Taking the Malpensa Express into Milan in 8 Easy Steps

malpensaexpress Milan has two airports, and Linate is more convenient for most short trips because it’s closer to the center of the city. But if you’re flying into Milan from overseas, chances are good that you’re flying into Malpensa. It’s the larger of the two airports, and unfortunately it’s further away from downtown Milan. There are a number of ways you can get from Malpensa to central Milan, including expensive taxis, but probably the best way to go - especially if you’re on a budget - is the Malpensa Express.

The Malpensa Express is a train that runs from Malpensa Airport into central Milan with only a few stops en route. It leaves the airport every half-hour, and speeds your journey into the city - for a fraction of what a taxi would cost, too. Finding the Malpensa Express isn’t as straightforward as it could be, however, so here are the steps you’ll take to catch the train into the city.

After collecting your bags off the carousel, exit the baggage claim area into the main hall at Malpensa and turn right. Follow the big hallway along, and begin looking for the signs that say “Treni.”

Eventually you’ll follow the signs that say “Treni” down some stairs (or an escalator), and you’ll turn left to go to the train station. Go through the station and down an escalator to the train platform.
There are several places to buy a ticket (which costs €11) between baggage claim and the train station - there’s a little automated ticket booth that says “Malpensa Express” at the top, and there’s a main ticket office which isn’t far from the train platforms. According to the official website, the ticket office is open “on working days: from 6.30 to 22.05 – during holidays from 6.35 to 22.30″ - so weekend arrivals will need to use the automated system.
Be sure to validate your ticket before getting on the train - that’s a separate machine en route to the platform. Then hop on the next train to arrive and place your bigger bags on the luggage racks at the entrances of the train cars (so you’re not taking up extra seats during busy times).
The train will make a few stops at stations in suburban Milan, and finally will stop at a station called “Cadorna.” The announcements are in English and Italian, so you should be able to listen for “Cadorna.” This is where you want to get off. Cadorna is not only the end of the line for the Malpensa Express, it’s also a major station on the Milan Metro system. From this Metro station you can get nearly anywhere you want to go in the city.
Exit the Malpensa Express at Cadorna station and walk along the train platform into the train station. Go toward the center of the station and exit through the other side. Proceed down the stairs into the “Linea Metropolitana” station.
You’ll need to buy a separate ticket to use the Metro, as it’s not included on the Malpensa Express ticket. There are a few machines right as you enter the station, but these tend to have long lines because everyone is coming from the airport and getting on the subway. If you walk further around the corner to the right you’ll find more machines with virtually no lines.
After buying your Metro ticket (which costs €1) you’ll then need to figure out what line you want to take and which direction you want to go. The smartest thing to do, if you’ve got a hotel or hostel in Italy already booked, is to have found out from them which Metro stop you should use. Thankfully, there are only three Metro lines, so it’s relatively easy to figure out where you’re going. But the Milan Metro is another subject altogether.

The entire journey, depending on how far from Cadorna station your final destination is, should take you between 45 minutes and an hour (the Malpensa Express takes about 40 minutes to reach Cadorna). Remember that trains leave Malpensa Airport at :23 and :53 past the hour. The official Malpensa Express website is here.