Europe's most magnificent station?

Opened in July 1931, Milan's magnificent Centrale station is an attraction in its own right with vast steel & glass trainsheds and awe-inspiring station building which Benito Mussolini intended to convey the power of the fascist regime.  Even if you're only changing trains here, take a moment to look around, it's an experience in itself.  For more about the station's history see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Central_railway_station.

small bullet point  Overview

small bullet point  Which platform for your train?

small bullet point  Advice on changing trains in Milan

small bullet point  Free WiFi

small bullet point  Luggage lockers, ATMs, safety & security

small bullet point  Ticket offices

small bullet point  Executive & Club class lounges

small bullet point  Restaurants, cafes, bars & supermarket

small bullet point  Hotels near the station

small bullet point  Taxis, metro, walking

 

small bullet point  Platform 21 & the Shoah Memorial

small bullet point  Can you spot Mussolini?

On other pages...

small bullet point  Milan Porta Garibaldi station guide

small bullet point  Trains between London & Milan

small bullet point  Trains between Paris & Milan

small bullet point  Trains from Milan to other European cities

small bullet point  Trains from other European cities to Milan

small bullet point  Guide to train travel in Italy

small bullet point  General information for European train travel

Station overview Location map

Milan Centrale is a terminus with 24 platforms.  The platforms & concourse are above ground level, but there is level access between all platforms and concourse, with lifts & escalators down to ground level if you don't want to use the grand staircases down to the station's main entrance on the Piazza Duca d'Aosta.  So it's no problem to negotiate the station with luggage or if you have mobility issues.

There's a plan of the station at www.gsretail.it/en/network/milano-centrale.

Milan Centrale trainshed

Trains arrive in one of these 3 vast arched trainsheds, one level up from street level.  The photo shows the circulating area behind all the buffer stops, allowing easy level access between all platforms without any ticket checks or other restrictions.

Milan Centrale trainshed

Looking the other way, from platform towards buffer stops & circulating area...

Milan Centrale trainshed

These great archways lead from the platforms & circulating area into the main hall, called the galleria commercial.  There is a basic ticket check when entering the platform area from the galleria commercial, you can see the entry & exit channels at the bottom of each archway.  It's a cursory check, the main purpose is to keep undesirables out...

Milan Centrale trainshed

The main hall or galleria commerciale, adjacent to (and level with) the platforms, also one level up from ground level.  This is the best place to find a cafe, bar or restaurant or just have a sit down.

The travelators in the centre lead down to the main Trenitalia ticket office, Italo ticket office & left luggage plus a few more shops, all located underneath the galleria commerciale at ground level.  To the right, you can see a huge doorway from which steps lead down to the vast entrance hall.  On the left is the ticket check through to the platform area.

 

A simple ticket check separates the platforms from the galleria commerciale, it's mainly aimed at keeping undesirables out...

 

This is the magnificent entrance hall at ground level.  Those steps lead up to the galleria commerciale.  In the centre, a passageway to the left luggage & ticket office.

Milan Centrale station facade

Milan Centrale's main entrance on the Piazza Duca d'Aosta.  You can judge the scale of the building by the people in front.

Which platform for your train?

Changing trains at Milan Centrale

Free WiFi

Left luggage, ATMs, safety & security

Ticket office & ticket machines

The main Trenitalia ticket office (Biglietteria) is directly below the galleria commercial (main hall) at ground level, open from early until late.  You'll also find the Casa Italo (for Italo tickets) at this level.  However, it's often quicker to use the Trenitalia self-service ticket machines dotted around the station which can sell high-speed & mainline tickets with reservations and regional tickets.  They have a touch screen with English language facility.

 

Travelators from main concourse (galleria commerciale) to the ground level shopping mall below...

Entrance to the main Trenitalia ticket office, beneath the galleria commerciale...

Executive & Club class lounges

Milan Centrale Italo club lounge

The Italo lounge for club class passengers, on the 1st floor overlooking the circulating area behind the platforms near platform 16.

Somewhere to eat

Milan Centrale station bistro   Milan Centrale station bistro

The Bistro Milan Centrale, in the galleria commerciale.  It's a sort of food court for local produce, well worth a look.

Supermarket

Hotels near Milan Centrale

Local transportWalking, metro, taxis

More information

Platform 21 & the Shoah Memorial

Milan Centrale Shoah Memorial entrance

The entrance to the Shoah Memorial, alongside platform 21 on the east side of the station.  Courtesy of Noam auf Gleis 13.

Can you spot Mussolini?

Mussolini mural, Milan Centrale platform 21   Mussolini mural, Milan Centrale platform 21

The mural featuring Mussolini, Milan Centrale platform 21.  Larger photo.


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