FLYING TO EUROPE
MILANO MALPENSA (MXP)
MAJOR MAINLAND AIRPORTS IN ITALY
MINOR MAINLAIND AIRPORTS IN ITALY
TIPS WHEN PRICING FLIGHTS
Selecting an airport to fly into when traveling internationally is a highly personal decision, which means that there is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation that we can provide. Factors that will influence your decision will range from the cost of the flight, your overall travel plans once you get here, the time of year that you are flying, and the carrier that you prefer to fly with. Below are our recommendations for the following:
MAJOR MAINLAND AIRPORTS IN ITALY
ROME FIUMICINO (FCO)
We are quite partial to this airport, as it is the one that we use the most and are most familiar with. It is not a large airport, but does an amazing job of handling a tremendous amount of people each day in a fairly efficient manner. Here are some of the perks of this airport:
FCO also has competitive pricing when checking on flights into the country.
FCO has a direct shuttle train which runs every 15 minutes and will transport you from the airport into Roma Termini Station, the primary train station in the center of Rome. From there you can choose to stay in Rome or connect to another train and continue your journey from there. The closest train station to our house, Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, is a 2 hour, 20 minute train ride.
The car rental situation is quite simple at FCO. The agencies are located within the airport parking garage, which is accessed by a series of sky bridges. FCO sits on the very outskirts of Rome, making driving out of the area easier than most airports. Driving from Rome to our home can range anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, based on the time of day.
BOLOGNA GUGLIELMO MARCONI (BLQ)
While nowhere near being the major airport that Rome is, you can occasionally find really great prices for flights through partner airlines. For example, if you usually use United, you can check the Lufthansa or Swiss Air site for flights from the US to Bologna.
BLQ also has monorail train which runs every 15 minutes and will transport you from the airport into Bologna Centrale railway station, the primary train station in the center of Bologna. From there you can choose to stay in Rome or connect to another train and continue your journey from there. The closest train station to our house when coming from Bologna is Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, a 2 hour, 30 minute train ride.
The car rental situation is quite simple at BLQ. The agencies are located within the airport on the ground floor. BLQ sits on the very outskirts of Rome, making driving out of the area easier than most airports. Driving from Bologna to our home is a solid 3 hour drive.
VENICE MARCO POLO (VCE)
Possibly not one of the most organized airports, but arriving here is probably one of the more impressive landings. The views of the Venetian lagoons from the plane are amazing, which make up for any of the minor issues the airport may have. VCE is a modern, busy, single-terminal hub located on the mainland about 13 km (8 miles) from central Venice.:
While not particularly close to our area, this smaller airport can occasionally have very competitive pricing, making a stop in Venice a must for any traveler.
A unique feature of VCE is its proximity to the lagoon. You can walk a covered path from the terminal to the docks to catch an Alilaguna water bus or a private water taxi straight into Venice.
The car rental situation is quite simple at VCE. The agencies are located within the airport parking garage P1. Venice is quite the drive to our house (4 to 4.5 hours) and we may recommend that you combine this trip with other sites to see as your make your way South to see us.
The train is an excellent option from Venice to our place. The train ride can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on how it is booked, and almost all options only have 1 change of train. We recommend selecting the option where your first leg of the ride is with the high-speed system (Frecciarossa) for the most pleasant experience.
While this is the farthest of the major airports from our location, do not rule it out completely, as you can find some really great flight deals depending on where you are flying in from. The airport is quite a bit out of town, but we really do not recommend trying to drive in this area if you are not familiar with international driving. The pace is fast, the roads can be crowded, and after a long flight driving can be altogether dangerous. The upside to this area is that the train system is AMAZING! If you happen to choose this airport as an option and have the time, try to squeeze in a visit to Lake Como or Lake Garda, areas that would be sure to absolutely love.
This is the largest airport in Italy, making the pricing for it one of the most competitive.
The Malpensa Express Train at the airport departs every 30 minutes to the Milano Cadorna Station, which in turn connects to a major train network anywhere in the country.
Being such a large airport, there is an extensive list of car rental companies to choose from that are located in either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 of the airport. https://www.milanomalpensa-airport.com/en/from-to/car-hire
The train is an excellent option from Milano Cadorna Station to our place. The train ride can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on how it is booked, and almost all options only have 1 change of train. We recommend selecting the option where your first leg of the ride is with the high-speed system (Frecciarossa) for the most pleasant experience.
SMALLER AIRPORTS IN ITALY
ROME FIUMICINO (FCO)
We are quite partial to this airport, as it is the one that we use the most and are most familiar with. It is not a large airport, but does an amazing job of handling a tremendous amount of people each day in a fairly efficient manner. Here are some of the perks of this airport:
FCO also has competitive pricing when checking on flights into the country.
FCO has a direct shuttle train which runs every 15 minutes and will transport you from the airport into Roma Termini Station, the primary train station in the center of Rome. From there you can choose to stay in Rome or connect to another train and continue your journey from there. The closest train station to our house, Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, is a 2 hour, 20 minute train ride.
The car rental situation is quite simple at FCO. The agencies are located within the airport parking garage, which is accessed by a series of sky bridges. FCO sits on the very outskirts of Rome, making driving out of the area easier than most airports. Driving from Rome to our home can range anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, based on the time of day.
