Linate is the airport Milanese people prefer when they can choose. It sits on the eastern edge of the city, about 8 km from Porta Venezia, and for most hotels in the centre the drive is shorter than the time you spend waiting for your bags. That makes it easy to underestimate. A short transfer can still go wrong at the wrong hour, and a little planning makes it predictable.
How long the drive takes
On a weekday morning outside the peak, Google Maps puts the drive from Linate to Milano Centrale at around 20 minutes, and to the area around La Scala and the Duomo at a little over half an hour, because the last kilometres are city streets. At the morning and evening rush the same trip can take twice as long, and during big events the routes into the centre fill up quickly. Your driver chooses the approach based on the live traffic, not on habit.
Arriving at Linate
Linate is compact. After you leave the aircraft, the walk to the baggage hall is short, and most flights are domestic or within the Schengen area, which means no passport control on many arrivals. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign showing your name. We track your flight, and at Linate the first 40 minutes after the actual landing are included as waiting time.
The metro alternative
Since the M4 metro line opened, Linate has a direct underground connection into the city, which is a good option if you are travelling light and your hotel is near a station. With large suitcases, children or a tight schedule, or if your hotel is not on the line, a car is simpler: no changes, no stairs, and you are dropped at the door. For business travellers who need to arrive on time for a meeting, the certainty of a car usually outweighs the few minutes either way.
Which car to choose
For one or two people with normal luggage, a Mercedes E-Class is the natural choice for this short trip. For a VIP guest or a business arrival, the S-Class offers a quieter rear cabin. Families and small groups with more bags travel in the V-Class, and larger groups in the Sprinter Luxury VIP. Whatever the car, the price is fixed in writing before you travel and does not change with traffic or a delayed flight.
Linate for destinations outside Milan
Linate is not only a city airport. It sits on the east side of Milan, which makes it convenient for Bergamo's Città Alta, about an hour away, and for Franciacorta, around 55 minutes. Lake Garda's southern shore is about 1 h 20 from Linate in normal traffic, noticeably closer than from Malpensa. If your stay starts outside the city, a direct transfer from Linate saves time.
Combining the airport with your day
Because the transfer is short, some guests combine it with an hourly booking. The car collects you at Linate, takes you to a first meeting, waits and continues to the hotel in the evening. This is often simpler than booking separate transfers, especially on days with several appointments. Hourly bookings start from a minimum of four hours.
Departing from Linate
For the return, allow for traffic rather than distance. From central Milan, leave enough time to cover the rush hour if your flight is in the morning or early evening. We confirm the pick-up time the day before, based on your flight and your hotel. Tell us if you need a VAT invoice for a company; we issue it for every ride.
Private flights
If you are flying privately, Linate also has a dedicated general aviation terminal. Give us the operator and the tail number or flight reference when you book, and we arrange the pickup at the right entrance.