Milan Hotels

Milan has long been a crossroads for travel between the continent and the peninsula, and there are plenty of options for getting in and out of town. The Malpensa airport handles almost all international flights. It's about 50km (31mi) northwest of the city. Most domestic and some European flights use Linate airport, about 7km (4.5mi) east of the city centre. Public transportation links both airports to the city centre. Train lines from Stazione Central in the city centre run to all parts of Italy and Europe. There are two other stations, Nord and Porte Garibaldi, that may offer better deals. Many of Italy's main motorways converge at Milan's ring road, known as the Tangenziale Est and Tangenziale Ovest. Prepare to deal with unexpected traffic on your way into and out of Milan, particularly on the busy A4 west to Torino.

Milan's public transportation system is efficient. There are four underground lines, with a fifth being considered, as well as buses and trams. Tickets are available at Metropolitana Milanesa (MM) stations and some newspaper stands. You can sometimes get a free public transport map from ATM offices at the Duomo metro station and Stazione Central. Don't bother trying to hail taxis, as they generally won't stop. Head for one of the ubiquitous taxi ranks, which have telephones. Driving through central Milan is a hassle. One-way streets seem designed to keep cars out, you'll need to pay to park (if you can find a space) and the limit is two hours during the day. Illegally parked cars are gleefully fined or towed. A better plan is to leave your car at an outlying MM station.

There is a computerised information service with details about flight departures only (tel: 02 585 83 497) for both airports. Or you can visit their sites on the Internet: see www.malpensa.com and www.sea-aeroportimilano.it respectively.The Malpensa Express train links Stazione Nord with Malpensa airport (40mins, every half hour). Some early morning and evening services are provided by bus instead; the stop is on Via Paleocapa. The airport is also served by Malpensa Shuttle coaches, departing from Piazza Luigi di Savoia, outside Stazione Centrale. STAB runs buses to Orio al Serio airport near Bergamo. A taxi from Malpensa airport to Milan city centre is expensive so consider the other options first. From Milan's Piazza Luigi di Savoia, in front of Stazione Centrale, STAM buses run to Linate airport. Tickets are sold on board by the driver. You can also get a local ATM bus from Piazza San Babila (on the corner of Corso Europa). If you want to take a taxi from Linate airport to Milan city centre, it's very affordable.

Bus stations are scattered across the city so unless you know exactly where you're going, you're better off travelling by train. Buses (which are operated by numerous companies) to many national and international points leave from the bus station (tel: 02 63 79 01; Piazza Sigmund Freud) opposite the main entrance to Stazione Porta Garibaldi.

You can catch a train from Stazione Centrale (Piazza Duca d'Aosta) to all major cities in Italy. Check schedules at its information office (tel: 147 88 80 88). Daily trains run to and from Venice (3.5hrs), Florence (3.5hrs), Genoa (1.5hrs), Turin (1.5hrs), Rome (6hrs) and Naples (8hrs). This is also a good point to pick up international connections to and from Switzerland (with the Cisalpino train) and France (with the TGV). Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM) trains from Stazione Nord (Stazione Cadorna, Piazza Luigi Cadorna) connect Milan with Como (1hr, hourly) and Desanzano (1.5hrs, hourly). Regional services to many towns northwest of Milan are more frequent from Stazione Porta Garibaldi (Piazza Sigmund Freud).

Save yourself the indignity of trying to hail taxis - they don't stop. Head for a taxi rank.

Milan's public transport system, run by ATM (tel: 800 01 68 57; www.atm-mi.it) is very efficient. The underground consists of four underground lines (red MM1, green MM2, yellow MM3 and blue Passante Ferroviario). A ticket is valid for one underground ride.

ATM operate an efficient bus system working in tandem with the underground rail. Tickets are valid for up to 75 minutes travel on buses and trams and can be bought at underground stations, tobacconists and newspaper stands. Free public transport maps are available from ATM's Info Point in the Duomo underground station.

You can hire a bicycle for a few euros a day if you feel like braving the traffic.

Entering central Milan by car is a major hassle. Street parking is limited to two hours and will cost you. To pay, buy a SostaMilano card from a tobacconist, scratch off the date and hour, and display it on your dashboard. Motoring information is provided by the Automobile Club Italia (ACI; tel: 02 774 51; Corso Venezia 43). If you're looking to rent, many companies have offices at Stazione Centrale and both airports.