Travel

30
Apr 2026
13:15 UTC

Italy Tactical: Major road closures announced due to Stramilano racing event in central Milan on May 3; keep abreast of updates

Current Situation

  • On May 3, Stramilano, the annual running event, will take place in Milan.  
  • The Stramilano Half Marathon starts and finishes at Piazza Castello, with a start time of 08:30 (local time). The route is a loop, heading out through the Cerchia dei Viali, passing through areas including Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Oberdan, Piazza Cinque Giornate, Piazza XXIV Maggio, and Viale Papiniano, before turning at Piazza Michelangelo Buonarroti and returning along the same circuit back to Piazza Castello. 
  • The 10-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 10:00 from Piazza del Duomo, finishing at Arco della Pace, passing through several central Milan areas. 
  • The 5-kilometer race will also take place from Piazza del Duomo, finishing at Arco della Pace, albeit via a different route. 
  • The detailed routes of these races are available here.   
  • In preparation for the event, phased travel restrictions will be implemented across Milan on May 3, broadly between 08:00 and 13:00, affecting key sections of the Cerchia dei Viali from Piazzale Oberdan to Piazzale Aquileia. Additional disruptions will impact the city centre, including Via Mengoni, Via Santa Margherita, Piazza della Scala, and areas around Piazza San Babila and Corso Venezia, as well as the Quadrilatero district (Via Palestro, Via Senato, Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni) and surrounding areas of Largo Cairoli and Piazzale Cadorna. 
  • Public transport in Milan will face widespread disruption during the event, with numerous tram and bus services diverted, limited, or suspended until around 12:30. Tram lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 24, and 27 and bus routes 43, 50, 57, 58, 60, 61, 65, 67, 68, 84, 85, and 94 will operate on modified or partial service, while Line B9 will be suspended. Additionally, M1 and M3 metro lines will not stop at Duomo station, and passengers are advised to use San Babila or Cordusio as alternatives. Travelers should monitor updates from ATM Milano, the municipal public transport company of Milan, for real-time changes here. (In Italian) 

Source: Stramilano

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on previous editions, with the 2025 event drawing approximately 55,000 participants, the May 3 Stramilano is expected to attract a combined turnout in the high tens of thousands of participants and spectators.
  2. Given the extensive road closures, significant travel disruptions are expected across Milan throughout the day. Concurrent disruptions to bus and tram services will likely drive increased reliance on the metro network, resulting in elevated congestion at key interchange stations and along central lines. Access to central districts and key commercial areas will be severely constrained, with diversions likely to create congestion spillover into the surrounding neighborhood.
  3. While authorities have not indicated any specific threat to the marathon events, they are likely to remain on heightened alert for potential Islamist and extremist plots targeting the events, as large crowds present a plausible target for such attacks. Also, due to large crowds, the threat of opportunistic crimes, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, remains elevated.
  4. Security measures are likely to include armed police, security cordons along the race routes, and screening measures at all entrance points. Moreover, heightened security is likely at nearby transportation hubs.

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in Milan on May 3 are advised to allot for significant disruptions to travel across central areas due to the road closures and transport changes for the slated racing event.
  2. Keep abreast of official updates regarding travel restrictions in the central areas as well.
  3. Maintain awareness of your belongings in areas with large crowds of spectators due to the risk of pickpocketing and other opportunistic crimes.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Milan, Italy
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Confirmed

Current Situation

  • On May 3, Stramilano, the annual running event, will take place in Milan.  
  • The Stramilano Half Marathon starts and finishes at Piazza Castello, with a start time of 08:30 (local time). The route is a loop, heading out through the Cerchia dei Viali, passing through areas including Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Oberdan, Piazza Cinque Giornate, Piazza XXIV Maggio, and Viale Papiniano, before turning at Piazza Michelangelo Buonarroti and returning along the same circuit back to Piazza Castello. 
  • The 10-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 10:00 from Piazza del Duomo, finishing at Arco della Pace, passing through several central Milan areas. 
  • The 5-kilometer race will also take place from Piazza del Duomo, finishing at Arco della Pace, albeit via a different route. 
  • The detailed routes of these races are available here.   
  • In preparation for the event, phased travel restrictions will be implemented across Milan on May 3, broadly between 08:00 and 13:00, affecting key sections of the Cerchia dei Viali from Piazzale Oberdan to Piazzale Aquileia. Additional disruptions will impact the city centre, including Via Mengoni, Via Santa Margherita, Piazza della Scala, and areas around Piazza San Babila and Corso Venezia, as well as the Quadrilatero district (Via Palestro, Via Senato, Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni) and surrounding areas of Largo Cairoli and Piazzale Cadorna. 
  • Public transport in Milan will face widespread disruption during the event, with numerous tram and bus services diverted, limited, or suspended until around 12:30. Tram lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 24, and 27 and bus routes 43, 50, 57, 58, 60, 61, 65, 67, 68, 84, 85, and 94 will operate on modified or partial service, while Line B9 will be suspended. Additionally, M1 and M3 metro lines will not stop at Duomo station, and passengers are advised to use San Babila or Cordusio as alternatives. Travelers should monitor updates from ATM Milano, the municipal public transport company of Milan, for real-time changes here. (In Italian) 

Source: Stramilano

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on previous editions, with the 2025 event drawing approximately 55,000 participants, the May 3 Stramilano is expected to attract a combined turnout in the high tens of thousands of participants and spectators.
  2. Given the extensive road closures, significant travel disruptions are expected across Milan throughout the day. Concurrent disruptions to bus and tram services will likely drive increased reliance on the metro network, resulting in elevated congestion at key interchange stations and along central lines. Access to central districts and key commercial areas will be severely constrained, with diversions likely to create congestion spillover into the surrounding neighborhood.
  3. While authorities have not indicated any specific threat to the marathon events, they are likely to remain on heightened alert for potential Islamist and extremist plots targeting the events, as large crowds present a plausible target for such attacks. Also, due to large crowds, the threat of opportunistic crimes, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, remains elevated.
  4. Security measures are likely to include armed police, security cordons along the race routes, and screening measures at all entrance points. Moreover, heightened security is likely at nearby transportation hubs.

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in Milan on May 3 are advised to allot for significant disruptions to travel across central areas due to the road closures and transport changes for the slated racing event.
  2. Keep abreast of official updates regarding travel restrictions in the central areas as well.
  3. Maintain awareness of your belongings in areas with large crowds of spectators due to the risk of pickpocketing and other opportunistic crimes.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Milan, Italy
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Confirmed

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