Italy's Top Airports: Which Is The Best Gateway?

what

Italy is a country with a long and narrow geography, and is home to a number of international airports. The best airport to fly into depends on your destination within the country. For instance, the Cagliari Elmas Airport is the international airport on the Italian island of Sardinia, and the Falcone Borsellino in Palermo is the airport to fly into when visiting Sicily. The Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, commonly known as Fiumicino, is the largest airport in Italy, and is closest to the city centre.

Characteristics Values
Largest Airport in Italy Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome (also known as Fiumicino)
Busiest Airport in Italy Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome
Best Airport in Italy for Shops, Comfort, Lounges and Services Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome
Best Airport in Italy for Tuscany Galileo Galilei Airport, Pisa
Best Airport in Italy for Sardinia Cagliari Elmas Airport
Best Airport in Italy for Sicily Falcone Borsellino Airport, Palermo
Best Airport in Italy for Umbria Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome
Best Airport in Italy for Puglia Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport

shunhotel

Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

The airport boasts three main terminals and one satellite terminal. Terminal 3 (T3) handles international flights, while Terminal 1 (T1) caters to Italian domestic flights. Fiumicino Airport has a wide range of refreshment areas and was rated highly by 50,000 travellers for its shops, comfort, lounges and services. It offers various transportation options to and from the airport, including train, bus, taxi, car, and scooter services.

Fiumicino Airport has a rich history, having opened on 15 January 1961, with two runways, replacing the smaller Rome Ciampino Airport. However, it had been operational since 20 August 1960, to relieve air traffic congestion during the 1960 Summer Olympics. The airport has witnessed several security incidents, including terrorist attacks and plane crashes, but it remains a safe and secure airport with supervision by the Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza, Italian Civil Aviation Authority, and Aeroporti di Roma S.p.A.

The airport has undergone significant expansion and refurbishment, and future projects include an environmentally-friendly cogeneration system and the "Masterplan Fiumicino Nord," which involves the construction of four new terminals and two new runways to accommodate 100 million passengers annually. Fiumicino Airport has also received accolades, ranking 8th among the world's top 10 airports and maintaining Skytrax's 5-star rating.

With its convenient location, efficient transportation options, diverse services, and continuous improvements, Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) stands out as one of the best airports in Italy, providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for travellers from around the world.

shunhotel

Milan Malpensa Airport

Malpensa Airport has two terminals (T1 and T2) that offer various amenities, including bars, restaurants, and shops. The airport provides easy access to Milan's city centre, with the Malpensa Express train connecting the airport to Milan Cadorna railway station in approximately 40 minutes.

The airport is recognised for its excellent amenities and convenient access to the city, making it a popular choice for travellers. It serves as an international and intercontinental gateway, offering direct flights to several countries and catering to various airlines, including major European carriers and low-cost airlines.

shunhotel

Palermo-Punta Raisi Falcone and Borsellino Airport (PMO)

The airport has a single terminal building with four levels: a subterranean floor, a ground floor, a first floor, and a second floor. The terminal handles both domestic and international arrivals and departures, with the baggage reclaim and arrivals area on the ground level and the check-in area on the first floor. The boarding area on the second floor has five gates with airbridge access, while the remaining gates have bus or pedestrian access to the airport apron.

Palermo Airport has its own train station, Punta Raisi, located underground, which provides a direct connection to the city of Palermo via the Trinacria Express. The journey to the city centre takes about an hour. Alternatively, passengers can travel to and from the airport by bus, which offers more frequent and convenient drop-off locations at a similar cost to the train. Car rental services are also available at the airport, provided by several companies including Europcar, Avis, Hertz, and Autoeuropa.

Palermo-Punta Raisi Falcone and Borsellino Airport has a rich history. The choice of the Punta Raisi location was initially controversial due to its distance from Palermo and the area's windy weather conditions. However, a new terminal building was completed in the 1990s, and the airport has since become one of the busiest in Southern Italy.

UK Reading Airport: Does It Exist?

You may want to see also

shunhotel

Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP)

Naples Capodichino Airport is easily accessible from all parts of the city thanks to the "Tangenziale", an urban highway (A56) that connects Naples to the metropolitan area and highways to other cities in Italy. The airport is also connected to nearby cities by bus and train. For example, the bus line Alibus connects the airport to Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Municipio. The airport is located just 4 kilometres from Naples' central station.

The airport offers a wide range of services and facilities to ensure a comfortable and convenient experience for travellers. These include short-term and long-term parking, dining options such as cafes, bars, and restaurants, a small selection of retail stores, and lounges like the Sala VIP Napoli lounge, which offers a quiet space to relax with complimentary snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi. The airport has one terminal building, Terminal 1, with airside sections A, B, and C handling all domestic and international flights. The upper level features the main departures area A, which has most shops.

Naples Capodichino Airport is one of the largest passenger airports in southern Italy. According to 2023 data, it is the fourth-busiest airport in Italy and the busiest in Southern Italy. The airport serves as a base for several low-cost airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea, and Wizzair.

shunhotel

Marco Polo Airport, Venice (VCE)

Marco Polo Airport in Venice (VCE) is one of the best airports in Italy. Located on the mainland near the village of Tessera, it is about 7.6 kilometres east of Mestre and around the same distance north of Venice. Named after Marco Polo, the airport has grown significantly in recent years in terms of air traffic and the quality of its services. It is the most popular among Italian and foreign citizens in transit and served as a base for airlines such as Volotea, Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet.

The airport terminal has three floors: the ground floor for arrivals and the second floor for departures, with 70 check-in desks and two airside lounges. The third floor of the terminal has offices for the operating company and airlines. The departure floor has separate areas for Schengen and non-Schengen flights. The airport offers scheduled bus connections to nearby railway stations and is also connected to several destinations in the lagoon by public transit Alilaguna water shuttle services.

The airport handled 11,184,608 passengers in 2018, making it the fourth busiest airport in Italy. It features flights to many European metropolitan areas, as well as some partly seasonal long-haul routes to the United States, Canada, South Korea and the Middle East.

The "Marco Polo" VIP Lounge in the boarding gates area offers an exclusive experience with snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, newspapers, magazines, smartphone charging sockets and a terrace overlooking the lagoon and airfield. The airport also provides assistance for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility.

Frequently asked questions

The main airport in Tuscany is the Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa, but Genoa, Bologna and Rome are also good alternatives.

The Cagliari Elmas Airport is the largest airport on the Island of Sardinia. It is located about 6km northwest of the city of Cagliari.

The airport you want to fly to for Sicily is the Falcone Borsellino Airport in Palermo.

Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest international airport in Northern Italy, serving Piedmont, Lombardy and the Liguria regions.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment