Train Milan

Getting to Milan by train

Did you know? You can easily get a train from France to Milan. The direct TGV INOUI Paris-Milan service takes around 7 hours. You can also get a train to Milan from Lyon or one from Chambéry to Milan, for example.

Your train to Milan will arrive at one of the two following stations:

• The first is Milan-Porta Garibaldi station which is served by several high-speed train lines, including the TGV INOUI to Italy .
• The second is Milan-Centrale station in the city centre, which handles more than 100 million passengers every year. It's 1.5 km from the other station. The two are linked by metro line M2 and the journey takes just 5 minutes. As for transport links, you'll find metro lines M2 and M3 as well as tram lines 5 and 9. Buses also leave from the station, including three night services.

Enjoy the Italian dolce vita during your stay in Milan

Start off in Piazza del Duomo, the city's most famous square. It's home to Milan's impressive cathedral (the Duomo), the third largest cathedral in the world. It took almost six centuries to build and was completed in 1805. Its elaborate façade has no less than 2,000 marble statues and 136 lofty spires. Once inside, don't miss the five naves, the crucifix signed by Leonardo da Vinci, the sarcophagi, and the superb panoramic views from terrace.

A few steps to the left of the cathedral, you'll find the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery. It's a neo-classical gallery with Baroque influences, and considered to be one of Europe's finest. It's mostly taken up by luxury shops, but also has a historic café, the Camparion, which dates back to the 19th century. Admire its imposing steel structure and magnificent glass dome, as well as the mosaic of the bull on the floor, the city's lucky mascot.

Once done, cross the Piazza della Scala, where a statue of Leonardo da Vinci stands at its centre, and continue straight on to La Scala, Milan's opera house. It's one of the city and world's most famous landmarks. The outside isn't impressive, but once you go through the door you'll find a breathtaking interior.

From La Scala, it's a ten-minute walk to Sforza Castle. Go along Via Giuseppe Verdi and then take a left onto Via dell'Orso. Continue along Via Cusani as far as the Largo Cairoli roundabout. Take a right to reach Piazza Castello's entrance. It was once a rampart for the city of Milan, before becoming home to the famous Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci's studio a few centuries later. Today, it houses several museums: the Musical Instruments Museum, the Sculpture Museum and the Pinacotheca, which occupies the first floor. Just behind the castle, you can enjoy a stroll around the lush 47-hectare Sempione Park. Admire the Arch of Peace and the Branca Tower, a 91-metre-high steel tower that has a lift to the top where you can admire a superb 360° view across the whole of Milan.

A 10-minute walk to the south-west takes you to the former Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is home to one of the world's most famous works of art: Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. Measuring 880 cm wide and 460 cm high, the artist painted this impressive oil on plaster work between 1495 and 1497. Please note that visits must be booked in advance: plan your visit ahead of time to make sure you get a ticket!

End your stay on the canals' banks with a visit to the picturesque Navigli district, AKA Milan's "Little Venice". The lively, festive atmosphere makes it ideal for an evening aperitivo or to savour delicious Italian cuisine.

So, what are you waiting for? It's time to reserve that train ticket to Milan!