Public Transportation Survival Guide

As a major city, Milan sees a lot of activity on a daily basis. This is only amplified when major events take place in the historic center. After the Olympics, Fashion Week, and Design Week, I’ve learned that navigating Milan doesn’t need to be stressful. So what can you do to make your commutes easier? 

First of all, IES Abroad will provide you with a metro card that can be used on any ATM system. ATM stands for Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, or Milanese Transport Company. They manage most forms of transport in Milan, including the everyday vehicles you will be taking. The card is free for your first month, and then 22 euro per month after that. I would recommend paying for a few upfront, that way you don’t have to worry about renewing it as frequently. You can do this at the news stands present in most metro stations, just tell the cashier the length of time you want. I paid for February through April, and plan to use ATM’s weekly plan to get through May 1st to the 9th. 

But how do you actually navigate these systems? Personally, I would start with the maps. Not Google Maps, or Waze, or Apple Maps, but the actual blueprints of the different transportation routes Milan operates. This is easier if you take the metro. Every station has a printed map somewhere on its platforms so users can gain a better understanding of where the lines go. Some bus and tram stops have similar accommodations, but looking up an image of their normal pathways is also beneficial. 

This helps with a few things:

1. Forcing you to memorize the lines and what directions they travel.
2. Giving you a layout of where the lines intersect.
3. Outlining the major stations. 
4. Allowing you to see the full picture, making route changes easier to handle

I could not count the number of strikes or demonstrations that have occurred in Milan since I started living here in January. Public transportation is often affected and can even be shut down. This is where the ATM app will come in handy. It provides live updates of closures or diversions, and is usually pretty accurate. Sometimes it overestimates how dramatic the strike will be, but that’s good news for users. Just pay attention to the notifications it gives you, as it might save you an unnecessary journey. 

I have had the unfortunate luck of major transportation strikes happening on two of IES Abroad’s Friday Ons, which required me to travel around the city and meet my professor for a cultural immersion experience. Both times, however, I was able to snag a train as close as I could get before walking. I’ve noticed that buses and trams are usually the most affected, so if you can find a metro station near your destination I would keep that in your back pocket. Be aware that where you choose to live with IES Abroad will impact your daily travel needs.

Living in Collegio di Milano, I have mostly used the metro. I prefer it anyway, because it doesn’t need to stop in traffic like the buses or trams do. That being said, they can be delayed in other ways… or extremely crowded. Design Week concluded this past Sunday, and it was quite possibly the busiest I’ve seen the subway in a while. Every time a train entered the station I felt my stomach drop at the sight of people crammed into its metal hull. I didn’t let this stop me, though. I had places to be. The trick to getting comfortable on a congested metro is following transportation etiquette:

1. Don’t block the doors.

• When the train reaches the platform, pick a door and stand to the side. Let people get out first.
• If you don’t have to get off at the next stop, move past the people standing by the doors and find an empty space. Sometimes, you might get lucky and find a seat. 

2. Don’t be obnoxiously loud.

• Most people wear headphones on the metro, but that doesn’t mean you should be disrespectful. Being on the phone is ok, but try to keep your volume at a normal level. 

3. Pick a spot and stay in it.

• When crowded, it's harder for people to get on and off. It's worse when you are changing where you’re standing/sitting. I find it best to only move or get up at the stop before yours, then you can get a little closer to the doors. 

4. Take your backpack/bag off.

• When it gets packed enough and every bit of space counts, don’t be selfish. Put your backpack between your feet and create room for others. 

Unfortunately, not everyone follows transportation etiquette, but set a good example by trying. It's hot, and crowded, but we all have to get to where we’re going. It sounds daunting, but after the first few weeks of settling into your new routine, it becomes second nature. If you are worried about pickpockets, just make sure you are aware of your surroundings at all times. Don't wear both earbuds, or carelessly toss your phone into your pocket. Listen to IES Abroad's warnings during orientation, and do not wear expensive jewelry that's easy to steal while traveling. As long as your valuables are hidden somewhere in your bag and you keep an eye and/or a hand on it at all times, you should be fine.  

My final piece of advice to you is to never blindly listen to Google Maps. It overestimates the time it takes to get places, and it only calculates what it believes to be the fastest route. This is why I suggest studying the maps yourself, because you’ll quickly learn that Google’s version of the fastest route might not always be accurate. For example, one time I was trying to get across the city. Google wanted me to hop on a tram, then a bus, then walk over ten minutes to my destination. But I knew a better way. Even though it wasn’t an option on Google Maps, the easiest thing for me to do was walk five minutes to the next underground station and change from the green M2 line to the blue M4 line. Google’s proposed trip would’ve taken me around 35 minutes. Mine took 26. 

Learn the system.