Milan Metro — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Milan, the second most populous city in Italy with a population of approximately 1,300,000, serves as the capital of the Lombardy region. Founded by the Celts around 600 B.C., Milan was the capital of the western part of the Roman Empire between the years 300 and 400 A.D. Known worldwide as a fashion centre, home to brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Armani, Milan is one of Italy’s most industrialised cities and a leading global business centre. Covering an area of approximately 2000 square kilometres, the city is divided into nine regions or zones. Milan has three international airports: Linate Airport, Orio al Serio Airport and Malpensa International Airport, the largest of the three.

In addition to the underground, the city has an extensive bus and taxi network covering over 1000 kilometres of roads. Trams link Milan to the rest of Italy, and high-speed trains offer fast travel to Naples and Rome.

The Milan Metro, an underground railway system operated by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi), covers a network of some 1350 kilometres of track. In addition to managing the metro, ATM also operates buses, car parks and bicycles. Another important part of ATM’s transport services is the tram service known as the Suburban Line or Line S.

The system is also known as the Metropolitana. It serves a significant number of passengers, 899,000 per day. Fares are set at 1.00. Unfortunately, it doesn’t operate 24 hours a day, but it does have air conditioning. You can walk between platforms, but the trains are not driverless.

The platforms do not have screen doors. Operating hours are from 6:00 to 00:30 from Monday to Sunday. The cost is 1.

Milan Metro map

Map of Milan Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Milan Metro map in PDF format.

History of Milan Metro

The first plans for the underground were drawn up in 1914. Construction of the Milan underground began in 1938, but was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. Work resumed on 4 May 1957 under the direction of the architect Franco Albini. The metro was officially opened on 1 November 1964, with the inauguration of the 21 stations of the M1 line, which runs from Lotto to Sesto Marelli. The M2 line was inaugurated on 27 September 1969, with stations from Caiazzo to Cascina Gobba. The M3 line was inaugurated on 3 May 1990, with stations from Centrale to Duomo. Finally, the M5 line opened on 10 February 2013, initially with stations from Zara to Bignami, and was fully completed by November 2015.

The Milan Metro has replaced many of the tram lines previously operated by Societá Trazione Elettrica Lombarda (STEL). The most recent stations added to the M1 line were those from Molino Dorino to Rho Fiera, inaugurated on 19 December 2005. The last stations added to the M2 line were those from Famagosta to Milanofiori Forum, inaugurated on 20 February 2011. The last stations added to the M3 line were those from Maciachini to Comasina, inaugurated on 26 March 2011.

Connection to the airport

Milan’s main international airport is Malpensa International Airport. To get to a metro station from Malpensa Airport, you can take the Malpensa Express train. From Terminal 1 of the airport, take the Malpensa Express train to Cadorna station. This station is centrally located in Milan and provides access to both the M1 and M2 lines. Malpensa Express trains run every half hour. Non-stop trains from the airport to Malpensa take 30 minutes, while trains that stop at the station take 36 minutes. The Malpensa Express trains run until 23:25. If you arrive later, you can take a taxi or bus. A one-way ticket to Cadorna on the Malpensa Express costs around €13. Taxis to Cadorna can cost over €80 and buses cost around €12.

Schedule, timetables, and calendar

The Milan Metro operates every day of the year, except in emergencies or during train maintenance. In the event of a strike, trains run from the time the stations open until 8.45 am and then from 3 pm to 6 pm. On Christmas Day and 1 May, the metro runs from 7:00 to 19:30. For updates on train schedules, follow @ATM_informa on Twitter.

Timetables for weekdays:

Peak hours for the M1, M2 and M3 lines are from 7:00am to 9:00am and from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Peak times for the M5 line are from 7:00am to 9:00am and from 4:30pm to 8:00pm.

The M1, M2 and M3 lines operate from 6:00am to 12:30am, while the M5 line operates from 6:00am to midnight. Trains are available at the following times (summer starts on 4 July and ends on 6 September)

M1: Sesto 1º Maggio FS to Pagano

Winter: Trains run every two minutes during peak periods and every two minutes 45 seconds during the rest of the day.
Summer: Trains run every two minutes and 20 seconds during the morning rush hour, every four minutes during the afternoon rush hour and every three minutes and 40 seconds during the rest of the day.

M1, Rho Fiera Milano station: Trains are available at the following intervals

Winter: Every four minutes during the morning rush hour, every three minutes during the afternoon rush hour and every five minutes during the rest of the day.
Summer: Every five minutes during the morning rush hour, every four minutes during the afternoon rush hour and every six minutes during the rest of the day.

