Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Another neighborhood to set your sights on is Ticinese/Navigli, often referred
to just as the Navigli, which translates as “canals.” A 15-minute tram ride due
south of Piazza del Duomo, the Navigli's old quays follow what remains of an
elaborate canal system, designed in part by Leonardo da Vinci, that once laced the
city. The moody charm of this area isn't lost on prosperous young Milanese, who
are converting old lofts and moving into former quarters of the working classes.
The attendant bars, shops, and restaurants on the ground floors have sprung up
to serve their needs. It's also the only part of Milan open in August. You can walk
to the Navigli in about 30 minutes from Piazza del Duomo by following Via
Torino south to Corso Porta Ticinese, but a tram ride (or the Metro to Porta
Genova) will get you there more quickly, in about 15 minutes.
GETTING THERE
Both of Milan's airports are operated by SEA ( % 02-74852200; www.sea-aeroporti
milano.it). Milan Malpensa, 45km (27 miles) northwest of the center, handles
most international flights. For general information, call % 02-74852200 or
02-76800613. A 40-minute Malpensa Express train ( % 02-20222; www.ferro
vienord.it/webmxp) costs 11 and heads half-hourly to the Cadorna train station
in western Milan— not to the larger and more central Stazione Centrale (you'll
have to take the Metro to get there). More convenient are the Malpensa shuttle
buses, which run every 20 to 30 minutes and will take you directly to a bus stop
on the east side of Stazione Centrale in 50 minutes. Your choices are Malpensa
Bus Express ( % 02-33910794), which costs 5.50, or the cheaper Malpensa
Shuttle ( % 0331-258411) —same exact service at a lower price: 5. The trip into
town by taxi costs a whopping
75.
The airport called Milan Linate, only 7 km (4 miles) east of the center, han-
dles some European flights (which are increasingly being moved to Malpensa) and
domestic flights. For information, dial % 02-74852200. Starfly buses ( % 02-
58587237) run from Linate to Stazione Centrale every 20 to 30 minutes; allow 20
minutes for the trip, which costs 3. For 1 you can also take city bus no. 73 to
and from Linate from the southeast corner of Piazza San Babila, a few blocks east
of the Duomo. The trip into town by taxi costs about 12 to 18.
By train, Milan is 552km (343 miles) northwest of Rome (hourly trains; 4 1 2 -
6 hr.), 288km (179 miles) northwest of Florence (hourly trains; 2 3 4 -4 hr.), and
257km (160 miles) west of Venice (half-hourly trains; 2 1 2 -3 1 2 hr.).
The Stazione Centrale, a vast fascist-era structure, is about a half-hour walk
northeast of the center, with easy connections to Piazza del Duomo in the center
of downtown by Metro, tram, and bus. The stop on the Metro for the train station
60 to
Tip for Departing Passengers
If you're going to the airport to leave on a flight, make sure you call the airline
beforehand to find out which terminal you need, as Malpensa's Terminal 1 and
Terminal 2 are actually several kilometers apart.
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