Sleeping in Milan Malpensa Airport

Whether you are an experienced airport sleeper or new to the game, this sleep guide will give you the essential information to better prepare you for sleeping in Milan Malpensa Airport.

Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Milan Malpensa Airport. If you have a tip to share, write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!

Read the latest traveller reviews.

Sleeping in Milan Malpensa Airport

Locations & Seating

Most of the seating here has armrests, however the larger Terminal 1 has a decent amount of metal benches. Keep your eyes peeled for one, otherwise you’ll likely need to stretch out on the floor for some decent rest. Many travellers camp overnight in Terminal 2, as its home to many low-cost carriers, but there are fewer quiet corners as the layout is a bit more straightforward.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

In Terminal 1, the Gran Cafe, on Level P1, closes for the night, leaving some comfortable seats in a quieter area.
In Terminal 1, look for the hallway near the escalator by the food court on Floor 3 – it is relatively quiet and comfortable for floor sleepers.
In Terminal 1’s Arrivals area, by Exit 4, there may be a bench behind a pillar near the Puro Gusto cafeteria. It offers some privacy for resting.
Gates A50-54, in T1, reportedly have some comfortable seats with armrests, but you may be able to move them around into a makeshift bed.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Temperature

At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal temperature. Still, you can likely expect the airport to cool down at night, as air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside.

Pro-tip: Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.

Lighting

A few travellers mentioned bright lights stay on through the night.

Pro-tip: Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.

Noise

The airport doesn’t seem to be any noisier than most airports, and several travellers commented that the airport does quiet down significantly by 12:00AM. Expect the noise factor to increase again around 5:00AM or 6:00AM, as morning travellers begin arriving. As always, come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Pro-tip: If you chose a spot near any eateries, keep in mind that the staff arrive early and they can get pretty loud in the kitchen.

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Shower facilities are available in the following pay-to-use lounges: Club S.E.A. Sala Pergolesi, Club S.E.A. Sala Monteverdi, Club S.E.A. Sala Montale, and Casa Alitalia. See our Milan Malpensa Airport Guide for locations and details.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, a single eatery stays open 24-hours: Briciole, located in Terminal 1’s, pre-Secure area.

Other dining options stay open until 10:00PM, with some opening again at 4:00AM.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like a good solid sleep between flights without the stress of leaving the airport, you can choose from a couple in-terminal hotels. The Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 1, offers overnight stays, day rooms, and flexible 5-hour blocks. Nearby, there are 4 sleep pods available to rent. The pods are soundproof and fitted with a bed, WiFi, power outlets, and flight status updates. Both of these hotels are located in the pre-Secure, public area of the terminal, so you will have to re-enter Security for your next flight.

The Moxy is located directly opposite Terminal 2, and a few more are located within a 5-minute drive of the airport. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Malpensa Airport.

Lounges

While Milan Malpensa Airport has several lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Milan Malpensa Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Security & Safety

Airport staff seem to have no issue with airport sleepers, even those camping out overnight.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Milan Malpensa Airport. In fact, a few travellers reported feeling quite safe inside the airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:

Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport alone or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras where you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you, and they will direct you to a safe spot.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone, we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with only earphones and a laptop bag strap, but without the iPods or laptops that were attached. The same goes for important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body so no one can get them without waking you up.
Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall so that it would be hard for someone to access it.
Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee, stay alert, and stay awake. You can always sleep on the plane!

Pro-tip: If you are sleeping in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds waking people up as travellers begin to arrive for morning flights.