Planning a trip to the Bel Paese and wondering which Italian airports to fly into? With 77 airports in total, of which nine are major international airports, you won’t have trouble getting to Italy. But, with so many options, which airport is best for your travel plans?
This in-depth guide covers the best airports for continental, intercontinental, and regional travel. Plus, you’ll get valuable insights into which major airlines operate from each airport and answer some frequently asked questions. We’ll also delve into the public transport connections and what you can expect to pay.
So, grab your travel luggage, brush up on these useful Italian phrases, and let’s fly to Italy!
Article contents
Main International Airports in Italy
Flying to Italy from outside Europe? Here are the major airports in Italy to consider for direct or non-stop intercontinental travel.
Rome Fiumicino
Airport Code: FCO
Often referred to as the “cradle of Western civilization,” Rome is an ultra-popular destination, attracting over 10 million international tourists yearly. The city boasts attractions like the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon.
Rome Fiumicino Airport is one of the largest and most popular of Italy’s international airports and is an ideal option when traveling to Rome and central Italy. This airport has modern facilities and good shopping and dining options.
The airport’s location and its connection to Italy’s extensive transport facilities make the capital city a great base for day trips from Rome. The airport also offers connections to further-off destinations like Sicily, Sardinia, and Puglia.
Airport transfer from Rome Fiumicino, also known as Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, involves a 30-40-minute drive by car or taxi. Taxi fares are a set rate of €48 to the city center.
You can also opt for a bus, which will take about an hour and cost around €7. The Leonardo Express train to Roma Termini train station takes around 30 minutes and costs around €14.
READ: Our guide to Rome airport transfers.
The top airlines offering direct flights to Rome Fiumicino are American Airlines, Delta, Emirates, British Airways, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and ITA Airways.
Milan Malpensa International Airport
Airport Code: MXP
Milan is known for being one of the fashion capitals of the world, but there’s more to this city than well-tailored garments. Milan’s Duomo is one of the largest in the world, spanning almost 110 square feet. Other notable attractions include the Sforza Castle and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Milan Malpensa, another one of Italy’s largest airports, sits about 30 miles outside of the city center. It’s the perfect option for visiting Milan and destinations in central and northern Italy like Bologna and Tuscany.
This airport is also great if you’re planning a visit to Como, or Lugano in Switzerland. Additionally, Milan Malpensa Airport offers connections to Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia.
The journey to Milan takes about 45 minutes by taxi, with fares costing less than €100. You can also take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale, which will take about 50 minutes and cost around €14.
Milan Malpensa is also well-connected to bus services. A bus to Milan costs between €5-10, with a journey duration of about an hour. Try to book your tickets in advance to save on ticket prices.
Major airlines servicing Milan Malpensa include Emirates, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, ITA Airways, and Delta.
Naples International Airport
Airport Code: NAP
A trip to Naples is all about exploring the city’s history, culinary scene, and architectural wonders. It’s also close to some of the most interesting natural attractions in Italy, Mount Vesuvius.
Luckily, the birthplace of the Margherita pizza has its own international airport, so you can enjoy non-stop international flights to get there as soon as possible. Naples International Airport is relatively small but conveniently located only about four miles from the city.
This airport is a great option if you’re visiting Naples and destinations in southwest Italy, like the Amalfi Coast and Salerno. Naples International also offers connections to Venice, Sicily, and Puglia.
Thanks to the airport’s proximity to the city center, the taxi fare to Naples is a flat rate of €16, and the ride should take less than 15 minutes. You can also take an Alibus shuttle to Naples train station, which will only cost from €5, taking around 15 minutes. There are no trains between the airport and Napoli Centrale.
Major Airlines like ITA Airways, British Airways, and American Airlines offer international flights to Naples. United Airlines and Air Canada are your best bet for direct flights.
Venice Marco Polo Airport
Airport Code: VCE
The City of Water is situated in northeast Italy and is an understandably famous attraction. Besides the beautiful canals and charming gondolas, the city boasts a unique combination of Venetian Gothic and Islamic architecture. It’s also near the two small islands of Murano and Burano, each well-known for its regional craftsmanship.
If you’re planning a trip to Venice or destinations in northeast Italy, like Ravenna and Padua, Venice Marco Polo Airport is a great option.
Due to Venice’s popularity, the Lagoon City’s airport is well connected to other European destinations. The airport also offers connections to regions further south, like Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily.
Venice Airport is about five miles, or a 20-minute car journey, from Venice. You can get to Venice by taxi for less than €30, but keep in mind, it is unlikely a taxi will get directly to your hotel, you will probably need to change to the vaporetto or walk some distance. Bus trips cost less than €10 and can take about 30 minutes. Again you will need to then get the vaporetto.
