Trams and Busses, Milan

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Buses are quiet efficient in Milan, the only thing is, since they are "Italian" buses, they are never punctual!! Milan's public transport is surprisingly good and pretty cheap compared to other major cities in Europe. You can buy a ticket for €1 (at a news stand or bar, not in a tram or bus!) that will take you as far as you can go within 75 minutes by metro, tram or bus.
Just be aware that when you change from tram or bus to metro you'll need a new ticket while when you change from metro to tram or bus you don't. If you have to travel every day you're better off buying a "carnet" (a booklet of 10 tickets) for €9.20, or a weekly or monthly pass.
Oh and ticket checks on busses and trams are rare, but when you get caught without a valid ticket it'll set you back €34 (€33 + the price of one ticket).

We traveled from Malpensa into Milan prior to going on to Bellagio and once returning from Bellagio. The second time we took the Malpensa Shuttle Bus into Milan and it was just as convenient as the train, if not more so and slightly cheaper. Signs in the airport will help you find the loading area for the Malpensa Shuttle Bus (this will be printed on the side of the bus). You buy your ticket (biglietto), which is 4,50 Euros each way, directly from the driver as you get on the bus. The bus is very comfortable and was not crowded when going or returning from Milan. The bus will drop you off at Stazione Centrale which also connects with the Metro or subway. When returning to Malpensa Airport, the Malpensa Shuttle will be located where you were let off also.

Malpensa Shuttle Bus connects Malpensa International Airport, both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with the Central Station.

The shuttle bus is leaving every 20min and in the occasion of fairs, it stops also to Milan Fair.

The busses are all equipped with air conditioning and hi-fi system and it takes 50min from the airport to the station.

The tickets can be bought from the Airport 2000 and Travelex stands located in Terminal 1 or from the Central Station.

The departure from Terminal 1 is right in from of the exit and from the Central Station on the right side (looking at the station) near the parking place for taxis.

The ticket costs EUR 5- one way and EUR 9- two-ways.

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Milan also has one of the most extensive tramway systems in the world, with more than 286km of track and 20 lines, while the 93 bus lines cover over 1,070 km.

It is quite easy to use both the trams and busses in Milan and the direction and the next stops are mentioned on a board placed on the stop.

Some of the stops have also electronic boards offering information about the arrival of the following buss or tram, direction, etc.

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The bus-system works over a bigger area than the metro and have a lot of different numbers and lines. Note that you can’t buy a ticket onboard on the bus, you’ll have to buy that in advance in a tobacco- or newspaper-shop. Could also be found in the metrostations or in cafés. Just ask for a “biglietto per il metro”.
Also the buses starts going early in the morning. The last buses on “normal time” goes around 2am.

There is a time table for every bus and tram, but seeing how the traffic is in Milan it's not so strange that they rarely comes and goes in time. Two minutes late, five minutes early, 20 minutes late... But they go often on most lines, so just go out and catch one when it comes. And if you really have to get somewhere in time, make sure to be at the bus stop at least 10 minutes in advance.
Also remember to hold out your arm, as a sign that you want to get onboard. Otherwise the bus driver might just drive past you.

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Here at the Central Station we can see a very old and a very new tram (aka streetcar) standing side by side on adjacent tracks.

Milan has an extensive tram and bus system as well as three underground railway lines (aka subways), so there is actually no need for most of the automobiles that continue to befoul the city.

Second photo: In Milan the initials ATM do not only mean Automatic Teller Machine, but also "Azienda Trasporti Milanesi", an organization which was established in 1931 and which now is a Public Limited Company belonging to the Municipality of Milan. The ATM now manages the public transport system in the urban area and in 87 municipalities in the province, so altogether they serve a territory with a population of about 3 million people.

Public transport is quite good in Milan. the daily travelcard, or "giornaliero" is good value, for €3 it lasts 24 hours from when you first stamp it (you MUST do this!) and can be used on buses, trams and the metro within the city of Milan. However the metro finishes just after midnight and buses around 1am, and there is NO night transport (only taxis which are expensive!), hence many Italians *do* drink and drive (and crash, which won't surprise you once you see their driving).

A useful website is www.atm-mi.it, in both in English and Italian.

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The first thing, if you are not tired, you should do on arriwing into the city to take the Tram Turistico. This is a restored real 1920's old tram and you can take your first trip in the city. I think it is a great way to get acquainted the town a little better.
For 20 € you can get a city-tour of about an hour and a half. You have a headset on board and get comments in the language of your choice. The tram route includes traveling past the Piazza Duomo, the columns of San Lorenzo, Navigli, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Piazza Fontana, Venezia, Centrale, Repubblica, Via Montenapoleone, Piazza della Scala.
The ride is a bit expensive, but interesting enough to recommend for first time visitors.

Address: The tour starts in Piazza Castello, (corner with Via Beltrami, MM1 Cairoli), at 11.00 and 13.00 (and at 15.00 from April to October); it lasts about one hour and 45 minutes. It does not include visits to the various monuments. No heating/air conditioning on board. Tickets sold on tram.

We arrived by plane (basiq Air) at the ariport of Bergamo. I had read here on VT that you could take the bus to Central Station of Milan. I have to say that it worked very well. After landing, we could immediately get on the bus to Milan and within 50 minutes we arrived in Milan. And a ticket only costs 6 euro's per person. Great tip from ....... sorry I forgot who wrote the tip!!

The city tram connects all parts of the town and it is the best organized public transportation in Milano. The ticket cost 1 euro but there are also other options which are more convinient in price in case you're staying some time in the city.
If you are visiting Milano by car, I strongly recommend you to put it in some garage in the outskirts of the town and use city tram to get in the city centre.