Car Hire Milan Linate Airport

Milan Linate airport is in the perfect position to get to the city quickly. Once you’re in your hire car, just drive west along the SP14 and you’ll be in the city centre in less than half an hour, traffic permitting.

While you’re in Italy, you’ll need to drive on the right-hand side of the road and only overtake on the left. Italian motorways, the main routes between cities, are called autostrada and are almost exclusively toll roads. Our local branch staff can advise you on how best to pay them. Free rural routes are often available, and while these can be more scenic, they can add time to your journey.

Speed limits in Italy are shown as km/h and the limit on autostrada is 130km/h, while it’s 90km/h on local roads and 50km/h in urban or built-up areas.

Milan’s historic centre, like many other Italian cities including Florence and Rome, is a Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL). This means that you can’t enter without a permit – cameras are placed at the entrances and you’ll be fined.

However, don’t worry – the entrance to the ZTL is clearly marked and there are plenty of car parks on the edge of it. Should your hotel be in one of these areas, simply call them once you’ve picked up your car and they’ll ask the authorities to permit you access.

A series of roads combine to form an outer ring-road to Milan, the A50, A51 and A52, the three ‘tangenziali’. There’s an inner ring too, around the historic centre, that comprises Viale Marche, Brianza, Abruzzi and others. Most of the city’s main sights are within it.

Illustrious and decadent, Milan stands proud in northern Italy. Home to two legendary soccer teams - AC Milan and Inter Milan - a truly sumptuous cathedral, must-see art and one of the most unforgettable shopping arcades in the world.

The best-dressed city

Milan’s flair for fashion extends beyond its iconic fashion weeks. Taking place in February and September, designers and their muses descend on the city to parade the chicest new-season trends during these times. However, Milan’s love is an all-year round affair. Many noted couture brands call Milan home, including the likes of Prada, Moschino and Miu Miu. Head to the Design Museum for a perfect overview, or just wander the boutiques and stately shopping areas to absorb the glamour.

The essential shopping district is the Quadrilaterao d’Oro, full of high-end names and gigantic flagship stores. Even if you’re not planning any purchases, you should take in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the glass-and-iron roofed shopping arcade built in the 19^th century is a real spectacle. It’s close to Duomo and Teatro alla Scala, but worthy of a visit in its own right. Look out for the Savoy coat of arms in mosaic form and grab a coffee or a bite to eat at Caffe Biffi, which has been opening its doors since 1867.

Gothic grandeur

If you only see one grand historical building in Milan, make it the proud Duomo, the city’s majestic cathedral. Admire the pink-hued white marble from afar or head inside to drink in the extravagant interior. It can be hard to grasp that this building, started in 1386, took six centuries to finish.

To make the most of your experience, get the ticket that also allows you to visit the treasury, baptistry and roof terraces, where the views are to be savoured. Make sure you keep an eye out for the gilded Madonna too.

The city’s other icon is Leonardo da Vinci’s much-imitated and instantly recognisable The Last Supper. Painted in the late 15^th century, it resides in the refectory of the Basilica di Santa Marie delle Grazie, and you’ll need to book ahead to see it. Much-faded due to the materials the great master used, it still enchants and delights.

Munch your way through Milan

Like many other Italian cities, Milan takes particular pride in its local dishes. Risotto alla Milanese is one of the classics, the rice enhanced with fragrant saffron and a rich broth. Many Milanese swear by Trattoria Masuelli San Marco as one of the best places to try it – they’ve been dishing it up since 1921.

For something completely modern and more than a little quirky, bag a table at Bar Luce in Fondazione Prada. Brimming with Instagram potential, it was designed by the film director Wes Anderson in 2015 and cleaves to his trademark visual flair. Be sure to take a few snaps of the Steve Zissou-themed pinball machines and enjoy a delicious pastry over a steaming cappuccino.

Italian pomp combines with effortless style to make this city a real winner. With Milan Linate Airport car hire, you can cruise straight to the sights and launch yourself into Lombardy too.