Car rental Milan
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Milan guide
Milan is located in northern Italyand is the capital of the Lombardy region. The city itself has about 1.3 million inhabitants (2011), while the metropolitan area incl. suburbs have a population of 7.5 million.
Milan is Italy’s second largest city (after Rome),and the country’s main industrial, financial, and commercial center. The city is also an important transport hub.
Milan is located between the Ticino and Adda rivers on a fertile plain, ca. 120 meters above sea level.
Attractions
Milan is one of the world’s leading fashion citiesand is a shopping paradise for shoppers. In addition, the city is a significant cultural center, and is famous for its numerous churches, museums, art galleries, concert halls and theatres.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Milan is the Old Town with the cathedral “Duomo” in white marble from 1522. The cathedral is the 3rd of July. largest in Europe, and is built in gothic style.
Also, the famous Opera House “Teatro alla Scala” from 1778 recommended a visit. The Opera House is one of the world’s largest and has 3,600 seats.
Other attractions include: park Sempione with 15th-century Sforza’s palace, a Leonardo da Vinci Museum and the Art Museum “Pinacoteca di Brera”
Explore Milan with car hire
You should not drive far outside the Italian fashion capital Milan until you experience a completely different world. This part of the country is packed with beautiful small towns, and especially those that lie up against the Alps, and those that are dandered around the famous lakes. Centrally located in relation to most things, Milan is a perfect city to have as a starting point for excursions. Here are some suggestions for the most popular car rental driving services.
Venice – The City of History Fans and Romantics
The canal city of Venice is built on 117 small islands,inside a bay in the Adriatic Sea. Milan can usually be found in less than 3 hours if you have a car rental at your disposal. Although most people prioritize one or more nights when visiting the famous city, it is quite possible to take only a day trip there. In Venice you can choose and scrape among world famous sights, take a walk by gondola on the canals,eat good food, shop, and experience all kinds of artistic events. The city is, of course, just about completely car-free,and you can get around best on foot or by boat-taxi. On the outskirts of the city centre you will find many parking facilities, and several of these arrange transport on to the city centre.
- From Milan to Venice it is about 270 km if you drive the motorway via Bergamo and Brescia. Without stopping, the drive will take between 2.5 and 3 hours.
Bellagio – Pearl at Lago di Como
Lake Como is considered by many to be the most exclusive of Italy’s lakes. The small towns that lie around the sea are often very picturesque, and perhaps bellagio is the one that ascends to the top. Bellagio is located at the tip at the southern end of the sea and is nicknamed the “Pearl of Lake Como”. Here people travel to stroll in the cozy small streets,between magnificent buildings, go to family-run restaurants, stroll in the beautiful gardens, and to enjoy the silence and tranquility of the seaside. There are also plenty of activities to take place here, such as swimming and boat trips. One of the most popular excursions in the area around Bellagio is to take a ferry ride to the villages on the other shores of Lake Como, such as Castello di Vezio and Menaggio.
- From the centre of Milan to the village of Bellagio, it is 50 miles if you drive via Lecco. The runtime is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Cinque Terre – Five colourful fishing villages
The Cinque Terre means “The Five Countries”, and is the designation of five small fishing villages and the surrounding area. The villages are Vernazza, Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Manarola and Monterosso al Mare. They are characterized by the fact that they are built on cliffs that plunge down towards the sea, and many of the cozy houses are painted in fresh colors. All are on the UNESCO World Heritage List,and the Italian authorities have given the Cinque Terre area the status of national park. It is not only the fishing villages that are beautiful, but also the surroundings. Here it is great to walk on the paths that run from village to village, and on the road you will pass old fortresses,ruins and other sights. Although the Cinque Terre has become a very popular destination with many visiting tourists, you should treat yourself to a trip there when you are on this edge of Italy.
- The fastest road to the Cinque Terre from Milan goes via the outskirts of Parma, before turning off southwest with direction towards the sea. The route is then about 260 kilometers, and with a driving time of 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Varese – Beautiful town at the foot of Sacro Monte di Varese
Varese is located on a hill at the foot of mount Sacro Monte di Varese. It is known as one of the most beautiful in Italy, especially because of the many gardens and parks of the city. Many of the green spaces were built by noble and rich people who had Varese as a resort. The city is therefore nicknamed “Versailles of Milan”, which is also a reference to the impressive Palazzo Estense which was built in the 19th century. It’s not long road from Milan to Varese if you have a rental car. A visit here is perfect if you are heading towards Como Lake, or just need a few hours out of the city centre in hectic Milan.
- From Milan to Varese it is barely 58 kilometers. You drive there with a rental car in about 1 hour.
Alps – Skiing and beautiful villages
Milan is not a long way from the Alps, and if you visit this part of Italy you should treat yourself to a trip up the mountains. There are many great villages on both swiss, French and Italian sides to choose from. Driving a car in this area is also a unique experience. Depending on which route you choose, you can drive through beautiful valleys, cross bridges that run across deep gorges,with magnificent mountain peaks on either side of the road. The famous ski destinations are among the most popular places and drive by, such as St. Moritz, Chamonix and Zermatt. It is also recommended a trip to some of the small Italian villages in the Alps. Consider visiting, for example, Arco, Fiera di Primiero, Glorenza or Sterzing, which you can easily find when you drive past Lake Garda on the way to Tirol.
Parking and traffic with car hire
If you are going to experience Milan, it is best to leave the rental car parked. Finding parking in the streets is generally difficult. The number of seats is very limited, and the fee quite high. In addition, there are several areas where you have to pay a fee in advance, before you leave the car (tickets are available at the kiosks and tobacconists, among others). There are plenty of parking garages, but if they are located in the middle of the city centre you have to expect that it may take time to get there.
Traffic in the city center is dense, the streets often narrow, and the drivers somewhat more intense than at home. It can also be difficult to find your way if you don’t have navigation in the car. Outside Milan, it is considerably easier to move by rental car. There are good motorways on the main stretches, and many of the routes offer nice surroundings. Please note that some drivers drive faster than allowed and you may find people taking unnecessary risks on the roads. Drive a little defensively, and pay extra attention, especially on inconspicuous country roads.
Airport
Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in northern Italy, and among the 20 most trafficked in Europe. The number of annual passengers is closer to 29 million. The airport serves the regions of Lombardo, Piedmonte and Liguria, where you will find many popular destinations for tourists. There are three terminals on Milan Malpensa, of which Terminal 1 is the one that handles most of the traffic coming from countries within the Schengen area. You can land at Terminal 2 if you are flying with a low-cost airline, or on a charter flight.
All the largest and international car hire companies represented at the airport have counters in both terminals. These include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty, Sixt and Dollar. In addition, there are some companies, primarily local players, located in only one of the terminals, including Interrent.
- The distance from Milan Malpensa Airport to the center of Milan is about 50 kilometers. The fastest route runs on the A8 motorway, and it will then take about 50 minutes to drive.