Milan Airport Layover Suggestions for One Night in Milan
- Maria DiCicco
- 19 hours ago
- 11 min read
I love a good layover in an airport hotel.
In fact, I plan for layovers and stopovers for two reasons: to recoup from a long overseas flight before moving on, and also to see a bit of the local scene. It's a great way to get an introductory meal, or soak in some history.
Below, take my first hand advice on a one night stay in Milan's area airports, including Milan Malpensa (MXP) layover information, Milan Linate (LIN) suggestions, and even Milan Bergamo (BGY) layover ideas.
From where to stay in Milan airports to things to fill your time, this guide to all 3 Milan airports will get you pointed in the right direction for relaxing and fulfilling travel.
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Which Milan airport are you traveling through?Select the section below that best aligns with your travels, or read through for insights on each airport! |
Milan Malpensa layover
Milan Malpensa is a major airport hub for Northern Italy. Located north west of Milan's city center, it is about 45 minutes to an hour from the city, and about 20 minutes from Lago Maggiore.
Perfect for a one night stay, Milan Malpensa offers a fantastic layover experience for those in need of a reset to their long travel day.
The Perfect Overnight Layover at Milan Malpensa Airport
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Let's get into the details!
MXP Layover Suggestions
For one night in Milan Malpensa airport, the ideal scenario is to just stay put, if you are arriving any time after 4 or 5 in the evening.
If you have more time than that, be sure to check out one of the many cute towns near Malpensa airport, like those surrounding Lago Maggiore.
Treat yourself to a night of opulence and classic Italian luxury at the very affordable Hotel Villa Borghi, which averages around $100 per night for a double room. You'll need a car to get there, but once there you can enjoy an accessible dinner of pizza and pastas in their farmhouse restaurant, or choose a more upscale evening in their villa restaurant.
Transportation Options for a Layover at Milan Malpensa
If you choose to rent a car, expect about $85 for a one night rental, which allows the freedom to stay in an agriturismo or adorable villa like the one mentioned above. It also opens access to see sites like Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso, a unique cliff side sanctuary on Lago Maggiore.
Otherwise, plan to stay close to the airport. You can opt to go from Milan Malpensa to Milan Centrale, however it's about 45 minutes to an hour by taxi (costing upwards of $110-150 per carload), or there are trains and buses to do the same job, averaging around $20 per person.
Staying at the airport, there is an easy Terminal to Terminal bus to get you around, and there are also trains.
Transportation from Milan Malpensa
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Hotels in Milan (MXP) Airport
Terminal 1: Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel
Terminal 2: Moxy Milan Malpensa Airport
Arriving in Terminal 2, the Moxy is smack in your face as you step outside. You can't miss it.
Arriving in Terminal 1, the Sheraton is also prominent - it's attached to the terminal!
Being a (newly crowned!) Platinum Elite member at the Marriott, the Sheraton was a clear choice for us. They gave my daughter a coloring book with crayons and colored pencils, I got a free bottle of wine at the lounge, and we all really geeked out over our guest slippers when we had a pizza party in the room.
We ordered pizza and arancini to go from the lobby bar/restaurant, and I have to say - after a long day of travel it really hit the spot.
The breakfast restaurant is fantastic with a great spread from an omelette station, salads, pastries, English breakfast foods (I do love me some Heinz beans in the morning), and a kids play area, too. The lounge is also available with light bites.
To connect to Terminal 1 or 2 from the other, take the convenient Terminal Bus. Just follow the signs once you are outside! (There is also a train system, but we didn't use it so I can't comment on it).
What To Do With Your Free Time at the Airport: Visit Volandia!
I can't scream this loudly enough, GO TO VOLANDIA! I have been to air museums all over the globe, and this collection was by far one of the most impressive I have seen.
Get tickets in advance if you'd like, or buy them on site.
Plan for at least 1.5 hours (if you are rushing along), or honestly - I could have spent 4-5 hours there. It's a huge museum!
With war time music piping in from the aviation buildings, step into a world of all things flight. From the conception of the first flying machines (hi air balloons and dirigibles!) to rotary planes, they had something for everyone.
We saw war planes, stepped on a plan the pope had been on, discovered the stories of Sputnik, and more.
