10 International Airports in Italy
If you’re looking for Italy airports to understand how can you fly the easiest way to the best destinations in the country, you’ve landed in the right place! We’re going to share with your 10 Italian destinations which are located near the biggest international airports in Italy. Some of these include the largest ones, such as the Venice Italy airport, Milano Malpensa, and Rome Fiumicino, but we’ve also covered some smaller airports too which have international flights around Europe, and some overseas places as well! We hope with this list we’ll make easier your Italian vacation planning!
10 Cities and Italy Airports
So, which are those Italy airports that are near the best Italian destinations? If you’re looking for city breaks, honeymoon destinations, or even islands, we covered everything for you in this list of international airports in Italy. Find everything from Florence Italy airport, to Venice Italy airport, Bari, Sardinia, Sicily, and many others!
Make sure to also check out the related articles we’ve linked to each of the destinations, so you can get tips to plan your trip. We’re covering all major travel destinations topics like accommodations, restaurants, things to do, and many other handy topics to make the most out of your stay in Italy. And now, without further due, let’s see those Italian airports!
1. Milan Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo
We’ll start our list of airports in Italy up north, and we’ll be moving down south, taking one by one all the major airports. First on our list are the international Italian airports in Milan, where you can find right away three major airports, each of them more or less the same distance from the city center of Milan. If you’re staying in the city, make sure you check the best things to do, the affordable and luxury accommodation, restaurants, bars, gyms, and events.
Milan Malpensa Airport – MXP
Malpensa is the biggest airport in Milan, located northwest of the city. The airport welcomes 28 million passengers yearly (pre-pandemic data), and there are plenty of ways to reach the city. Milan Malpensa has many international flights, and especially if you’re coming from far, you’d probably arrive in Malpensa.
Milan Linate Airport – LIN
Now, Milan Linate airport is the second most important international airport in Milan, handling over 9 million passengers each year. This airport is on the eastern side of the city, somewhat closer to the city center than Malpensa and Bergamo. As for Malpensa and Bergamo, you can get an airport shuttle, or private airport transfer to get to the city.
Bergamo Airport – BGY
Bergamo Airport is the 3rd significant airport in the Lombardy region, located north of Milan, on the outskirt of the beautiful town of Bergamo. With shuttle buses, you can be in the city center of Milan within an hour. This airport handles most European, especially central and eastern European flights, as well as national flights.
2. Venice San Marco and Treviso
If you’re planning to visit Venice, places in the Veneto region, Verona, the Lake Garda, or the Dolomites, then the San Marco Venice Italy airport, or the Treviso airport are the two places you want to look for. If you’re visiting Venice, make sure you check our lists of things to do in Venice, but also restaurants, hotels, and day trip ideas. The city of lagoon hides so many beautiful gems you shouldn’t miss!
Venice Airport – VCE
San Marco is the absolute bigger airport, having many international flights, and handling over 8 million passengers each year. The great thing is San Marco airport is that it’s really easy and fast to reach Venice (about 30 minutes). This is the airport where you’d be arriving if you’re coming from overseas and most western European countries.
Treviso Airport – TSF
The smaller brother, Venice Treviso Airport is about an hour away from Venice, and there are shuttle buses that can take you to the city. Treviso airport’s official name is Sant’Angelo Airport and it handles about 3 million passengers each year. This airport has also many international flights, but it’s mostly handling European (central and eastern) flights.
3. Bologna
Bologna has always been one of my favorite airports in northern and central Italy. If you’re looking to explore the beautiful town of Bologna or visit other cities in Emilia Romagna, such as Ravenna, Ferrara, Modena, Parma, or Rimini, you should be flying to Bologna. If you’re coming from overseas, you might need to fly to Florence, Milan, or Venice, and take the train to Bologna. Also, make sure you checked our articles with things to do in Bologna, and day trips from Bologna!
