Milan is home to two large and busy airports, as well as the an exciting city to visit for its architecture, art, cultural events and fashion shopping. If your holidays in Italy having passing thru Milan before or after your time in Tuscany, then you have a few options for getting around.
FROM MILAN TO FLORENCE (AND VICE VERSA) BY CAR
If you are spending time in the city center of Florence, this might not be your best first choice. Our advice is to train it to Florence, dedicate yourself to exploring the city and then when you are ready to explore the rest of Tuscany, pick up your rental car. However, if you are staying in the countryside then you could benefit by picking up a car now. Our advice would be if you are starting your travels in Tuscany, it is faster to take the train and to Florence and then pick up a car here. In an hour and 40 minutes with a Frecciarossa train you can move around with little to no extra hassle.
On the other hand if you are going to be stopping along the way, a car might be the easiest way to get to your next destination. For example if you are going over first to see the Lake of Garda before heading south to Tuscany, then a car (and taking the toll road A4) would be the best option. Or you can take a direct route towards Florence by following the toll road E35 which connects Milan to Naples passing through Florence and Rome along the way, approximately 3 hours and 15 min. Another option is to take the car down E35 and then head over to the coast and Cinque Terre before settling in to your hotel or B&B in Florence, a 4 hour ride. (Toll road E35 to E33)
FROM MILAN TO FLORENCE (AND VICE VERSA) BY TRAIN
Moving by train is undoubtedly the easiest and fastest way to move between Milan and Florence. Thanks to high-speed trains by both Trenitalia and Italo, you can reach Florence from Milan and vice versa in just over an hour and a half (compared to about 3 hours with the Intercity trains by Trenitalia).
Every day, 14 "Frecciarossa" trains by Trenitalia connect Florence and Milan (along the Turin-Milan-Rome route). Trenitalia train tickets can be purchased online here. The principal train station is Santa Maria Novella, located in the heart of the city center of Florence, and near car rental agencies.
The more recent ItaloTreno also quickly connects Milan to Florence, taking the same time as the Frecce by Trenitalia.
FROM THE AIRPORT TO MILAN CENTRAL TRAIN STATION
There are two principal airports in the Milan area. One is Malpensa, with the majority of the international flights going through here and the other is Linate. Be sure to check your tickets before purchasing your shuttle bus.
Linate Airport
Urban line 73
Milan Piazza San Babila M1 - final destination: Linate
First departure: 5:35 a.m. and Last departure: 12:35 a.m.
Departures every 10 minutes, every day. Fare: 1,5 euro
Website: www.atm.it
One of the principal options is using the public transport, but not that it does not leave from the Central train station.
Malpensa Airport
There are several options for getting to and from the Malpensa airport to the city center of Milano and then catching a train to Florence. Choose between a car rental, train or bus, depending on your time schedule and where you final destination is. For information on train transfers you can look at this link, with important up to date information regarding hours.
There are also several bus shuttle option that will take you into the, we suggest you look at Terravision,click for direct link for booking. (If you book Terravision, we are credit with a small commission at no extra cost to you.)
Other options for Milan Central Station to Malpensa Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 include the STIE Autostradale (www.stie.it) and Air Pullman (www.malpensashuttle.com). Both have regular departures every 20 minutes and tickets can be bought on board.
