The central roof span of Milano Centrale viewed from the departure concorse

Milano Centrale (Milano / Milan / Mailand)

Our guide to using Milano Centrale station includes insights into departing and arriving from here by train, including how to travel between Milano Centrale and Malpensa Airport.

It also shows why the city is an ideal base for exploring the wonders of northern Italy by train -  also included is the pick of the hotels near the station with top guest ratings.

Share

At a Glance

Services

Left Luggage
Travel Information Desk
First Class Lounge
Local Tourism Information
Onward Travel

Metro
Car Hire
Taxi Rank
Accessibility

Step Free
Misc

Terminus Station
The view from the street of Milano Centrale The view from the street of Milano Centrale
When entering from the street you pass through these beautiful halls to access the ticket office When entering from the street you pass through these beautiful halls to access the ticket office
Milano Centrale station in the evening Milano Centrale station in the evening
The huge roofs which span the platforms The huge roofs which span the platforms

A choice of stations in Milano:

The majority (but not all) of the long distance express trains to and from Milano arrive at and depart from Centrale train station.
Though the station doesn't live up to its name with a location on the northern edge of the city centre - hence most of the commuter trains to/from the city use other stations in Milano.

Commuter trains to destinations to the north and west of Milano, including the shores of Lake Como and alternative trains to Lake Maggiore, depart from Porta Garibaldi station.
Some of the high speed Frecce trains to and from the city also only call at that station; Porta Garibaldi is also the station which the TGV trains to France depart from and arrive at.

Most of the high speed trains between Milano and destinations to the south including Firenze/Florence, Roma and Napoli now ALSO call at Milano Rogoredo station.
This station is connected to the heart of the city centre by line M3 of the Milano Metro, as well as local trains to and from these stations - Milano Repubblica and Milano Porta Venezia.
So if you will be travelling by train between Milan city centre and Bologna, Firenze, Roma or Napoli, it's likely that you'll have a faster and easier journey if you use Milano Rogoredo station INSTEAD of Milano Centrale.

An introduction to Milano Centrale:

The main concourse is over to the right, just steps away from the trains The main concourse is over to the right, just steps away from the trains

Despite the relative lack of commuters, Milan's Central railway station is always busy during the day, when arriving by train in particular the crowds can seem overwhelming.
That's partially because so many travellers have to change trains at Milano Centrale.
If you're heading south from Switzerland by train, the station often functions as a gateway to Italy.

Fortunately it's a comparatively easy location in which to change trains, as all of the platforms/tracks/binari used by the long distance trains are on one level.
But making your way to and from this concourse that these trains depart from can be more complicated.

Milano Centrale is also controversial, but its gloriously romantic station buildings pre-date the fascist era.
The chief legacy of that period of history are the three enormous glass canopies that cover the platforms.

Binari = platforms/tracks (plural)
Binario = platform/track (singular)

Good to know:

Though if you're fit and in a hurry you can use the staircases which connect the street and trains Though if you're fit and in a hurry you can use the staircases which connect the street and trains
The moving walkways which link the different levels of the station The moving walkways which link the different levels of the station

Four things particularly worth knowing about Milano Centrale:

(1) In contrast to most Italian stations, there are no paper train departure posters at Milano Centrale.
You have to rely on the electronic departure screens for confirmation on which platform/track/binario each train will be departing from - hence the concourse becoming crowded at busy times.

(2) Avoid using particularly large suitcases/bags – the lifts at Milano Centrale are solely for the use of those that require mobility assistance.
Meaning that the moving walkways are the only alternative to using the stairs.
However, there are barriers at the entrances to the moving walkways that block access to particularly large bags.

(3) Though if you don’t have luggage - then the stairs give the quickest access to/from the street level and the entrance to the Metro.

(4) If you’re heading to Malpensa Airport, ignore the signs in the main station building that have the plane symbols.
These are pointing the way to the buses to Linate Airport.

Accessing the main concourse:

Whether you walk to Milano Centrale, get dropped off by bus or taxi, or take the metro, you will enter the station through its epic arched colonade, which spans the front of the station at street level.

At either end of this colonade are huge staircases, which lead up to the departure hall, four levels above, which gives access to the trains.
It can seem as though you need to use these stairs to head up to the trains, but you don't.