Pictures don't do it justice, but here's an example of what you may find at the Volandia museum:
How to Get to the Volandia Museum from Malpensa Terminal 1:
Leaving the Sheraton hotel, go through the tunnel past the train signs and go up 2 floors to the departures level. If you go up one floor, you are on the arrivals level. Keep going up.
Step outside the terminal on the DEPARTURES level. This is level 2.
Turn right and head towards the white bridge. There is a pedestrian sidewalk path leading to the museum.
Arriving at the museum's back gate, you'll need to call the front to have them let you in. This is a good reminder to brush up on 5 Easy and Cheap Ways to Make International Calls When You Travel before you travel. If you have a hard time, look for Volandia staff walking around the yard in red jackets, you can try shouting to them I guess!
The walk from the Sheraton or Terminal 1 takes only 10-20 minutes, depending on how turned around you get.
Before your flight, make time for a stop at my favorite British chain, Wagamama, for a soul filling ramen bowl. Don't miss their katsu curry sauce.
The Milan airport Monteverde lounge for Priority Pass holders was underwhelming, but we had a spritz and some snacks on our first leg through there. If you need a proper meal, Wagamama is the way to go.
Milan Linate layover
Milan Linate is a much smaller airport than Malpensa, but it's location just a few miles to the city center can't be beat.
Domestic European flights to Milan Linate are common, but long-haul routes from the States are not as common. Typically you might connect into the EU from the US somewhere else, and then connect into Linate. If this is the case for you, Linate is a dream of a layover right smack in the city of Milan.
We opted to split our travel group of 5 at the taxi line at Milan Linate in order to get moving, and the cost was 23 euros for one taxi of two people, and 30 euros for one taxi of three people - both to the same central location in the north of downtown.
With little time to plan our layover (we'd been cancelled and rerouted to Linate), we hurriedly booked a welcoming Marriott at Duo Porta Nuova, and found easy to access meal options just downstairs.
Assuming you have more time to plan, Milan is full of sites and shopping opportunities, but for us we enjoyed the simplicity of a nice morning walk to the Saturday market, and a visit to Aldi - always a favorite abroad.
The green spaces around the hotel were also very lovely, including the park near the Bosco Verticale, pictured below.
Families were playing soccer, my kid enjoyed some playground time, and a couple little pop up market stalls were scattered about.
That was all we had time for but it was a perfect regroup and introduction to our trip in Italy.
Here's how to plan the best overnight in Milan Linate:
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We had to connect from Milan Centrale to Milan Malpensa that next morning, and being five people we opted for a van, which we hired from the front desk of the Marriott for the arranged price of 150 euros.
The central station and many bus options are also available, but in my parenting years I go for the easiest route these days - less fussing with bags, and the per person price for trains and buses tends to add up anyway. Door to door service is best for me!
Alternatively, had we had the foresight and time, I would have used KiwiTaxi to book my trip back to the airport. These guys are great and my family has used them several times. It's basically a pre-arranged taxi service, so there is no second guessing the rate or if someone will be available to pick you up on time.
Milan Bergamo Layover
Lastly, the Milan Bergamo airport is a small airport used mainly for budget airlines like EasyJet and Ryan Air, perfect for puddle jumping around Europe.
Because the Bergamo airport's location hits differently than the industrialized cityscape of Central Milan, your layover in Milan Bergamo area is going to be founded on more than just a clean hotel stay and a hot meal.
Instead, an overnight in Bergamo is going to be built on exploration, culture, and foodie experiences.
Because the Bergamo airport is very close to the Italian Alps and the Lake Como area, it is an excellent jumping off point for adventures. Ideally, a layover near Bergamo airport will include a car, in order to maximize the fun.
The Best Bergamo Layover
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Exploring the Area Near Bergamo
My suggestion is to extend your layover to a few nights (becoming a stopover), seeing sites like Bellagio (quintessential for first time visitors to the area), or further afoot - Parma and Modena for culinary tours and F1 museums.
Namely, we really enjoyed staying in the town of Monza prior to our Milan Bergamo flight. Just a short 30-40 minutes to the airport from Monza, we stayed in the cute Best Western Monza hotel called The Regency Hotel, and enjoyed the town for its shopping, oreo-cookie duomo, gelato and F1 ties to the Italian Grand Prix.
