How do I get from the airport into Milan?

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele Arcade, Milan

Milan is the gateway to northern Italy and even southern Switzerland. Three airports serve the region, and each offers various options for reaching central Milan as well as making connections further afield.

QUICK LINKS

What are the best ways to get from the airport to Milan city centre?
How do I get from Malpensa Airport to Milan?
How do I get from Linate Airport to Milan?
How do I get from Orio Al Serio Airport (Bergamo) to Milan?
How can I get to my hotel from Milan Centrale train station and Milan Cadorna train station?

Where do I start?

First you’ll need to know where you’re landing.

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the most likely choice; 20 million passengers (or almost half of those flying to Milan) land at this airport, some 49km northwest of central Milan. The two terminals each have rail stations, bus stops and taxi stands. Most long-distance international flights use this airport.
Malpensa Airport terminal map

Milan Linate Airport (LIN) is Milan’s nearest airport located 7km east of the city centre. Small in size, it’s service is limited to domestic and a modest number of European flights. Buses and taxis link it to Milan.
Linate Airport terminal map

Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) is the surprising third-busiest airport in Italy. It’s used by more than 11 million passengers a year, 27% of those flying into Milan, and is a hub for budget airlines like Ryanair. Many airlines list it by its unofficial name Milan/Bergamo or just Bergamo. It’s 45km northeast of Milan and is linked by bus to Bergamo’s train station and Milan.
Bergamo Airport terminal map

What are the best ways to get from the airport to Milan’s city centre?

Taxi, train or bus are your best options, although your choice will depend on whether speed, cost or convenience is most important. Don’t bother renting a car; the only reason would be if you’re going elsewhere in northern Italy and need your own wheels. Expensive and hard-to-find parking, traffic congestion and confusing road layouts are all disincentives to driving.

milan-airports
Milan airports map showing Malpensa Airport, Linate Airport and Orio al Serio (Bergamo) Airport in relation to Milan city centre

How do I get from Malpensa Airport to Milan?

Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre by taxi

Taxi is the simplest way to get to central Milan – although not recommended for people who are time- or budget-sensitive.

Malpensa Airport taxi information
Fare estimate Fixed fare of €95 to central Milan
Duration 60–90 minutes depending on traffic
Frequency Leave on demand
Hours 24 hours
Operators Malpensa Airport taxis
Pros
  • Ease of journey: put luggage in the cab, hop in and get out at your destination
  • No need to navigate local transit when you reach Milan
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Traffic mean the trip can take over 90 minutes
Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre by train

The Malpensa Express train to Milan is the overall quickest and easiest choice. Trains go direct to Milan Centrale and Milan Cadorna (the city’s main train stations).

Malpensa Airport train information
Train service Malpensa Express
Schedule | Tickets
Fare estimate €13 one way; special €20 return fare (must be bought online and used within 30 days)
Duration 52 minutes from Terminal 1 to Centrale
Frequency Every 15 minutes most of the day, 2 per hour to Milan Central and 2 per hour to Milan Cadorna
Routes Malpensa Express to Milan Centrale route map
Malpensa Express to Milan Cadorna route map
Hours Roughly 5.30am to 1.20am
Pros
  • Fast and frequent service
  • Connects to taxis plus public transport (local buses, trams and the metro) at the Milan stations
  • Milan Centrale is the main station for trains to the rest of Italy and beyond. The surrounding area is filled with mid-range hotels.
  • Milan Cadorna is close the historic centre of Milan and many hotels
  • Both terminals have train stations with ticket machines and ticket windows
Cons
  • Trains make several stops on the journey to Milan
  • There can be a long wait between trains
  • It’s not always clear which of several tracks you should use to catch the next train to Milan. If you’re on the wrong one it can be a mad scramble to go up and over to the correct platform.
TIP The Malpensa Express is part of the Trenord network, which provides commuter and regional rail service around Milan and north all the way to Switzerland. If you’re heading to the Italian Lakes, check at the ticket window in case there’s a connection that saves you going all the way to Milan Centrale.
Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre by bus

Multiple companies link Malpensa and Milan Centrale, but given the convenience of the train, it’s hard to make a case for these services. There are bus stops at both terminals, and Terravision has the most frequent service. Fares are cheap, but the journey can be longer than advertised given traffic on Milan’s roads. From Centrale you can complete your journey via taxi, bus, tram, metro or even by foot if you’re staying close by. See below for how to get to your hotel.

Malpensa Airport bus information
Fare estimate €8
Duration Advertised as 50 minutes
Frequency About 2 per hour
Route Malpensa Airport to Milan Centrale bus route map
Hours From about 5.30am to midnight
Pros
  • Cheapest option
Cons
  • Traffic can cause delays
  • Waiting for the bus at the airport, especially after a long flight
TIP The airport is served by regional buses, which may be the fastest way to reach Turin and other cities in northern Italy. Any cities east of Milan (such as Verona and Venice) are quickest by train.

How do I get from Linate Airport to Milan?

