By Air in Milan, Lombardy and the Lakes

By Air

Aeroporto Malpensa (MXP), 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Milan, is the major northern Italian hub for intercontinental flights and also sees substantial European and domestic traffic. The smaller Aeroporto Milano Linate (LIN), 10 km (6 mi) east of Milan, handles additional European and domestic flights.

The Malpensa Express Train connects Malpensa airport to Cadorna station near downtown Milan. The 40-minute train ride costs EUR 9 (EUR 12 round-trip), leaving Cadorna every half hour from 5:50 AM to 8:20 PM and Malpensa every half hour 6:45 AM to 9:45 PM. Malpensa Express Buses make the trip outside of these hours. In addition, Malpensa Shuttle Buses (EUR 5) go to and from Milan's central train station (Stazione Centrale). There are departures every half hour from about 5 AM to 10 PM, and the trip takes about 75 minutes.

From Linate, the municipal Bus 73 runs every 10 minutes to Piazza San Babila in the heart of the city. The trip takes approximately 20 minutes. Tickets cost EUR 1 and are sold at the Arrivals lounge newsstand (by the pharmacy). You can go from Linate to Stazione Centrale on the STARFLY bus, which runs every half hour; tickets are EUR 2.50 and are sold on board.

If you need to get from one airport to the other, you can take the shuttle bus Airpullman (EUR 8), which runs every 90 minutes. The trip takes approximately 90 minutes.

The drive from Malpensa to Milan is about an hour; take Route S336 east to the A8 autostrada southeast. From Linate it's about 10 minutes into the central city; head west following the signs.

Taxis wait directly outside the arrival building doors at Malpensa, and will take you downtown for about EUR 80. The fare from Linate is about EUR 25.

Malpensa is closer to Lakes Como and Maggiore than to Milan itself. If that's where you're headed, it's perfectly feasible to skip the city altogether.

Airport Flight Information

Aeroporto Malpensa & Aeroporto Milano Linate (02/74852200. www.sea-aeroportimilano.it).