The city’s major international airport, Milan Malpensa, was given the dubious title of worst airport in Europe, in terms of flight delays and convenience, when it was unveiled in 2000. Luckily, things have improved a bit since. Located 28 miles northwest of the city center, Malpensa has two terminals, simply called 1 (the bigger) and 2 (the old one) that are connected by a free shuttle bus. There are various options for getting to the center of town in relative ease.
By train: The Malpensa Express (39-02-85114382 or 199-151-152) is a special shuttle-train that runs every half hour and gets you from the airport to Ferrovie Nord railway station in the center of Milan (subway stop Cadorna) in about 35 minutes. Tickets (adults €11, kids €5.50) must be purchased from self-service machines in Terminal 1 before boarding the train.
By shuttle: There are a handful of bus options for getting from the airport to Milan’s main railway station, Stazione Centrale. The most popular is Malpensa Shuttle, which gets you there in about 20 minutes. The bus stops at the arrivals floor (exit 4) at the Malpensa Terminal 1 and in front of the arrivals area in Terminal 2. A one-way adult ticket costs €7.50. The shuttle also connects Malpensa and Linate every 2 hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. The trip takes 1 1/4 hours and costs €10. Other shuttle bus companies include Caronte (039-02-2407954), Malpensa Bus Express (039-02-33910794) and Stie (039-03-31519000). Taking the shuttle bus is certainly the most affordable option, but be forewarned that you may very well get stuck in Milan’s legendary traffic.
By taxi: Getting a cab is always the easiest choice when you’re short on time (and it’s not rush hour) or have a lot of luggage to lug around. A taxi may indeed be the only choice if you arrive after midnight. The cab fare to the city center costs €75.
By public transport: Once you do get to the city, getting around Milan is quite easy thanks to an extensive subway system (Metropolitana Milanese), buses and trams. While buses and trams run all night, the Metro closes at midnight. A Metro ticket good for one ride costs €1 and for unlimited travel for one day €3 or €5.50 for two days. Tickets can be purchased at Metro stations and newsstands. Make sure you stamp your ticket when you board or you could be charged a hefty fine.
By car: Driving and parking in Milan are not experiences you will enjoy. But sometimes there is no other choice. Most major car rental companies (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Europcar, Thrifty, Hertz) are served at Malpensa and the rental office located at Arrivals in Terminal 1.