Linate, Malpensa or Bergamo? Choosing the Right Milan Airport

Milan is served by three airports, and the one printed on your ticket shapes the first hour of your trip more than any other detail. Linate is almost in the city. Malpensa is the international hub. Bergamo Orio al Serio is the low-cost gateway, 50 kilometres to the east. Here is how they compare — and how a private chauffeur transfer works from each.

Milan Linate (LIN): the city airport

Linate sits just 7 km from the Duomo. A private transfer to the centre takes 20–25 minutes, even less early in the morning. It handles domestic flights and short-haul European routes — Rome, London City, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt — which makes it the favourite of business travellers on day trips. If you have a meeting in Porta Nuova or a fitting in the Quadrilatero, Linate is unbeatable.

Milan Malpensa (MXP): the international hub

Malpensa is 50 km north-west of Milan and handles almost all long-haul traffic: New York, Dubai, Doha, Tokyo, São Paulo. Terminal 1 serves most airlines; Terminal 2 is used mainly by easyJet. A chauffeured transfer to the city centre takes 50–60 minutes, and Malpensa is also the natural starting point for Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and the Swiss Alps. Read our complete Malpensa arrival guide for terminal-by-terminal details.

Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY): the low-cost gateway

Bergamo is Ryanair's main Italian base, with routes across Europe and North Africa. The drive to central Milan is 45–60 minutes via the A4 motorway, which can be heavy at rush hour. It is also well placed for Lake Iseo, Franciacorta, Brescia and the eastern ski resorts. Public transport options are limited late at night, so a pre-booked car is often the only comfortable choice for evening arrivals.

Transfer times at a glance

• Linate → Milan centre: 20–25 minutes
• Malpensa → Milan centre: 50–60 minutes
• Bergamo → Milan centre: 45–60 minutes
• Malpensa → Linate: about 60 minutes
• Malpensa → Lake Como: about 55 minutes

Connecting between airports

Separate tickets arriving at Malpensa and departing from Linate or Bergamo are common, and there is no rail link between them. A private transfer is the fastest option: allow at least three hours between flights when changing airports, four for Malpensa–Bergamo at peak times. Your chauffeur tracks the inbound flight, so a delay simply moves the pickup.

Which airport should you choose?

For a short business trip within Milan, choose Linate. For long-haul flights, Lake Como, or the Alps, Malpensa. For budget European routes or destinations east of the city, Bergamo. Whichever you land at, LimoMilano provides fixed-price meet-and-greet transfers from all three airports, 24 hours a day — no meters, no queues, no surprises.