Milan Malpensa Silvio Berlusconi Airport (MXP)

Smoking at Milan Malpensa Airport

Milan Malpensa Airport is one of the easier airports in Italy for smokers, as there are dedicated smoking areas both before and after security. Smoking is prohibited in all parts of terminals (before or after security) unless indicated otherwise, including areas near gates, toilets, restaurants, shops, lounges or corridors, unless clearly indicated as a smoking room.

At MXP, it is best to first locate your terminal and gate area; Terminal 1 has the most smoking areas and Terminal 2 the least.

Before Security

Smoking is permitted in outdoor areas outside the terminals before security.

This is easiest if you arrive early, are waiting for check-in or want to smoke before passing security. Don't go back outside once past security, as you'll have to pass through security again. Only enter airside if you're certain to have ample time.

After Security

After security, Malpensa features a number of smoking rooms (mostly in Terminal 1), which are not normal lounges. Instead, they are small rooms or sections where smokers can have a quick cigarette before boarding.

There is reportedly one smoking room in the Terminal 1 after security after a right turn through the Duty Free area before the A24-A30 gates. This may help if your flight goes from the A gates.

There is a smoking lounge in the B50-B59 gate area, and a second lounge is said to exist just before the passport control list if heading towards the B gates. It can be useful before entering the non-Schengen boarding zone.

Another smoking lounge has also been seen further inside Terminal 1 near the gates B81-B83, though travelers have also noted it further down by the escalator next to the bathrooms. A newer reported option is located on the lower level in the B26-B34 gate section.

Another reported smoking area, although less frequently mentioned, is located beneath an escalator opposite Gate A72.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 has fewer smoking areas than Terminal 1.

There is also a smoking booth after security on the way to the D and E gates. The signs and the route to the gates should be checked carefully, because the smoking booth in Terminal 2 is not as frequently mentioned as the smoking rooms in Terminal 1.

Lounge Smoking Options

If you have access to a lounge, Terminal 1 has the Montale Exclusive Lounge which includes a smoking room, although this is not a public smoking room. You will need to access it with your ticket, lounge membership, lounge card, or by purchasing an entry pass.

Closed or less reliable regions

While some of the information on smoking areas at Malpensa is relatively old, and the areas by gate vary, the most reliable today are the A24-A30, B50-B59, B-gate passport control area, and the B81-B83, B26-B34.

Please refer to the airport signs on the day of travel. If you are uncertain about the location of the smoking room, please ask a staff member for the Smoking Area or Smoking Lounge.

Vaping at MXP

There are no clear signs at Malpensa to differentiate vaping from smoking, so it is usually safest to treat the two as equivalent.

Unless you are in a designated smoking area or stated otherwise by staff, you cannot vape in the terminal, at the gates, in toilets or shops, or in restaurants, cafes or lounges.

Practical Advice

Malpensa is fairly accommodating to smokers if you are departing from Terminal 1.

Check near A24-A30 or B50-B59 before passport control, or near B81-B83 or in lower B26-B34 for Terminal 1 A gates and B gates respectively. In Terminal 2, security screening is along the shared hallway leading to the D and E gates.

Smoking is only permitted in designated areas. Please follow the signs to the designated area and ensure that you have enough time to return to your gate.