Instead follow the signs to pointing the way the ticket booking office, you will enter a huge, beautiful hall with other staircases on either side of it, it will feel as though you have entered a museum, but also ignore those staircases if you want to take a quicker route to the trains.

Because behind this hall there is a passage way that is in effect the lower level of a mall.
Here you will find a series of sloped moving walkways, which will glide you up through the building.
The large main ticket office is on the level above.

At the top of these walkways is the stunning departure hall, to one side of which is the main concourse, which provides access to all of the main line trains that depart from Milano Centrale.

Watch out for the service access areas between the trains, the yellow lines are indicating that these aren't platforms Watch out for the service access areas between the trains, the yellow lines are indicating that these aren't platforms
The gorgeous hall between the concourse and the upper storey of the station The gorgeous hall between the concourse and the upper storey of the station
You don't have to use the beautiful staircases to ascend to the trains You don't have to use the beautiful staircases to ascend to the trains
From the colonade in front of the station, head through these doors to access the moving walkways to the trains From the colonade in front of the station, head through these doors to access the moving walkways to the trains
This hall, which runs across the front of the station at street level, houses the main Metro entrance This hall, which runs across the front of the station at street level, houses the main Metro entrance
The central roof span of Milano Centrale viewed from the departure concorse The central roof span of Milano Centrale viewed from the departure concorse

Departing by train:

Nine things worth keeping in mind when departing by train from Milano Centrale:

(1) A recent development is that manned ticket check gates have been installed between the departure hall and the concourse - which houses the binari/platforms that the trains depart from.
To access the binari/platforms/tracks from the ticket offices, the Metro and the other entrances to the station, you have to pass through the gates.

(2) The specific binario/track/platform that a train will be departing from is usually only confirmed around 15 mins before departure.
Prior to that, on the main departure screens, instead of the binario/track number, you will see the details of the gate, which provides the easiest access each specific departure.

(3) Queues at these ticket gates can build up at busy times, so aim to be at Milano Centrale at least 15 minutes before your train departs; even if you don’t need to buy a ticket.

(4) However, try to time it, so that you don't pass through the gate too soon.
Because if you do, while waiting on the concourse, for the specific binario/platform which your train will be leaving from to be confirmed, there will be limited number of places to take a seat or refreshment.

(5) On the levels beneath the departure hall, there are multiple shops, including a supermarket, that are useful for picking up travel essentials - though most of the coffee bars and cafes at the station are are at the back and the sides of the departure hall.

(6) Don't forget to stamp your ticket before boarding a Regionale (R/RV) train service, a Trenord train or the Malpensa Express.

(7) Despite it being a terminus' station, many Frecce and Italo trains now call at Milano Centrale on route to other destinations.
These trains only spend around 5-10 mins at the binario/track/platform.
So on the binari/tracks/platforms used by these trains, red electronic screens show where the coaches on each train will be located.
Check the carrozza/coach number on your ticket and match it to the number on the screens - you will then be by the door into the coach in which your seat is located, when the train arrives.

(8) Take care that you’re actually using the binario/platform to access the train.
As you enter the platform the departure screens will be above you and you’ll be walking between the smoking areas.
If you’re in a rush it’s easy to confuse the binari/platforms with the service areas, as they also lead off from the concourse beside the trains, but you can't board the trains from them.

(9) Binari/tracks 1-3, used mainly by The Malpensa Express trains are some distance from the main concourse
Find them along binario 4.

Binari/tracks 22-24, used mainly by Regionale trains towards Genova, Bologna and Piaceza, are also some distance from the main concourse.
Find them along binario 21.

Buying tickets at Milano Centrale:

If you need to buy a ticket before departure, the permanently busy main ticket hall deploys a numbered queuing system - so take a number from the machine and wait your turn.

Or try using the ticket machines.

Both the Trenitalia and Italo branded ticket machines are comparatively easy to use - the English translations are excellent.

Most of the Regionale trains from Milano Centrale are operated by LeNord/Trenord - but tickets to most of the destinations served by these trains, are available on the Trenitalia ticket machines.

However, the Trenitalia ticket machines don't sell tickets for the Malpensa Express trains - but these tickets can be purchased from the dedicated Malpensa Express ticket machines, or from the main ticket office.

Arriving by train:

The only route to the exits, Metro etc is to walk passed the front of the trains The only route to the exits, Metro etc is to walk passed the front of the trains

Milano Centrale is a terminal station so all the binari (platforms/tracks) are on one level, so if you are changing trains, you simply walk from one binario to another via the main concourse.

