Munich to Milan by Train
Over the Brenner, Changing at Verona
There is no direct day train from Munich to Milan at the moment, but the journey is straightforward: a Railjet from München Hbf over the Brenner Pass to Verona Porta Nuova, then a Frecciarossa or EuroCity across the Po plain to Milano Centrale. With one change, it usually takes around 7 to 8 hours, and the ride through the Inn valley, the Brenner and South Tyrol is one of the most rewarding in the Alps.
This guide covers the journey as you can book it today: the Railjet over the Brenner, changing trains at Verona, which onward trains need reservations, booking with Omio or Deutsche Bahn, and how Interrail passes work on this route. It ends with what is known about the direct Frecciarossa that Deutsche Bahn and Trenitalia plan to introduce from summer 2027.
The short answer: Take a Railjet from München Hbf to Verona Porta Nuova and change there for a Frecciarossa or EuroCity to Milano Centrale, usually around 7 to 8 hours in total. A direct Frecciarossa is announced for summer 2027 but is not running or bookable yet.
Ready to book Munich to Milan?
Omio and Deutsche Bahn both show Munich to Milan journeys with the change at Verona, combining the Railjet with a Frecciarossa or EuroCity. Compare the total journey time and the waiting time at Verona, and make sure your booking includes a seat on any leg that needs a reservation. Before you pay, check whether the journey is issued as a single booking and what happens if you miss the connection. Fares vary by date and train.
Munich to Milan Today: One Change at Verona
München Hauptbahnhof, Germany · 48.140°N, 11.558°E
Journeys start at München Hauptbahnhof on a Railjet, the long-distance train that DB and ÖBB run together over the Brenner. In the timetables we checked for October 2026 and January 2027, Railjets left Munich for Verona roughly every two hours during the day, calling at München Ost, Rosenheim, Kufstein, Innsbruck, the Brenner and the main towns of South Tyrol and Trentino. At Verona Porta Nuova you change to a Frecciarossa or EuroCity for the last hour or so to Milano Centrale.
Munich–Milan - At a Glance
- Direct trainNot at present; one is announced for summer 2027
- Usual journeyRailjet to Verona Porta Nuova, then Frecciarossa or EuroCity
- Journey timeUsually around 7 to 8 hours with one change
- RailjetsRoughly every two hours during the day (Oct 2026 and Jan 2027 checks)
- ReservationsOptional on the Railjet; required on Frecciarossa
- StationsMünchen Hbf and Milano Centrale
Example Journeys: Wednesday 13 January 2027
Railjet + Frecciarossa: RJ 83 leaves München Hbf at 09:32 and reaches Verona Porta Nuova at 15:01; FR 9740 leaves Verona at 16:02 and reaches Milano Centrale at 17:16. Total 7 hours 44 minutes, with about an hour at Verona.
Railjet + EuroCity: RJ 85 leaves München Hbf at 11:32, with a change at Verona to EC 46, reaching Milano Centrale at 18:56. Total 7 hours 24 minutes.
Good to know: these are examples for one date in the 2027 timetable, which was still marked incomplete when checked. Times and train numbers change through the year, so search for your own date.
Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass
Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof and Brennero/Brenner
South-east of Munich the Railjet joins the Inn valley at Rosenheim and follows the river into Austria at Kufstein, with the mountains closing in on both sides on the way to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck the line climbs steadily up the Wipp valley to the Brenner Pass, where the train crosses from Austria into Italy at Brennero/Brenner station.
This is the most scenic part of the trip, so it is worth staying by the window between Rosenheim and Bolzano. Our Munich to Venice guide, which follows the same Railjet as far as Verona, describes the Brenner line in more detail.
Down Through South Tyrol and Trentino
Bolzano/Bozen, Trento and Rovereto
Beyond the pass the train descends through South Tyrol, calling at Fortezza, Bressanone and Bolzano, where station names are bilingual in Italian and German. It then follows the Adige valley south past vineyards and orchards to Trento and Rovereto, with the mountains gradually giving way to the plain before Verona.
Changing Trains at Verona Porta Nuova
Verona Porta Nuova, Italy · 45.429°N, 10.982°E
Verona Porta Nuova is where you change. The Railjet arrives there and the onward train to Milan leaves from the same station, so the change is a matter of finding the right platform rather than crossing the city. Check the departure boards for your Milan train as soon as you arrive, because platforms are not always known in advance.
Waiting times depend on the combination you book: in one January 2027 example the wait was about an hour, which is comfortable. If a connection is tight, consider an earlier Railjet. The onward trains are Trenitalia Frecciarossa high-speed trains or EuroCity services, and both run across the Po plain to Milano Centrale in roughly an hour to an hour and a half.
Onward from Verona to Milan
- FrecciarossaTrenitalia high-speed trains; reservation required
- EuroCityInternational trains, some continuing to Switzerland; check reservation rules
- Same stationBoth arrive and depart at Verona Porta Nuova
- ArrivalMilano Centrale on the connections we checked
Arriving at Milano Centrale
Milano Centrale, Italy · 45.486°N, 9.204°E
Milano Centrale is Milan's main station, a vast building north-east of the historic centre. The metro runs from beneath the station, and the Duomo is a short ride away; trams, buses and suburban trains also serve the station. From Milan, fast trains continue to Turin, Venice, Florence, Rome and Switzerland.
From Milano Centrale
Booking, Reservations and Interrail
What to check before you pay
Omio and Deutsche Bahn both show Munich to Milan journeys combining the Railjet and the onward train. Compare the total time and the wait at Verona, and before you pay check whether the journey is issued as a single booking and what the conditions say if a delay makes you miss the connection. Fares vary by date and train.
