Hiring a car in Milan opens up numerous fantastic sightseeing opportunities in the stylish sprawling metropolis as well as those further afield in the enchanting region of Lombardy.

With your own wheels you can easily drive to the city’s famous landmarks, visit the beautiful lakes frequented by the Milanese rich and Hollywood actors and take a look around the interesting satellite towns of Bergamo, Pavia, Cremona and Brescia.

Milan is the major transport hub of northern Italy and likewise it is the major junction of the country’s motorways. If you wish to journey south, take the Autostrada del Sole (Motorway of the Sun), officially the A1, which begins in Milan and ends in Naples.

There are many rental agencies and your hotel will also be able to provide contact information. Hertz, Avis, Maggiore, Budget and Europcar all have offices at Stazione Centrale and both the Malpensa and Linate Airports. It is possible to book cars via the internet so check their respective websites online.  Sometimes it is cheaper to arrange car hire before arriving in Italy.  Also check with your flight booking as many airlines offer fly/drive packages with good discounts on car hire.

We advise hiring a car from one of the major car rental companies such as Hertz and Europcar as they are far more trustworthy when it comes to handling and storing your private information as well as more honest when dealing with damage and petrol content.  In Italy you must be 21 or over to drive and hire a car – some companies only hire cars if you are 23 or over.  Importantly, remember to bring your licence and counterpart as well as a credit card.

Be prepared for a thoroughly engrossing experience, and possible headache, while driving in Italy. Italians have a completely different attitude to driving - forceful bullish driving is the norm. When driving, remain calm and keep your eyes on the car ahead of you and you should avoid having to pay for any damage to your hire car.