Coach & Minibus Hire in Italy

Milan and Its Lakes by Minibus

Many small groups use Milan as a base rather than a destination. Como is about an hour away, Stresa and the Borromean Islands an hour and a half. In town, the shape of your day depends mostly on one thing: Area C.

Area C on weekdays, freedom at weekends

Area C is the centre inside the Cerchia dei Bastioni, and it is switched on during weekday working hours, 07:30 until 19:30. Minibuses and coaches with more than nine seats pay a daily charge set by vehicle length, in three bands up to 8 m, up to 10.50 m and above. The charge includes five hours in the city's coach parking areas.

Inside Area C, buses must be Euro VI. Rather than assume, the operator checks the eligibility of the vehicle it puts forward for your date. On Saturdays and Sundays the zone is not active, which makes a weekend visit to the centre simpler.

Executive Sprinter minibus, exterior
Executive Sprinter minibus, exterior

Stepping down by the Duomo

For getting on and off in the middle of town, the city names two spots: Piazza Castello and Via Marina. Piazza Castello puts you at the gate of the Castello Sforzesco, with the cathedral square a pleasant walk away. Via Marina is the nearer one for Brera and its picture gallery.

While you explore, the vehicle waits in one of the listed parking areas, such as Via Città di Fiume by the Porta Venezia ramparts or Via del Burchiello. The free hours that come with the Area C charge are switched on at the parking meter with a PIN.

Flying in to Milan

Stops worth making in Milan

  • Pinacoteca di Brera — In the Brera district, inside Area C; Via Marina is the nearest official coach set-down point.
  • Teatro alla Scala and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — Next to the Duomo, inside Area C; groups walk from a set-down point.
  • Castello Sforzesco — Piazza Castello is one of the official coach set-down points in the city centre.
  • Cenacolo Vinciano (Leonardo's Last Supper, Santa Maria delle Grazie) — Advance booking is compulsory for every visitor, including free admissions. Visitors are admitted in small timed groups for 15 minutes and must arrive 30 minutes before the booked time. Tickets go on sale quarterly; groups are not accepted on free-admission Sundays.
  • Duomo di Milano — In the centre, inside Area C. Guided tours for groups are offered by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo. Coaches set down only at the official set-down points (Piazza Castello, Via Marina).

Easy pickup points

  • Malpensa airport area
  • Rho / Fiera Milano
  • CityLife / Fiera Milano City (Allianz MiCo)
  • Navigli / Porta Genova
  • Porta Venezia
  • Porta Nuova / Garibaldi
  • Stazione Centrale / Repubblica
  • Brera
  • Duomo / Centro Storico (Area C)

Arriving by cruise ship

The Last Supper takes planning

Leonardo's Cenacolo is seen in small timed groups for 15 minutes, and every visitor, even those with free admission, needs a booking. Tickets go on sale each quarter, so watch for the release. Arrive 30 minutes before your slot, so ask the driver to set you down with time to spare. Groups are not admitted on the free-entry Sundays.

Lakes, hill towns and sparkling wine

Allow roughly 1 h 5 min to reach Como, and 1 h 10 min for the upper town of Bergamo. Bellagio takes longer, roughly 1 h 45 min, and the lakeside road there is closed to vehicles over 10.5 m, so the size of your vehicle decides the route. The Certosa di Pavia is just 40 minutes out. For Franciacorta, about 1 h 20 min east, relax: Italian law sets a zero alcohol limit for professional drivers, so tastings are for you.

What travellers ask us

Which airport is closest to central Milan?

Linate, about 7 km and 20 minutes from the Duomo. Malpensa is about 53 km, around 1 h 5 min; Bergamo Orio al Serio about 56 km, around 1 h 10 min.

Is there a special pass for school groups?

Yes. Vehicles with more than nine seats carrying primary or middle-school pupils use a separate "NCC - School Excursions" Area C pass, bought online only and activated by midnight of the day of access.

Can a minibus take us to Fiera Milano for the Salone del Mobile?

Yes. The fair grounds are at Rho, beside the A4 and A8 motorways. No official set-down point for hired vehicles is published, so the operator confirms the stopping point for your day.

More trips we arrange

Other vehicles with a driver