M1, Bisceglie station: Trains run at the following intervals

Winter: Every four minutes during the morning peak, every five minutes during the afternoon peak and every seven minutes during the rest of the day.
Summer: Every five minutes during morning rush hour, every six minutes during afternoon rush hour and every nine minutes during the rest of the day.

Prices, cards, and tickets

Tickets and cards are offered with prices displayed in euros.

Tickets:

Tickets are available in the following categories: Urban Tickets, Extra-Urban Tickets, Cumulative Tickets, and Rho Fiera Milano Tickets.

1) Urban Tickets: These tickets grant you access to the metro as well as all other ATM transportation options. It allows rides both within Milan and in its outskirts. The tickets are available in the following categories: Urban Tickets, Carnet of 10 Standard Tickets, BI 4 4-Journey Integrated Ticket, One Day Ticket, Two Day Ticket, Weekly 2×6 Pass, and Luggage Ticket.

1.1) Urban Ticket (€1.50): Valid for rides up to 90 minutes.
1.2) BI4 4-Journey Integrated Ticket (€6): Provides four rides, each valid for up to 90 minutes.
1.3) Carnet of 10 Standard Tickets (€13.80): Provides 10 rides, each valid for up to 90 minutes.
1.4) One Day Ticket (€4.50): Offers unlimited rides for 24 hours.
1.5) Two Day Ticket (€8.25): Offers unlimited rides for 48 hours.
1.6) Weekly 2×6 Pass (€10): Provides rides for six days within a week, up to two rides per day.
1.7) Luggage Ticket (€1.50): A ticket required for transporting large luggage.
1.8) Evening Ticket (€3): Offers rides from 8:00 pm until stations close.

2) Extra-Urban Tickets: These tickets grant you access to Greater Milan and the external ring of Milan’s train network. Price varies by zone. The tickets available are: Standard Ticket, and Weekly 2×6 Pass.

2.1) Standard Ticket: This ticket is divided into two types – type A and type B.
2.1.1) Type A (€1.30): This ticket is valid for all ATM transportation options except the metro.
2.1.2) Type B: It can be used only once in the metro. The price varies by the number of zones traveled. The cheapest ticket allows you to travel to one zone, costing €1.60. The most expensive ticket allows you to travel to four and a half zones, costing €4.20.
2.2) Weekly 2×6 Pass: Provides rides for six days a week, up to two rides a day. The cheapest option allows you to travel to one zone for €8.20, and the most expensive option allows travel to three and a half zones for €19.50.

3) Cumulative Tickets: These tickets offer rides between Milan and Greater Milan, as well as the internal ring of Milan. These tickets are divided into: Standard Cumulative Ticket, Cumulative One Day Pass, and Weekly 2×6 Cumulative Pass.

3.1) Standard Cumulative Ticket: The cheapest option is Urban Ticket plus Half a Zone, which costs €1.90. The most expensive option is Urban Ticket plus Four Zones, which costs €4.70.
3.2) Cumulative One Day Pass: Prices range from €5.80 to €11.
3.3) Weekly 2×6 Cumulative Pass: Prices range from €13.50 to €27.

4) Rho Fiera Milano Tickets: The only way to reach this station is by purchasing these tickets. Prices range from €2.50 to €7.

Cards

Three types of cards are available: Urban Travel Cards, Extra-Urban Travel Cards, and Cumulative Travel Cards.

1) Urban Travel Cards: This category is divided into Weekly Travel Card (€11.30), Monthly Travel Card (€35 monthly), Annual Travel Card (€330 yearly), Travel Card for Students, and Travel Card for Senior Citizens.
2) Extra-Urban Travel Cards: This category is divided into Weekly Travel Card (€12.50 to €21.50), Monthly Travel Card (€37.50 to €92 monthly), Monthly Travel Card for Students, and Annual Travel Card (€488 per year).
3) Cumulative Travel Cards: These cards are divided into Weekly Travel Card (€16.50 to €27), Monthly Travel Card (€55 to €93 monthly), Monthly Travel Card for Students, and Annual Travel Card (€498 to €776 yearly).

