Travelling from Milan to Shanghai: what you need to know
Planning your flight from Milan to Shanghai begins with finding the best airport to start your trip. Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP), Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) and Milano Linate Airport (LIN) are the main terminals in Milan.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) are Shanghai's primary gateways.
11 hours 20 minutes is the average duration of a direct flight from Milan to Shanghai. Following the UTC+8 timezone, Shanghai is 7 hours ahead of Milan.
The busiest route for flights from Milan to Shanghai is from Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG). Choose from 10 services every week between these two airports. If you want to head off first thing, the earliest flight from MXP to PVG is the 11:30 Air China option. If you prefer to travel later, the last departure is at 12:30 with Air China.
For stress-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to catch your flight from Milan to Shanghai.
Travelling during a popular month like July? School holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
You'll need a visa for China if you hold a passport from Italy and are visiting for tourism purposes. Visa and travel documentation requirements are subject to change. So before booking your cheap flights from Milan to Shanghai, check with your airline and your destination country's local embassy or consulate for the latest information.
Flying from Milan
Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP)
If you're after a direct flight from Milan to Shanghai, you can board one at Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP). Get from MXP to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) without any stops.
If you want to leave from MXP, you can take a direct flight from Milan to Shanghai with Air China.
Think about adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper flight from Milan to Shanghai. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Milano Malpensa Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular options:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Located around 48 kilometres from central Milan, MXP can be reached in about 45 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 53 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your trip? Stay near Milano Malpensa Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Milan to Shanghai or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY)
Make the most of your vacation with a stopover on your flight from Milan to Shanghai. Visit family or friends or tick another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, here's where you can stop between Milano Malpensa Airport and Shanghai:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
BGY is around 64 kilometres from central Milan. It'll take 58 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Get a head start on your vacation with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Milan to Shanghai, unwind in one of these hotels near Orio al Serio International Airport:
Arriving in Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai is roughly 56 kilometres. It'll take you around 49 minutes to get to the centre driving.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Milan to Shanghai. Stay at one of these accommodation options near PVG instead:
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is around 14 kilometres from central Shanghai. Following your flight from Milan to Shanghai, expect a drive time of approximately 21 minutes to reach the heart of the city.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel near SHA. Here are a few options where you can kick back after your flight from Milan to Shanghai:
How to find the cheapest flights from Milan to Shanghai
Currently, C$492 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Milan to Shanghai. The cheapest price for a return flight is C$718. Keep in mind fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
To secure cheap flights from Milan to Shanghai, book your trip 9 months before your departure date.
Plan your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Milan to Shanghai. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap flights from Milan to Shanghai. There's no need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped. We'll notify you when the price changes.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Milan to Shanghai.
Best time to go to Shanghai
It's time to work out your trip dates for your flight from Milan to Shanghai. July is the busiest month to visit Shanghai. If you want a more relaxed atmosphere, go in April.
Before locking in your flight from Milan to Shanghai, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Shanghai, with the temperature ranging from 23ºC to 34ºC.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, lock in a cheap ticket from Milan to Shanghai in January when temperatures average between -1ºC and 10ºC.
More about Shanghai
Once you've booked your flight from Milan to Shanghai, think about where you want to stay in this city. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Shanghai:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. The Bund Sightseeing Avenue, Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower are top attractions which should feature on every Shanghai itinerary.
Complete your Shanghai trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Milan to Shanghai to track down deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare your options in one place. Plus we give you all the info you need to drive in Shanghai, from the most popular car type to the average daily price.