

Sometimes you’ll spot ‘S’ signs around Milan that look like metro stations. They’re not. They mark stops for Trenord, Lombardy’s regional rail operator, which runs suburban (S-lines) and regional (R/RE) trains around Milan and beyond, including routes to Bergamo, Brescia and Malpensa Airport.

Here’s the useful bit for visitors: Trenord can also be used within Milan itself. Several S-line trains stop at stations across the city, such as Porta Venezia and Porta Vittoria, making them a fast alternative to the metro for longer cross-town journeys.

Tickets can be bought online, via apps or from station machines. In Milan, the STIBM integrated fare system applies, meaning some standard urban tickets (those €2.20 ones)  are valid on Trenord trains within city limits. Paper or magnetic tickets must be validated at the green machines before boarding, while digital tickets need to be activated in the app before travel. The best part? You can take this train all the way to Como. 

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