Rules

Please note that some stations do not have lifts. Contact Infoline 02.48.607.607 to check the availability of lifts at your destination. Use the lift alarms only in an emergency.
When using stairs, make sure you hold on to the handrails. If you have children, make sure they also hold onto the handrails.
When using escalators, remember to stand on the right.
Avoid leaning against doors or windows inside the metro.
Offer your seat to elderly people and pregnant women when asked.
Do not occupy seats reserved for wheelchair users unless absolutely necessary.
If you are standing when the metro is in motion, make sure you hold onto the handrails to avoid falling or injury. Ensure that accompanying children do the same.
Pay attention to announcements and screens at stations as they provide important travel information.
Do not litter. Throwing paper on the tracks is prohibited as it can cause a fire due to the electrical currents running along the tracks. Use the recycling bins to dispose of your newspapers.
Be careful not to trip over the gap between the train and the platform. If you are with children, hold their hands when crossing the gap.
Allow other passengers to leave the train before you board to avoid injury or delay.
Wait for the train behind the yellow line.
Remember to validate your ticket or card each time you enter the Underground and each time you change vehicles. Metro cards should be swiped at turnstiles and tickets should be validated at stamping machines.

Future expansions

The M1 will be extended to serve the Monza Bettola region from Sesto 1º Maggio, with the extension to be completed by 2027. The M1 line will also be extended to serve the Baggio region from Bisceglie.

The M2 line will be extended to serve the region of Vimercate from Cologno Nord, adding six new stations.

The M3 line will be extended to serve the region of Paullo from San Donato Milanese, adding five new stations.

A new line, the M4, is currently under construction. This line will add 21 new stations to the metro network. It is scheduled to open in 2022. This new line will serve Linate airport from Lorenteggio.

Tips

Find a metro map. A recommended city map is the “Popout” city map. You can also download a map from the metro’s official website, which shows the location of each station.

Check the location of the stations on a map beforehand. Most stations aren’t clearly marked, so it’s possible to enter the wrong station. Guidebooks can also be used to find the names of stations.

Choose a station near your hotel as your main station. Memorise the routes from this main station to the other stations. Also check how to get to your central station from other modes of transport.

If you plan to use the metro frequently within a one or two day period, buy a One Day or Two Day Pass for unlimited travel within that period. If you plan to use the metro less than 10 times, buy a Carnet, which gives you 10 journeys. Each trip lasts up to 75 minutes. Student discounts are available.

Tickets are sold from ticket machines. They can also be bought in small shops – just ask the shopkeeper for “un biglietto”. The turnstiles for entering the metro are marked with a green arrow. Avoid turnstiles marked with a red X, as they are either out of order or indicate that you are going the wrong way.

Each platform serves trains travelling in two directions. Each direction is marked with the name of the next stop. Use your map to decide which direction to go.

Fun facts

All trains have air conditioning.
Only the M5 trains have doors separating the platforms from the tracks.
The trains, manufactured by AnsaldoBreda, are similar to those in Brescia and Copenhagen.
The metro serves almost 900,000 people a day.
The trains on the M1 line are powered by a third rail, while those on the M2 and M3 lines are powered by an overhead cable.
All the trains on the M5 line are fully automatic and belong to the AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro train class. The future M4 line will also have automatic trains.

Nearby attractions

If you are an international tourist arriving at Malpensa Airport, the nearest subway station is Cadorna. To reach the following tourist attractions from Cadorna station, follow the instructions below (ticket prices are in euros):

Pinacoteca di Brera: The entire journey takes 16 minutes and costs €1.50. From Cadorna station, take the M2 train in the direction of Assago Forum-Cologno Nord, or in the direction of Abbiategrasso-Gessate, or in the direction of Abbiategrasso-Cascina Gobba. Get off at Lanza. Then walk 420 metres to Via Brera 28.
Teatro Alla Scala: The journey takes 11 minutes and costs €1.50. From Cadorna station take the M1 train in the direction of Bisceglie-Sesto FS or Rho Fiera-Sesto FS. Get off at Cordusio. Walk 310 metres to Piazza della Scala.
Il Duomo: the journey takes 9 minutes and costs €1.50. From Cadorna take the M1 train in the direction of Rho Fiera-Sesto FS or Bisceglie-Sesto FS. After three stops, get off at Duomo. Walk 150 metres to Piazza del Duomo.
Piazza dei Mercanti: the journey takes 7 minutes and costs €1.50. From Cadorna take the M1 train in the direction of Rho Fiera-Sesto FS or Bisceglie-Sesto FS. After two stops, get off at Cordusio. Then walk 50 metres to Via Mercanti.
Poldi-Pezzoli Museum: The journey takes 15 minutes and costs €1.50. From Cadorna station take the M1 train in the direction of Rho Fiera-Sesto FS or Bisceglie-Sesto FS. After three stops, get off at the Duomo stop. Walk 500 metres to Via Alessandro Manzoni, 12.