If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you probably automatically look for flights into Rome. And I don’t blame you. While the Eternal City is definitely a must see, the flight itself can cause a huge dent in your wallet (think, a $1200 dent). Instead, you might want to try looking into flying into another city. Like Milan – arguably, the fashion capital of the world – for about half the price. $659.70 to be exact (for travel at the end of September).

Malpensa Airport – is NOT close to the city center. Unless you would want to pay what I’m assuming would be a 100 Euro cab ride, the most feasible option would be the Malpensa Express. It’s a 12 Euro train ride that takes about an hour from the airport to Milano Centrale station (the city’s main train station). DON’T buy tickets in advance. If your flight is delayed and you miss your train, your ticket would be useless, since it’s only valid for the time slot you purchase it for. The trains to the city center come pretty frequently (maybe every 20 minutes or so) so you won’t have to worry about not being able to get a ticket. And, don’t forget to validate your tickets on the kiosks before you board! The conductors didn’t check our tickets but I read that if/when they do, and your ticket is not validated, you could pay a hefty fine. There’s also luggage storage at the end of each cart. BUT – board early in order to secure a spot.