Milan Airports Guide: How to Get from Malpensa, Linate & Bergamo to the Milan City Center
Milan is served by three airports, Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), and Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY). Whether you’re landing at one of them, we’ve got you covered with practical tips and everything you need to know about Milan Airports.
Step into the world of Milan’s airports and get all the insider info to make your journey seamless. Prepare for your trip and get ready to enjoy everything this iconic Italian city has to offer.
And, since you’re probably planning a trip to Milan, you’ll want to check out our Ultimate Milan Guide, where we share details from our own visit to help inspire your journey.
Malpensa Airport (MXP)
When planning your trip to Milan, it’s important to consider which airport you’ll be flying into. If your journey begins at Malpensa Airport, you can expect a modern, well-equipped hub with a wide range of both direct and connecting flights to destinations around the world.
Located about 53 km northwest of Milan’s city center and 32 km from the town of Varese, Malpensa Airport might seem a bit far at first glance. However, it offers many advantages over other airports in the area—especially in terms of international connections and flight options.
Even Bergamo Airport, Milan’s secondary international airport, isn’t significantly closer, it sits roughly 50 km east of the city.
Getting from Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Milan by Train
The fastest way to get from Milan Malpensa Airport to the city center is by the Malpensa Express train, which operates on two main routes. One route runs to Milano Cadorna, while the other goes to Milano Centrale via Milano Porta Garibaldi and Milano Bovisa Politecnico. Along the way, trains also stop in several towns between Milan and the airport, including Busto Arsizio, Castellanza, Rescaldina and Saronno.
Trains serve both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The station at Terminal 1 is located underground. Simply take the escalators down and walk about 200 meters through a corridor. Tickets can be purchased online, at station counters, or from vending machines at the airport.
Services run every 30 minutes on each route, meaning there is a train roughly every 15 minutes when you combine both lines. The journey takes about 37–43 minutes from Milano Cadorna and around 54–57 minutes from Milano Centrale, depending on the exact service. The first trains leave Cadorna at around 4:27 AM and Centrale at around 5:25 AM, with the last departures from Malpensa shortly after midnight.
A one-way ticket costs €13, and there are also return, family, and multi-ride options available.
| Station | Ticket Price | Travel Time | Frequency |
| Cadorna | 13 EUR | 37 minutes | every 30 min** |
| Porta Garibaldi | 13 EUR | 41-47 minutes | every 30 min** |
| Milano Centrale | 13 EUR | 54-57 minutes | every 30 min** |
* Frequency refers to each individual line.
** When combining both lines, there’s a train approximately every 15 minutes.
Getting from Malpensa Airport to Milan by Bus
Buses run from 05:05 until 01:10, approximately every 20–30 minutes. If you buy your ticket online, you can take any departure on the chosen day at no extra cost if you miss your booked one. There’s no need to print the ticket – simply show it on your phone.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to get from Malpensa Airport to the city center, buses are the most affordable option. The main operator is Terravision, which serves both Terminals 1 and 2 and ends at Milan’s main train station (Milano Centrale). The journey takes about 50 minutes, depending on traffic. A one-way ticket costs €10 and a return ticket €16. Tickets can be purchased online, at the airport, or directly from the driver.
Alternative – FlixBus
FlixBus also operates direct services from both terminals of Malpensa Airport to central Milan, including Milano Centrale. They offer around 70 daily departures, with travel times starting from about 30 minutes and fares from approximately €8.50. Buses are modern, with onboard Wi-Fi and power outlets, making them a comfortable alternative to Terravision.
| Bus Operator | Ticket Price | Travel Time | Frequency |
| Terravision | €10 / €16 return | approx. 60-75 mins | every 20–30 mins (05:05am–01:10pm) |
| Flixbus | from €8.50 | approx. 60-75 mins | up to 70 departures/day (both terminals) |
Linate Airport (LIN)
Linate Airport is the closest to Milan’s city center (approximately 8 km), although flights here are usually the most expensive. The airport is particularly popular among business travelers because it offers a smaller and more navigable terminal than other Milan airports. However, this also means the airport is often crowded and cramped during peak times. It’s best to plan your arrival so that you don’t have to spend too much time inside the terminal.
ITA Airways also has a small base at Linate Airport. The airport operates 24 hours a day. For more information, you can visit the official website at www.milanolinate-airport.com.
