Milan - Get Around

Milan's historic centre is a tangle of streets around the Duomo. The city is ringed by an inner circle tracing the Navigli (former city canals) and an outer circle following the route of the medieval walls.

Milan's public transport network makes getting around quick and easy. Shaped like a star with the Duomo at its epicentre, many attractions cluster around Piazza Del Duomo. The inner city is ringed by roads built over ancient canals, traces of which survive in the Navigli canal quarter.

Around the historic centre, find Quadrilatero, the designer shopping quarter in the San Babila district, and the sophisticated Brera quarter. To the north is Milan's Central Station, iconic Pirelli Tower and the Castello Sforzesco fortress. Head south for the charming Ticinese and Navigli canal quarters.

The Metro's three lines cover most of the city and as far east as Gessate, 25km away. Metro hours are 6am-12am. Buy tickets at newsstands, vending machines, tabacchi (stores marked with "T") and bars. Once validated, travel for up to 75 minutes on limitless trams and buses, or once on the three-line Metro.

The orange buses and trams run till around 2am, and the stops are tall orange poles. Navigation is made easier by route maps at each stop. The same tickets that are valid on the Metro can be used on trams, and bought at newsstands, vending machines, tabacchi (stores marked with "T") and bars.

Try waving down a white taxi - but drivers prefer to stop at taxi ranks, and often wait around train stations. If necessary, call the local cab company. Expect extra charges for luggage, and Sunday and night-time travel.

Walking is often the quickest way of getting around, with unusual sights to be found en route. From the Duomo, the Brera district and Castello Sforzesco can be reached in around ten minutes.

Using the ATM transport network is easy. Buy single tickets, or cheaper carnets of ten, giornaliero (daily) and two-day tickets. Validate the ticket at the start of your journey by punching it through the SITAM machines on board buses and at Metro stations. Once validated, travel for up to 75 minutes on limitless trams and buses or once on the three-line Metro.

Visit Milan's ornate 19th-century cemetery, the Cimiterio Monumentale, final resting ground for many illustrious Milanese; in the canal quarter, early-20th-century wash-houses with beamed roofs offer a glimpse into Milan's pre-war past; look upwards to the towering skyscrapers of the Fiera Milano (Milan Fair) development.

ATM website