On the Railjet over the Brenner a seat reservation is optional. Frecciarossa trains require a reservation, and so do EuroCity trains between Italy and Switzerland, which some Verona to Milan connections use, so make sure your booking includes a seat on those legs. For Interrail pass holders, Interrail says reservations on the Brenner EuroCity and Railjet trains are optional but a supplement is compulsory when travelling to, from or within Italy; the Frecciarossa and Swiss EuroCity reservations are booked separately.
Reservation Rules at a Glance
The Planned Direct Frecciarossa (Summer 2027)
Announced, not yet running or bookable
Planned, Not Yet Running
What is announced: FS Italiane announced in September 2026 that Frecciarossa 1000 trains will link Milan and Munich directly, with first commercial runs planned for summer 2027 once the trains complete international approval. Deutsche Bahn's 2027 timetable announcement in October 2026 lists one daily train pair between Munich and Milan from summer 2027.
Journey and stops: FS Italiane gives a journey time of about 6 hours 30 minutes, with main intermediate stops at Innsbruck, Bolzano, Trento, Rovereto, Verona and Brescia.
What is not known yet: no exact start date, timetable or ticket sales had been announced when this guide was written. Until the direct train runs, travel with a change at Verona.
If it starts as planned, the direct train would save the change at Verona and cut the journey to about 6 hours 30 minutes. We will update this guide when a timetable and booking details are published.
Hotels in Milan
Milan is easiest from a base near Milano Centrale or in the historic centre around the Duomo, both well connected by metro.
Milan - near La Scala
A historic grand hotel on Via Manzoni, a short walk from La Scala and the Duomo, for a special stay at the end of the trip.
Milan - by the Duomo
A small hotel in the historic centre, a few minutes on foot from the Duomo and the Galleria.
Milan - near Milano Centrale
A practical hotel a short walk from Milano Centrale, handy for an evening arrival or an early train.
Hotel links open Booking.com in a new tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a direct train from Munich to Milan?
- Not at the moment. Today the usual journey is a Railjet from München Hbf over the Brenner Pass to Verona Porta Nuova, then a change to a Frecciarossa or EuroCity for Milano Centrale. Deutsche Bahn and Trenitalia have announced a direct Frecciarossa between Munich and Milan from summer 2027, subject to the trains being approved, but no start date or tickets had been published when this guide was written.
- How long does the train from Munich to Milan take?
- With one change at Verona, journeys usually take around 7 to 8 hours, depending on the connection and how long you wait at Verona. Some combinations take longer, so compare the total journey time when you search. The planned direct Frecciarossa is expected to take about 6 hours 30 minutes once it starts.
- Where do I change trains between Munich and Milan?
- Usually at Verona Porta Nuova. The Railjet from Munich arrives there, and the onward Frecciarossa or EuroCity to Milan leaves from the same station, so you stay inside Verona Porta Nuova and only change platforms. Waiting times vary by connection, so check the platform on the departure boards when you arrive.
- How often are there trains from Munich towards Milan?
- In the timetables we checked for October 2026 and January 2027, Railjets left München Hbf for Verona roughly every two hours during the day, each with an onward train to Milan. Train numbers and times change through the year, so check your date.
- Can I book Munich to Milan as one journey?
- Booking sites such as Omio and Deutsche Bahn show combined Munich to Milan journeys with the change at Verona. Before you pay, check whether your journey is issued as a single booking and what the conditions say if a delay makes you miss the connection at Verona.
- Do I need a seat reservation from Munich to Milan?
- On the Railjet over the Brenner a seat reservation is optional. Frecciarossa trains require a reservation, as do EuroCity trains between Italy and Switzerland, which some Verona to Milan connections use. Check that your booking includes a seat on any leg that needs one.
- Can I use an Interrail pass from Munich to Milan?
- Interrail says seat reservations are optional on the Brenner EuroCity and Railjet trains, but pass holders travelling to, from or within Italy must pay a supplement on them. The onward Frecciarossa and EuroCity trains to Milan need reservations, which are booked and paid for separately from the pass.
- Is the train from Munich to Milan scenic?
- Yes, the first half especially. The Railjet runs along the Inn valley to Innsbruck, climbs to the Brenner Pass on the Austrian-Italian border, then descends through South Tyrol and the Adige valley past vineyards and mountainsides towards Verona. The final leg from Verona to Milan crosses the flat Po plain.
- When will the direct Frecciarossa from Munich to Milan start?
- FS Italiane and Deutsche Bahn have announced it for summer 2027, with one train each way a day between Munich and Milan, but the start depends on the trains completing international approval. No exact date, timetable or ticket sales had been announced when this guide was written. Until then, travel with a change at Verona.
- Which station do trains arrive at in Milan?
- The connections from Verona we checked arrive at Milano Centrale, Milan's main station, which has metro, tram and suburban rail connections across the city. The Duomo is a short metro ride away.
Continue Your Journey
Routes that pair naturally with this one — for building your European itinerary.
Interrail and the Swiss Travel Pass — when a pass beats point-to-point tickets and when it does not.
When reservation is mandatory, which side of the train has the views, and how to choose your class.
Munich to Milan is a day across the Alps: a Railjet over the Brenner and down through South Tyrol, one change at Verona, and an hour or so across the Po plain to Milano Centrale, usually around 7 to 8 hours in all. Book the combination that suits you, check the reservations on each leg, and keep an eye on the direct Frecciarossa planned for summer 2027.
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