The most central part of Milan was not made for cars and parking can be tricky. There are also driving restrictions that help to ease the city’s congestion during rush hour, specifically on entering the limited traffic area, zone C. Watch out for parking in front of driveways, loading bays and parking in places where street cleaning is taking place that day. In these circumstances, you can be fined or even have your car towed. With the right information about parking in Milan, you can avoid fines and navigate like a pro during your visit. The cost of parking depends on which zone you are in and there are many parking areas that have easy access to public transportation that takes you into the center of the city quickly.
Where to Find On-Street Parking
As a general rule, areas painted white areas are free, blue areas must be paid for, and yellow areas are for residents only. While there are no free parking spaces in the limited traffic zone C you can find spaces on the adjacent side streets leading out of downtown that are still relatively central. Alternatively, there are limited parking spaces in blue areas where you can use “scratch and park” coupons available throughout the city or look for parking lots with attendants that cost €3 per hour and up.
Where to Find Parking Garages
If you are looking for a super safe spot to park there are many parking garages that offer security and 24/7 access. Parking garages such as Duomo Parking in the central zone C area of the city are expensive and you will have to watch out for the additional fee for entering the area between 7.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Where to Park for Free
Though in the central part of the city you will be lucky to find any parking spot, let alone one that costs nothing, here are some tips on parking for free in Milan.
- There are many free parking spaces around the major cemeteries in the city, but be aware these are unattended.
- The Bicocca business and university district has easy access to the city center, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and weekdays after 7 p.m. you can park for free in many places. #
- Some train stations offer free parking lots and the Lambrate station has three; one is on-site and there are two on adjacent streets.
Park & Ride Locations
There are major park and ride locations at stations on the MM1, MM2 and MM3 metro lines that transport you quickly into the city center without having to worry about congestion and expensive parking. The daily and weekly rates are extremely economical at around 2.10 euros for a day and 6.20 euros for a week.