Bologna Airport – BLQ
Bologna is one of those international airports in Italy you have flights from most major cities around Europe, but there aren’t really overseas direct flights. However, the airport remains busy anyway, handling over 9.5 million passengers each year. The Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is located only a few minutes from Bologna’s central train station. You can be actually at the station in no more than 10 minutes with the new airport express trains. There are no shuttle buses anymore in Bologna central station, so don’t try to find them as I did a few months ago!
4. Florence
If you’re planning to visit the beautiful Renaissance city, Florence, or you’re planning to tour the breathtaking region of Tuscany, you might want to fly directly into Florence. One of the international airports in Italy that’s important for us when it comes to Tuscany is the Florence Italy airport. Make sure you check out the best things to do in Florence, the towns to visit in Tuscany, and places to stay both in Florence, around Tuscany, or in other major cities of the region like Siena.
Florence Aiport – FLR
Florence airport officially is known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport. This is located about 20 minutes from the city center, where you can get by shuttle bus. The airport handles over 3 million passengers each year, and though it’s not that big, it does have plenty of international flights. If you’re coming from overseas, you might have to pick Rome, if there’s no direct flight to Florence.
5. Olbia, Alghero, Cagliari – Sardinia
If you’re looking for some dreamy coastal destinations or an island getaway, then you want to consider Sardinia! The most peaceful, most beautiful island ever, and yes we might say that mostly because we love it so much, but we guarantee you won’t see so many beautiful beaches in one place anywhere else in Italy!
So, if you’re looking for a trip to the capital of Sardinia, Cagliari, or you’re planning to visit the northern (most beautiful) side of the island, you’ll have three options! Before we get into that, however, make sure you check out the best things to do in Sardinia, the best places to stay, the best luxury hotels, the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia, and what to do on the north coast of the island!
Olbia Airport – OLB
Olbia Airport, though it’s most active during the warm season, still handles over 3 million passengers each year. The official name of this airport is Costa Smeralda Airport since it’s located on the Emerald coast which we love so much. This is the best airport to fly to if you’re heading to the Olbia and Porto Cervo area, to explore the crystal clear waters and stunning beaches of this coast, along with the island of La Maddalena. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city center, and you can take the bus or a taxi to get to the city center. Though, car rental is recommended in this area, and check out some good hotels too!
Alghero Airport and Cagliari Airport
Alghero Airport is on the other side of the northern part of the island, opposite to Olbia basically. This area is also nice for beautiful Italian beaches, but not as many as on the Emerald Coast. The official name of the airport is Riviera del Corallo Airport or Alghero-Fertilia Airport. It handles over 1 million passengers each year, and it’s about 25 minutes by bus from the city center.
Cagliari Airport is also known as Elmas Airport or Mario Mameli Airport, handles 4 million passengers each year. This is located in the southern part of the island, so if you’re to explore the capital city of Sardinia, and the southern area, this is where you’d have to fly. The airport is about 10 minutes by train from the city center. Cagliari has the biggest international Italian airports on the island.
6. Rome Ciampino and Fiumicino
Rome welcomes the most visitors in the country. There are over 50 million passengers flying in and out of Rome each year. There are two airports you can fly to if you’re looking to visit Rome. One of the biggest airports in Italy, Rome Fiumicino Airport is one of these, and Rome Ciampino is the other one. If you’re visiting the Eternal City, make sure you check the many articles we posted about things to do, and places to stay, such as luxury hotels, affordable ones, and hostels too. Check out for restaurants, nightlife, and much more!
Rome Airport Fiumicino – FCO
Rome Fiumicino Airport is about an hour away from the city center, and you can reach the city by train or shuttle bus. Fiumicino handles over 43 million passengers each year, and it’s the main hub for the largest Italian airline, the formerly known Alitalia, known now as Ita Airways. The airport is located by the coast in Fiumicino, and this is the airport you’d be flying to if you’re coming from major cities in Europe, or overseas.
