The route: what you see from a 1930s tram at night in Milan
In three hours the tram crosses the centre of Milan and passes nine places: Porta Venezia, La Scala opera house, the Duomo, via Torino, the Colonne di San Lorenzo, piazza Fontana, the Sforza Castle, the Navigli canals with the Darsena, and the Arco della Pace. The route can be personalised, and the three hours are counted from when the tram leaves the depot, with two fifteen-minute stops. At night the centre is empty and the tram runs slowly: that is why people spend half the party at the windows.
The route is not a guided tour: it is the backdrop to your party. But it is a backdrop worth knowing in advance, not least to decide where to take the two stops.
The nine places, in the order they arrive
- Porta Venezia. Liberty-style buildings and wide avenues: this is where the first toast happens, while the dj turns the music up for the first time.
- La Scala. The tram passes the façade, often as the audience is leaving a performance. Seen from the window of a 1930s tram, it stays with you.
- The Duomo. The moment everybody turns around. At night the façade is lit and the square is half empty: this is the photograph of the evening.
- Via Torino. The narrowest stretch, with shop windows a couple of metres from the tram on both sides.
- Colonne di San Lorenzo. Sixteen Roman columns and people sitting in front of them: the point where you understand that Milan, at night, lives outdoors.
- Piazza Fontana. A short, quiet passage, two steps from the Duomo.
- Sforza Castle. The tram runs along the lit walls: this is also one of the points where ATM sometimes sets the pick-up of guests.
- Navigli and Darsena. Water, busy bars, lights on the canal. The favourite area for the second stop.
- Arco della Pace. The end of the ride, with the arch lit at the end of the avenue.
How the three hours are spent
| Stage | Roughly | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving the depot and getting there | about 20 minutes | from the depot towards the ring of the bastioni |
| First loop in the centre | about 1 hour | Porta Venezia, La Scala, Duomo, via Torino |
| First stop | 15 minutes | usually around the Colonne or the centre |
| Second loop | about 50 minutes | Castle, Navigli, Darsena |
| Second stop | 15 minutes | often at the Darsena: the cake break |
| Back | about 20 minutes | Arco della Pace and return |
These times are indicative: the tram runs on lines in service and the evening traffic has its say. If you ask for a wider loop — passing under the window of the person celebrating, for instance — it can be done, but that time comes off the centre.
What time to start
You can book at any hour, any day; the last available slot runs from 22:00 to 01:00. To see the city lit with empty streets, the best slot starts after 21:00: before that you meet the traffic of offices and restaurants, after it the centre empties out. In summer, leaving at 19:00 gets you the sunset over the Navigli instead — a different film, just as good.
Is there a place you want in the route? Write it in the form below together with your date: we will tell you whether the route allows it and how much time it takes off the rest.
Questions everybody asks
Can the route be changed?
Yes, within the limits of the existing tram lines and of the clock: the three hours are counted from when the tram leaves the depot.
Where does the tram stop?
Two fifteen-minute stops, agreed in advance. The most requested are the Colonne di San Lorenzo area and the Darsena.
Where does it leave from?
From the ATM depot in Milan, usually in piazzale Perrucchetti, or from piazza Castello. The exact point is assigned by ATM and we confirm it as soon as they tell us.
Can you see well from the windows?
Yes: the windows of the historic car are large and they open, and at night the tram runs slowly.
Updated 8 November 2026.
Discotram Milano — parties on historic ATM trams since 2008. Via Volterra 12, Milan · info@discotram.it · +39 345 4779465 and +39 335 1296433, Monday to Friday 9:00–18:00.
In three hours the tram crosses the centre of Milan and passes nine places: Porta Venezia, La Scala opera house, the Duomo, via Torino, the Colonne di San Lorenzo, piazza Fontana, the Sforza Castle, the Navigli canals with the Darsena, and the Arco della Pace. The route can be personalised, and the three hours are counted from when the tram leaves the depot, with two fifteen-minute stops. At night the centre is empty and the tram runs slowly: that is why people spend half the party at the windows.
The route is not a guided tour: it is the backdrop to your party. But it is a backdrop worth knowing in advance, not least to decide where to take the two stops.
The nine places, in the order they arrive
- Porta Venezia. Liberty-style buildings and wide avenues: this is where the first toast happens, while the dj turns the music up for the first time.
- La Scala. The tram passes the façade, often as the audience is leaving a performance. Seen from the window of a 1930s tram, it stays with you.
- The Duomo. The moment everybody turns around. At night the façade is lit and the square is half empty: this is the photograph of the evening.
- Via Torino. The narrowest stretch, with shop windows a couple of metres from the tram on both sides.
- Colonne di San Lorenzo. Sixteen Roman columns and people sitting in front of them: the point where you understand that Milan, at night, lives outdoors.
- Piazza Fontana. A short, quiet passage, two steps from the Duomo.
- Sforza Castle. The tram runs along the lit walls: this is also one of the points where ATM sometimes sets the pick-up of guests.
- Navigli and Darsena. Water, busy bars, lights on the canal. The favourite area for the second stop.
- Arco della Pace. The end of the ride, with the arch lit at the end of the avenue.
How the three hours are spent
| Stage | Roughly | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving the depot and getting there | about 20 minutes | from the depot towards the ring of the bastioni |
| First loop in the centre | about 1 hour | Porta Venezia, La Scala, Duomo, via Torino |
| First stop | 15 minutes | usually around the Colonne or the centre |
| Second loop | about 50 minutes | Castle, Navigli, Darsena |
| Second stop | 15 minutes | often at the Darsena: the cake break |
| Back | about 20 minutes | Arco della Pace and return |
These times are indicative: the tram runs on lines in service and the evening traffic has its say. If you ask for a wider loop — passing under the window of the person celebrating, for instance — it can be done, but that time comes off the centre.
What time to start
You can book at any hour, any day; the last available slot runs from 22:00 to 01:00. To see the city lit with empty streets, the best slot starts after 21:00: before that you meet the traffic of offices and restaurants, after it the centre empties out. In summer, leaving at 19:00 gets you the sunset over the Navigli instead — a different film, just as good.
Is there a place you want in the route? Write it in the form below together with your date: we will tell you whether the route allows it and how much time it takes off the rest.
Questions everybody asks
Can the route be changed?
Yes, within the limits of the existing tram lines and of the clock: the three hours are counted from when the tram leaves the depot.
Where does the tram stop?
Two fifteen-minute stops, agreed in advance. The most requested are the Colonne di San Lorenzo area and the Darsena.
Where does it leave from?
From the ATM depot in Milan, usually in piazzale Perrucchetti, or from piazza Castello. The exact point is assigned by ATM and we confirm it as soon as they tell us.
Can you see well from the windows?
Yes: the windows of the historic car are large and they open, and at night the tram runs slowly.
Updated 8 November 2026.
Discotram Milano — parties on historic ATM trams since 2008. Via Volterra 12, Milan · info@discotram.it · +39 345 4779465 and +39 335 1296433, Monday to Friday 9:00–18:00.