What you should know before hiring a car in Milan
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Distance from Milan city centre |
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| 5 mi | ||
| 25 mi | ||
| 28 mi | ||
Car hires in Milan: practical information
Where to rent a car in Milan
Finance and fashion make Milan one of the best cities, not only in Italy but in Europe. While it was greatly destroyed during WWII, it makes up for its lack in Romantic architecture with its chic Italian charm. Milan is linked to the rest of Italy with major motorways, making it an easy city to get in and out of by Milan rental cars. Once you book your tickets from London to Milan, check out a low cost car hire in Milan as well to make your trip that much easier.
There are two major airports in Milan, Linate and Malpensa. Alternatively you can also fly into Bergamo's Orio al Serio Airport or Parma Airport with a low cost airline. All of these airports have Milan car hire companies and are the most convenient places to pick up economy car rentals in Milan. At Linate choose from Auto Europa, Avis, Budget, EasyCar, Europcar, Locauto Rent, Maggiore National, Sixt, Targa Rent and Thrifty, all in the Arrivals Hall.
Driving in Milan: parking and other tips
It's not recommended to drive in Milan's city centre during the week, Monday to Friday because of the heavy traffic. On weekends however, it's a breeze and finding parking for your one way Milan car hire is much easier. Travellers coming into Milan are advised to park their cars in one of the huge car parks along the ring road. From there you can use the underground tube system to get into the city centre. Just watch out, they close at midnight and you'll have to wait until morning to get your car out.
To note: drivers need to pay a congestion fee for driving inside the former city walls. The fee is calculated by engine-type and age of car and ranges from €2-10. It can be paid by SMS, online or at newspaper stands. If you do not pay this fee within 48 hours of driving in the area, you will be fined €75. The fee only applies between 7:30am and 7:30pm.
Road trips from Milan: what to do, what to see
Lake Como
Lake Como is a beautiful lake just at the foothills of the Alps and a nice addition to any holiday in Milan. There are very quaint villages nearby as well like Como, Menaggio, Varenna and Bellagio. It takes about 50 minutes with a Milan rent car to reach Lake Como by train, around the same by car. Lake Como is part of Italy's Lake District so if you have more time, visit the other lakes as well!
Bergamo
Bergamo is about 60km north-east of Milan and makes for a great trip out of the city with a cheap Milan car rental. It is about an hours drive, depending on how fast you can get out of Milan's traffic. It's a Renaissance university town with a lot of heritage and history to share. Bergamo is known for its medieval atmosphere and pretty architecture. Take the funicular up the hill for some great views.
Oltrepò Pavese
Fancy a romantic day out with some wine and cycling? If that's the case, plan a trip to Oltrepò Pavese, the wine region in Lombardy. It's about a 90 minute drive to the south. Pack your appetite and good walking shoes, the vineyards are beautiful and the wines tasty. It's an excellent opportunity to taste form provincial cooking at a traditional Italian restaurant too.
