Buying a SIM Card at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) in 2026

If you are looking for a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), this guide shows you exactly where to buy a prepaid SIM card at Milan Airport, what tourist SIM cards cost and what your best options are for staying connected when visiting Milan in 2026.

I actually enjoy arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport. Compared to many large European airports the arrival hall feel very spacious and open. It is easy to get your bearings, walk around and quickly find the shops or services you need after landing.

The only downside of Milan Airport is the distance to the city. Malpensa is located quite far from central Milan and the transfer usually takes around 45 minutes by bus or train.

If you haven't arranged mobile data yet, there is a good chance you will be offline for almost an hour before reaching your hotel.

If you are traveling around Italy, also check my guides for the best prepaid SIM card for Italy and my comparison of the best eSIMs for Italy.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on independent research and personal experience.

Do I need a SIM card for visiting Milan?

Yes, having mobile data on your phone makes traveling around Milan much easier. Whether you are navigating the city with Google Maps, checking public transport routes, booking tickets for attractions or simply finding a good restaurant nearby, being connected to the internet saves time and makes exploring the city more convenient.

This becomes especially relevant when arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). The airport is located quite far from the city center and the transfer to Milan usually takes around 45 minutes by bus or train. If you haven't arranged mobile data yet, you may be offline for almost an hour before reaching your hotel.

Over the years I have tested SIM cards and mobile networks in more than 170 countries while traveling the world. On Traveltomtom you will now find hundreds of guides about buying local SIM cards and using eSIMs for traveling.

Public WiFi is available in most hotels, cafés and restaurants in Milan, but relying on WiFi alone is rarely convenient. Connections can be slow, require logins or simply not be available when you need them. Having your own mobile data connection ensures you are connected anywhere in the city.

If your phone supports eSIM technology, you can even arrange mobile data before arriving in Italy. In my guide comparing the best eSIMs for Italy I explain which plans allow you to connect to a local network immediately after landing at Milan Malpensa Airport.

Arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the largest international airport serving Milan and one of the main gateways to northern Italy. The airport is located about 45 kilometers from Milan city center and the transfer usually takes around 45 minutes by bus or train.

I actually enjoy arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport. The arrival hall feels very spacious and open compared to many other large European airports. It is not overly chaotic, which makes it straightforward to walk around and find what you need.

Inside the arrival halls you will find all the typical airport services such as money exchange offices, car rental desks, tourist information counters and SIM card shops. Most of these services are located directly after baggage claim in the main arrival area.

Milan Malpensa Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is the main terminal where most international flights arrive, while Terminal 2 is mainly used by low-cost airlines such as EasyJet.

In the next section I will show you exactly where to buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport and what the available options are for tourists arriving in Milan.

Where to buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport

If you want to buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) after landing, there are a few places inside the terminals where tourist SIM cards for Italy are sold. The options are mainly located in Terminal 1, which is where most international flights arrive.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 has two arrival halls: Arrival Hall A and Arrival Hall B. After collecting your luggage you will immediately see several money exchange offices. These exchange offices sell Vodafone prepaid SIM cards for Italy and they are easy to spot thanks to large Vodafone advertisements displayed at the counters.

Between Arrival Hall A and B there are multiple exchange shops within just a few minutes walking distance. These are the main places where travelers buy a tourist SIM card at Milan Airport.

There is also a small booth called Exactta Group/Tutto Communications located near Arrival Hall B. They sell Vodafone SIM cards as well as Lycamobile SIM cards, although SIM card prices here tend to be significantly higher than at the exchange offices.

Another option in Terminal 1 is the tourist information office, where you can sometimes buy TIM prepaid SIM cards for Italy.

Terminal 2

If you arrive at Terminal 2, which is mainly used by EasyJet, you will not find SIM card shops directly in the arrival hall. Travelers who want to buy a SIM card at Milan Airport Terminal 2 need to go to the departure hall in the adjacent building.

In the departure area you will find a money exchange shop that also sells prepaid SIM cards for Italy.

SIM card prices at Milan Malpensa Airport

If you want to buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), the available options are mainly sold through exchange offices, the tourism office and small telecom booths inside Terminal 1.

These SIM cards are designed for tourists and are generally more expensive than prepaid SIM cards you can buy in Milan city center.

Below are the current tourist SIM card plans available at Milan Airport.

Vodafone SIM card Milan Airport

The money exchange offices in Terminal 1 sell Vodafone prepaid SIM cards for tourists. These are the most commonly available SIM cards at Milan Malpensa Airport.

