Milan at a glance
Italy's style capital pairs Gothic grandeur with world-class shopping, football and food. Milan works beautifully as a long weekend and as a gateway to the Italian Lakes, the Alps and the rest of Lombardy. With frequent departures from across the UK and a compact, walkable centre, it is one of the easiest Italian cities to reach. To compare live fares and find cheap flights to Milan, use the price charts on this page.
Best time to fly to Milan
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) bring warm, comfortable days and the liveliest atmosphere. July and August are hot and humid, and many smaller shops and restaurants close in mid-August. Winter is cold and often foggy but quieter, with the lowest fares outside the Christmas and New Year period. Fashion Week (February and September) and the Salone del Mobile design fair in April fill hotels and push airfares up, so book early or shift your dates. The When to book chart above shows how prices move through the year.
Airlines and routes
British Airways and ITA Airways fly to Milan Linate from London Heathrow and London City, while easyJet serves Linate and Malpensa from Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and Edinburgh. Ryanair and easyJet also fly to Bergamo (Orio al Serio) and Malpensa from many other UK airports. Direct flights from London take around two hours; from Manchester allow roughly two hours and ten minutes. From regional airports it is worth checking connecting options via Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt.
Things to do in Milan
The centre packs a lot into a small area, and most highlights are a short walk or metro ride from the Duomo.
- Duomo di Milano: the vast marble cathedral; climb to the rooftop for a close-up view of the spires.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: an elegant 19th-century glass-roofed shopping arcade beside the Duomo.
- The Last Supper: Leonardo da Vinci's mural at Santa Maria delle Grazie; timed tickets sell out weeks ahead.
- Teatro alla Scala: one of the world's great opera houses, with a museum you can visit by day.
- Navigli: the canal district, at its best in the evening for aperitivo and independent bars.
At Milan Linate Airport (LIN)
Linate is the closest airport to the city, about 7km east of the centre. The M4 metro line runs from the terminal to San Babila in around 15 minutes and connects with the rest of the network. Bus 73 also links Linate with San Babila, and taxis to the centre take 15 to 20 minutes. Malpensa is roughly 50km northwest, served by the Malpensa Express train, while Bergamo is about 50km northeast with coach transfers to Milano Centrale.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Milan
- Book around one to three months ahead for the best balance of price and choice; last-minute fares to Milan are rarely cheap.
- Fly midweek, as Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper than Friday or Sunday.
- Use flexible-date search and check the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest weeks.
- Compare Linate, Malpensa and Bergamo, weighing low-cost fares against transfer time and cost into the city.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport should be issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave. A European travel authorisation (ETIAS) is expected to be introduced for UK visitors, so check the current position before you travel. The currency is the euro, cards are widely accepted, and a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) covers state medical care alongside travel insurance.
