Tram, Metro, Bike: Getting Around Milan as a Student

As soon as you land in Milan, one practical question comes up right away: how do you actually get around between home, university and lectures every day? The good news is that getting around Milan as a student is easier than it looks, with discounted fares for anyone under 27 and a network that covers most of the city. This guide walks through ATM season tickets, the tram and metro lines worth knowing if you're a student, and the two-wheeled alternatives for shorter trips.

How Milan's public transport network works

ATM, Milan's public transport operator, combines the metro, trams, buses and some urban Trenord rail stretches into a single integrated fare system. A standard single urban ticket costs around €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes, but anyone commuting daily to lectures will find a season ticket far more convenient. That's where the under-27 fares come in, designed specifically for students and young professionals working with a tighter budget while getting around Milan as a student.

Under-27 season tickets: what they cost and what they cover

Anyone under 27 can access particularly favourable rates. The annual under-27 season ticket costs €200, while a monthly version is available for €22 — a handy option if you'd rather not commit to a full year right away, for example during your first Erasmus semester. On top of that, you'll need the ATM electronic card, which costs €10 and stays valid for four years, and which you'll use to load any season ticket. The real advantage of the under-27 pass is that it covers the whole Milan urban network, including the Passante railway and the urban Trenord stretches, so a single pass lets you move across metro, tram, bus and urban trains without giving it a second thought.

*Source: ATM — "ATM per i giovani" / ATM fares, January 2026.

The most useful lines for students

Knowing in advance which lines actually serve the university areas saves time from day one.

Tram 24: Bocconi, the Duomo and the historic centre

Tram 24 connects the Vigentino area to the Duomo, running along corso di Porta Romana and via Ripamonti, with strategic stops at Crocetta (interchange with the M3 metro line) and Missori. It's one of the most useful lines for anyone getting around Milan as a student near Bocconi University or living in the Morivione area: a few minutes and you're in the city centre, with M3 connections opening up the rest of the metro network.

Metro line M5 for Arco della Pace

If you live further north-west, near Arco della Pace, the M5 metro line has you covered, with the Monumentale and Cenisio stops just a short walk away. The M5 connects this area quickly to Garibaldi, the Politecnico and the city's main interchange hubs.

*Source: ATM / Moovit.

Bikes and e-scooters: two-wheeled mobility

For short trips, especially in spring and autumn, many students turn to BikeMi, the city's bike-sharing scheme, or one of the e-scooter operators such as Dott and Lime, now common across the city. Short-ride pricing varies by operator and time of day, so it's worth comparing prices directly in the app before you set off, since subscriber deals and promotional rates change fairly often.

How to get your ATM card and pick the right pass

To access the discounted fares, you'll first need the ATM electronic card, which can be requested online or at an ATM Point, by showing an ID that confirms your age. Once you have the card, you can load the monthly or annual under-27 pass directly through the ATM app or at ticket machines. If you're not yet sure you'll stay in Milan for a full year, starting with the monthly pass and switching to the annual one later — which is more cost-effective long term — is a sensible approach.

How much you actually save with the under-27 pass

Doing the maths helps explain why most students end up getting the pass sooner or later. A single urban ticket costs around €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes: if you need two rides a day, one there and one back, you're easily looking at over €4 a day, which over a month adds up to well more than double the cost of the monthly under-27 pass. On an annual basis the comparison is even clearer: €200 a year for the pass versus a much higher total if you kept buying single tickets or even carnets. There's also a practical bonus worth mentioning: with a season ticket you don't need to validate every single ride, you just need the card on you, which means one less thing to think about when you're rushing to make it to a lecture on time.

Night services and timetables worth knowing

Sooner or later, student life in Milan means moving around outside standard hours too — evening classes, libraries open late, or just a night out with friends. The daytime metro and tram network generally winds down late at night, but some surface lines keep running past 1am, and the night bus network (lines with an "N" prefix) covers much of the city even once the metro has closed. It's always worth checking the last useful departure on your usual line in advance, through the ATM app or Moovit, so you're not stuck looking for a taxi at the last minute.

Practical tips for your first days in Milan

Frequently asked questions

How much does the ATM season ticket for students under 27 cost?

The annual under-27 season ticket costs €200, while a monthly version is available for €22. On top of that you'll need the ATM electronic card, which costs €10 and stays valid for four years, and which you'll use to load any season ticket.

Is a season ticket better value than single tickets?

For anyone commuting daily, a season ticket is almost always the better choice: a single urban ticket costs around €2.20 and is valid for 90 minutes, so two rides a day easily add up to over €4, more than double the daily cost of the monthly under-27 pass. On an annual basis, the comparison favours the season ticket even more clearly.

How do BikeMi and e-scooters work?

BikeMi is the city's bike-sharing scheme, while operators such as Dott and Lime offer e-scooters that are now common across the city. Short-ride pricing varies by operator and time of day, so it's worth comparing prices directly in the app before you set off.

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