Cheap flights to Milan, Italy from $160

Milan Travel Guide

Don’t underestimate Milan’s style. The fashion capital of Italy welcomes fashion moguls, supermodels and paparazzi when the city rolls out the catwalk for the spring and fall fashion shows. Italy’s richest city certainly has a soft-spot for drama – just ask Valentino, Versace or Armani, who, among others, board flights to Milan to debut the upcoming season’s new trend. But there’s more to Milan than star-studded stilettos.

Rich in wealth and in culture, visitors booking cheap flights to Milan will get a lot more than they paid for. The city’s historical value is priceless. Visit the resting place of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, which survived a direct hit in WWII. Explore Milan’s central Cathedral and take a walk through Mussolini’s central station. Whether your flight to Milan is pre-empted by a history lecture or a fashion lesson, there’s nothing more marvelous than Italy’s stylish city.

Getting to and around the city of Milan

There are three different airports near Milan, and although you’ll usually find cheap flights for Malpensa, you could also end up at Linate or Bergamo.

Malpensa:

The most frequently-used option is to take one of the buses that go from the airport to the city center, however it is best not to pre-purchase your ticket for this, as even when certain ‘discounts’ are applied, you’ll still be paying more than necessary. There is usually a seller at the door of the bus who will sell you tickets for a lower price, although they only take cash so make sure you have some on you before you land. You could also opt for the train which is cheap and runs regularly. The train is definitely more suited if you don’t have too much baggage with you and want to arrive quickly. Lastly, you can opt for a taxi, however you could be looking at around 70 to 80 euros for a one-way trip, making it extremely expensive.

Bergamo:

There is no train service, so your best bet would be to hop onto one of the many buses that arrive here. Purchase a ticket from the bus directly for the best prices and don’t expect to wait around longer than 20 to 30 minutes or so. There aren’t any baggage restrictions either, so the only inconvenience for taking too much will be your own ability to carry it all. You could hail a taxi but it is very expensive. You can negotiate with the driver but the price will vary, depending on with whom you’re dealing. Avoid taxis unless you want to give away your money.

Linate:

There are frequent buses around every half an hour that pull up directly outside of the arrivals terminal. From here, you can stay on the bus all the way to the center of the city for a fraction of the price of a taxi. If you do decide you don’t want to get a bus, a taxi is the only other option unless you have arranged transport when you first booked your flights to Milan. Taxis can charge more depending on the time of day and the driver, although some might try and charge more than this.

Between walking and using the city’s efficient public transportation, you won’t have any trouble getting around Milan. The buses and trams run all night long and the metro stops at midnight. Buy tickets at Metropolitana Milanese (MM) stations and some newspaper stands, but be aware that the tickets expire. Stamp your ticket when you board; failure to do so can cost you a huge fine. Taxis have to be picked up at stands, and you will be charged extra for luggage, late night trips and Sunday rides. Driving is not recommended. There are many one-way streets and reckless drivers and few parking spots. If you must drive, leave the car at an MM station outside the city.

Tips for your stay in Milan

• The quadrilatero della moda, made up of via Montenapoleone, via della Spiga, Sant’Andreaand via Manzoni is home to the high priests of fashion including Gucci, Moschino and Giorgio Armani. Those without gold cards can find last year’s stock at Salvagente. Fashion houses in Milan include Versace, Roberto Cavalli and Giorgio Armani. And for more shopping, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a huge shopping arcade with cafés, restaurants, and shops.
• The Duomo(cathedral), in the center of town, was started in the 14th century and only finished in the early 19th century – it has a mix of architectural styles. The views from the roof are beautiful and take in the city and the Alps.
• Leonardo da Vinci spent almost 20 years in Milan under the patronage of the Sforza family. His Last Supperfresco can be seen in the Church and Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie. He also worked on the city’s waterways, designing canals and locks. Although many of the navigli have long since been paved over, the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese are still operating. Where they meet, the Navigli district, is home to bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Visit in the early evening. The bars have free nibbles for a short time.
• La Scalaopera house is world famous. Built in 1778, it has had a major renovation in the past couple of years. It has a museum, which has paintings, costumes, statues and other artifacts covering the opera house’s long history.

Finding Flights from Milan

When you depart from Milan, you typically leave via the Milan Malpensa airport. The most trafficked international airport in norther Italy, Milan Malpensa sits about 20 minutes from downtown Milan. If you’re leaving from the city, it’s typically extremely easy to get to the airport by bus, car or train, and many area hotels provide free shuttle service. If you need to transfer between terminals when you arrive, the airport offers a free shuttle that runs 24/7, with minutes between runs sitting at roughly every 7 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and every 30 minutes between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Airlines that offer flights back to the U.S. include Delta, United, American Airlines and jetBlue, among others.

Milan, Italy airport overview

Linate International Airport (LIN), officially called Airport Enrico Forlanini – after the Italian inventor and aeronautical engineer born in Milan – is one of three major airports in Milan. It was completely reconstructed in the 1950s, as well as the 1980s, in order to accommodate the increasing number of tourists visiting the area each year, and in 2010 it handled more than 8 million passengers. Flights to Milan Linate International Airport come from hubs in the UK and Europe.

Comprising one fairly tired-looking terminal building with two levels, Linate International can be somewhat crowded and chaotic at times. Thankfully, however, staff are friendly and helpful. There are five airbridges, which means that numerous flights are boarded via airport shuttles, thus increasing waiting times for many passengers.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of using Linate International is its close proximity to the city center. Located only 4.8 miles (7.8km) south-east of Milan, it’s a short, 15-minute drive to the capital of Lombardy.