How to get from Pisa to Milan
As Italy’s economic capital, Milan is the home of the stylish and the rich. Here is where luxury and art unite. It is the country’s busiest and most vibrant city, but still charming with its few touches of the Old World.
Milan boasts of a massive collection of old and new art masterpieces, particularly Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. Everywhere you look is jaw-dropping architecture – from its more recent skyscrapers to the age-old Milan Cathedral.
2 ways to get from Pisa to Milan
The train is the best way to travel the 280 km distance from Pisa to Milan. Train fares start from €28 ($30) and travel time is 3.5-7 hours, depending on which train you pick. Alternatively, you can take a train and a bus for a total of 5.5-7 hours with combined rates from €23 ($24.50).
The train is the most convenient way to travel from Pisa to Milan. Some trains require one or two transfers along the way, but there are also a few direct trains available. If you’re taking the train, you’re best taking any of the high-speed trains with fares from €37 ($39.50). The regional train has the same travel time and number of transfers as the bus option.
The bus option is the cheapest with combined fares from €23 ($24.50), and it is a good option if you plan on making a short visit to Florence. Buses do not operate directly from Pisa to Milan. You’ll first have to take a train to Florence and then a tram to Scandicci where you can take the bus to Milan. Total travel time is 5.5-7 hours, which is about the same as the regional train.
Both cities have their own airports, but there are no direct flights from Pisa to Milan. The fastest indirect flight takes 4 hours. The last time we checked (June 2022), airfares are quite expensive at around €250 ($265). That’s not really practical considering a train can complete the journey at around the same time and for a much cheaper price!
Itinerary from Pisa to Milan
Pisa to Milan by Train
Trains from Pisa to Milan operate almost every hour from 05:42 to 19:15. Be careful which train you pick, though. Not all of them are direct, and most of them will require you to make 1 or 2 train transfers along the way.
You can choose between two types of trains for this route:
High-speed trains
Frecciarossa trains are the most expensive train at around €59 ($63), as they are the fastest to reach Milan in just 3.5 hours. For this train, you’ll have to make a transfer in Florence.
Intercity trains are the only trains that can directly take you from Pisa to Milan, but some trains also require a transfer along the way. The train ride can take 4.5 to 5 hours with fares from €37 ($39.50).
Both Freciarossa and Intercity offer multiple departures from morning to evening.
Regional trains
Regionale trains are the cheapest but also the slowest. Most trains are really old, so travel time can take 5-7 hours. Fares start from €28 ($30). Note that there are only three train departures daily.
Train schedules from Pisa to Milan
PRO TIP: Some regionale trains are only 1-2 hours slower than the Intercity trains. Thus, if you can be flexible with your schedule, just pick one of the faster regionale trains to save on costs. Also, rates can be even cheaper when you book weeks or even a month in advance!
It’s best to buy your train tickets online beforehand to save time during your trip. We recommend using Omio for easy and quick booking.
Departure and arrival station
Trains depart from Pisa Centrale, which is around 3 km south of the famous Leaning Tower.
The most common arrival point is Milan Centrale. This train station is about 4 km north of Milan Cathedral in the city centre.
Pisa to Milan by Bus via Florence
There are no direct buses from Pisa to Milan. You can take a bus only up to Florence, which is a great city for a day trip before heading to Milan.
For this option, you’ll first have to take a train to Florence. Since the bus station is a bit far from the train station, you’ll also need to take a tram before hopping on a bus bound for Milan.
Step 1: Pisa to Florence by Train
Regionale trains are the only trains available from Pisa to Florence.
There are trains departing several times every hour from morning to evening. Thus, if you are willing to wake up early, you can even spend an entire day in the Renaissance capital Florence before heading to Milan.
Travel time is just around 1-1.5 hours, and ticket prices start from €10 ($10.50).
Train schedule from Pisa to Florence
You can board the train at Pisa Centrale in the city centre.
The train will drop you off at Florence Santa Maria Novella Station, which is just a few metres walk from the famous basilica of the same name.
Step 2: Florence to Scandicci by Taxi
The train station is right within Florence city centre, but buses to Milan depart from Villa Constanza Bus Station in Scandicci.
The best way to travel to the bus station is by Tram Line 1. Alamanni tram stop is just outside the train station, and you’ll have to take the tram to the last stop on the line, which is Villa Constanza.
Trams are available every 4-10 minutes from 05:00 until midnight, with additional trips every Friday and Saturday until 02:00. Travel time can take 25 minutes, with fares from €2 ($2.10).
Step 3: Scandicci to Milan by Bus
Itabus and FlixBus both offer multiple trips daily from Scandicci to Milan. There are at least two departures after midnight and several more throughout the day.
With the bus schedule, you can leave Pisa in the morning and spend the entire day exploring Florence! You can then take the bus that departs at midnight and arrive at a convenient time in Milan.
Ticket prices start from €12 ($12.50) and travel time can take 4-5 hours.
Bus schedules from Florence to Milan
You can check the full schedule and book your tickets in advance on BookAway and FlixBus. Make sure you take note of the departure and arrival points when making your booking!
In Milan, buses arrive at Lampugnano Bus Station, around 10 km northwest of the city centre.
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About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
