[On-Site Spectator Guide]Milan-Cortina 2026: Going to “Milan” Based on the Name Alone Could Backfire? The Complete Guide to Venues and Transportation

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will be the most geographically dispersed Games in Olympic history.

While often referred to simply as “Milan-Cortina,” competitions will actually take place in numerous cities beyond these two host cities. Moreover, Cortina is located in a mountainous region over five hours by car from Milan, making travel between them far from convenient.

This article explains the correct way to navigate local transportation, covering:

• What are Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo like?
• Where will my target events be held?
• How do I get to Milan/Cortina from Japan?
• How do I get around within Milan and Cortina?
• How do I travel between Milan and Cortina?

What are Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo like?

First, let me introduce the cities hosting this event: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
(Cortina d’Ampezzo is often shortened to Cortina.)

The metropolitan city of Milan

Milan, the heart of northwestern Italy, is the country’s second-largest city with a population of 1.3 million.

It is not only a fashion capital hosting the Milan Fashion Week but also a hub of Italy’s economy, boasting a thriving automotive industry and other industrial sectors.

Located on a plain, the city boasts an extensive public transportation network including subways and trams.

For the Milan-Cortina Games, the opening ceremony and most ice sports events (with exceptions) will be held in Milan.

Cortina d’Ampezzo: A Mountain Resort with Spectacular Views

Cortina d’Ampezzo (hereafter “Cortina”) is a luxury mountain resort located in the high Alps at an altitude exceeding 1,000 meters.

It lies approximately 50 km in a straight line from the Austrian border. While its beautiful alpine scenery, distinct from Japan’s, is a major attraction, its remote location limits access within Italy.

During the Milan-Cortina Games, some snow events (with exceptions) will be held in Cortina.

Venues are located in cities other than Milan and Cortina.

Snow events will take place in the northeastern mountainous regions, such as Bormio near Cortina and Livigno, a border town adjacent to Switzerland.

The closing ceremony will be held in Verona in the north.

Milan and Cortina are over 400 kilometers apart.

The first thing to know when planning to attend the games is the distance between Milan and Cortina.
The two cities are 250 km apart as the crow flies, and over 400 km by road.

There is no bullet train between Milan and Cortina, so travel takes a full day. Plans like “sightseeing in Milan during the day and watching events in Cortina at night” are not realistic.

Where will each event be held?

The principle is “ice events in Milan, snow events outside Milan,” but exceptions exist.

The division of events between Milan and other cities follows the principle of “ice events in Milan, snow events outside Milan.” However, exceptions exist.

Please always check the official website’s event schedule for the latest venue information.

Which airport should you aim for?

Simply booking a ticket to Milan will lead to failure.

Your destination airport changes depending on the event you’re targeting.

The official event website sometimes deliberately recommends taking the train, which takes longer, prioritizing environmental considerations.

Traveling to Milan (Skating, Opening Ceremony, etc.)

Aim for one of Milan’s two major airports: Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Linate Airport (LIN). Both airports offer excellent access to the city center.

When returning home after the Olympics, be careful not to mix up the airports.

From Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Milan City Center

Malpensa Airport is the main airport for direct flights from Japan and many connecting flights within Europe.

For access to Milan city center, the express train “Malpensa Express” is recommended.

Route: Airport Station → Milano Centrale Station or Milano Cadorna Station

• Travel Time: Approximately 50 minutes
• Fare: One-way 13 euros (round-trip discounts available)
• Payment [Credit Cards Accepted]: Tap your card directly on the ticket gate to board.

From Linate Airport (LIN) to Milan City Center

This airport, located close to the city center, is used by some connecting flights within Europe.

For access to Milan city center, the M4 subway line (Blue Line) is recommended.

The Blue Line is also shown in blue on local route maps.

Route: Linate Airport Station → San Babila Station near the Duomo, etc.

• Travel Time: Approximately 15 minutes to the city center
• Fare: €2.20 (Zones Mi1-Mi3)
• Payment [Card Accepted]: Tap your card directly on the ticket gate to board.

Traveling to Cortina, Fiemme, and Verona (for skiing, curling, etc.)

For destinations around Cortina, the fastest route is via Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).

The western resort “Bormio Livigno” is an exception; please see the linked section for details.

▼ Access Guide from Venice Airport (VCE)

Reservation link for scheduled buses ▶ ATVO / Cortina Express / FLYSKI Shuttle

Going to Bormio Livigno (Skiing)

Bormio and Livigno are located in the deepest mountainous regions of northern Italy. Since they are too far from Venice, the best approach is to head north from Milan’s Malpensa Airport (MXP).

