Milan often feels complex on arrival, with several major stations and multiple airports, yet once you understand the layout it becomes clear why so many travellers ask: should you rent a car in Milan, or is rail the better option? In reality, Milan is one of Europe’s most powerful cities for getting around without a car.
There is Milano Centrale, one of Europe’s grandest stations, yet many regional and high-speed services also use Porta Garibaldi, Rogoredo, and Cadorna. Add multiple airports into the mix too:
✈️ Airports and arrival logistics
Milan has three main airports. Malpensa (MXP) is the long-haul gateway and has fast rail links into the city via the Malpensa Express, serving both Centrale and Cadorna. Linate (LIN) sits much closer to the city centre but lacks a rail connection, relying instead on buses and taxis. Bergamo (BGY), while technically separate, functions as a low-cost alternative to Milan; it requires a shuttle bus to reach the city but has excellent onward rail connections.
Because of this spread, Milan rewards a little planning. However, once you are in the city, rail, metro, and tram connections are among the best in Italy.
🚆 Milan without a car
For city travel, a car is unnecessary. Milan’s metro system is extensive, trams are frequent, and there are plenty of buses. Bike sharing and walking works well in central districts.
🚆 Milan as a rail hub for northern Italy
One of Milan’s biggest strengths is how quickly it connects you to other major Italian cities by train. High-speed services make Turin barely an hour away, while Bologna and Verona are also comfortably under 90 minutes. Venice is usually around 2 hours 15 minutes, and Florence just under two hours on the fastest services. Even Rome is realistic as a straightforward rail journey of around three hours.
In addition, Genoa sits less than two hours away by train, opening up the Ligurian coast without any need to drive. These links mean Milan works exceptionally well as a base for hopping between Italy’s most important cultural cities without ever touching a steering wheel.
🌄 Scenery without a car: lakes and mountains by train
Crucially, Milan isn’t just good for city-to-city travel. Some of northern Italy’s most famous landscapes are also accessible by rail. Lake Como, for example, is easily reached by train to Como, Varenna, or Lecco, with ferries handling onward travel. Likewise, routes north into southern Switzerland (Ticino) deliver dramatic mountain scenery entirely by train, making cross-border rail travel both scenic and effortless.
🚗 When a car makes sense
A rental car becomes attractive for exploring northern Italy beyond rail corridors. From Malpensa, road trips into Piedmont, Lombardy, the Dolomites, or southern Switzerland (Ticino) are straightforward. Scenic lake regions, alpine valleys, and rural wine areas all reward the flexibility of driving.
Conclusion — should you rent a car in Milan?
Not for the city itself, and not for visiting other major cities in northern Italy. Rail is faster, simpler, and far less stressful. You can even enjoy lake and alpine scenery without driving at all.
However, a rental car still offers extra flexibility. It becomes useful for rural areas, smaller lakes, vineyard regions, or less-connected valleys where trains thin out. In short, Milan is a superb rail base — but a car can complement it, rather than replace it, depending on how far off the main lines you want to roam.
