Milano Malpensa International Airport: where to stay, areas and…

Malpensa is about 50 kilometres from Milan and the Malpensa Express takes 40-50 minutes to the central stations: anyone landing late in the evening or leaving at dawn has a good reason to stay right by the terminals, where two hotels are linked on foot, one for each terminal. The verdict changes for those staying in Milan more than one night, because the streets around the terminals offer nothing but hotels and car parks. In the city the choice falls on Centrale station, to have the trains on your doorstep, or on the Cadorna and Sforza Castle area, where the airport train departs.

At the airport

The Sheraton Milan Malpensa is inside Terminal 1, with an internal entrance; the Moxy Milan Malpensa is opposite Terminal 2, about 200 metres on foot, and has a free round-the-clock shuttle to Terminal 1.

Best for: Dawn flights, one-night layovers and late arrivals, when you don't want to depend on the train.

Pros

To check-in on foot, with no trains or taxis on the motorway
Two hotels, one per terminal, depending on where the flight leaves from
With the Moxy a free shuttle also links Terminal 1

Cons

Outside the hotel there are only terminals and car parks: for dinner you stay in
To see Milan you need 40-50 minutes of Malpensa Express
If you sleep in one hotel and depart from the other terminal, allow for the transfer

Recommended hotels in this area

Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre: The only hotel with an internal entrance to Terminal 1, about five minutes on foot from the gates; 437 rooms, indoor pool and spa for those with many hours of layover.
Moxy Milan Malpensa Airport: Opposite Terminal 2, about 200 metres away, with a free round-the-clock shuttle to Terminal 1; a more understated option than the Sheraton.

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Centrale station

Near the airport link · From Centrale the Malpensa Express takes you to the terminals in about 40-50 minutes; alternatively the buses to Malpensa leave from the station every 20-30 minutes.

Best for: Those continuing by train to other Italian cities or wanting the metro and trains a few steps away.

Pros

National trains, the metro and airport buses in the same hub
Many hotels in different price ranges a few steps from the station
Metro lines M2 and M3 leave from the station towards the centre

Cons

Around the station in the evening the venues are less appealing than in the historic centre
The Malpensa Express from here takes longer than from Cadorna
With the buses to Malpensa, traffic can lengthen the journey

Recommended hotels in this area

Starhotels E.c.ho.: About a hundred metres from Centrale station, with round-the-clock reception and a panoramic rooftop terrace; an upper-mid-range choice for those arriving or leaving by train.

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Cadorna and Sforza Castle

Neighbourhood · From Cadorna station leaves one of the two Malpensa Express lines, reaching the airport in about 40 minutes; the area can also be reached on foot from the Duomo.

Best for: Those who want a historic centre on foot and a train to the airport without going through Centrale.

Pros

Cadorna is the terminus of the Malpensa Express, useful for the return
Sforza Castle, Brera and the Duomo can be reached on foot
The historic centre is on foot, with no need to take the metro

Cons

The best-liked hotels in the area are small and sell out early
From the Castle to Cadorna it is about ten minutes on foot with suitcases
For dawn flights, check the first Malpensa Express from Cadorna in advance

Recommended hotels in this area

Hotel Milano Castello: 34 rooms a few minutes from the Sforza Castle, about eleven minutes on foot from Cadorna station and ten from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

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