Bergamo in Depth
If staying in Bergamo proper, I had once upon a time written a lengthy article detailing what you could do - but never got to experience it for myself - so I took the post down.
Freshly revived and shortened, here's some insights from that cobwebbed article to help you plan your layover near Bergamo airport:
Where to Stay in Bergamo
Angolo del Poeta ticks all the boxes:
Adorable antique covered interiors
Comfortable air conditioned rooms
Free breakfast
Airport shuttle
Charming service
Easy walk from the bus and train stations
About 20-25 minutes walk from the Citta Alta funicular (the launching point for a lot of activities), it is perfect for one night stay in Bergamo.
What to do With One Day in Bergamo
Go to the Citta Alta (the upper city) and go by way of Funicular.
Wander the piazzas, pop into any churches or buildings that pique your interest, or just snap photos of the many worthy places that you will pass.
If you want to add a couple pins to your walking route, consider these more off the beaten path attractions in Bergamo:
The Lavatoio di Città Alta
Not far from the old piazza (piazza vecchia) you'll find tranquil solitude at the washbasins from over a century ago. Worth a quiet moment and a photo, and a unique slice of city history!
Castello de San Vigilio
This popular spot is a noteworthy place to venture to, and it requires an additional ride further up the funicular route. Take your time and consider staying for not only the views, but also the numerous restaurants at the top of the hill.
Former Monastery of Astino
An enduring walk from the Citta Alta or an easy taxi ride, this is a lovely place to get out of town and feel the country air, without really leaving the city. There is an onsite terrace with drinks and food offerings as well!
Moroni Palace and Gardens (Palazzo Moroni)
Another fine example of a hidden gem in Bergamo, this palace is adorned with magnificent frescos and peaceful gardens in the Citta Alta. Get your ticket online in advance, if you wish.
Bergamo History Museum: Palazzo del Podestà
This museum is full of artifacts from the 16th century, along with ruins, walls with murals, intricate archways and more, all explaining the history of Bergamo. This is located conveniently in the heart of the Citta Alta square.
Catch a Soccer Match at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia
Do something offbeat and truly Italian and catch a soccer (futbol) match for the Atalanta team. Check the schedules at https://www.atalanta.it/biglietteria/
Civico Museo Archeologico di Bergamo
This small but enjoyable archaeological museum caters to those who loved Indiana Jones as a kid. See Roman tablets, mosaic tiles, statues and artifacts that explain the unearthed history of Bergamo and the Lombardy region.
Convento Di San Francesco
If you haven't seen a lot of convents, then this is worth a visit for photos and history. This can also be found walking distance from the Citta Alta.
Food Tours in Bergamo
I also wrote exhaustively about the food in Bergamo, of which you have to try:
Stracciatella gelato, more or less a chocolate chip vanilla - a classic
Polenta - served both in sweets (polenta e osei) and in hearty dishes like polenta with braised rabbit or ossobuco
Bergamasca salami
Casoncelli*- a stuffed pasta with aged cheese so rich, it does not require intense sauces
Foiade pasta* - folded sheets of pasta, similar to a wide noodle pasta, but thicker and cut to shape more like a ravioli (it is not stuffed)
*Try these two pasta dishes as part of the Bergamo Food Tour below!
If you find something on the menu that is "Bergamasca", you've found a local dish.
Bergamo Food Tours to Consider
Hit all the top Bergamasca (from Bergamo) dishes on this food tour.
Dine in an Italian home without having to do all the work of a cooking class. Enjoy a 4 course lunch or dinner with wine.
Visit a local market and be part of the cooking process in a private cooking class in someone's home. Enjoy prosecco as you create a pasta feast.
Overall: How to Perfect the Milan Layover
When it's all said and done, a layover in Bergamo is going to be one of your better options of the three airports, simply for the sheer amount of food, culture and activities you can choose from, but for an easy airport layover in Milan, nothing beats Milan Malpensa's comfortable Sheraton hotel or Linate's convenience to downtown.
Remember that to have the best Milan layover, you'll need to check these boxes:
Get a good night's rest at a comfortable and conveniently located hotel
Prepare for and arrange transportation before you arrive to reduce stress
Have a restaurant or meal plan picked out to round out the experience!
Plan one fun activity that you couldn't do elsewhere
Have a great trip to Milan and beyond!
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