Milan – Malpensa Airport

Milano Malpensa Airport is the largest of the three airports that serve the city of Milan and is located 50 km (31 mi) northwest from the city center. After Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome is Malpensa Airport the busiest airport in Italy with over 22 million passengers per year. The airport has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) and a cargo terminal. Terminal 1 is the largest terminal and has four floors. This terminal is used by all airlines except by EasyJet. Terminal 2 is exclusively used by EasyJet and is therefore a smaller terminal with only two floors. In both terminals are shops, bars and restaurants, but most of them are in T1 as it is the largest terminal. The VIP lounge and the exclusive shops from luxury brands like Gucci, Bvlgari and Hermès are only available in T1. There is a free shuttle bus service available that connects the two terminals 24-hours a day.

By bus
The bus to Milan (as well as the free shuttle bus between the terminals) can be found outside in front of the terminals. There are also several coaches that bring you directly from Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale railway station in about 65 minutes, but it is also possible to catch a coach to other destinations like Fiera Milano City / Fiera Rho Pero and Milan Linate airport. Examples of companies that offer coach services are Terravision, Autostradale Airport Bus Express and Malpensa Shuttle. The bus or coach are the cheapest way to get to the city center of Milan, but it is also less convenient than the other options as it doesn’t bring you directly to your final destination and it takes the longest ride.

By train
With the Malpensa Express from Trenord is it possible to take the train directly from Malpensa Airport to the large railway stations of Milan like Cadorna, Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi. The total journey from Milano Centrale to Malpensa Airport Terminal 1 takes about 50 minutes and an additional 5 minutes to Terminal 2. This train stops at the underground level of T1 as well as T2. More information about the Malpensa Express like prices and timetables can be found on the Malpensa Express website.

By renting a car
The several companies that offer rental cars at Malpensa Airport can be found on the ground floor of T1 and at the railway station, adjacent to T2. These companies include the well-known car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.

If you want to make sure that your favorite car is available at the best price it is advised to book your car well in advance via a car rental comparison website. Often does the price go up when there is a shorter period between the actual pick-up and the booking. In holiday seasons it is often the case that the most popular cars are already reserved by the many tourists that visit Milan and the regions of Lombardy and Piemonte. It is also a big time saver that you don’t have to compare all the different car rental desks at the airport and to figure out whether your favorite car is still available. You can just pick up the keys and get your car that they already have prepared for you.

By taxi
At Malpensa Airport are the taxi stands outside at exit gate 6 of T1 and at exit gate 4 of T2. There are various companies available that offer their services. Taking a taxi from Malpensa Airport to the city center of Milan takes about 50 minutes which is about as long as a journey by bus, but the taxi brings you from the airport directly to the doorstep of your hotel. On the other hand is a taxi more expensive than a bus. The legal taxis in Milan are white, metered and are allowed to take a maximum of four passengers with them. Taxis that have a sticker with the text “Taxi autorizzato per il servizio aeroportuale Lombardo” have a fixed rate for a journey between Malpensa Airport and the city center of Milan. Then you are sure that no extra charges will apply. When you book a taxi in advance you will also be sure that you drive with an official company, but it also has the advantage that you don’t have to search for an available taxi as the chauffeur will be waiting for you as soon as you arrive at the airport.