Milan's main rail station stands in the impressive Piazza Duca d'Aosta - to the northeast of the city centre but within the inner ring road. The 1930s art deco station is one of Europe's most architecturally imposing and an attraction in its own right. Today it forms a busy transport hub linking high-speed and international rail services, the Milan airport Malpensa Express, buses, trams and the metro. If you hire a car at Milan Central Railway Station you'll find it's convenient for access to most parts of the city. The inner ring road is just two streets away and the city centre is just a mile to the west.
If you've hired a car in Milan, from the station you will find there's plenty to see, but usually plenty of traffic in the way of seeing it. Nevertheless, the highlights are worth seeking out if you can. Concentrate on the highly decorated Gothic cathedral, the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele 19th-century shopping arcades and the Scala Opera House. It's a centre for shopping, eating and sport too, with the San Siro Stadium on many football fans' radar. Further afield, Milan serves as the gateway to the resorts of the Italian Lakes, a short drive away to the north into one of Europe's most picturesque landscapes.
