Between dreaming of the Colosseum and mapping out the perfect pasta tour, your Italy travel planning always hits one crucial first step: booking the flight.
But as you start your search, a question quickly emerges. With dozens of airports in Italy, which one should you actually choose?

Top major Airports in Italy

Top Airports in Italy: Codes & Major Hubs

This decision is more than just a minor detail; it’s a strategic choice that directly impacts your wallet and your watch. In practice, picking an airport that seems cheaper on a flight search can sometimes lead to hours of extra travel on the ground and unexpected transfer costs, turning a good deal into a logistical headache. A few minutes understanding how to choose an airport now can save you hours of precious vacation time later.

Just look at Milan, which is served by three different airports. You’re not alone if you find the options confusing, and picking the wrong one can easily add an extra hour to your journey into the city. This guide breaks down Italy’s major hubs so you can book with confidence and spend less time stressing about logistics and more time living la dolce vita.

What Are Those 3-Letter Airport Codes? (And Why You Need to Know Them)

Ever noticed that 3-letter code on your boarding pass or flight search? That’s an airport’s IATA code, a unique global nickname that helps airlines tell one airport from another. Think of it as a simple shorthand to make sure your luggage—and you—end up in the right place.

This shorthand is incredibly useful when booking travel to Italy, as major cities are often served by multiple airports. Searching by code guarantees you’re looking at the right one, preventing a mix-up that could land you an hour away from your destination. It’s the simplest way to avoid a common travel mistake.

To get you started, here is a short list of IATA codes for Italy’s busiest international airports:

  • FCO – Rome (Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport)
  • MXP – Milan (Malpensa Airport)
  • VCE – Venice (Marco Polo Airport)

What is a ‘Hub’ Airport, and Why Should You Care?

You’ll often hear the term airport hub when researching flights. The easiest way to think of it is as a central train station, but for planes. It’s one of the major international airports in Italy where a large airline concentrates its routes, connecting flights from all over the world. This strategy is what creates a wide web of flight options for travelers.

Torino Airport in Italy

So why should you care? These hubs are your best bet for finding the most convenient flights. For anyone traveling from North America, Asia, or other distant locations, hubs like Rome (FCO) and Milan (MXP) offer the most direct, non-stop services. As the Italy international airport map below shows, they also serve as the primary connecting points for onward flights to smaller regional airports across the country.

For most trips, starting your flight search with one of these hubs is your smartest move. This approach, however, can raise a new and important question: top destinations are often served by more than one airport. This is especially true for the nation’s capital, where the critical distinction lies between flying into Rome’s Fiumicino (FCO) and its smaller counterpart, Ciampino (CIA).

Flying to Rome? The Critical Difference Between Fiumicino (FCO) and Ciampino (CIA)

Rome perfectly illustrates this choice between different airports serving the same city. The nation’s capital has two main passenger airports: the massive international hub, Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO), and the much smaller Ciampino Airport (CIA). While they both get you to the Eternal City, they offer very different travel experiences, and picking the right one often comes down to where your flight originates.

A simple, stylized map of Italy highlighting the locations of the 5 major airport hubs to be discussed: FCO (Rome), MXP (Milan), VCE (Venice), PSA/FLR (Tuscany area), and NAP (Naples/Amalfi area). Each location has a pin with the 3-letter code

The vast majority of travelers arriving from outside of Europe will land at Fiumicino (FCO). As Italy’s primary hub, it handles almost all long-haul international flights. Its key advantage, besides the sheer number of flight options, is its direct connection to the city. The Leonardo Express train provides a fast and reliable 32-minute journey straight to Rome’s central Termini station, bypassing all road traffic.

Conversely, Ciampino (CIA) serves primarily low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, for flights within Europe and Italy. You might find a bargain flight into CIA, but the trade-off is convenience. Transportation from Ciampino relies on shuttle buses, which are less expensive but can get bogged down in Rome’s notorious traffic, making the journey to your hotel significantly longer.

Ultimately, the choice between Rome Fiumicino vs Ciampino is usually straightforward. If you’re flying from North America or on a major carrier, FCO is your destination. If you’re hopping over from another European city on a budget airline, you’ll likely use CIA—just remember to budget extra time for that bus ride.
This same dynamic of weighing convenience against cost becomes even more complex when decoding Milan’s three airports.

Decoding Milan’s Three Airports: Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), & Bergamo (BGY)

If you thought Rome’s two airports presented a choice, Milan takes it to the next level. As a gateway to Northern Italy and one of the country’s major airports for business and fashion, Milan is served by three airports: Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), and Orio al Serio (BGY), also known as Milan-Bergamo. Understanding the difference between MXP, LIN, and BGY is crucial, as choosing the wrong one can add hours to your journey.

