Area C Milano
Where and What is Area C?
Area C is an 8.2 square kilometer (3.2 square mile) congestion charge zone and limited traffic zone (in Italian: Zona a Traffico Limitato - ZTL) in the central Cerchia dei Bastioni area of the city of Milan with restricted vehicle access. To enter this area with a vehicle you have to pay a congestion charge by purchasing a special entrance ticket.
Latest news: Area B Free Days for Banned Vehicles: How They Work Since October 1, 2026
Milan actually has two major limited traffic zones: Area C, which covers the historic city center, and Area B, which spans nearly the entire urban area. While this guide focuses on Area C and how to pay the entrance fee, you can learn more about the broader environmental restrictions in Area B here.
Click here to see a map of Area C.
How much do I have to pay?
Starting from October 2023 the price of a standard ticket, valid for one day, is 7.5 euros. You can also purchase multiple access tickets or top-up the PIN associated with your car's license plate with 45 or 90 euros, so you can enter the area multiple times until your credit runs out.
For a complete breakdown of Area C ticket prices and options, see our full guide to Area C cost.
How and where do I pay for the entrance ticket?
You can buy the entrance ticket online on MyAreaC, the official Area C site, at Intesa Sanpaolo bank cash machines, at parking meters, by calling the call center on +39 02 48684001, or at Lottomatica and SISAL outlets (Italian lottery and bill-payment counters, found in many tobacconists). Garage tickets are sold at affiliated garages (“autorimesse convenzionate”). With Telepass or Unipol, the ticket is activated automatically once you enable the service and register your vehicle. Paper tickets are no longer sold, and those still in circulation could be activated only online, and only until October 29, 2024.
Here is how to pay for the entrance ticket online.
Payment Methods
Online, on MyAreaC, you can pay with PayPal or with a VISA or Mastercard card. You can pay with a debit card when you pay via Telepass for a vehicle that is registered in Italy.
Do I have to purchase an entrance ticket if I don’t have a car?
You need an entrance ticket only if you plan to drive into the restricted area by car. If you’re planning to walk, no ticket is required. Additionally, if you plan to enter by public transportation, you do not need to purchase a ticket.
Do I have to activate the ticket?
Yes: every ticket must be activated, that is, linked to your vehicle's number plate. Often this happens when you buy it: tickets bought at Intesa Sanpaolo bank cash machines, parking meters, the call center, Lottomatica or SISAL, or on MyAreaC while logged in to your profile are activated at once, and with Telepass or Unipol activation is automatic. Garage tickets, tickets bought online without logging in and the €22.50 late ticket must be activated after you buy them.
Pay for and activate your ticket on the day you enter, or by midnight of the next day at the latest; garage tickets by midnight of the day you enter. A ticket activated on a day before you enter does not count, unless it is credit added to a plate already linked to a MyAreaC profile. After midnight of the day after you entered, you can still settle the entry within 7 days of entering with the €22.50 late ticket (“ticket differito” in Italian), which can only be activated from your personal MyAreaC page.
Here you can find the different ways to activate your ticket, and you can also follow our step-by-step guide for the activation of the ticket online.
Do I have to pay each time I enter?
Your entrance ticket is valid for one calendar day, not 24 hours: from your first entry until 7:30 PM, you can enter and leave as often as you like.
How can I enter?
You drive into Area C through one of its gates, where cameras read number plates. There are 43 gates, and 6 of them are for public transportation only.
If you’re unsure how the entrance looks on the street, here’s how to spot an entrance to Milan area C.
How are the restrictions enforced? Can’t I just drive through?
The restricted zone is monitored by cameras to make sure that no one enters the zone without a proper ticket. If you don't enter the area according to the rules, you can get a fine. For detailed information on how to avoid these fines and manage any penalties, read our guide to Avoiding Fines in Milan's Area C.
What are Area C Operating Hours and Days?
Restrictions are only active on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM. On weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and public holidays, the restrictions are suspended and you can enter without a ticket. For more information on whether the zone is active, see our guide to Area C today.
Are certain types of vehicles forbidden from entering, even with a ticket?