As there is no direct rail service, you will need to transfer between train and bus. (Transfer times are not included below)

• Malpensa Airport → Milano Centrale Station by the Malpensa Express limited express train
• Milano Centrale Station → Tirano Station
  Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes by Trenitalia (national railways) local express or similar
• Tirano Station → To Bormio / Livigno
  Take a bus to each resort (e.g., Automobilistica Perego): Bormio is about 40 minutes, Livigno takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours
  (Livigno involves crossing a mountain pass, so travel time increases in winter)

[Summary/Important] Local buses require advance reservations

If you assume you can just hop on any bus that arrives—like you might in Japan—you risk finding it full and unable to board (especially on mountain routes with infrequent service). For long-distance buses, always check seat availability and make advance reservations on the website.

We’ve summarized this section’s content into a single illustration.

Getting Around in the City

This section explains how to secure transportation once you arrive in each city.

Transportation in Milan

The Milan city center is easily navigated using the Metro (subway) and tram.

The Metro provides direct connections to the Figure Skating venue (Assago) and the Opening Ceremony venue (San Siro). Avoid renting a car due to the many drawbacks: traffic congestion, parking issues, the city center toll zone (Area C), and disruption to local life.

Mountain Area Travel Rules

A common rule applies to all mountain areas like Cortina, Bormio, and Livigno: “You cannot approach the venues by car.”

No Vehicle Access Beyond ZTL

During the Olympics, ZTL (ZONA TRAFFICO LIMITATO) restricted zones and checkpoints will be set up in the central areas and roads surrounding venues in all host locations, prohibiting access to all but authorized vehicles. It is absolutely impossible to drive a rental car right up to the venue and park there.

Access via Park & Ride and Shuttle Buses

The Organizing Committee will operate shuttle buses for spectators from major hubs (train stations and bus terminals) in each area to the venues. This is the only route.

You will need to park your car at designated parking lots (reservation required, fee applies) located several kilometers to over ten kilometers away from the venue, then transfer to a shuttle bus from there.

Be prepared to walk on snowy paths

After getting off the bus, you will walk 20 to 30 minutes on frozen snowy paths to reach the spectator seats. Stylish boots are not sufficient; slip-resistant snow boots are essential.

Travel Routes Between Areas

This refers to methods of travel that cross areas, such as “watching the opening ceremony in Milan and then seeing curling in Cortina.”

In essence, it feels more like a “trip” than just “travel.”

Recommended: Train and bus transfers

There are no direct trains from Milan to mountain venues like Cortina. The following route is common:

• Train (high-speed rail, etc.)
  From Milan Central Station, travel to Venice Mestre Station or Verona Station
• Transfer to a bus bound for venues like Cortina d’Ampezzo

Travel takes a full day

Even under ideal conditions, the one-way trip takes 5 to 6 hours or more. Weather and road conditions could add significant time.

Plan your schedule with ample time, allowing for the possibility that travel alone could take an entire day.

Always check official information

Be sure to check the official website for the latest schedules and transportation information. Especially when purchasing tickets, advance registration via the official app is required in most cases.

• Official Event Website (Multiple Languages)
  • Check here for the latest competition schedule and venue maps.
• Ticket Resale Information (Official)
  • Buying or selling tickets outside the official resale site can lead to problems. Always use this channel.
• Local Bus Companies (Reference)
  • Cortina Express（ (Venice Airport ~ Cortina)
  • ATVO (Venice Airport ~ Cortina)
  • FLYSKI Shuttle (Venice Airport ~ Fiemme)
  • Automobilistica Perego (From Milan via Tirano to Bormio Livigno)

Check before departure! You can’t watch your home country’s TV network livestreams in Milan

If you’re abroad for 1-2 weeks to watch the games, you might find yourself in situations like these:

• Wanting to check the announcer’s live commentary on your home country’s TV network livestream while in Milan
• Wanting to kill time in your hotel by watching your usual Amazon Prime Video or Netflix
• Wanting to check your account balance or available credit limit before buying souvenirs

But you can’t do any of these without preparing in advance!

Streaming sites and financial institutions check your IP address and block access from overseas. This is for rights protection and security.

That’s why we recommend Nord VPN.

Using Nord VPN allows you to use your home country’s IP address even when abroad, enabling you to access domestic websites.

Short-term subscriptions are available for overseas travel, so you can use the internet locally with minimal cost and no hassle.