Flights to Italy: Airports, Airlines, Fares, and Booking Tips
A guide to booking flights to Italy — comparing Rome, Milan, and regional airports, the airlines that fly there, typical fares by season, and tips for getting the best deals.
Italy has more international airports than most European countries — over a dozen handle regular international traffic. That’s great for travelers because it means direct access to different regions without always routing through Rome or Milan. Here’s what you need to know.
Italy’s major airports
Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
Italy’s largest airport and primary international gateway. 30 km southwest of central Rome. Hub for ITA Airways (successor to Alitalia). Handles most long-haul traffic to Italy. Two main terminals.
Getting to Rome: Leonardo Express train to Termini Station (32 minutes, €14), regional train to Trastevere/Tiburtina (45 minutes, €8), taxi (45-60 minutes, flat rate €50).
Best for: Long-haul international flights, connecting to Southern Italy.
Milan Malpensa (MXP)
Milan’s main international airport. 50 km northwest of the city. Handles long-haul flights and some European routes. Hub for Neos and some ITA Airways operations.
Getting to Milan: Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale (50 minutes, €13), bus (60 minutes, €10).
Best for: Long-haul flights, Northern Italy access, business travel.
Milan Linate (LIN)
Milan’s city airport. 7 km from the city center. Primarily domestic and short-haul European flights. ITA Airways’ Milan hub for domestic routes.
Best for: Domestic Italian flights, short European hops.
Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
15 km from Venice. Mix of full-service and budget European carriers, plus some seasonal transatlantic flights.
Naples (NAP)
Gateway to Southern Italy, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and Capri. Growing route network with budget carriers.
Other useful airports
- Florence (FLR): Small but growing, European connections
- Bologna (BLG): Ryanair base, central Italy access
- Catania (CTA) and Palermo (PMO): Sicily gateways
- Pisa (PSA): Budget carrier hub, Tuscany access
Airlines and routes to Italy
From the US
| Route | Airlines | Typical economy fare |
|---|---|---|
| JFK → FCO | ITA Airways, Delta, American | $400-800 |
| JFK → MXP | Emirates, ITA Airways, Delta | $400-800 |
| EWR → FCO | United | $400-800 |
| MIA → FCO | American, ITA Airways | $450-850 |
| ORD → FCO | ITA Airways, American | $450-850 |
| BOS → FCO | ITA Airways, Delta | $400-800 |
Nonstop from the US: ITA Airways, Delta, United, and American operate nonstop flights primarily to Rome FCO. Some seasonal nonstop service to Milan MXP, Venice, and Naples.
Connecting options: Virtually every European carrier offers competitive one-stop connections to Italian cities. Lufthansa (via Frankfurt/Munich), Swiss (via Zurich), and Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul) are particularly well-positioned.
From the UK
The UK-Italy market is dominated by budget carriers:
- Ryanair: Flies to 20+ Italian airports from multiple UK cities. Fares from £20 one-way.
- easyJet: Strong network to Rome, Milan, Naples, Venice, Pisa.
- British Airways: Flies to Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Bologna.
- Wizz Air: Expanding Italian network with ultra-low fares.
Budget carrier fares on UK-Italy routes can be remarkably cheap — £30-80 round trip in off-peak periods if you avoid checked luggage.
When flights to Italy are cheapest
Cheapest months: November-March (excluding Christmas). Transatlantic round trips from the US can drop to $350-500. UK budget flights as low as £30-80 round trip.
Most expensive: June-September (peak summer tourism), Easter week, Christmas-New Year. US round trips climb to $800-1,200+.
Shoulder seasons: April-May and October. The best combination of good weather, manageable crowds, and reasonable fares ($450-650 from the US).
Italy-specific tip: August is when Italians take their vacations (Ferragosto around August 15 is a major holiday). Domestic flights and trains are packed and more expensive. International fares are also at peak levels.
Tips for booking flights to Italy
Don’t always fly into Rome. If you’re visiting Tuscany, fly into Pisa or Florence. For the Amalfi Coast, Naples is closer. For the Dolomites, Venice or Milan. Regional airports can save you hours of ground travel.
Budget carriers make inter-Italy travel cheap. Ryanair and easyJet connect Italian cities for €20-50. Flying Rome to Sicily is often faster and cheaper than the train.
Consider open-jaw itineraries. Fly into Rome, travel north through Tuscany and Venice, fly home from Milan. This avoids backtracking and multi-city bookings on the same airline are usually the same price as round trips.
Book US-Italy flights 2-3 months ahead. The 6-12 week window before departure typically offers the best fare classes on transatlantic routes.
ITA Airways offers some of the best direct fares. As Italy’s flag carrier, ITA often has competitive nonstop pricing, especially from JFK and MIA.
Entry requirements
As of 2026:
- US/Canadian citizens: No visa for stays up to 90 days in the Schengen area. ETIAS authorization required — apply online before travel.
- UK citizens: No visa for stays up to 90 days. ETIAS required.
- Passport: Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond planned departure from the Schengen area.
Book flights to Italy
Sira shows published airline fares with no markups or hidden fees. Search flights to Italy →
Ready to book?
Compare real-time fares across 100+ airlines. No hidden fees, no markup — just the lowest price available.
Search flights on Sira →