Cheap Flights from London (LON) to Milan (MIL)

After booking your destination Milan flight, it’s time to get ready to visit. Italy follows EU rules when it comes to changed travel regulations for UK citizens. A UK passport is mandatory without the need for a visa.

Current COVID-19 regulations also apply, and currently include the obligatory vaccination proof, a passenger locator form (EU PLF) with a QR code or as a printed document, and a negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours before entering the country. Passengers who aren’t fully vaccinated should also fill in the passenger locator form, present a negative PCR or antigen test, notify the local health authorities of their entry into the country and self-isolate for five days, with another mandatory negative test required at the end of the self-isolation period.

Here you can find more info on the necessary Covid-19 documentation.

Etiquette Tips

A good trip destination Milan will also require adapting to local etiquette rules. A modern and urban city, Milan can also be surprisingly traditional and formal. Some etiquette rules that may not apply in many global epicentres will still matter to the Milanese.

This includes the de rigueur “Buongiorno” (good day) or “buonasera” (good evening) to start any interaction with strangers, first-name basis only when invited, “mi scusi” (excuse me) to attract attention; and use “permesso” (permission), when you want to overtake someone when walking about.

Another aspect to keep in mind when travelling destination Milan is presentation. The Milanese are known for their elegance and poise, so dressing up elegantly no matter the time or purpose (minding modesty for a proper destination Milanese approach) will also play in your favour.

Those expecting late-night dining or long lunches as experienced in Mediterranean Italy will likely be disappointed – or even angry – at Milan's strict restaurant hours. The city is known for its punctuality track record, so be ready to be refused service after 1:30 for lunch or 8:30 for dinner. And, if you have a reservation, make sure you make it in time.

Flights info

From early mornings to evenings, there are over 16 daily flights from London destination Milan, with tickets priced as low as £12 (while the average price would be around £100). The availability, accessible price, and short duration (just under two hours) make Milan an attractive destination for UK travellers seeking an immersion in the best of Northern Italian culture, food, fashion – and more.

Airport to City-Centre Travel

Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo are the three international airports serving the Milan metropolitan area.

Malpensa is the busiest, with more flight options from London. Passengers landing in Malpensa can take the Malpensa Express train into Milan’s central train stations, including Milano Centrale, Cadorna, or Porta Garibaldi. The prices start at 13€.

The shortest journey connecting Malpensa airport is 50-minutes long, which should be considered from the time reservations are made, slowing for proper planning.

Alternatively, with the comfort of private transport, travellers can take a taxi destination Milan, which will cost nearly 100€ and take a similar amount of time, depending on local traffic into the city, which can be intense.

Discovering the City

Although not Italy's capital, Milan is its most important urban centre, the established headquarters of financial institutions and global businesses. The city is also one of the world's renowned fashion capitals, which attracts tourists from all over the world. Milan is also a bustling cultural centre, a reference for architecture and design, a history-rich destination, and a culinary epicentre.

Milan’s population is 1.4 million, making it the most populous city in Italy after Rome, with a densely populated metropolitan surrounding area. A global city and world reference in the arts, architecture, design, education, finance, healthcare, services, and tourism. Milan has the third-largest economy in Europe. It also holds Italy’s most important business complexes, the country’s stock exchange and the headquarters of multinational companies and banks.

Destination Milan: best season to visit the city of fashion

While Milan is a year-round city with busy cultural and business calendars, tourists are advised to travel during non-peak season, in April, May, September and October, escaping sweltering summer temperatures, cold winter weather, and peak tourism city, which may, to some, make the experience hectic rather than pleasant.

Must-See Attractions

While salons, fairs, fashion week and other events promote visiting peaks within its calendar, destination Milan is popular for an array of permanent touristic attractions – some of them are absolute must-sees.

・Il Duomo

Right at the centre of Milan, "Il Duomo", as it is known by locals, or Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, can hold up to 40,000 people, making it one of the world’s largest churches.

It began to be built in the 14th century and was only finished in the early 17th century. An exquisite example of Gothic architecture, this impressive building features 2,245 marble statues and 135 stone pinnacles as decorations, with stained-glass windows dating back to the 15th century amongst the largest in the world.

・Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Another architectural gem at the centre of Milan, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II marked the birth of modern Italian architecture, in the 19th century. Made from iron and glass, the building is to date one of the world’s most celebrated examples of the era’s industrial architecture.

The Galleria is a Milan destination, well known amongst travellers and locals for its bustling shopping and elegant cafés. It hosts an array of luxury shops, including the first store of one of Milan’s most famous fashion houses – Prada, established in 1913.

・Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper

One of the world’s most famous artworks dates to 1497. It’s Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic “Last Supper”, the intricate representation of the biblical scene that changed the world of art.

It’s located within the church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie, in Corso Magenta, which is a reference in architecture – the work of Bramante, one of Italy’s renowned architects.

・Pinacoteca di Brera

Founded in 1809, Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera is one of Italy’s most extensive art galleries. It is located in the city’s Brera district – one of the city’s most elegant neighbourhoods and a destination Milan must-visit.

Amongst its impressive paintings – which make this a destination Milan-trip visit alone – are Giovanni Bellini’s Pieta and Caravaggio’s Supper in Emmaus, among other works by the likes of Bramante, Tintoretto, and Leonardo da Vinci.