Each airport serves a specific purpose. Malpensa (MXP) is the main intercontinental hub, similar to Rome’s FCO, handling most long-haul flights from outside Europe. Linate (LIN) is the city’s convenient, close-in airport, serving mostly domestic and European flights just a few miles from the Duomo. Finally, Bergamo (BGY), about 30 miles away, is a major hub for budget airlines.

The real decision comes down to balancing ticket price against transfer time and cost.
A cheap flight into Bergamo (BGY) might seem like a steal, but you must factor in the one-hour bus ride to reach Milan’s central station. In contrast, transportation to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is more direct via the Malpensa Express train, and a taxi from Linate (LIN) can get you to the city center in 20 minutes.

To keep it simple, here’s a quick rule of thumb:

  • Malpensa (MXP): Choose for most international flights from outside Europe.
  • Linate (LIN): Pick for ultimate convenience if you’re flying from within Europe.
  • Bergamo (BGY): Look here for the best budget fares, but be sure to add an extra hour and about €10-12 for the bus transfer.

Just as Milan serves as the primary entry for the north, other airports act as the perfect gateway for Italy’s most beloved region: Tuscany.

Your Gateway to Tuscany: Choosing Between Florence (FLR) and Pisa (PSA)

Dreaming of the rolling hills and Renaissance art of Tuscany? The airport closest to Florence, Italy, is the city’s own Peretola Airport (FLR). Located just a short taxi or tram ride from the historic center, it’s unbeatable for getting your trip started quickly.
However, as a very small airport, it often has fewer flight options and higher ticket prices. This presents a classic trade-off you’ll encounter at many smaller airports in Italy: paying for convenience versus flying for value.

This is where a little strategic planning pays off. A savvy traveler’s alternative is to fly into Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA), about an hour away.
As a larger base for many airlines, including budget carriers, Pisa often offers a wider selection of flights at more competitive prices. Don’t let the distance fool you; a direct and reliable train service connects Pisa’s airport terminal directly to Florence’s main Santa Maria Novella station, making the transfer both easy and affordable.

Ultimately, the decision between Pisa and Florence airports comes down to your priorities. If you’re on a short city break focused exclusively on Florence, the time saved by flying into FLR might be worth the potential extra cost. However, if your goal is to explore the wider Tuscan region or you simply find a great flight deal, Pisa (PSA) is an excellent, highly practical gateway. From the hills of Tuscany, let’s head south to solve another popular travel puzzle: how to reach the Amalfi Coast.

How to Reach the Amalfi Coast: The Best Airports in Italy to Fly Into

For the sun-drenched cliffs and turquoise waters of the Amalfi Coast, the best airport to fly into is Naples International Airport (NAP). As the closest major airport to famous destinations like Positano, Amalfi, and Sorrento, it serves as the region’s primary travel hub. Choosing Naples will significantly reduce your ground travel time, giving you more hours to soak in the spectacular seaside views instead of sitting on a train or bus.

A key detail for planning your trip is that no major airport is located directly on the Amalfi Coast. Once you land in Naples, your journey to the coast itself begins. From the airport, you’ll need to take a second mode of transport.
The most common route involves a bus or taxi to the Naples central train station or port, where you can catch a local train to Sorrento or a ferry to the coastal towns. This multi-stage transfer is a classic part of the Amalfi Coast experience.

Some travelers might wonder whether flying into Rome (FCO) is worth it to save on a flight deal. While possible, be prepared for a much longer travel day.
Getting from Rome to the Amalfi Coast involves a high-speed train to Naples, followed by the same local transfers, adding at least three to four extra hours to your journey. For those coming from farther away, the big question is often about convenience. So, which Italian airports offer direct flights from the US?

Flying from the US?
Which Airports in Italy Offer Direct Flights?

Flying from the United States? Your search for a direct flight will almost always lead you to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP). As Italy’s two primary international airports for long-haul travel, they offer year-round, nonstop service from major US hubs like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. For the simplest journey without layovers, starting your flight search with FCO or MXP is your most reliable bet, no matter the season.

Your options expand during peak season, however. From roughly May to October, airlines often add seasonal direct flights to tourist hotspots such as Venice (VCE) and Naples (NAP). These convenient routes don’t run all year but are a fantastic time-saver for summer trips, letting you bypass a connection in another European city. Always check for these limited-run flights when planning a warm-weather Italian getaway.

While direct flights offer unbeatable convenience, they aren’t always the most budget-friendly. It is smart to compare prices with flights that have a single connection through another European hub, like Paris or Amsterdam, which can often save you a significant amount of money.