Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) Flights & Information

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the largest airport in the northern part of Italy and also the busiest of the three airports in the country’s second largest city. It is the primary gateway for long-haul flights with destinations ranging from North America to Asia. While Alitalia (now ITA Airways) has closed its hub here, this remains an important airport in Italy. It has two terminals to serve passengers, and they have a wide variety of shops, restaurants and lounges to enjoy while waiting for your departure. This guide will help you navigate Milan Malpensa airport to explore what it has to offer without missing your flight.

Airport layout and design

There are two terminals here. One is for low-fare airline easyJet and the other serves all other carriers at the airport. Shuttle buses connect the two, but if you are building your own connection using separate tickets to go between a full-service airline and easyJet, I would highly recommend allowing at least 3-4 hours between the flights. You will need to collect your bags from one itinerary and check them in again for the other.

Terminal 1 is the busiest spot at the airport serving all U.S. departures as well as flights to the rest of Europe and the world. It is divided into three concourses, each one serving its own purpose like short-haul European flights or long-haul, intercontinental flights.

The concourses are interconnected, but it can take time to go between them, especially since you will have to pass through immigration if flying overseas.

Terminal 2 is the home for easyJet flights, and the airline flies to nearly three dozen airports from Milan Malpensa. It uses mostly bus gates rather than jet bridges for passengers to board their plane. Its primary competition is Ryanair at Milan Bergamo airport, which is also not close to central Milan.

Amenities at the airport

The shopping at Malpensa is very impressive, although not surprising for a city that has made its name in high fashion and top industries. You can buy everything from fancy handbags and couture clothing to typical souvenirs and Italian culinary favorites.

It could not get more Italian, in my book, with the way the airport groups these venues into different areas. It calls them by different piazza names, and I think that is one of the most clever ways for an airport to encourage travelers to explore beyond their gate. Piazza del Lusso, Piazza del Pop and Piazza del Gusto are the three shopping and dining venues, the first two for luxury shops and the latter for dining.

My favorite restaurant is either Pastasciutta Come A Casa or Chef Kitchen, both of which are in Terminal 1’s Piazza del Gusto. You can expect freshly made, al dente pasta dishes and panini piled high with top-quality ingredients. My favorite is the penne arrabbiata or trofie al pesto (a Ligurian specialty, and one of my favorites).

I also like to buy things like pasta, salami and pesto in the gourmet shops to bring home as gifts. Just be sure to ask the store staff if your purchases are allowed to take into a foreign country (some cheeses and meats are not permitted, for example).

Rossopomodoro makes traditional Neapolitan pizza on the spot, and you can bring a hefty slice directly to your gate. It is worth going out of your way to go and check it out. If you are after chocolate or gelato, there is no better option at the airport than Venchi, a famous Italian chain. I recommend the pistachio gelato, hands down.

Among the famous brands are Armani, Bulgari, Gucci, Hermes and Salvatore Ferragamo. And lest you think that people do not make large-scale purchases when they travel, you would be wrong. Many passengers, especially those from the Middle East, take advantage of the duty-free prices for these high-ticket items. This is a much better place to buy them than in the city, unless you know to take advantage of the VAT refund system.

Terminal 2 has similar options, but not as many as in Terminal 1. Many of them are geared around grab-and-go food that passengers can take on the plane, especially popular on low-cost airlines like easyJet where any onboard food and beverage is shelf-stable and for sale.

In the departure area of Terminal 2, there are several sleeping pod rooms that you can rent by the hour. This is easier than taking a shuttle to an airport hotel for a long layover. There is an onsite property, the Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, directly connected to the airport. They offer day-use rates, but expect to pay mightily for the convenience.

Premium Malpensa perks

Passengers traveling in business or first class and those with top elite status can use the fast track lanes at security. If you do not have an eligible boarding pass, it is also possible to purchase access to this time-saving lane on the airport’s website. It is available in both terminals, and if you are on easyJet (especially during the rush-hour morning hours) can be a convenience.

The airport-operated lounges are attractive, and I like the views of the aircraft from the Sala Monteverdi in Terminal 1. These lounges are also accessible via Priority Pass, which is available for paid membership or comes as a perk of many credit cards.

There are Priority Pass lounge options in both terminals. Another lounge that I like at MXP is the Lufthansa Business Lounge in Concourse A of Terminal 1 if you are traveling on a Schengen flight with the airline or a Star Alliance partner.

VIP service is also available for a fee, but I would not recommend it unless you are pressed for time or unfamiliar with international travel. Among its perks include porter assistance as soon as you arrive at the airport, fast track access and a dedicated staffer that can walk you through the terminal.

Nearby airports

Malpensa airport is quite far from the city center, about 30 miles to the northwest. This means that it can be a chore to travel to if coming from downtown Milan, especially with traffic. The city has another airport, Milan Linate, which is within the city limits. The length of its runway, however, makes it only suitable for regional flights.

Long-haul travelers will have to use Malpensa airport instead. Milan Bergamo airport is even farther from the city of Milan, but it is used primarily by low-cost airlines like Norwegian and Ryanair.

With three airports in Milan, it is worth comparing prices to see which option has the best deal. But, chances are that Malpensa is the only option for long-haul flights, unless you fly from Linate and connect through another hub airport.

How to get to or from MXP

There are several ways to reach the airport from the city center. The most convenient is taking the Malpensa Express train from Milan Central Station, which takes around 45 minutes. There is also an airport bus that goes from the train station, too. It is cheaper, but takes longer (over an hour), especially if there is traffic.

There are also rideshare services, taxis and rental car agencies that provide the most convenient alternative to reach the airport. The public bus system (lines 91 or 92) may be the cheapest way to get there, but could also take the longest.

If you have a long layover at MXP (of at least six hours, in my opinion), it is possible to go into town. I recommend taking the train to explore famous sights like the Duomo di Milano cathedral, which is next to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele for some shopping and dining. Or you can walk through the Castello Visconti di San Vito for a historic stroll.

Third-party services allow you to leave luggage behind in a storage area for an extra fee. This can make it easier for you to do a bit of sightseeing in town.

Interesting facts about Milan Malpensa

Recently, the airport was renamed for Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister and a divisive politician among Italians. When the name was updated, many locals were outraged at the name change.

The airport is located within a nature reserve that belongs to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. If you want to go hiking or walking around the airport on a long layover, there is plenty of nature to explore, but you will want to store your luggage first.

The busiest domestic passenger destinations from Malpensa are both on Sicily, Catania and Palermo. The most popular international destinations are Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam.

New York JFK is the most popular long-haul flight and operated by many airlines. This means competition is strong, and you can often get a good deal on a transatlantic flight from MXP. Sometimes, I book flights to or from Milan and then book a separate ticket to my final destination. Don’t forget that Emirates flies this route to New York and can offer a very swanky flight.