Rome Ciampino Airport – IATA code CIA
The other important airport is Rome Ciampino Airport, which welcomes short-term flights, mostly budget airlines, and flights from closer destinations, such as central and eastern European flights too. Ciampino handles over 6 million passengers each year, which as you can see is much less than the large number at Fiumicino. You can reach the city center from the airport by shuttle buses that take you to Termini train station in about an hour.
7. Naples
Another really important one of the international airport in Italy is the Naples Italy airport. Now, the city and the area, especially the Amalfi Coast welcome millions of visitors each year, all of which many flies into Naples directly. Alternatives are always to fly to Rome, take the bus, or train, or rent a car to get to this area.
If you’re planning to visit Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, or other islands and have beautiful things to do in the area, you should check if you can fly directly to Naples! And make sure you check our articles for hotels in Naples, restaurants, things to do, and day trips from Naples! We also cover beaches and castles in the region, among many other fun things to do in Campania!
Naples Airport – NAP
Naples Airport handles over 10 million passengers each year, and it’s the largest airport in southern Italy. The airport in Naples is located only a few km away from the city center, and you can reach the center in about 30 minutes. It’s easy to travel from here to the best Italian summer destinations in the Campania region!
8. Bari
Another Italy airport is Bari in the region of Puglia. If you’re looking for budget places with stunning beaches along the coast of Puglia, then you might want to consider Bari. When we speak about international Italian airports, the Karol Wojtyla Airport (Palese Airport) in Bari is one of them, however, this is significantly smaller than other airports in regional capitals. Make sure you check our list of places to stay in Bari!
Bari Airport – BRI
As we mentioned, Karol Wojtyla Airport is also called Palese Airport, and this is the best place to fly if you want to explore the beautiful southern regions of the Italian peninsula. The airport handles over 5 million passengers each year. You can get to the city center of Bari by train, which takes about 18 minutes, or by a shuttle bus which takes about 25 minutes. An ideal place to fly if you want to see the beautiful town of Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, or Monopoli.
9. Palermo
For all of those who are looking to visit Sicily, and you’re looking for airports in Italy, Palermo is one of the top airports to pick. Of course, if you’re actually planning to visit this side of the island, or you’re planning a road trip. Otherwise, Catania is the other option to reach cities like Taormina or Syracuse. Iif you’re visiting Sicily, we do recommend checking out the hotels in Palermo, and Taormina!
Palermo Airport – PMO
Palermo Airport handles about 7 million passengers each year, and it’s officially called Falcone-Borsellino Airport, which is located in a small town called Cinisi. The airport is about 30km away from the city center of Palermo, and this is about 45 minutes by shuttle from the city center. If you’re visiting Palermo, make sure you check the best things to do, hotels, and beaches around the city!
10. Catania
Another of the international Italiana airports and the last one on our list is one of the most important airports on the island of Sicily. If you’re heading to this side of the island and planning to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily, and magical towns like Taormina or volcanos like the Etna, Catania airport will be the one to fly to.
Catania Airport – CTA
Catania Airport handles over 10 million passengers yearly and it’s located south of Catania, in Fontanarossa. You can get an airport shuttle with is about 25 minutes to the city center. If you’re not settling in the city, but you’re looking to visit other nearby cities in Sicily, such as Messina, Agrigento, or Syracuse, this is the best location since Palermo is pretty far from this part of the island.
10 Cities and Italy airports
And now that we’ve discussed all the important international airports in Italy, such as the Naples Italy airport, Florence Italy airport and the other 8, we hope you’re ready to get your tickets, book your accommodation and visit Italy!
As we’ve mentioned earlier, don’t forget to check our related articles, such as Italian summer destinations, honeymoon destinations, day trips from Rome, Naples, or Milan, and also some of the best coastal towns, secret beaches, but also the Italian islands that can’t be missed. Or, if you’re looking for something rather sweet instead of salty, check out our list of Italian lakes to visit!
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