How to Get From Milan Malpensa Airport to the City by Train
It is easy to get from Milan Malpensa Airport to the city centre by train, regardless of which terminal you arrive at.
In this short guide, I will explain everything you need to know about the Milan Malpensa Airport train.
About Milan Malpensa Airport
Milan Malpensa Airport (IATA code: MXP) is the main international airport serving Milan, located around 30 miles (50 kilometres) from the city centre.
Malpensa is not the most centrally located of Milan’s airports – that distinction goes to Linate Airport, which is just 5 miles (8 kilometres) from the city centre – but it is the one where most international visitors will arrive.
Although Linate is just a short metro ride from the city centre, it takes a little longer to get there from Malpensa.
Fortunately, the train connection from Malpensa to central Milan is excellent, so there is no need to rely on an expensive taxi or an uncomfortable bus.
The underground railway station of Malpensa Airport is clearly signposted. ©AndyBTravels
Malpensa Express
The train service between Milan Malpensa Airport and the city centre is known as the Malpensa Express and is operated by Trenord.
At present, there are four trains per hour for most of the day between Milan Malpensa Airport and the city centre.
Of these four hourly trains, two terminate at Milano Cadorna station, while the other two terminate at Milano Centrale, the main railway station of Milan.
Both stations are connected to the Milan metro and other public transport services.
Whether it is better to take a train to Milano Cadorna or Milano Centrale, or whether it makes little difference and you can simply board the first departure, depends on where you need to be in the city!
Malpensa Express train. ©AndyBTravels
Buying tickets
Tickets for the Malpensa Express have a fixed price and cannot sell out, so you can always buy them on arrival from the ticket booths or machines at the airport.
However, queues can sometimes be long, so buying in advance from a reliable booking website such as Omio can make sense if you want to save time.
Use the Omio search tool below to compare prices and schedules of trains from Malpensa Airport to Milan or any other Italian city you need to travel to.
If you need to travel from Malpensa Airport to destinations beyond Milan on an InterCity or high‑speed train, bear in mind that booking in advance is highly recommended, as tickets for those trains are generally cheaper when booked ahead and can sell out.
Validate your ticket
As I explained in my article on Italian train travel tips, keep in mind that paper tickets must be validated before boarding the train, as otherwise you can be fined.
Online tickets for regional trains such as the Malpensa Express don’t need to be printed and stamped – you can simply show them on your phone to the conductor.
However, keep in mind that an online ticket is valid only for the train you have booked, although you can change the date or departure time of a regional train ticket online free of charge as many times as needed, provided your currently selected train has not yet departed.
Once on board the Malpensa Express, take any available seat, as there are no reservations.
Baggage can be stored in the dedicated luggage racks or on the overhead racks.
People queuing for the ticket machines. ©AndyBTravels
Reaching Malpensa Airport
If you need to get from Milan to Malpensa Airport, simply check which railway station – Milano Cadorna, Milano Centrale – is quickest and easiest for you to reach, and catch the train from there.
In the direction from Milan to the airport, you can also catch a train from Milano Porta Garibaldi if that station happens to be more convenient for you.
Note that trains from Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi to Malpensa will show Gallarate as their final destination on the departure boards, as the airport is only an intermediate stop.
Milan Malpensa Airport has two stations – Malpensa Aeroporto T1 (Terminal 1) and Malpensa Aeroporto T2 (Terminal 2) – so check in advance from which terminal your flight is departing.
These two stations (and terminals) are on completely opposite sides of the airport, so you cannot simply walk from one to the other if you end up at the wrong terminal.
Conclusion
The Malpensa Express is the train service connecting both Terminals 1 and 2 of Milan Malpensa Airport with the city centre.
Half of these trains run from Malpensa Airport to Milano Cadorna station, and the other half to Milano Centrale, so check in advance which is the better option for you.
When travelling in the opposite direction, make sure you know which terminal your flight departs from, so you get off at the correct station at the airport.