The main concourse will be located beyond the front of the train, so if you're in a hurry, make your way towards the front of a train before it arrives at Milano Centrale.

Six Things Also Worth Knowing About Arriving by train at Milano Centrale

(1) Binari (platforms/tracks) 1-3 and 22-24 are located further back from the main concourse than the other Binari (platforms/tracks).
The Malpensa Express trains arrive at bnari (platforms/tracks) 1-3.

(2) You will need to use the ticket gates to exit the station, so have your ticket ready in your hand.

(3) The concourse leads into the arrival hall, which is located several levels up from ground level.
So you have to descend in order to exit the station or transfer to the metro - the main entrance to the Metro is at street level, in the colonade which runs across the front of the station

(4) If you don't have luggage etc, the quickest routes down to the street, metro, taxi ranks and ticket office, is to use the stairs.

(5) If you do have luggage, then the moving walkways which lead down from the arrivals hall are an easier option.
Though the access to these walkways is protected by barriers, which prevent exceptionally large items of luggage being taken on to the walkways.

(6) The lifts/elevators at the station are solely for the use of travellers with restricted mobility.

Four Things To Be Aware Of If You will Be Changing Trains at Milano Centrale

(1) All of the other binari (platforms/tracks) at the station can be accessed via the main concourse - so make your way to it, if you will be changing trains at Milano Centrale station,.

(2) The ticket gates cut off the binari (platforms/tracks) from the majority of the station facilities.
Though toilets and some food/drink outlets at either side of the concourse, can still be accessed if you’re merely changing trains and don't want to bother with going through the ticket gates.

(3) However, if you will be spending more than 45 mins between trains at Milano Centrale, the best option is to exit through the ticket gates and then re-enter the concourse around 10 mins before your next train is due to depart.

(4) There are Trenitalia ticket machines in the centre of the departure concourse - so if you are connecting between trains and require a ticket to complete your journey, you don't have to pass through the ticket gates.

Onward connections:

Milano Centrale does not live up to its name, as it is a 20-35 min walk from the station to the city centre - the area around the cathedral (Duomo) and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

To the city centre:

The easiest means of reaching the city centre from Milano Centrale is to take Metro Line M3 (direction San Donato) four stops to Duomo station.

For the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses Da Vinci’s The Last Supper - take Metro Line M2 (direction Abbiategrasso or Assago Milanofiori Forum) five stops to Cadorna station.

To Porta Garibaldi station:

Milano Porta Garibaldi station is a 15-25 min walk from Milano Centrale, but a confusing street grid results in trains being the best option for making the transfer.
It is a two-stop hop on Metro Line M2 (direction Abbiategrasso or Assago Milanofiori Forum).

Or there are also now a minimum of two local mainline trains per hour from Centrale to Porta Garibaldi, look for the trains heading for Milano Bovisa or Malpensa Airport, the Malpensa Express trains all call at Porta Garibaldi - though don't forget to buy a ticket for these trains.

A Malpensa Express train has arrived at Milano Centrale A Malpensa Express train has arrived at Milano Centrale
The Malpenza Express trains have deep luggage racks above the seats The Malpenza Express trains have deep luggage racks above the seats

The Malpensa Express trains now provide a direct connection between Milano Centrale rail station and Malpensa Airport every 30 minutes.
However, they use platforms/tracks binari 1 and 2 at Milano Centrale - which are some distance from the main concourse; though they are at the same level as the other binaro (platforms/tracks).

There are dedicated ticket machines for the Malpensa Express trains scattered around Milano Centrale, so try to avoid joining the queues at the main ticket office, particularly as it is located several levels down from the part of the station used by the trains.

There are now two stations at Malpensa Airport;, the first station serves Terminal 1, but remain on the train to its final stop if you will be heading to Terminal Two.

Check which terminal your flight should be departing from.

Malpensa to Milano Centrale:

Both terminals at Malpensa - One and Two are connected to Milano Centrale station every 30mins by Malpensa Express trains.
Terminal Two is served by a newly opened station that is less than a 5min walk from the Arrival Hall.
There is step free access to the platforms/tracks/binario at both T1 and T2 stations – just follow the signs pointing the way to the ‘Treni’.

Avoid taking the Malpensa Express trains heading to Milano Cadorna station - though they tend to be a better option if you're heading to Milano city centre.