Much of the transport in Venice is water-based. So there’s also the option to take an Alilaguna water bus ride, which can last about an hour and costs around €15. You may have to pay extra for luggage. You can also get a private water taxi for 30 to 40 minutes at €50-120 depending on group size and luggage or a shared water taxi taking 50 to 100 minutes for €32.
There is no train station at Venice Airport. But Venice boasts two well-connected train stations, Mestre Railway Station and Santa Lucia Railway Station if you’d like to venture beyond the city.
READ: Our guide to Venice airport transfers.
The main airlines offering direct international flights to Venice Marco Polo are Delta, Air Canada, and United Airlines.
Useful International and Domestic Airports in Italy
Whether you’re traveling from other parts of Europe or have multiple stops on your Italy itinerary, these airports are your best options.
The main airline operating these routes is ITA Airways. Lower-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, WizzAir, and Vueling are also more prominent in these domestic airports. When traveling with budget airlines, be sure to watch the cost of extras and luggage allowances.
Pisa International Airport
Airport Code: PSA
Pisa International is the main airport in Tuscany, making it a great option if you’re visiting Pisa or other Tuscan destinations like Chianti or Florence.
If you’re traveling to Pisa from within Europe, you’ll have various direct options at an affordable rate, serviced by lines such as EasyJet and Ryanair.
There are no direct or non-stop intercontinental flights to Pisa, as the airport mainly services other destinations in Italy or Europe. So you can expect an extended travel time, with at least one stopover in a different European city.
If you prefer a direct flight, you can head to Rome Fiumicino and take a high-speed train to Florence or other parts of Tuscany from there.
Pisa International Airport, also known as “Galileo Galilei” Airport, is quite close to the city of Pisa. You can reach the city center in less than 20 minutes via taxi. There’s also a convenient shuttle service, PisaMover, that can take you between the airport and Pisa Centrale train station in about five minutes for €5.
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport
Airport Code: BLQ
Bologna Airport is the main airport for visiting the foodie-favorite Emilia Romagna Region. It’s a convenient option if you’re traveling to cities like Ravenna, Modena, Parma, and, of course, Bologna.
There are no direct intercontinental flights to Bologna, but there are multiple inter-European direct flights available from major cities like Paris, London, and Berlin.
This airport also sits close to the city center. A taxi transfer from the airport will take around 20 minutes and costs around €15-20.
You can also take the monorail Marconi Express to Bologna Centrale train station in under 10 minutes from €11. Bologna Centrale train station is well-connected to other major cities in Italy and smaller destinations within Emilia Romagna.
Catania Fontanarossa Airport
Airport Code: CTA
Catania Fontanarossa Airport is situated in Fontanarossa, a few miles south of Catania. This is the main airport in Sicily and the ideal option if your Sicily travel plans are more concentrated around the eastern side of the island.
Also known as “Vincenzo Bellini” Airport, this airport is conveniently close to destinations like Taormina, Siracusa, and Messina.
You can take a 20-30 minute taxi to get to the city center for about €25-30. Alternatively, the Fontanarossa train stop is connected to the airport by the AMTS shuttle. The shuttle runs every 10 minutes through most of the day and tickets cost €1. There is also the Alibus for around €4 from the airport to Catania Central Station. The journey takes about 25 minutes. From Catania Centrale, you can reach plenty of other attractions in Sicily by train.
Many European airlines service this airport, including EasyJet, KLM, Air Europa, and ITA Airways. International airlines like Australian Airlines, Delta, and Turkish Airlines also service Catania Airport.
Palermo “Falcone Borsellino” Airport
Airport Code: PMO
Palermo Airport is the top option if you’re visiting destinations in western and northern Sicily, like Palermo, Marsala, and Trapani. The airport is situated in the town of Cinisi, about 20 miles, or a 40-minute drive, from Palermo.
There are multiple rental car options near the airport, or you can take a taxi, which will cost about €35-€50. Palermo Airport’s Aeroporto Punta Raisi offers two train connections to Palermo Centrale railway station per hour. The train trip lasts around an hour and costs from €6.
Airlines servicing Palermo Airport include Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Vueling, Australian Airlines, and EasyJet.
Milan Linate Airport
Airport Code: LIN
Milan Linate is a smaller airport closer to the city center than Milan Malpensa. Despite its smaller size, it is still one of Italy’s busiest airports. It’s a convenient alternative if you’re traveling within Europe and Italy, but it does offer fewer airline options.
Milan Linate is a good option for trips to Lake Como and the greater Lombardy area. The airport is also the most convenient for visiting the city itself, as it’s situated only five miles from Milan.
You can take a taxi to the city center for about €30-40. The trip will take about 20 minutes. You can also opt for a 25-minute bus ride, which will cost around €5. Milan Linate is being connected to the Milan M4 line, which will make it possible to take a train from the airport to Milan Centrale in the near future.
