Car hire in Milan

The Duomo, the lakes and Lombard elegance

Milan is unlike any other Italian city, and that is precisely what makes it such a good base of operations. The Lombard capital works, and works well: well-connected airports, motorways in every direction and, less than an hour's drive away, some of the most celebrated landscapes in Europe. With a hire car, the city of the Duomo and The Last Supper becomes the gateway to the lakes, the Alps and Italy's finest food country.

Because that is the great truth about Milan: the city can be seen in two days, but what surrounds it could fill weeks. Lake Como and its film-set villas, Lake Maggiore with the Borromean Islands, medieval Bergamo perched on its hill, the Franciacorta vineyards where Italy's finest sparkling wine is born. None of these destinations is enjoyed the same way when you're tied to someone else's timetable.

And if shopping is your thing, you're in the world capital of fashion, with first-class outlets scattered across the region and quite literally designed to be reached by car. In this guide we cover how to get around, when to come and which routes genuinely deserve a turn of the ignition key.

Search cars in Milan

Day trips from Milan

Lake Como, the essential classic — Around 50 km along the A9. Give the western shore a full day: Como, Cernobbio and the panoramic road to Bellagio, stopping at the villas and their gardens.
Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands — Just over an hour to the northwest. Park in Stresa and hop on a boat to Isola Bella and its Baroque palaces; a well-spent half day, or a full one at a gentler pace.
Bergamo and its Città Alta — About 50 km along the A4. The walled upper town, a Venetian heritage site, can be explored on foot in three or four hours: Piazza Vecchia, the basilica and views across the Lombard plain.
Franciacorta, vineyards and sparkling wine — An hour to the east, beside Lake Iseo. A winery trail through hills where Italy's great sparkling wine is made; book a tour and tasting, and allow a long half day.
Serravalle Designer Outlet — An hour south along the A7, the biggest outlet of its kind in Europe: Italian and international fashion at deep discounts. A perfect half-day plan with an easy round trip.
Pavia and the Certosa — Just 40 minutes to the south. The Renaissance charterhouse is one of Lombardy's most breathtaking monuments, and the university town on the banks of the Ticino invites you to stretch the afternoon.

A perfect day behind the wheel

08:30

Leave Milan on the A9 towards Como: within an hour you're having breakfast beside the lake, with Como's own Duomo close at hand.

10h

Take the panoramic SS583 to Bellagio, some 30 km of lakeside bends that justify the trip on their own. A stroll through its stepped alleyways.

13h

Lunch in Varenna after crossing on the car ferry: lake-fish risotto on a terrace above the water.

15:30

Drive on to Bergamo along inland roads, roughly an hour, and climb to the Città Alta to walk the Venetian walls at sunset.

19:30

Return to Milan on the A4, around 50 km, with an optional stop for an aperitivo in the Navigli before calling it a day well spent.

🚦 Driving in Milan — what you need to know

Area C : central Milan is a camera-enforced urban toll zone: park outside the ring and take the metro in.
ZTL : as everywhere in Italy, the Zone a Traffico Limitato issue camera fines — do not enter without authorisation.
Towards the lakes : ticket-based toll autostrade; in season the Lake Como villages fill up fast: arrive early.

Getting around

Within the historic centre the Area C applies — a paid restricted-traffic zone: the easiest option is to leave the car at a car park beside a metro stop (Lampugnano, San Donato, Cascina Gobba) and ride ten minutes in on the red or green line.
Trips out to the lakes and Bergamo run along fast, well-signposted toll motorways; avoid leaving the city on Friday afternoons and returning on Sunday evenings, when half of Milan is coming back from the mountains.
In the villages around Lake Como the streets are narrow and parking is scarce: start early, use the paid spaces marked with blue lines, and you'll be glad you chose a compact car.

When to go

Milan has a reputation for mist, and in deep winter the Po Valley fog can linger until mid-morning, so the ideal driving months are April to June and September to October: long light, the lakes at their best and the mountain roads open. July and August work well for escaping to the water, though the heat in the city bites and half of Lombardy has the same idea at weekends. If you travel in December, the markets and the lights make up for the cold, but it pays to start early and make the most of the daylight hours.

Your pick-up

Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo airports, plus city-centre offices.

Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth hiring a car to get around central Milan?

For the centre, no: the metro is lightning-fast and the city core is easily walked. The car earns its keep the moment you want to leave, because the lakes, Bergamo and Franciacorta are far more enjoyable with the freedom of your own schedule.

Are the roads around Lake Como difficult to drive?

They are narrow and winding, especially between Como and Bellagio, but perfectly manageable with a calm approach. A compact car helps enormously, both when passing buses and when parking in the villages.

Which day trip should I choose if I only have one day with the car?

If it's your first time, Lake Como: it's the most spectacular and under an hour away. If you already know it, combining Bergamo Alta with the Franciacorta wineries makes a perfectly rounded day.

See prices in Milan

← Back to home · More destinations : Madrid · Barcelona · Valencia · Malaga · Palma de Mallorca