Quick answer
Malpensa (MXP) is Milan’s intercontinental airport, about 40 km northwest of the city. It has two passenger terminals: Terminal 2 is for easyJet only, and every other airline, including all US flights, uses Terminal 1. A free shuttle bus links the terminals about every 15 minutes, and the Sheraton hotel stands at Terminal 1.
Services, hours and rules below were checked on 5 October 2026 on the official sites of SEA, the company that runs the airport, and of the European Commission. For trains, buses and taxis into the city, see our guide to getting from Malpensa to Milan.
Where Malpensa is
The airport sits in the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Ferno, in the province of Varese, about 40 km northwest of Milan. It operates 24 hours a day and serves 193 destinations with 85 airlines.
If you fly nonstop from the United States, this is where you land. Milan has two other airports, Linate and Bergamo, and our Milan airports guide explains which one fits your trip.
Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2
Terminal 2 is used only by easyJet. Every other airline uses Terminal 1.
easyJet aircraft on the apron at Malpensa Terminal 2, the terminal used only by easyJet.
| Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Airlines | All except easyJet, including every US route | easyJet only |
| Gates | Area A for Schengen flights, area B for non-Schengen flights (including the US and the UK) | Schengen and non-Schengen flights |
| Malpensa Express station | Yes, on level -1 | Yes, reached by a walkway in front of Arrivals |
| Lounges | Four | One |
| Hotel | Sheraton, at the terminal | Moxy, connected to the terminal |
| Liquids in hand luggage | Containers up to 2 litres, left in your bag | 100 ml containers in a clear plastic bag |
In Terminal 1, arrivals and baggage claim are on the ground floor, departure gates on the first floor and check-in on the second floor. Flights to and from the US use area B, so you pass through passport control on the way in and on the way out.
How to get between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
The terminals are separate buildings with their own check-in, security and train station. You have two ways to move between them.
The free shuttle bus runs about every 15 minutes. At night it runs about every 30 minutes: from Terminal 1 between 2:30am and 4am, and from Terminal 2 between midnight and 4am.
- At Terminal 1, the stop is in front of the Sheraton hotel.
- At Terminal 2, the bus to Terminal 1 leaves from near the train station. The stop in front of Arrivals is for the P6 car park.
The Malpensa Express train also stops at both terminals. A ticket between them costs €2, or €1 for children. Between its two routes there are about four trains an hour.
A Malpensa Express train at the Terminal 1 station, which also links the two terminals.
Arriving at Malpensa from the US
Passport control. US citizens aged 12 and over with an electronic passport can use the automatic e-gates in both terminals. Since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully in operation: instead of a stamp in your passport, your face and fingerprints are recorded the first time you enter, along with your passport details. Allow extra time for this on your first trip. ETIAS, the EU’s travel authorization for visa-free visitors, is not required yet, so check travel-europe.europa.eu before you fly.
Lost luggage. If your bag does not arrive, go to your airline’s lost and found office, which is in the baggage reclaim area, before you leave through customs. They will give you a PIR form, the report that opens your claim.
Money. There are ATMs throughout the arrivals hall and at passport control. The bank-owned ones belong to Banca Popolare di Sondrio and Poste Italiane; the others are Euronet and Maccorp machines. Whichever you use, read the fee on the screen and choose to be charged in euros, not dollars. Currency exchange desks in Terminal 1 arrivals open from about 7am to between 8pm and 10pm, depending on the desk.
Phone and internet. Malpensa’s free Wi-Fi has no registration, no time limit and speeds of up to 20 Mbps. If you install an eSIM before you fly, your phone works as soon as you land and you do not need to buy a local SIM at the airport.
Leaving bags. The left luggage desk is on the Terminal 1 ground floor, Arrivals B, open every day from 7am to 9pm.
Getting to town. The Malpensa Express ticket office on the station floor of Terminal 1 opens from 6:30am to about 9pm, and the Terravision and Autostradale bus desks are in the arrivals hall. Times and fares for every option are in our Malpensa to Milan guide. If you take a taxi, use the official rank outside arrivals: the fare to any address in Milan is a fixed €114 per car. Some drivers overcharge tourists, so know that number before you get in, and ignore anyone who offers a ride inside the terminal. If you want someone waiting with a sign, GetYourGuide lists private Malpensa transfers.
Leaving from Malpensa
How early to arrive. The airport follows your airline’s check-in times. For a flight to the US, add time for the EES exit check at passport control.
Security. In Terminal 1, the scanners let you carry liquids in containers of up to 2 litres and leave them in your bag. Terminal 2 still applies the 100 ml rule, with liquids in a clear bag. Duty-free liquids come in a sealed bag: keep it closed with the receipt until your final destination, or it can be confiscated at a connecting airport.
Fast Track. A separate security lane is sold online (up to 10% cheaper than at the airport) and at self-service machines. In Terminal 2 you can also pay by tapping a card at the Fast Track gates.
