On Milan.

My free time that appeared after exam period inspired me to go explore Europe once again. The final choice landed on the south region of the Western Europe, that is, Italy. I visited 2 cities- Bergamo and Milan. And would love to add some notes on the public transport condition of the latter one.

To begin with, Milan offers plenty of options regarding the movement across the agglomeration. Metro, buses, trams and taxies. Besides, like in any other European city you can easily find scooters and bikes for rent which is especially handy in the center.

The price for the ticket normally is fixed for all types of transport:

1. Children under 14 travel free of charge;

2. Single ticket, valid 90 minutes € 2,00;

A good additional point to the prices listed above would be the fact that inside underground stations and on buses nr 56, 70 and 73 it is possible to travel by paying directly with a contactless card. This is extremely useful, particularly for tourists.

Considering all other places I’ve been to, I would conclude that the transport is quite affordable as the first note of the post.

Now, let’s discuss each type of transport separately. I actively used each of them and formed quite an opinion regarding the whole system in general.

Underground lines constitute a good and convenient connection all over Milan. The metro stops are located next to the majority of the sights of the city. Underground itself is quite clean and easy to understand. Orientation with the suggested schedule and signs is simple, and gets notably easier will google maps. The service on underground lines M1, M2 and M3 starts around 05.30 a.m. and ends around 12.30 a.m.; the M5 starts at 05.40 a.m. and stops at midnight.

Trams are situated in a great number of spots that are fast to locate. Separately, I would love to point out their beauty. The trams of Milan are extremely cozy and atmospheric, due to their retro interior, they sort of bring you back to the 20th century and that flare of the past definitely adds vibrance to the ride. According to each line, trams are in operation approximately from about 04.30 a.m. to 02.30 a.m.

Buses are clean, properly connected and equipped. The main issue I paid attention to were the night routes. I used a bus at 3 am and it indeed came and delivered me to the given spot. So, at night bus services and underground replacement buses are in operation. Thus, offering cheap and non-stop transportation, Milan definitely brings many more opportunities for the night life in any neighborhood of the city.

Taxies are quite expensive, just like in any other central city or capital. The prices are shocking, but that's not the only issue. Taxies in Milan allow for only 2 people in a car simultaneously, which basically cuts off the opportunity to share the costs among several passengers. That forces a following conclusion: taxies are a no go unless there are bad weather conditions or a very difficult/ dangerous public transport alternative.

In conclusion, I would love to state that the transport system in Milan is well developed and properly implemented. It's clean, efficient and affordable. It respects passengers and employees, saves your time and brings a bunch of transportation opportunities.

Cover source: https://pin.it/71jolxL