Taxi's, Milan

Taxi fares in Milan (since 15th july 2007) are 0,95 euro per kilometer, plus a flat initial surcharge of 3 euro (5,10 euro on sunday/holidays; 6,10 euro night time)
The hourly rate is 24,80 euro (this means that the meter goes on also if the cab is stuck in a traffic jam).
Well, just to be honest this is not all. Also taxi fares are made italian way so the total fare is progressive. After the first 12,90 euro the meter will speed up (1,5 times), and when the taxi speed exceed 50km/h for more then 60 seconds (1,7 time).
This fares are effective until 30th june 2009.

Note that there are 4 airport route with a flat fare all included.
See my tip about: Airport Taxi connection

Some free advice:
1- If you ask a taxi at the conciergerie of a hotel, maybe, in seldom cases, that will arrive to pick you up a taxi with yet a huge amount on the meter! (and not the taxi waiting at the park lot in the front ;-).
2- If you want to save money and often time, look for a nearby taxi parking lot: in this case you will pay just the initial flat surcharge. Instead, if you call by phone, the taxi will charge you also all the ride since he received the call.
3-remember to smile at the driver. Be a taxi driver in Milan is a very stressful job!!

Taxis are few and far apart, in Milan as in any Italian city. Italian taxis do not stop if you wave at them, Italians telephone booking for a taxi maybe 15 minutes before they need it and taximeters start running BEFORE they arrive to pick passengers. In addition, there are a dozen places where free taxis park: like in front of train stations, in the Duomo. That is why your hotel porter will offer to get a taxi for you, if you just walk out of your hotel, you will not find a taxi.

Milan has a very good taxi service operated by private companies and licensed by the City of Milan.

All taxis are the same color, white.

As far as I've noticed taking a taxi in Milan tend to be quite expensive especially when you call it from the hotel.

The starting cost was always around EUR 3-5 and even on a short distance I didn't pay less than EUR 10-.

When arriving at airport (we went into Linate) we ignored the guys asking if we wanted a taxi at the exit area, we walked round to the taxi rank and into the main area cost us ?17 dont pay more than that (march '06).

When in Milan walking around, you can just hail a taxi you either need to call for one or go to a designated taxi area. Taxi's wont stop if you try to hail them.

Put your seatbelts on in the back!!

Taxis in Milan is a great way of getting around the city. The prices are quite low. For €10 you will get from one end of the city to another. Drivers expect a 10% tip.
It's worth the ride just to see the Milanese driving culture from a close range. Drivers are shouting, cursing, and pointing at each other. Fun experience.

: Although I mentioned under the “danger”-area that the taxidrivers in Milan often tries to take a couple of extra euro from you – it’s a very good way to transport yourself in the town. Buses and metro goes everywhere more or less, but it’s not always you’re in the mood of sitting on an old bus or metro. Plus, the last metro goes shortly after midnight, and the last buses goes around 2-2.30 in the morning. Then you’ll have to take a taxi.
There is a huge taxi station at the central station, while you’ll also find a station at the Cadorna train/metro station. Although definitely not so many taxis there as at the central station.
There are other stations too, as at Corso Buenos Aires in the center, and at the Piazza Duomo.
Easiest is to call for a taxi, watch out for the number on the cars during the day. You never know when you’ll need one.
You won’t be able to stop a taxi on the street, as the taxidrivers have to pay any injuries caused if they stop on the street. So they will just look at you, nod their head and drive on.

Taxi in Milan aren’t cheap, but neither expensive. The thing that cost the most is the starting fee, where you’ll pay 3,10 euro just for jumping into the taxi during the day. And 6,20 euro after 19.00 in the evening. After that it doesn’t cost that much. But try your best to not being tricked by the drivers when it’s time to pay…

Sadly... and speaking from experience, cabs are not very easy to flag down on the streets of Milan. They just don't do it here.

What's the best thing to do for a tourist?

Well, I'd advise you to go to a cab stand or call for a radio taxi. On rainy days and during the Fiera Milano (expo center) where big events are held, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a cab! Oh, and please remember that when calling for a radio taxi, the meter starts running as soon as the driver gets the call!

The most memorable cab fare I've paid for here in Milan?

Approx. €70 from Milan city center to Malpensa International Airport to catch my international flight home to Singapore. Sadly, there are no direct flights to Singapore. Direct flights to Singapore are only via Roma.

So my favored route would be Milan to Frankfurt on Lufthansa; and then from Frankfurt to Singapore on Singapore Airlines, of course.

HOT TIP: Many radio taxi dispatchers don't speak English. So please ensure that you learn a few choice Italian words and pronounce them clearly and carefully. Some radio dispatchers do speak a little English and if you're lucky enough, they'll pick your call!

Important Phone Numbers (of Taxi Companies) in Milano:

Radio Taxi 02 8585
Radio Taxi 02 6767
Radio Taxi 02 5353
Radio Taxi 02 8383
Radio Taxi 02 3100

It is not easy to flag down a taxi in Milan, quite unlike London or many other large cities I have been to. Not quite sure why that is - probably because there are far fewer of them here and taxi drivers tend to wait at taxi ranks, is all I can come up with.

Right in the town centre, taxi ranks are located in front of the Duomo, in Piazza San Babila, in Piazza Cordusio and in Piazza Diaz, among others.

Often I just call for cabs. Some useful numbers as follows:

02 - 4040
02 - 4000
02 - 8585

Operators should speak English, although I've never tried asking for a taxi in English. Give them your location and they'll find you a cab and give you the number or name of the taxi - which is not the number/licence plate but usually something funky like Torino 37, etc. - and the estimated time of arrival (which is always, always an over-estimation - they tend to arrive earlier than expected).