VAT refund. Visitors who live outside the EU can claim back VAT on purchases over €70 per invoice, as long as the goods leave the EU within three months. In the shop, ask for an electronic invoice with your passport details and the logo of the refund company. At the airport, go to the refund desk before you check in your bags:
- Terminal 1: Global Blue, Planet Payment and Tax Refund, second floor, check-in zone 12, every day from 6am to 10pm.
- Terminal 2: at the currency exchange offices, at check-in from 7am to 2pm and in the boarding area from 5am to 9pm.
The refund is paid in cash or to your credit card.
Lounges at Malpensa
SEA, the airport operator, runs five lounges. You can buy entry online through the Milan Airports shop, and some frequent flyer programs include access.
| Lounge | Where | Flights | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monteverdi | Terminal 1, area A, gates A1 to A10 | Schengen | 6am to 9:30pm |
| Pergolesi | Terminal 1, area B, first floor | Non-Schengen | 5:30am to 10pm |
| Montale | Terminal 1, area B, after passport control | Non-Schengen | 6am to 10pm |
| Gae Aulenti | Terminal 1, area B, gates B50 to B58 | Non-Schengen | 5:30am to 10pm |
| Alda Merini | Terminal 2, ground floor, near passport control | All | 5am to 10pm |
Montale is the largest, with 220 seats over 1,240 square meters. If you fly home to the US, the three area B lounges are the ones you can reach.
Duty free, shopping and food
Terminal 1 is laid out around three shopping squares:
- Piazza del Lusso, opened in 2014 and modeled on Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, with the big Italian and French fashion houses.
- Piazza del Pop, with Italian fashion and cosmetics brands plus chain cafés and restaurants.
- Piazza del Gusto, over 2,200 square meters of food and wine in the Terminal 1 boarding area, with a sparkling wine bar, cafés and Italian chocolate.
There are 11 free water fountains, eight in Terminal 1 and three in Terminal 2, in both the departure and arrival areas, so bring an empty bottle through security.
Hotels at Malpensa Airport
For an early flight or a late arrival, sleeping at the airport saves the 37 to 57 minute train ride.
- Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport HotelMap is at Terminal 1, a short walk from the terminal, with 437 soundproofed rooms and suites, a restaurant, a bar, a 24-hour gym and a 1,000 square meter spa with an indoor pool. The shuttle to Terminal 2 stops right outside.
- Moxy Milan MalpensaMap is a three-star Marriott hotel with 162 rooms, connected to Terminal 2 and opposite its train station. It is the obvious choice for an easyJet flight.
- Malpensa InnMap is a few minutes’ drive from the airport in Tornavento di Lonate Pozzolo, with free parking. Its shuttle to both terminals is paid and charged per room, and you need to book it at least two hours ahead.
If you would rather spend the night in town, our guide to where to stay in Milan compares the neighborhoods, and the hotels near Milano Centrale are on the Malpensa Express line.
Other services
- Pharmacy: Terminal 1 ground floor arrivals, every day 8am to 8pm, and another in departures area A, 8:30am to 5pm. Terminal 2 arrivals, 8am to 7pm. Both terminals have a first aid station.
- Assistance: if you need help because of age or reduced mobility, ask your airline at least 48 hours before departure. Airport staff will still help if you did not book.
- Flight status: the official Milan Airports app shows live departures and arrivals for Malpensa and Linate.
Heading straight on by train? The Malpensa Express reaches Milano Centrale in about 51 minutes, where you can change for a Lake Como day trip or high-speed trains to Venice, Florence and Rome. If you plan several train trips, read whether an Italy rail pass is worth it before you buy tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Which terminal at Malpensa do flights from the US use?
Terminal 1. Terminal 2 is used only by easyJet, so every other airline, including all nonstop flights to and from the United States, uses Terminal 1.
How do I get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 at Malpensa?
Take the free airport shuttle bus, which runs about every 15 minutes and about every 30 minutes at night. In Terminal 1 it stops in front of the Sheraton hotel. The Malpensa Express train also links the two terminals for €2.
Is Malpensa Airport open 24 hours?
Yes, the airport operates around the clock. The lounges and most service desks close overnight, and the shuttle between terminals drops to about every 30 minutes at night.
Can Americans use the e-gates at Malpensa?
Yes. US citizens aged 12 and over with an electronic passport can use the automatic e-gates in both terminals, on arrival and on departure.
Where is the VAT refund office at Malpensa?
In Terminal 1, the Global Blue, Planet Payment and Tax Refund desks are on the second floor in check-in zone 12, open every day from 6am to 10pm. Go before you check in your bags. In Terminal 2 the refund is handled at the currency exchange offices.
Is there a hotel inside Malpensa Airport?
The Sheraton Milan Malpensa is at Terminal 1, and the Moxy Milan Malpensa is connected to Terminal 2. Other hotels in the surrounding towns are a few minutes away by car, some with a shuttle.
How far is Malpensa from Milan?
About 40 km northwest of the city. The Malpensa Express train takes 37 minutes to Milano Cadorna and about 51 minutes to Milano Centrale, for €15 one way.