The journey time by train from Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale is typically 51 minutes, despite one of the hourly trains skipping some stations.

Mapelensa to northern Italian cities via Milano Centrale

Taking the train from Malpensa and connecting in Milano Centrale is a particularly good option if you’re heading to destinations in northern Italy that don’t have airports, but do have direct trains from Milano Centrale.
Towns and cities that fall into this category include: Brescia; Como; Colico, Desenzano, Lecco, Modena; Padova/Padua, Parma, Peschiera del Garda, Piacenza and Vicenza.

If you can book sufficiently far in advance, then a combination of a

  • low cost airline to/from Malpensa and
  • the connecting trains
    can also be (much) cheaper than flying direct to cities such as Bologna, Genova and Verona, which do have airports.

Worth Keeping in Mind:

No matter where you’re heading to, check the train times from Milano Centrale to your final destination before booking flights.
There can be gaps of up to three hours between train departures from Centrale station, depending on your final destination.
Though there is typically at least one train per hour from Milan to Bologna, to Florence, to Rome and to Verona.

With trains leaving Malpensa every 30 minutes and a journey time of around 50 minutes, allow at least two hours between your flight arrival time and the departure time of your train from Milano Centrale - add another 15mins if you’ll have checked in bags to collect.
Particularly if you have booked ahead online to save money, as you will have to re-book if you get to Milano Centrale after the departure time on your ticket.

At Milano Centrale

All of the platforms/tracks/binario at Milano Centrale are on the same level, so making the connection between the Malpensa Express and your subsequent train, simply requires walking from one platform to another, so ideal for wheeling cases.

If you need to purchase tickets for the onward connections from Milano Centrale you can use the Trenitalia ticket machines that are located in the central area of the departure concourse (immediately behind the platforms/binario).
Though it can pay off to check the departure board, if the next obvious train to your destination is an Italo train, head to the Italo branded ticket machines.
If you have a choice of taking an Italo or Trenitalia train, it can pay off to check the ticket prices on both ticket machines.

The ticket machines at the airport station only sell tickets for the Malpensa Express.

Quality Hotels With Easy Access to/from Milano Centrale

Milano Centrale station is to the north of the city centre, but it acts as a magnet for hoteliers, so there is wide range of hotels nearby.

Hotels within 5 mins walk of Milano Centrale station:

Luxury:
Excelsoir Gallia

Mid-Range:
Hotel Berna

Glam Hotel

Auriga Hotel

Michaelangelo Hotel

Budget:
Esco Hotel

Hostel Beatrice MIlano

Money saving options with direct public transport links to/from Milano Centrale:

Acca Palace (near Affori Centro Metro station on Metro line M3)

Holiday in Milano and take Day Trips By Train

Opting to holiday in Milano may raise a few eyebrows, as its beauty pales in comparison to any other city in northern Italy.
But Milano is a second-to-none base for seeing the best of northern Italy by train.

Regionale and Regionale Veloce trains, on which tickets won't cost any more when booked at the station, so you can be spontaneous, connect Milano with multiple other popular towns and cities in under 1hr 45mins.

Here are seven fabulous day-trip destinations which can be easily reached by train from Milano - though not always from Centrale station.

(1) Explore Lake Maggiore - take trains to Arona or to Stresa.

(2) Or Lake Como - take trains from Milano to Como or to Lecco.

(3) Combine the beautiful cities of Bergamo and Brescia on one glorious day trip.

(4) Head to Lake Garda taking trains to/from Desenzano del Garda.

(5) Combine glorious Piacenza and Parma on a great day trip.

(6) Or head to other cities including Verona and Torino (take the Frecce trains and reach them in under an hour from Milano, though you'll save money if you book in advance)

Take the Frecce trains and the likes of Bologna and Vicenza can also be reached from Milano in under 90 mins.

Head into Switzerland:

Head into Switzerland - Regional/Ticino trains now link Milano to Lugano

You can also use the city as a base for exploring two Swiss scenic railways on two epic return day trips

(1) The Centovali line - take a train to Domodossola, connect there for the Centovali to Locarno.

(2) The Bernina line - take a train to Tirano and connect there for a RhB train to St Moritz.

City Guides

Try not to think of Milano just as a location for changing trains.

Not only is a great base for exploring northern Italy by train, it's also great city worth dedicating time to.

