Milan Airport Transfers: Malpensa & Linate

Short answer: the Malpensa Express is the best-value Milan airport transfer for most visitors. It reaches Milano Centrale or Milano Cadorna without motorway traffic; a private transfer is easier with heavy luggage, children, or a late arrival. Check the official operator pages below before you travel because fares and timetables change.

Book tickets in advance: Use Omio to compare trains and buses for all three airports in one search. Compare car rentals at Malpensa →

Milan has three airports. Which one you land at determines everything — the journey from Linate takes 30 minutes on the metro; Malpensa by taxi can eat an hour and €95. Here is what you need to know before you land.

Malpensa to Milan at a Glance

| Option | Typical cost | Typical journey | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | | Malpensa Express | From €15 one way | About 50–52 minutes | Most travellers heading to Centrale or Cadorna | | Coach | Often from €5–10 | About 60–90 minutes | The lowest upfront fare, with flexible departures | | Official taxi | Fixed city fare; check the current rate | About 40–60 minutes | Door-to-door travel within Milan | | Private transfer | Quote by car | Traffic-dependent | Groups, heavy luggage, or late arrivals |

The official Malpensa Express site lists the current one-way fare and trains to both Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna. Check the official timetable and ticket pages before travelling because schedules and fares can change.

Milan Malpensa (MXP)

The main international airport, 50 km northwest of the city. Two terminals: Terminal 1 handles most airlines; Terminal 2 is used primarily by easyJet and Wizz Air. A free shuttle runs between terminals every 7 minutes.

Malpensa Express — the right choice for most travellers

The fastest and most reliable option. Two routes run every 30 minutes from Terminal 1:

To Milano Centrale: 52 minutes, €13. Connects directly to the main rail hub.
To Milano Cadorna: 50 minutes, €13. Better for Brera, the Navigli, or the city's west side.

From Terminal 2 the train departs from a separate platform; follow the signs carefully. Buy tickets at the machines or the Trenord app — never from touts. Check the official Malpensa Express timetable for the current first and last departures.

Bus — slower but cheaper

Several operators run coaches from both terminals to Milano Centrale (Via Sammartini, right outside the station). Journey time 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.

Terravision: €8 one way, departures every 20–30 minutes
FlixBus: from €5, book in advance online
Autostradale / Movibus: €10, slightly more comfortable coaches

Buses drop you on Via Sammartini, a 3-minute walk from Centrale's main entrance. Not recommended if you have tight connections — motorway traffic around Milan can be unpredictable.

Taxi from Malpensa

Official white taxis charge a fixed fare of €95 from either terminal to any address within the Comune di Milano (the ring road). This is regulated by the city — if a driver quotes more, walk away.

Take only taxis from the official ranks outside arrivals. Ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering rides. The journey takes 40–60 minutes depending on traffic.

Uber is technically available but often surges to €80–120 and cannot pick up from the terminal forecourt legally — drivers meet you in the short-stay car park, which adds confusion. For most travellers the Malpensa Express is faster, cheaper, and less stressful.

Private transfer from Malpensa

Worth booking if you are travelling with several people or heavy luggage. Licensed NCC (private hire) operators charge €70–90 and meet you in arrivals with a name board. Book at least 24 hours in advance via KiwiTaxi — prices per car, not per person, so the maths improves quickly for groups of three or more.

Which Malpensa arrival works for your Milan stay?

Milano Centrale: the simplest arrival for high-speed rail connections, airport buses, Porta Nuova, and hotels around the central station.
Milano Cadorna: usually the more convenient train arrival for Brera, Castello Sforzesco, and the western side of the historic centre.
Duomo or San Babila: take the train to Cadorna and continue by metro or taxi; do not assume a train ticket takes you directly to your hotel.
Navigli or Porta Genova: compare the Cadorna route with a door-to-door transfer if you have luggage, because the final metro connection can involve stairs and a change.

