Milan Hire Car Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Discover Milan by Hire Car

Milan, Italy’s second largest metropolis and capital of Lombardy, is always worth a visit.

Here you can shop in Italy’s most fashionable boutiques, discover many exciting museums and enjoy the region’s excellent cuisine in great restaurants.

And with a hire car, you can also easily discover many of the charming destinations in the surrounding countryside. For rental and travel we have compiled a few tips.

Receiving the hire car

Numerous hire car agencies can be found at Milan airport in one of the two arrivals terminals. Just follow the signs or ask at the information desk.

Before booking the car, just make sure that your rental company also has its office in the terminal. If the station is only close to the airport, it can sometimes take longer for a shuttle to take you there.

Choosing the right hire car

In Milan, finding a parking space can be a gamble. To make sure you can take advantage of even the tightest parking space, go for the smallest car possible.

Hire car prices

Cars for hire are often quite cheap to get in Milan. However, in high season, or when there is a trade fair taking place in the city, prices can skyrocket. You can usually get the cheapest deal if you book the car early and use our handy price comparison.

hire car price comparison Milan

Insurance

In Milan’s turbulent city traffic, an accident can happen quickly. With a fully comprehensive insurance without deductible you are on the safe side in case of damage. With liability, you should pay attention to the coverage amount of your rental company.

It should be at least one million euros, so that you also have some protection in the event of major accidents. If the amount of coverage of your lender seems too low, you should consider to provide additional protection with a so-called Mallorca policy. Talk to your insurance company.

age limit

Most rental companies in Milan only rent their cars to drivers who are at least 21 years old. And drivers under 25 are often charged an additional fee. Make sure to ask about the conditions before renting the car.

Accessories

When you are looking for your hotel in the maze of streets in Milan, you will be glad to have a navigation device to show you the way. You will always have to order this and other accessories separately. Make reservations well in advance so that the items you want are actually available at your hire car station on the day you pick up your vehicle.

Language barrier

Not all staff at hire car stations in Milan speak good English. To be on the safe side, make a note of the phone number of your rental company’s Italian head office. You can ask for translation help there if you have any problems.

Free kilometers

If you only want to move around the urban area of Milan and the surrounding area, it may be enough to hire car with limited kilometres. However, if you also want to go to such charming places as Venice, Bologna, Parma or Verona, it is advisable to book a car with all kilometres free. Then you don’t have to anxiously keep an eye on the mileage during the trip to avoid extra costs.

Bail

You should avoid rental companies that actually charge the deposit due to your credit card. Because you often have to wait longer with such companies until the money is transferred back to your account after returning the car. Rather, book with a rental company that only blocks the amount and releases it immediately when you return the car.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Some customers complain about long waiting times and the external condition of the vehicles. Plan for a generous cushion of time and have any damage to the car confirmed in writing in a handover report. Then, when you return the car, the rental company cannot hold you liable for any damage you did not cause.

Safety Hire Car

As a rule, hire cars in Milan are perfectly safe to drive. Nevertheless, you should check the lights and do a quick brake test in the parking lot before your first drive.

Sights in Milan

Dom: Admire the fourth largest church in the world
A city stroll should begin at the cathedral. Here you stand in front of the fourth largest church in the world. In 1386, the construction work began. But it should take over 500 years until the work was completed. Already the front facade, which consists entirely of marble, inspires visitors with its rich decoration of Gothic and Baroque elements.

In the mighty interior, the splendor continues. You should especially take a look at the beautiful stained glass windows. If you want to learn more about the long history of the cathedral’s construction, you should then visit the Museo del Duomo in the Palazzo Reale. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00. A ticket costs 6 euros.

Palazzo della Raggione: Journey to the Middle Ages
A short walk to Piazza Mercanti will take you into the city’s medieval past. The 13th-century Palazzo della Raggione, with its huge arcaded hall in the basement, is particularly impressive.
Milan Scala: Most famous opera house in the world

Now it’s time to turn your attention to the most famous opera house in the world, La Scala in Milan. If you can’t get tickets to a performance, you can learn about the history of the opera at the in-house museum. If you are planning your trip to Milan for a longer period of time, you should inform yourself early about the opera’s offers. Perhaps a visit to a performance will make a nice gift and an unforgettable evening at the same time.

Golden Triangle: Home of International Designers
Milan is considered the capital of fashion and in the famous “Golden Triangle” between Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea most of the world’s famous designers have their shops. They reside in noble palazzi from the 18th and 19th centuries. The prices charged for haute couture, however, are worthy of a palace.

Finding the good restaurant

There is no shortage of good restaurants in Milan. However, you shouldn’t always go by appearances. Sometimes people put a lot of emphasis on a styled restaurant, while good cuisine is neglected. (After all, the models who frequent such places always order salad anyway.) Epicures will find their happiness at Ristorante Emilia & Carlo, for example. Here, very good traditional cuisine is served in a cosy ambience.

Find a good hotel

In the capital of fashion, hotels also vie for elegance. Book your room at Hotel Straf. A thoroughly styled design hotel awaits you, which nevertheless does not appear undercooled and does not lack any comfort.

Discover a worthwhile destination in the area

Bergamo: Charming old town
Direct the hire car to Bergamo. It will take you about an hour to drive the 55 kilometres. Bergamo lies on the southern foothills of the Alps. The mighty mountains form the charming backdrop to the town.
In Bergamo, you can stroll through a perfectly preserved old town and leave the hustle and bustle of Milan behind. Visit the Piazza Vecchia in the centre of the old town. Here you will be fascinated by the Lion Fountain and the Gothic Palazzo della Ragione with its magnificent façade and beautiful archways. The Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore is also worth a visit. It was built in the 12th century and impresses with its magnificent facade. Now you can still stroll a little through the alleys, order a drink in a bar and think about where the next hire car trip around Milan will take you.

Suggestion of a round trip

Venice: Experience the magic of the lagoon city
A first round trip by hire car could take you first to Venice. In less than three hours you will be there. In the enchanting lagoon city of Venice, you can take a gondola ride along the Grand Canal and let the magnificent pallazzi pass by.

Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to sip the most expensive espresso of your life in the breathtaking Piazza San Marco, then head out into the city’s alleyways to hunt for souvenirs. Venice is a huge open-air museum, so you can save yourself the trouble of visiting a real museum. Just drift and marvel at the beauty of the city.

Bologna: Magnificent arcades and excellent cuisine
Next stop on your trip could be Bologna, which you can reach in an hour and a half by hire car. Even in Bologna, you don’t necessarily have to visit the city’s museums. It is just as much fun to stroll along the arcaded streets and admire the displays in the shops.

Afterwards, you can look for a nice trattoria near the spacious Piazza Maggiore and enjoy the famous spaghetti Bolognese in the original setting. But be careful: in Bologna they are not called spaghetti Bolognese, but tagliatelle al ragù. Because the spaghetti has lost nothing in the traditional dish.

A drive of just over two hours now separates you from Milan, where you can plan your next tour in a hire car at your leisure.

conclusion

Milan is a worthwhile destination for a trip by hire car. The city can be reached cheaply and quickly by plane and has a lot to offer. And you can get a hire car to take you to the delightful destinations in the area. usually at great rates. Especially if you use our handy price comparison.