Metro San Siro Ippodromo (M5 Lilla Line) — Complete Guide
Your gateway to Milan: how the M5 purple line connects San Siro to the Duomo, Centrale, and beyond.
The Metro M5 — known as the Lilla (purple/lilac) line — is what makes the San Siro neighborhood so well-connected to the rest of Milan. Opened in stages from 2013 to 2015, it's Milan's newest metro line and runs entirely on automated, driverless trains. For visitors staying in San Siro, it's your most important transport link.
About the M5 Lilla Line
The M5 runs from San Siro Stadio in the west to Bignami in the northeast, crossing the city through some of its most important hubs. The line has 19 stations along its 12.8 km route and connects to every other metro line in Milan.
Key features:
- Fully automated — Driverless trains with platform screen doors for safety
- Modern stations — Clean, accessible, with elevators and escalators at every stop
- Air-conditioned trains — A welcome feature in Milan's hot summers
- Accessible — Fully wheelchair-accessible throughout
San Siro Stations on the M5
The M5 has two stations serving the San Siro area:
- San Siro Stadio — The terminus station, right next to the San Siro stadium. Best for match days and concerts.
- San Siro Ippodromo — One stop in from the terminus, near the Ippodromo (horse racing track) and the residential heart of the neighborhood. This is the closest station to our apartments.
From our apartments, you can walk to San Siro Ippodromo station in about 5 minutes.
Operating Hours & Frequency
The M5 line operates on the following schedule:
- Weekdays: First train ~5:40 AM, last train ~12:30 AM (00:30)
- Saturdays: First train ~5:40 AM, last train ~1:30 AM (01:30)
- Sundays & holidays: First train ~6:30 AM, last train ~12:30 AM (00:30)
Train frequency:
- Peak hours (7–9 AM, 5–8 PM): Every 2–4 minutes
- Off-peak daytime: Every 4–6 minutes
- Evenings and weekends: Every 6–8 minutes
- Match days & events: Extra service with increased frequency before and after events at San Siro
Note: On major concert and match nights, ATM often extends service until 1:30–2:00 AM. Check the ATM Milano app for real-time updates.
Key Connections from San Siro Ippodromo
Here's how long it takes to reach Milan's main destinations from San Siro Ippodromo:
To Duomo — ~15 Minutes
Take the M5 to Garibaldi FS (8 minutes), then change to the M2 (green line) for two stops to Duomo (4 minutes). Alternatively, ride M5 to Lotto and change to M1 (red line) to Duomo (about 15 minutes total either way).
To Milano Centrale — ~20 Minutes
Take the M5 to Garibaldi FS, then change to the M2 (green line) heading toward Cologno/Gessate for two stops to Centrale FS. Total journey: approximately 20 minutes.
To Garibaldi FS — ~8 Minutes Direct
No change needed — Garibaldi FS is a direct ride on the M5. This station connects to high-speed trains (Italo, Trenitalia), the M2 green line, and the Passante Ferroviario suburban rail network.
To Porta Nuova / Isola — ~10 Minutes
Ride to Isola or Garibaldi on the M5 for direct access to Milan's trendy Porta Nuova business district with the Bosco Verticale, Piazza Gae Aulenti, and vibrant nightlife.
To CityLife — ~2 Minutes
Just one stop from San Siro Ippodromo to Tre Torri station, where you'll find the CityLife Shopping District, the Three Towers, and CityLife Park.
M5 Stations — Full Line Map
The complete M5 route from west to east:
- San Siro Stadio (terminus)
- San Siro Ippodromo
- Segesta
- Lotto — interchange with M1 (red line)
- Portello
- Tre Torri — CityLife
- Domodossola
- Gerusalemme
- Cenisio
- Monumentale
- Garibaldi FS — interchange with M2 (green line) + rail
- Isola
- Zara — interchange with M3 (yellow line)
- Marche
- Istria
- Ca' Granda
- Bicocca
- Ponale
- Bignami (terminus)
Tickets & Fares
The Milan metro uses an integrated ticketing system managed by ATM (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi). One ticket covers metro, buses, and trams within the urban zone:
- Single ticket (Mi1–Mi3): €2.20 — valid for 90 minutes from first validation, unlimited metro rides in one direction
- 24-hour pass: €7.60 — unlimited travel for 24 hours
- 3-day pass: €13.00 — great for a weekend visit
- 10-ride carnet: €19.50 — best value for stays of a week or more
- Children under 14: Free when accompanied by a paying adult (max 2 children)
How to Pay
- Contactless payment: Tap your credit/debit card or phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay) directly at the turnstile. The system automatically calculates the best fare for your journeys that day — no need to buy a ticket.
- ATM Milano app: Buy tickets digitally, plan routes, and check real-time departures. Available for iOS and Android.
- Ticket machines: Available at every station, accepting cards and cash.
- Tabaccherie: Tobacconist shops throughout the city sell paper tickets.
Pro tip: Contactless payment is by far the easiest option. Just tap and go — the system caps your daily spend at the 24-hour pass rate, so you never overpay.
Tips for Using the Metro from San Siro
- On match/event days, trains from San Siro Stadio can be extremely crowded after events. Board at San Siro Ippodromo instead for slightly more space.
- Download the ATM Milano app — real-time train tracking, route planning, and digital tickets in one place.
- Keep your ticket/card handy — you need to tap both entering and exiting the metro.
- Night buses replace the metro after closing time. Lines NM1, NM2, and NM3 cover the main routes.
- For airport transfers, the M5 connects at Garibaldi to trains heading toward Malpensa and at Centrale for all airport shuttle services.