landmark
Duomo di Milano + rooftop terraces
Italy's largest Gothic cathedral — 135 spires + 3,400 statues. Rooftop ticket EUR 16 (lift) for skyline panorama. Built over 600 years.
Malpensa Airport (MXP) · Italy
24-Hour Layover in Milan: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 24-hour layover in Milan?
Entry
Schengen — visa-free for US, UK, Canada, AU, JP, KR + 60 nationalities (90/180). Single Schengen visa covers all 27 countries.
Into town
Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale: 52 min, EUR 13.
Time outside
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Times from MXP arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Milan: Where to Go
The sights in Milan worth leaving the airport for.
2Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II + La Scala
World's oldest active shopping arcade (1877). Adjacent La Scala opera house. Free to wander. Spin on the bull mosaic for good luck.
Photo: Marco Pagani, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3Last Supper (Santa Maria delle Grazie)
Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper — booking essential 2 months in advance. EUR 15. 15-min viewing slot. Skip if no booking.
Photo: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
food
Navigli canals aperitivo
Da Vinci-designed canal district. Aperitivo hour 6–9pm — buy a EUR 12 spritz + unlimited buffet. The Milan experience.
Itinerary ideas for Milan
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours in Milan
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
See the 3-hour planPhoto: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
24 hours
You are here24 hours in Milan
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip
Insider tip
MXP is 52km from centre — Malpensa Express (EUR 13, 52 min) is the only sane option. Duomo + Galleria for a 4-hour layover. Add Navigli aperitivo for 6+ hours. Milan is the most efficient Italian city — runs on time, unlike Rome.
Into Milan
Getting to Milan City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale | EUR 13 | 52 min |
| Malpensa Shuttle bus | EUR 10 | 60 min |
| Taxi (fixed rate) | EUR 110 | 50 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Milan
Risotto alla Milanese (saffron). Cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal). Panettone. Aperol Spritz + Campari. Espresso at Marchesi 1824.
24 hours in Milan
24-Hour Itinerary
1
Day 1 — Arrival
Into Milan and check in to your hotel
Take Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale (52 min, EUR 13). Most hotels hold bags before check-in.
2
Day 1 — Afternoon
Duomo di Milano + rooftop terraces
Italy's largest Gothic cathedral — 135 spires + 3,400 statues. Rooftop ticket EUR 16 (lift) for skyline panorama. Built over 600 years.
3
Day 1 — Evening
Dinner like a local
Risotto alla Milanese (saffron). Cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal). Panettone. Aperol Spritz + Campari. Espresso at Marchesi 1824.
4
Day 2 — Morning
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II + La Scala
World's oldest active shopping arcade (1877). Adjacent La Scala opera house. Free to wander. Spin on the bull mosaic for good luck.
5
Day 2 — Late morning
Last Supper (Santa Maria delle Grazie)
Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper — booking essential 2 months in advance. EUR 15. 15-min viewing slot. Skip if no booking.
6
Day 2 — Departure
Back to Malpensa Airport
Head back to Malpensa Airport by Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale (52 min, EUR 13). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 24-hour layover in Milan?
Schengen — visa-free for US, UK, Canada, AU, JP, KR + 60 nationalities (90/180). Single Schengen visa covers all 27 countries. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 24 hours enough to leave Malpensa Airport?
18–20 hours — treat it as a mini trip. Getting into Milan by Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale takes 52 min each way.
How do I get from Malpensa Airport to Milan centre?
Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale: 52 min, EUR 13. Malpensa Shuttle bus: 60 min, EUR 10. Taxi (fixed rate): 50 min, EUR 110.
Where can I leave my bags in Milan?
Luggage storage near Malpensa Airport and in Milan is listed in our Milan luggage storage guide.
Getting out of Malpensa Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Milan
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Milan and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse MilanJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Milan? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Milan.Trains & buses from Milan
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Milan Airport
With 24 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Milan
Hotels, hostels & more · Trip.com
Search hotels
Also useful for your Milan trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Milan
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from MXP.
Flights to Milan from 140 cities: fares and airlines →
Neos route mapWizz Air route mapAeroitalia route mapAir Arabia Maroc route mapAir India route mapAir Mauritius route mapAir Seychelles route mapAJet route mapAmerican Airlines route mapBulgaria Air route mapCabo Verde Airlines route mapDelta Air Lines route mapJetBlue Airways route mapLa Compagnie route mapLATAM Brasil route mapMahan Air route mapNouvelair route mapQanot Sharq route map
Airport lounges at Malpensa Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Milan travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Milan works
01
Check you can leave
Schengen — visa-free for US, UK, Canada, AU, JP, KR + 60 nationalities (90/180). Single Schengen visa covers all 27 countries.
02
Head into town
Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale: 52 min, EUR 13.
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Malpensa Airport by Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale (52 min, EUR 13). Be at the airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight.
Ready for Milan?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight on the ground
Daylight in Milan runs from about 8.5 hours in Dec to 15.5 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.