• 30 GB data in Italy + 300 minutes (incl. 5 GB EU roaming) = €35 EUR (~$41 USD)
• 70 GB data in Italy + 600 minutes (incl. 12 GB EU roaming) = €55 EUR (~$64 USD)

TIM SIM card Milan Airport

The tourist information office in Terminal 1 sometimes sells TIM prepaid SIM cards for Italy with the following plans:

• 20 GB data (incl. 12 GB EU roaming) + 300 minutes = €35 EUR (~$41 USD)
• 50 GB data (incl. 23 GB EU roaming) + unlimited minutes in Italy = €50 EUR (~$58 USD)

Lycamobile SIM card Milan Airport

The booth from Exactta Group/Tutto Mobile near Arrival Hall B sells Lycamobile SIM cards, a mobile virtual network operator that uses the Vodafone network in Italy.

• 50 GB data (12 GB EU roaming) + 500 minutes in Europe = €45 EUR (~$52 USD)
• 100 GB data (12 GB EU roaming) + 1,000 minutes in Europe = €60 EUR (~$69 USD)

Keep in mind that most of these tourist SIM cards include only a limited amount of EU data roaming. If you plan to continue traveling across Europe after visiting Italy, make sure to check the roaming allowance before purchasing a SIM card at the airport.

If you are visiting multiple European countries, you may prefer a regional data plan. In my comparison of the best eSIM cards for Europe I explain which options work best across different countries.

Best mobile network in Italy

Italy has four main mobile network operators: WINDTRE, Vodafone, TIM and Iliad. All of them offer strong 4G and 5G coverage across the country and in large cities like Milan you will generally experience fast and reliable 5G mobile internet regardless of which provider you choose.

Based on the latest coverage maps and nationwide footprint, the ranking of mobile networks in Italy is roughly as follows:

1. WINDTRE – strongest overall 4G and 5G coverage across Italy, including rural areas.
2. Vodafone – very close second with excellent nationwide coverage and strong urban 5G performance.
3. TIM – solid nationwide network but slightly smaller 5G footprint compared to WINDTRE and Vodafone.
4. Iliad – very strong in cities but thinner coverage in rural regions.

For most tourists visiting cities like Milan, Rome, Florence or Venice, the difference between the top networks will barely be noticeable. All major operators provide fast and reliable mobile data in the main tourist destinations across Italy.

If you want to compare all operators and prepaid plans, check my full guide on the best prepaid SIM card for Italy.

Best SIM card to buy at Milan Malpensa Airport

If you decide to buy a tourist SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), the most straightforward option is usually a Vodafone prepaid SIM card.

These SIM cards are widely available at the exchange offices inside Terminal 1 and are easy to purchase immediately after arriving.

The most common tourist plan offered at Milan Airport is the Vodafone package with 30 GB data and 300 minutes for €35 EUR (~$41 USD). It also includes a small amount of EU roaming data.

Other options such as TIM SIM cards from the tourism office or Lycamobile SIM cards from smaller telecom booths are also available as well, but prices are higher.

Keep in mind that SIM cards sold at Milan Airport are tourist packages. They are designed for convenience and are noticeably more expensive than the regular prepaid SIM deals available in Milan city center.

If you want the best value prepaid plans in Italy, it is usually better to wait until you reach the city and buy a SIM card at an official operator store. In my guide on the best prepaid SIM card for Italy I explain which operators offer the best deals.

Buying a SIM card in Milan city center vs at the airport

If you wait until you reach Milan city center, you will usually find much better prepaid SIM deals at official mobile operator stores such as Vodafone, WINDTRE, TIM or Iliad. In these stores staff can also properly explain the available plans and EU roaming limits.

In fact, prepaid SIM cards in Italy are among the best value in Europe. Local plans in the city can include around 200 GB data for about €14.95 EUR (~$18 USD), which is significantly cheaper than the tourist SIM cards sold at airports.

This means that airport SIM cards at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) are mainly a convenience option. They are useful if you want mobile data immediately after arrival for navigation, ride-hailing apps or contacting your hotel.

If you prefer the best value prepaid plans in Italy, it is usually better to buy a SIM card in the city. In my guide on the best prepaid SIM card for Italy I explain which operators currently offer the best deals.

Using an eSIM for visiting Milan

Another popular way to stay connected when visiting Milan is using an eSIM. Instead of buying a physical SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport, you can install a mobile data plan on your phone before your trip and connect to the network immediately after landing.