Access is currently prohibited for petrol vehicles classified as Euro 0, 1, 2, and diesel vehicles classified as Euro 0, 1, 2, 3. Additionally, Euro 4 diesel vehicles without a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) face restrictions, unless exempted on an individual basis. Since October 1, 2025, petrol Euro 3 vehicles have also been banned if they are residents' vehicles, goods vehicles, or taxis and NCC vehicles (hire cars with driver) with up to 9 seats; petrol Euro III buses, including line buses, are banned too. If you drive any other petrol Euro 3 car, check its status with your plate before you drive in (see below). Motorcycles using two-stroke engines classified as Euro 0-1 or those using diesel fuel classified as Euro 0-1 are also barred from entry. Furthermore, any vehicle longer than 7.5 meters is not permitted to enter the area.
For more information, read our detailed guide on Entry Fees, Exemptions, and Restrictions by Vehicle Type in Milan's Area C
If you're unsure about the status of your car, you can easily check it using the official tool provided by the City of Milan. Just follow our step-by-step guide to check your car’s Area C access status using your license plate.
Does every car have to pay? Who can enter for free?
Entrance is free in any of the following cases:
- When accessing the area with electric vehicles
- With hybrid cars with CO2 emissions up to 100 g/km (field V.7 of the registration certificate). Hybrid buses, minibuses and goods vehicles (categories M2, M3, N1, N2 and N3) pay.
- With motorcycles and mopeds, except the banned ones (see above)
- If you’re entering the area with public transportation
- If you’re traveling through the area to go to hospital (for first aid or life-threatening medical situations)
- With a vehicle used by a disabled person who holds the European disability badge
Do foreign cars have to pay too?
Yes, the rules apply to them too.
Do residents have to pay this fee?
Yes, but residents of Area C get 50 free entries a year once they register. From the 51st entry, their ticket costs €3.
Which Attractions Are in the Zone?
If you’re planning to drive in Milan, it’s helpful to know whether your itinerary includes any attractions located inside Area C. To make this easier, we’ve put together a guide that shows which of Milan’s top tourist attractions are inside the zone and which ones are outside. This can help you decide whether you’ll need to purchase a ticket, or if you can avoid the zone altogether. Explore our guide to Milan’s Top Tourist Attractions & Area C
What are the parking options in and around Area C?
Parking directly within the area can be challenging and expensive due to limited availability. It's often more practical to consider parking outside the zone boundary where options are more plentiful and rates are generally lower. For a comprehensive overview of the best parking strategies and locations, refer to our expert guide on parking in and around Area C.
If you’re still haven't chosen a place to stay, our Where to Stay in Milan guide compares the best neighborhoods - inside and outside Area C, so you can pick a hotel in an area that fits how you plan to get around.
Is it possible to enter the area using public transport instead of a car?
Absolutely! The zone is accessible by several public transportation options including buses, trams, the metro and even bicycle with the BikeMi bicycle service. For detailed information about navigating Milan's public transportation, check out our expert guide on Milan's public transport.
Is this scheme permanent? When was it introduced?
Area C, initiated as a trial for 18 months following a June 2011 referendum, addressed Milan's high vehicle pollution. Despite a suspension from July 25th to September 17th, 2012 due to protests, the program proved successful and was made permanent on March 27th, 2013.
What is the purpose of Area C?
There were three main reasons for the introduction of the scheme.
- The first goal was to reduce traffic jams that occurred daily in the central section of Milan. Traffic problems had long plagued the area, mostly caused by transportation of various goods in large trucks.
- Next, the special zone served to promote sustainable transport and public transport in a hope of reducing negative cultural and environmental impact.
- The third hope was that the existing levels of smog, which had become a concern for the 77,000 residents of the affected area and Milano as a whole, would be reduced.
With these restrictions, quality of life has risen. The number of accidents, noise caused by large trucks and vehicles, and uncontrolled parking has also fallen. The air is cleaner and pollution is less rampant.
What happens to the money I pay? What is it used for?
The collected funds are reinvested in mobility infrastructure, including the development of bicycle lanes, pedestrian areas, and designated speed zones.
Does it work?
According to recent data, the initiative has significantly decreased the number of vehicles entering the zone, ensuring that those that do are less polluting. This has led to a marked reduction in area pollution. For a detailed look at the statistics and full impact of Area C on traffic and pollution, visit our in-depth article.