Flights to Milan Malpensa Airport

Malpensa is Milan's biggest airport and the one most travellers from Malaysia land at, because it handles the lion's share of the city's intercontinental routes. It sits in open countryside between the city and Lake Maggiore, which makes it a good arrival point both for a stay in Milan and for a trip into the lakes and the Alps. Most flights to Milan from Kuala Lumpur or Penang finish here after a single connection, and the train into town is quick once you know which station you need.

About Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)

Location

Malpensa lies roughly 50 km north-west of central Milan, in the province of Varese close to the Ticino river. Being well outside the city, it has room for long runways and large aircraft, but it also means a transfer of some distance into town, so it is worth deciding how you will travel before you land.

Terminals

The airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is the large main building that handles most scheduled and long-haul traffic, while Terminal 2 has mainly been used by short-haul European services. A free shuttle bus links the two. Always check your ticket for the terminal, particularly when you fly home, since both have their own railway station.

Getting to and from the airport

The Malpensa Express train is the most reliable way into Milan, running to Milano Cadorna near Sforza Castle and to Milano Centrale by way of Porta Garibaldi. Airport coaches also run to Milano Centrale and can be handy when you arrive with heavy bags. Taxis charge a fixed fare to the city, and car hire desks are available if you plan to drive to Lake Maggiore, Lake Como or Switzerland.

Direct and connecting flights to Milan Malpensa

Travellers often search for a direct flight to Milan, but a nonstop link from Malaysia is not normally on the schedule. The practical options are one-stop itineraries through Gulf, European or Asian hubs, and nearly all of them end at Malpensa. Enter Kuala Lumpur and Milan Malpensa as your route to see which connections work for your dates, or search Milan as a city if you are happy to land at any airport.

Compare the full journey time and the arrival hour rather than the stop count alone. Early morning landings give you a whole day in Milan, while late-night arrivals may make an airport-area stay or a taxi more sensible. The Direct filter shows nonstop flights on the final leg into MXP from your hub. Short-haul travellers may prefer Milan Linate, which is closer to the centre, or Milan Bergamo for Bergamo and the eastern lakes. You can also compare all three on the Milan city page.

When to fly to Milan via Malpensa

Spring, from about April to June, and early autumn in September and October are the sweet spots, with mild days and the lakes near Malpensa looking their best. July and August are hot, and many Milanese head to the coast in mid-August. Winter brings cold, grey days and occasional fog, which can delay flights at airports across the Po Valley, yet it also opens the ski season in the nearby Alps.

Fashion weeks and the spring design fair crowd both the city and its main airport. From Malaysia, long-haul demand peaks during the year-end school holidays, around Hari Raya and at Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Booking those periods well in advance, and using the monthly price chart on this page, gives you more choice of connections.

Popular places in Milan and near Malpensa

Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands

Just north of the airport, Lake Maggiore is dotted with lakeside towns and the elegant Borromean Islands, famous for palaces and terraced gardens. It makes a lovely first or last stop on a trip.

Piazza del Duomo

The heart of Milan is the vast square in front of the cathedral. Walk inside to see the stained glass, then climb to the roof for a close look at the marble spires.

Pinacoteca di Brera

One of Italy's great art galleries, home to works by Raphael, Caravaggio and Mantegna, set in a grand palazzo in the Brera quarter.

Porta Nuova and the Vertical Forest

Milan's modern skyline is centred on Piazza Gae Aulenti and the tree-covered residential towers known as Bosco Verticale, next to the green Biblioteca degli Alberi park.

San Siro Stadium

Football fans can tour the stadium shared by the city's two big clubs and visit its museum, or catch a match during the season.

Where to stay in Milan after landing at Malpensa

Because the Malpensa Express stops at Cadorna, Porta Garibaldi and Centrale, staying near one of these stations keeps the airport run simple. Cadorna is close to Sforza Castle and the historic centre, Porta Garibaldi sits beside the modern Porta Nuova district, and Centrale is well placed for trains to other Italian cities. For an early departure you may prefer the small towns around the airport, and travellers heading straight to the lakes often base themselves in Stresa or other towns along Lake Maggiore.

Food to try in Milan

Mondeghili

Traditional Milanese meatballs, flattened slightly and fried in butter. They began as a thrifty way to use leftover meat and are now a favourite starter.

Minestrone alla milanese

A thick vegetable soup, often cooked with rice instead of pasta, and served warm in winter or at room temperature in summer.

Gorgonzola

This blue cheese takes its name from a town just outside Milan. Try it creamy and mild or aged and sharp, perhaps with polenta or on its own with honey.

Colomba

A dove-shaped sweet bread topped with almonds and sugar, Milan's Easter answer to Christmas panettone.

Landing at Malpensa puts Milan, the lakes and the Alps all within easy reach. Start a Kuala Lumpur to Milan Malpensa search on Traveloka, check the arrival hour of each one-stop option, and keep a Price Alert running for your travel dates.