For a wider first-day plan, combine this guide with the one-day Milan itinerary and Milan nightlife areas guide.

Milan Linate (LIN)

The city airport, 7 km east of the centre. Compact and easy to navigate. Used mainly for domestic Italian routes and short European hops.

Metro M4 — the obvious answer

The blue M4 line opened in 2023 and transformed Linate from a nuisance into one of the city's most accessible airports. The metro station is directly below the arrivals hall.

The M4 fare and validity should be checked on the official ATM ticket page. Journey time to San Babila (the Duomo end) is around 12 minutes. The line continues through the city centre to Dateo, Tricolore, and beyond.

For most visitors staying in the centre, this is simply the best option: fast, cheap, air-conditioned, and no traffic.

Taxi from Linate

Metered, not fixed rate. Expect €20–30 for a journey to the city centre with luggage, taking 15–25 minutes. Official white taxis only, from the rank outside arrivals. The itTaxi app lets you hail an official taxi without standing in line.

Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY)

Around 50 km east of Milan, this is the airport Ryanair, Wizz Air, and other budget carriers use when they advertise flights to "Milan Bergamo." It is technically in Bergamo, and the journey to Milan is longer and more complicated than Linate or even Malpensa.

Bus to Milano Centrale — the only sensible option

Several operators run coaches directly from the terminal exit to Milano Centrale (approximately Via Sammartini or the bus station adjacent to it).

Terravision: €5–8, frequent departures
Orio Shuttle: €7–10, runs around the clock and coordinates with flight arrivals
FlixBus: from €5, book online

Journey time is 55–75 minutes in normal traffic, longer during peak hours. Departures are frequent enough that you rarely wait more than 20 minutes at the terminal.

Taxi from Bergamo — avoid

An unregulated journey of 50 km that drivers will typically quote at €100–120 or more. Unless you have a group of four and heavy luggage, the bus is significantly better value.

Car rental at Bergamo

All major operators have desks at the terminal. If you are planning to drive into Lombardy rather than going to Milan city, renting at Bergamo can make sense — but parking in central Milan is expensive and the ZTL restricted zone covers most of the historic centre.

Taxis in Milan: the essentials

Wherever you arrive, Milan's official taxis are white, metered (except for the fixed Malpensa rate), and generally honest.

Apps: Use itTaxi (the official consortium app) or FREE NOW to book licensed taxis. Uber operates in Milan and is legitimate, but pricing varies.

At the rank: The standard opening rate (scatto d'avvio) is around €3.30 with supplements for luggage, night hours (22:00–06:00), Sundays, and public holidays. For a typical city-centre journey you should pay €10–18.

Never take unlicensed cars offered inside airports or train stations. Official taxis are always white with the municipality number visible on the door.

Which airport should you choose?

If you have a choice:

Linate is the most convenient — metro straight to the city centre
Malpensa is perfectly manageable — the Malpensa Express is reliable and fast
Bergamo involves the most effort, but budget fares can make it worthwhile if you factor in the €6–10 bus cost

Allow at least 2.5 hours before your flight from Malpensa or Bergamo, and 1.5 hours from Linate.

Milan airport transfer FAQs

Is the Malpensa Express better than a taxi?

For most solo travellers and couples going to Centrale or Cadorna, yes: the train avoids traffic and has a predictable journey time. A taxi or private transfer becomes more useful when your accommodation is far from a station, you have bulky luggage, or you arrive after a long flight with children.

How early should I book a Malpensa transfer?

Buy a train or coach ticket close to travel once your flight is confirmed, and book a private car at least 24 hours ahead when possible. Always recheck the operator's current pickup instructions and cancellation terms.

Is Malpensa or Linate closer to Milan?

Linate is the city airport and connects to San Babila by the M4 metro. Malpensa is farther away but has frequent rail and coach connections. If flight times and prices are similar, Linate usually saves time; the route from Malpensa is still straightforward when you choose the right arrival station.