How to get to the Isola neighborhood: services and fares

Isola is a neighborhood north of central Milan, next to Porta Nuova, the city’s new financial “center.” It’s the perfect place to see both sides of Milan, a city built on history and tradition but also on innovation and a permanent eye on what comes next. Reaching the neighborhood from the main arrival points — stations, airports, highways — is fairly simple, so here are the options and which ones are worth choosing.

Arriving from Porta Garibaldi

Porta Garibaldi is the closest station, and the advantage is that you don’t have to cross half the city with your luggage. There may not be that many direct trains — Milano Centrale is the better-served one — but it’s extremely convenient. To reach Isola, follow the exit signs for G. Pepe, the ones near platform 20: there’s an underpass that leads straight out onto via Pepe at the corner of via Carmagnola, inside the neighborhood.

If instead you head for the main exits at platform level, you’ll come out in the Porta Nuova district among the skyscrapers. Follow the signs for via Pepe to move toward Isola.

Arriving from Malpensa

The Malpensa Express is the fastest way to reach Isola from Malpensa airport, and it costs far less than a taxi, which runs on a flat fare of €114. It’s a direct run, it costs €15, and in 41 minutes you’re at Porta Garibaldi: from there the directions above apply. There are 34 departures a day between Terminal 1 and Porta Garibaldi, the first leaving the airport at 5:43 a.m. and the last at 10:43 p.m.

Buses, taxis, terminals and night-time schedules are on the page about Malpensa airport.

Arriving from Linate

Milan’s city airport, Linate, is convenient thanks to the M4, the blue metro line, which starts inside the airport itself. You take it as far as Sant’Ambrogio, the interchange with the green line toward Gessate. Get off at Garibaldi (M2) or Gioia (M5), the closest stops to Isola. All you need is the standard €2.20 ticket, and you’re there in about 40 minutes.

M4 timetables, tickets and taxis are on the page about Linate airport. If you land in Bergamo, the bus connection is covered in Bergamo airport.

Arriving from Milano Centrale

If you’re coming in to Milano Centrale, and your legs and your luggage allow it, we recommend walking to Isola: instead of staying underground you already get to cross a couple of areas that are worth the walk. It takes about 15 minutes, passing beside Palazzo Lombardia and in front of the Isola market.

By metro you can take the green M2 line if your accommodation is near the Gioia stop, one stop away, or Garibaldi, two stops away. There’s also the yellow M3, getting off at Zara after three stops, but that leaves you on the edge of the neighborhood. The fare is €2.20.

Otherwise there’s bus 60: four stops to piazzale Lagosta, at the start of via Borsieri, the heart of Isola. That’s a 10-11 minute ride. On surface transport the fare is the same €2.20 per journey, valid 90 minutes.

Taxis and Uber

In Milan a taxi can be very expensive and hard to find. We’d advise against it, unless you need a ride over a long distance or late at night. You can book a taxi to Isola by calling:

• 02 4040 Taxiblu
• 02 8585 Radiotaxi

Uber works fairly well: it covers the city thoroughly, the fares are more competitive and there are plenty of cars.

More on taxis and public transport is in our guide to getting around Milan.

Bikes and scooters

The public bike-sharing scheme is BikeMi, run by ATM, and the neighborhood has several docking stations between piazzale Lagosta, Garibaldi and the edge of Porta Nuova. If you arrive by train at Garibaldi or Centrale, you can pick up or drop off a rental bike there. A day pass costs €4.50 and a weekly one €9: on top of the pass you pay for time, with the first 30 minutes free on the traditional yellow bikes.

Alongside BikeMi there are the private free-floating bike, moped and scooter services, which you unlock from an app and leave in the designated bays. With luggage they’re best avoided, but if you’re traveling light they can be a convenient alternative. Most small shared vehicles have to be left in suitable places, though you can park them almost anywhere, and you can use them later too, to get around the neighborhood or to see Milan.