The main advantage of an Italy eSIM is convenience. You don't have to visit a store, show your passport or swap SIM cards. As soon as your plane lands at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), your phone connects to a local network and you can start using mobile data right away.

Many travelers also choose an eSIM because the pricing can be competitive compared to the tourist SIM cards sold at the airport. In my comparison of the best eSIMs for Italy I break down the best options for data plans, coverage and pricing.

Best eSIM for visiting Milan

One of the best eSIM providers for Italy is SimOptions. They have lots of plans and you can expect to pay around $1 USD per GB. Their plans often include calls, SMS and EU roaming, so perfect for travelers on a Europe trip.

If Italy is just one stop on a longer European trip, you may want a regional plan that works across multiple countries. In that case I recommend reading my guide on the best eSIM cards for Europe.

If you specifically want unlimited data, check the Sim Local unlimited data eSIMs for Italy. It offers one of the highest fair use limits at around 10 GB per day, which is much more than its eSIM competitors and is ideal for heavy data users. For more options read my comparison of the best unlimited data eSIMs for Italy.

How to get to Milan city from Malpensa Airport

There are official airport taxis and there are of course the popular ride hailing apps like Uber and Bolt. But you can also use two other options: bus or train. Both run very frequent, busses go every 10 minutes, train every 20 minutes.

A one-way bus ticket to the city cost around €15 EUR (~17 USD) and busses can be found right outside Arrival Hall A (Terminal 1).

I once took a bus from Malpensa Airport to Milan city and it took 40 minutes, but from the city to the airport I already had a 1.5 hour bus ride as well because of traffic leaving the city.

The advantage of taking a bus is that they have 3 other stops before they end at Milan Central Station, where the train goes directly to Milan Central Station.

The train is slightly more reliable in terms of timings but also more expensive and costs around $25 USD one-way, but it guarantees you to reach Milan Central Station in 1 hour. The train station is 3 minutes walk from the arrival halls and tickets can be bought at the train station through ticket machines or ticket office.

FAQ about buying a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport

Can you buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport?

Yes. You can buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) mainly in Terminal 1. Tourist SIM cards for Italy are sold at money exchange offices, small telecom booths and sometimes at the tourist information office.

Where can I buy a SIM card at Milan Airport?

Most travelers buy a SIM card at Milan Airport in Terminal 1 after baggage claim. Several exchange offices sell Vodafone prepaid SIM cards and there are also smaller telecom booths offering tourist SIM cards for Italy.

How much does a SIM card cost at Milan Malpensa Airport?

Tourist SIM cards at Milan Malpensa Airport usually cost between €35 EUR and €55 EUR (~$41 – $64 USD) depending on the data allowance. These airport SIM cards are designed for convenience and are typically more expensive than prepaid SIM cards sold in Milan city center.

Do you need a passport to buy a SIM card in Italy?

Yes. Italian law requires mobile operators to register SIM cards. When buying a prepaid SIM card in Italy, including at Milan Airport, you must show a passport or valid ID for registration.

Is it cheaper to buy a SIM card in Milan city center?

Yes. Buying a SIM card in Milan city center is usually cheaper than buying one at the airport. Local prepaid plans sold in official operator stores often include much more data for a lower price compared to the tourist SIM cards available at Milan Malpensa Airport.

Final thoughts

Buying a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport is possible and fairly easy, especially if you arrive at Terminal 1 where several exchange offices and telecom booths sell tourist SIM cards for Italy.

However, keep in mind that SIM cards sold at the airport are mainly tourist packages. They are convenient if you want mobile data immediately after landing, but they are usually more expensive than the regular prepaid plans available in Milan city center.

If you want to compare all operators and find the best local deals, read my guide on buying a prepaid SIM card in Italy.

If your phone supports eSIM technology, installing a digital SIM before departure can be the easiest solution. In my comparison of the best eSIMs for Italy I explain which providers offer the best plans for travelers.

If Italy is just one stop on a longer trip, you may want a travel SIM that works across multiple countries. In that case check my guide on the best international SIM cards for traveling abroad.

Traveling elsewhere in Italy? You can also read my guides about buying a SIM card at Rome Fiumicino Airport or a SIM card in Venice.

I hope this guide helped you understand where to buy a SIM card at Milan Malpensa Airport and what the best options are for staying connected when visiting Milan.

Check out my Instagram @traveltomtom for more travel tips and inspiration.

Enjoy your trip to Milan!

 

• italy
• milan
• milan malpensa airport