Flying out of Linate...stay in central Milan, or by airport?

Posted by Ellen (Centennial, CO, USA) on 10/27/14 11:28 PM

We have an early flight out of Linate to fly home. I've staying at Hotel Berna in Milan once before, it's great, but we won't even be able to have breakfast as our flight departs at 7:15AM...so we will have to be at the airport to check our bike cases by 5:30AM or so.

Would you just stay out by the airport? We are coming back from the lake district to Milan the day before we leave and can plan to arrive late. I think we'll have to taxi from the central train station to our hotel if it's by the airport...or maybe take a bus to the airport from the train station, then get a hotel shuttle to the hotel for the night (that worked for us in Rome this year).

AND, if you have used a hotel by the Linate Airport...recommendations?

Posted by Roberto da Firenze ⚜

San Francisco Bay Area (USA)

10/27/14 11:36 PM

15213 posts

It's actually LINATE (without the second N).
You are only 8km (5miles) from downtown and there is no traffic at 5am so 10 or 15 min is all it takes to get there by taxi.

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

10/28/14 12:58 AM

20192 posts

And the Berna gives a discount for no breakfast.

Posted by Pam

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA

10/28/14 01:08 AM

14004 posts

Two weeks ago I stayed at Grand Duca di York near the Duomo and had a 645 flight to AMS. The other posters are right, Linate is very close. The taxi at 430 was about 15€ and 15 minutes. I grossly overestimated the time needed, and altho there was a line up at the KLM desk I got thru quickly and was about the 3rd person thru security. The coffee cafe on the airside of security finally opened about 6 and was jammed, so I recommend you pick up something for breakfast the day before unless you will have time at your connecting airport to get something to eat.

In choosing a hotel I had looked at the ones at the airport and really didn't see an advantage as there is not one on site.

BTW, I entertained myself in line at check-in counting the pieces of luggage people had. I have never seen groups of people with SO much luggage. Really...6 or 7 large suitcases each.

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

10/28/14 05:44 PM

16894 posts

It has worked fine for me to stay in Milan and take and airport bus or taxi to Linate. However, since I was just in Milan last year and did not need to visit again this year, I dropped my rental car at Linate and stayed at www.airhotel.it, where I was happy with the room, service, restaurant, and breakfast from 6:00. Of course, you have a wide choice of hotels, and those in the town of Linate are less isolated. Take contact info in hand so you can call the hotel's airport shuttle van when you reach the airport.