Milan Linate Airport is serviced by popular airlines like British Airways, American Airlines, and Delta. European airlines like Lufthansa, EasyJet, ITA Airways, and Aerotitalia also service this airport.
Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport
Airport Code: BRI
Also known as Aeroporto Di Bari Palese, this airport is the best option for visiting the northern parts of the Puglia region. Bari Airport is close to picturesque Apulian towns like Barletta, Monopoli, Foggia, and Polignano a Mare.
It’s a small but busy airport about eight miles northwest of Bari. Taxi transfer to the city center costs a set fee of €23, with the trip lasting roughly 25 minutes. You can also opt for the €4 Tempesta Autoservizi bus trip, which takes about 30 minutes. Alternatively, take from €5 train from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale for a 15-minute journey.
A variety of major airlines operate from Bari, including Australian Airlines, British Airways, Delta, ITA Airways, and Turkish Airlines. Multiple budget and standard European, African, and Middle Eastern airlines also service Bari Airport.
Brindisi Airport
Airport Code: BDS
Also known as Papola Casale Airport or Aeroporto del Salento, this airport is a great option if you’re visiting the southern parts of Puglia. It is nearest to the towns of Lecce, Gallipoli, Otranto, and Ostuni.
Brindisi Airport is about three miles, or a 15-minute drive, from Brindisi. Taxi fare costs about €20 to the city. Another option is to take the STP Brindisi bus from the airport to Brindisi city center. These buses run every 30 minutes, take 15 minutes and tickets cost about €1.50.
From Brindisi train station in the city center, you can take trains to nearby destinations like Lecce and Ostuni for less than €10 one way.
The main airlines servicing Brindisi’s Salento Airport are Ryanair, KLM, ITA Airways, and EasyJet.
Cagliari Elmas Airport
Airport Code: CAG
The Cagliari-Elmas Airport is the main airport in Sardinia and is situated in Elmas on the southern coast of the island. It’s ideal for visiting Sardinia’s southern regions, which boast particularly spectacular beaches.
Because of its lovely beaches and weather, Sardinia is a popular seasonal holiday destination. So it receives significantly more flights during the summer.
To get to Cagliari, you can take a €20 taxi. The trip lasts about 15 minutes. You can also conveniently take a train from Elmas Aeroporto to Cagliari and other parts of the island, like Carbonia, Sassari, and Porte Torres. Train ticket prices start at as little as €1.30 to get to Cagliari.
It’s important to note that many airlines operate in Cagliari on a seasonal basis. Ryanair covers most inter-European flights year-round. And Volotea offers flights between some of Italy’s northern airports throughout the year. So these may be your best bet for finding a flight outside of the peak travel season.
Italy Airports | FAQs
Still have a few questions about Italian airports? Have a look at our answers to these frequently asked questions about the major airports Italy has to offer.
Where Are the Main Airports in Italy?
The main airports in Italy are Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi, and Naples International Airport.
Which Airport in Italy is Cheapest to Fly Into?
The cheapest airport to fly into is usually Rome Fiumicino. This major Italian airport is also well-positioned in central Italy and connected to other cities in the country. So you can easily take a high-speed connecting train to other parts of Italy.
What is the Most Common Airport to Fly Into Italy?
Rome Fiumicino is one of the most popular Italian airports to fly into, servicing over 35 million passengers each year. A large variety of airlines operate from this centrally located airport, offering many direct flight options at great prices.
LISTEN: To our podcast on Arriving into Rome airport.
What is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Italy?
The cheapest time to fly to and explore Italy is during winter and the shoulder seasons of fall (March–May) and spring (September–November). Besides the cheaper flights, you’ll also enjoy more affordable accommodation options, less crowded spaces, and mild weather.
What is the Best Airline to Fly to Italy?
The best airline to fly to Italy will depend on your personal preference and location. However, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Air Canada and Singapore Airlines are among the top choices due to the number of flights offered and their competitive fares.
Ready to Travel to Italy?
Now that you’re more familiar with the main Italian airports and know which airports to travel to, all you have to do is start packing for Italy!
This vast and beautiful country offers a range of international and regional airports to help you get to your destination as easily as possible. But you’ll still want to know how to travel by train in Italy to get beyond the airports.
Unsure when to travel to Bella Italia? Have a look at this guide on choosing the best time to visit Italy based on your interests and needs.
Planning a trip to Italy?
We love travel in Italy and sharing our knowledge. Read our Italy trip planning guide or join our FREE Italy travel planning community. Our 115,000+ members are happy to answer questions about your itinerary, how to get from place to place, the best places to stay and fun things to do.
Sign up for our news and podcast updates where we share mini guides, tips, exclusive deals and more and we'll send you our Italy Trip Planning Checklist to say grazie! >> click here to subscribe
Italy City Guides