Getting from Linate (LIN) Airport to Milan by Metro
Since 2022, Linate Airport has been directly connected to Milan’s city center by the M4 (blue) metro line. The metro station is located right at the airport, making it one of the quickest and cheapest ways to reach the city. The route runs from Linate Airport to San Babila station in the city center, near the Duomo, in just 12–15 minutes. Trains operate every 3–6 minutes during the day, with service running approximately from 05:30 until 00:30 daily. A single ticket costs €2.20, is valid for 90 minutes within the Milan fare zones, and can be purchased from station machines, via the ATM Milano app, or by using contactless payment directly at the gates.
| Metro Line | Ticket Price | Travel Time | Frequency | Operation Hours |
| M4 (Blue) | €2.20 | 12–15 min | Every 3–6 min | ~05:30 – 00:30 daily |
Getting from Linate Airport (LIN) to Milan by Bus
When traveling from Linate Airport to the city center, you have several bus options.
The AirBus is the fastest direct service, making one stop at Piazza Dateo before arriving at Milano Centrale in about 40 minutes. Buses run every 20–40 minutes between 06:00 and 00:00.
easyBus also goes to Milano Centrale, operating from 05:30 to 22:45 with a frequency of 30–60 minutes.
For a budget-friendly option, the city bus No. 73 runs through the eastern part of Milan to San Babila metro station (M1 red line). Buses depart every 10 minutes from 05:30 to 00:30.
| Company | Ticket Price | Return Tickets | Frequency | Operating Hours |
| Air Bus | €5 | €5 | Every 20–40 mins | 6:00-0:00 |
| easyBus | €5 | Not discounted | Every 30-60 mins | 5:30am-10:45pm |
| Bus No. 73 | 1,50 € | € 4,50 (day pass) | Every 10 mins | 5:30am-0:30pm |
Bergamo Airport (BGY)
Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) is the third airport in the Milan metropolitan area and a major base for low-cost airlines, especially Ryanair (one of its largest bases in Europe) and also Wizz Air.
Thanks to its location, it is an ideal starting point for trips to the Italian Alps and the surrounding alpine lakes. It is situated about 2 km from historic Bergamo and approximately 50 km north of Milan.
The airport is open 24 hours a day and offers modern facilities, although night operations are limited. The official airport website is www.sacbo.it.
Getting from Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) to Milan by Bus
Two main shuttle bus companies connect Bergamo Airport (BGY) with Milan’s Centrale railway station. Terravision Bus offers competitive prices when tickets are purchased online, though you can also buy them directly from the driver. A one-way ticket costs €10, while a return ticket is €18. Buses depart every 20 minutes during peak morning hours and every 30 minutes during the rest of the day, with a journey time of approximately 50–60 minutes.
Orio Shuttle provides a direct and reliable connection between Bergamo Airport and Milano Centrale. Buses run every 30 minutes, seven days a week, from early morning until midnight. The journey takes about 50–60 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €10, while a return ticket is €18, valid for up to 30 days from the first use.
Both services arrive at Milano Centrale, offering easy onward travel by train, metro, or bus within Milan or to destinations across Italy.
Here you can see the bus from Milan Centrale that we took for our trip to and from Milan’s city center.
| Company | Destination Station in Milan | Ticket Price | Departures from Airport | Departures from Milan |
| Terravision Bus | Stazione Centrale Piazza Luigi Savoia | 10 € (one-way)/ 18 € (return) | 4:00am – 1:00am (every 20–30 min.) | 2:15 am – 22:10 pm (every 20–30 min.) |
| Orio Shuttle | Stazione Centrale | from 10 € | 3:00 am – 00:00 pm (every 30 min.) | 2:00 am – 10:00 pm (every 30 min.) |
Airport Lounge
All three airports in Milan (Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo) have several airport lounges offering comfortable seating, snacks and drinks, various entertainment options, and usually internet access.
One way to access these lounges is through Priority Pass. This is a membership program that allows travelers to access thousands of lounges worldwide. Simply purchase a subscription and you can enjoy airport lounges without additional charges.
If you’re not interested in Priority Pass, you may be able to use access provided by your premium bank cards. For example, we use a Raiffeisen Bank Gold Card in the Czech Republic, which allows us to visit 10 lounges a year around the world + all lounges in Prague, Bratislava, and Vienna unlimited!
Public Transport in Milan
If you’re planning to visit Milan and use public transport, keep in mind that tickets are unified for all types of transport operated by the ATM transport company, this includes metro, trams, and buses. They are also valid on all suburban railway lines in Milan marked with the letter “S” and a line number, operated by Trenord.
The entire city lies within zone Mi1–Mi3. Only small sections of the red and green metro lines go beyond this zone, but they do not lead to tourist-attractive areas. The table below provides an overview of ticket prices for the Milan zone, enabling you to travel easily and cheaply around the city. If you purchase a 24-hour or 3-day ticket, you can travel an unlimited number of journeys on both the metro and surface transport.
Here are the ticket prices for the Milan zone:
| Ticket Type | Price |
| 90 minutes | €2.20 |
| 24 hours | €7.60 |
| 3 days | €13 |
You can find the complete ticket price list on the official website of the ATM transport company.
