Milan Malpensa Airport is the main international gateway to northern Italy and one of Europe’s best connected airports. Fittingly for one of the fashion capitals of the world, it’s an ode to Italian design with a bright, modern yet distinctly retro feel. While it can feel chaotic and huge, it’s well laid out and packed with facilities.
Second only to Rome-Fiumicino in passenger numbers, Malpensa sees 25.9 million travelers pass through each year. As one of Europe’s major international hubs, it offers extensive global connectivity.
Traveling to and from Milan and the Italian Lakes
Malpensa sits around 30 miles from Milan city center, but don’t let that distance worry you. It’s well served by public transport and has easy road links if you’re hiring a car to hit Lombardy, the Dolomites and Italian Lakes (and why wouldn’t you?).
The train is an easy commute. The Malpensa Express rail service gets you into Milan city center in approximately 37 minutes to Milano Cadorna or about 51 minutes to Milano Centrale, with Centrale trains also stopping at Porta Garibaldi and Cadorna services calling at Bovisa for onward connections. Trains depart regularly from airport railway stations at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Unless you’ve hit the Milan shops hard and are burdened by luggage, this is a solid bet.
Airport taxis typically operate at fixed rates, so don’t accept a metered fare unless you enjoy being ripped off. There are also buses to Milan’s central station running every 20 minutes or so. The four operators (Terravision, Malpensa Bus Express, Malpensa Shuttle, and Caronte) offer a similar service, with travel times of approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour and prices starting from €10, comparable to the train.
If you’re heading into Lombardy or the Lakes, you’ll want a rental car to see them properly. You’ll find car rental services available at the airport. I usually go with Drivalia, as I find them a good balance of cost and service. My advice? Avoid Goldcar, which has a pretty shocking reputation.
Navigating the airport
Malpensa operates two terminals separated by a runway. Terminal 1 is the newer, larger hub handling all airlines except for easyJet, covering domestic, international, and intercontinental flights. Low-cost operator easyJet solely occupies Terminal 2. If you’re flying with anyone other than easyJet, you want Terminal 1.
The terminals are separated by a runway, so you’ll need to take the free shuttle bus to travel between them. Follow signs for ‘Terminal Shuttle’ or ‘Navetta’ and not the Malpensa Express. I’ve seen more than one confused traveler accidentally board a train to Milan while trying to make a connection.
The shuttle runs approximately every 15 minutes during the day, but let’s be real, it often runs on its own schedule. Timetables can be erratic and shuttles are often full, meaning a long wait for the next one. If you’re traveling at peak season, give yourself an hour for the connection, just in case. During nighttime hours, the shuttle runs every 30 minutes: from Terminal 1 between 02:30 and 04:00, and from Terminal 2 between 02:15 and 03:45. If things get desperate, you can also take a taxi to the other terminal. I’ve done it before and shared the ride with other stranded passengers to bring the cost down.
Check in, bag drop and security
Even though Malpensa is huge, it still gets crowded. Plan for at least an hour if you’re dropping bags and checking in at the airport, especially during peak season when check-in desks can be understaffed.
Security at Malpensa has a reputation for being slow and a little chaotic. I’ve experienced the full gamut, from walking straight through to waiting more than an hour.
Things are improving though. At Terminal 1, passengers can now carry liquids up to 2 liters and don’t need to separate liquids from hand luggage at security, which speeds things up dramatically. Note that while the European Commission recently reinstated the 100ml limit temporarily, Milan Malpensa Terminal 1 maintains its exception with liquids up to 2 liters allowed without separation. Terminal 2, however, still follows the 100ml rule with liquids in clear bags.
Another choke point is passport control for non-Schengen destinations like the US, where queues can be long. These checks happen after security and closer to the gates, so they’re easy to forget about when you’re distracted by good coffee and cake. Don’t get caught out.
Getting around Terminal 1
Major US airlines like American, Delta, and United fly from here, along with many others like Emirates. ITA Airways recently ceased all operations at Milan Malpensa, consolidating its Milan presence at Linate Airport.
The airport offers numerous direct routes connecting Malpensa to the US, with New York being particularly well-served. Otherwise, like most European airports these days, the major airlines in terms of routes are budget, short-haul carriers.
Terminal 1 gates are split between the main terminal and satellite areas. Here’s how they break down:
Ground floor (main terminal): Gates A24-A30, A50-A61, and B26-B3
Satellite A (gates A1-A11): Domestic and Schengen destinations
Satellite B1 (gates A71-A80, B71-B80): Non-Schengen and some long-haul destinations
Satellite B2 (gates B50-B59): Long-haul destinations, including the US
The satellites house gates away from the main shopping and eating areas, so factor in extra walking time.
T1 shopping, drinking and dining
The main building in T1 is a shopper’s paradise. It’s a massive, lavish combination of three plazas, or ‘piazze’, packed with shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. You’ll find high fashion and high prices in the Piazza del Lusso, which is modeled after Milan’s famed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele mall and features luxury brands including Giorgio Armani (the first single-brand store in a European airport), Bulgari, Burberry, Hermès and Moncler.
My budget leans more towards Piazza del Pop, dedicated to trendy brands and street fashion with stores like Bottega Verde. The chocolates at Venchi are outrageous. While there’s food and drink everywhere, the main focus is at Piazza del Gusto, the airport’s gastronomic hub. My longtime favorite and now-obligatory stop is the wonderful Ferrari Spazio Bollicine.
If you’ve gone wild in the Milan stores and are flying out of the EU, you can claim back your VAT payments before you leave. There are VAT refund desks in T1, just remember to keep your receipts.
Getting around Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is tiny compared to T1, which makes it much easier to navigate. With easyJet as the only airline, the facilities are geared toward the budget travel market. Because of that, you shouldn’t be in a rush to get through security.
The two levels spread out the gates, but there aren’t enough to get lost. I’ve never been able to fathom this layout, but it works.
T2 shopping, drinking and dining
Although the shopping and dining options aren’t on par with T1, you’ll still find better food than in most European airports. This is Italy, after all. Of the handful of restaurants, Stortellini whips up lovely fresh pasta dishes and Pizza Flor bakes a mean pizza, complete with edible flowers, if that’s your thing. You’ll also find various cafés and snack bars including Briciole Bar, Gran Café, and Kimbo, alongside the duty-free.
Lounges
If you’re looking to escape the chaos, T1 has plenty of excellent lounges, though you’d be forgiven for skipping them with so many great shops and restaurants in the main terminal. Several lounges welcome first, business and premium class passengers, but you can also buy access with an economy ticket.
In the non-Schengen area, Montale Lounge is the biggest at approximately 1,240 square meters with 220 seats, and it’s great for families. The Pergolesi Classic Lounge recently reopened following a complete restyling, but the Gae Aulenti Premium Lounge reigns supreme. It’s smaller, more intimate and more luxurious, with excellent food from a self-service buffet to gourmet dishes and à la carte drinks available on request.
T2 has only one lounge, the Alda Merini Classic Lounge. It’s a beautifully designed space set around a central vertical garden with cool backlit images of Milan. With decent food and zones for relaxation and work, it’s a great alternative to the limited amenities in T2, all for the price of a single meal.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