Linate Airport to Milan city centre by taxi

The simplest way to reach central Milan, although not always the easiest and definitely not good for the budget-conscious traveller.

Linate Airport taxi information
Fare estimate Fares to central Milan cost around €20, a transfer to Malpensa is €105
Duration 20–45 minutes depending on traffic to central Milan
Frequency Leave on demand
Operators Linate Airport taxis
Hours 24 hours
Pros
  • Ease of journey: put luggage in the cab, hop in and get out at your destination
  • No need to navigate local transit when you reach Milan
Cons
  • Cost: you blow all you saved by flying a no-frills airline
TIP Avoid taxi hassles by arranging for a car and driver to meet you at the airport. Many hotels and Airbnb hosts offer this service from €40.
Linate Airport to Milan city centre by bus

The direct transfer Air Bus from Linate to Milan Centrale is much quicker than the local bus connection below.

Linate Airport bus transfers
Bus service ATM Air Bus
Schedule & ticket information
Fare estimate €5
Duration Around 25 minutes depending on traffic
Frequency Every 10-15 minutes
Hours Daily from around 6:30am to 11.40pm
Pros
  • Cheap
  • A no-hassle ride to Milan’s main train station
Cons
  • Traffic can cause delays
Linate Airport to Milan city centre by local bus

Local bus number 73 runs dead-straight west right to the Duomo (Milan’s magnificent cathedral) in the centre of Milan, where you can hop on the metro or start sightseeing.

Linate Airport local bus information
Bus service Local 73 bus line
Schedule & route
Fare estimate €1.50 available at the ticket machines, outside the Arrivals floor.
Duration About 40 minutes depending on traffic
Frequency Every 10 minutes
Hours Daily from around 5.35am to 12.35am
Pros
  • Cheap
  • Runs direct to the centre of Milan, where you can transfer to the Duomo stop on the M1 and M3 metro lines (see the Milan Metro map)
  • It’s frequent
Cons
  • Traffic can cause delays
  • No special accommodation for luggage

How do I get from Orio Al Serio Airport (Bergamo) to Milan?

Orio Al Serio Airport (Bergamo) to Milan city centre by taxi

Getting a taxi from Bergamo airport is the simplest way to reach central Milan, although it’s not always the easiest and definitely not good for the budget-conscious travellers who primarily use Bergamo.

Orio Al Serio (Bergamo) Airport taxi information
Fare estimate €80–€100 to central Milan
Duration 35–90 minutes depending on traffic
Frequency Leave on demand
Operators Orio Al Serio (Bergamo) airport taxis
Hours 24 hours
Pros
  • Ease of journey: put luggage in the cab, hop in and get out at your destination
  • No need to navigate local transit when you reach Milan
Cons
  • Your fare is much more than your no-frills airline ticket
Orio Al Serio Airport (Bergamo)to Milan city centre by bus

There’s a direct transfer bus from Orio al Serio International Airport to Milan Centrale that’s quicker than the local bus-train connection below. Although there are several bus operators, Terravision is the main onc with the most frequent service.

Orio Al Serio (Bergamo) Airport direct bus transfer
Bus service Terravision
Fare estimate €5
Duration Around 60 minutes depending on traffic
Route Bus from Bergamo Airport to Milan Centrale route map
Frequency 1–3 per hour
Hours From around 4.05am to 12.10am
Pros
  • Cheap
  • A no-hassle ride to Milan’s main train station
Cons
  • Traffic can cause delays
Orio Al Serio Airport (Bergamo) to Milan city centre by train

From Bergamo airport, catch the local bus that runs every 20 minutes to the Bergamo train station. It takes about 15 minutes and costs €1.50. From here, buy your train ticket to Milan from the machine at the station and catch the next train.

Orio Al Serio Airport (Bergamo) via Bergamo train station information
Train service Regional Express 2
Fare estimate €5
Duration 48 minutes
Frequency Every hour
Route Regional Express from Bergamo Train Station to Milan Centrale route map
Hours From around 5am to 11pm
Pros
  • Cheap train to Milan Centrale Station, from where you can get trains to the rest of Italy and beyond
Cons
  • Bus transfer from airport to Bergamo train station
  • Only runs every hour
TIP Pack extra light to ease the bus-train connection and to avoid extra fees on budget airlines

How can I get to my hotel from Milan Centrale train station and Milan Cadorna train station?

There are three main ways to reach your hotel from Milan Centrale and Milan Cadorna whether you arrive from your airport via bus or train.

Public transit
  • Buy an Urban ticket; costs €1.50 and is good for 90 minutes of bus, tram and metro travel
  • Buses, trams and the metro serve most parts of Milan from the train stations
  • Often very crowded and confusing so consult the useful bus, tram and metro journey planner; it’s in English.
Taxi
  • Costs €6–€15 depending on distance
  • Easiest way to reach hotels, especially in the oldest districts that are long walks from bus and metro stops
Walk
milan-metro-map
Milan metro map (Credit: Milan metro)
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