Milan Airport Information...
For the Savvy Traveler

The main Milan airport is called Malpensa and abbreviated MXP. It is located 45km (29 miles) NW of Milan and made up of two terminals connected by shuttle bus. There are two other airports near Milan - Linate and Orio al Serio; the latter located in the nearby town of Bergamo.

Milan's Malpensa airport has a wide range of facilities available like banks, change bureaus, post offices, public telephones and parking in both terminals. The majority of car rental services are in Terminal 1. If driving, take the A8 'Autostrada dei Laghi' (literally 'Highway of the Lakes') to get to Como.

Buses at Malpensa

Every 15 minutes or so, there are buses that can take you to Milan's central train station from both terminals - Milano Centrale. As soon as you arrive at the airport you'll see many booths of different companies that advertise tickets for the shuttle buses into downtown Milan.

However, my advice is to go directly to the where the bus stands are located and watch for the signs "Milano Centrale". Ask which bus is leaving first and then get a ticket directly from the driver. This way you'll get the cheapest deal, and won't have to wait long for the next bus.

Trains at Malpensa

There is an express train directly from Milan Malpensa airport to Malpensa Nord Station. (Cost: about 7 Euros) Keep in mind that this is not the Main Central station in Milan. You will have to take the subway or taxi to get to the central station.

However, from the Malpensa Nord Station there is a direct train which goes to Como’s Nord Lago Station which drops you off right at the ferry terminal in Como. If you plan to travel by boat or bus, after arriving in Como, this is the best connection for you since from Milan’s central station you can only get to the other station in Como called S. Giovanni.

From the S. Giovanni station you can get on a bus to Bellagio or any of the other towns on the western leg of Lake Como, but it would be a bit of a walk to get to the ferry harbor from this station.

Hotels near Malpensa and a Word of Caution

Keep in mind that if you arrive late in the evening, it is difficult to rely on public transportation to get you to Lake Como as their are no late buses or ferries. (The last C10 bus leaves at 18:44 from the Como station). You may also not feel like driving in the dark - remember that the sun goes down much faster in Lake Como due to the tall mountains.

So if this is the case...fortunately, there are some great hotels near Malpensa airport with sound-proof windows that can block out air traffic noise.

The four-star First Hotel near Malpensa Airport (tel: (0)3 31 717 045) is situated at the airport, mid-way between the terminals. Travelers should phone the hotel upon arrival at the airport for free shuttle pick-up. The Hotel Villa Malpensa (tel: (0)3 31 230 944) is located in front of Terminal 1 in an early 20th century villa.

The Other Milan Airports

Linate Milan aiport is a smaller airport which used to be the main Milan airport until lack of space and increasingly high demand caused most airlines to turn over to Malpensa airport. The nice thing about landing here is its short proximity to Milan (10km). There is a shuttle bus that conveniently takes you to the city center. If driving, the P41 takes you right to Como.

Orio al Serio Milan airport serves the low-cost airlines of Milan. It is located 45km from Milan and 5km from Bergamo.There are frequent buses that can take you to Milan and Bergamo. If driving you can take the A4 highway into Milan and then switch to the A8 to Como. By train, it is best to take the direct train from Bergamo to Lecco. Then switch trains to get to Varenna (east side of Lake Como) from which you can take a ferry to the other side of the lake and Bellagio.


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