20 Amazing Things To Do (Time Out)

Top Things To Do (Lonely Planet)

Milan In One Day (Greta's Travels)

18 Unusual Attractions in Milan (Cloud Atlas)

59 Tips From Locals (LikeALocal)

Discover Italy with Bookmundi

The Best Of Italy Tour The Best Of Italy Tour
Northern Italy including the Cinque Terre Northern Italy including the Cinque Terre
The Rome to Milan Tour The Rome to Milan Tour

Most Popular Tours

1: Starting in Milan and ending in Sorrento, the "Best Of Italy Tour" is a guided city sightseeing trip that takes 12 days and which includes accommodation in hotels, transport, meals and others.
Take an ultimate adventure from Milan to Amalfi Coast travelling to some of Italy's best cities by train.
Explore history of Rome and Vatican, see Ponte Vecchio in Florence, take a ride on gondolas in Venice, discover Naples and Pompeii, hike to Mt. Vesuvius, admire views of Amalfi Coast and take a boat trip to Capri.

2: The "Rome To Milan Tour" is a guided city sightseeing tour that takes 10 days and includes accommodation in hotels, transport by train, meals and others.
Take an Italian adventure from Rome to Milan traveling to some of Italy's most beautiful cities.
Explore the history of Rome and the Vatican, see the beautiful Duomo and Ponto Vecchio in Florence, go shopping in Milan and visit lake Como.

3: Starting and ending in Milan, "Northern Italy Including Cinque Terre" is a guided city sightseeing group tour that takes 8 days, which includes accommodation, transport including journeys by train, meals and others.
The Italian Riviera meets Italy’s beautiful Lake District on a gourmet-filled encounter with the north and its many treasures, as you travel through Viareggio, Milan and Parma in Italy.
All you need to do is live the high life on this most epic of Northern Italy trips, filled the flavours of prosciutto and parmigiano.

4: Starting and ending in Milan, the "Italian Lakes District Adventure" trip is a guided natural landmarks sightseeing trip travelling through Lake Orta, Alagna, Stresa and 3 other destinations in Italy.
"Italian Lakes District Adventure" is a small group trip which includes accommodation in hotels, transport and others.
On this 10 day adventure you’ll explore both the iconic and lesser known areas of this region of Northern Italy, as well as the rarely visited Sesia Valley (Valsesia).
With expert local guides, the culture, history, sights, sounds and tastes of Northern Italy will reveal themselves amidst a backdrop of some of the most stunning scenery on the planet.
All experienced in typical Active style – you’ll hike through untouched villages, valleys and ridges of Valsesia at the foot of the Italian/Swiss Alps, sea kayak to quiet villages on Lakes Orta and Como, and embrace the relaxed pace of life, for which the Italians are renowned

Many more unique tours and experiences are available.

Please support ShowMeTheJourney

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you.

Journeys

# Jump to a direction
Journeys from Milano Centrale
Jump to directions
Milan to Catania by train
Milan to Messina by train
Milan to Palermo by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Arona by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Bari by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Basel / Bâle by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Bellinzona by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Bergamo by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Bern by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Bologna by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Brescia by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Brig / Brigue by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Chur by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Como by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Desenzano del Garda by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Domodossola by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Firenze / Florence by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Frankfurt by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Genève / Geneva by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Genova / Genoa by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Lausanne by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Locarno by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to London by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Lugano by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Luzern / Lucerne by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Lyon by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Monterosso by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to München / Munich by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Napoli / Naples by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Padova / Padua by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Paris by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Parma by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Perugia by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Pisa by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Rimini by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Roma / Rome by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to San Remo / Sanremo by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to St. Moritz by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Stresa by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Tirano by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Torino / Turin by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Trieste by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Venezia / Venice / Venedig by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Verona by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Vicenza by train
Milano / Milan / Mailand to Zürich / Zurich by train
Journeys to Milano Centrale
Jump to directions
Basel / Bâle to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Bern to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Bologna to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Firenze / Florence to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Frankfurt to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Genève / Geneva to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
London to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Lyon to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
München / Munich to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Paris to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Roma / Rome to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Torino / Turin to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Venezia / Venice / Venedig to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Verona to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
Zürich / Zurich to Milano / Milan / Mailand by train
hand-money

Please support ShowMeTheJourney

Help keep us advertising and paywall free!

Donate

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.

ShowMeTheJourney

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.