Milan is served by three airports, and which one you land at changes your transfer significantly. Malpensa is the main international hub, well out of town to the north-west; Linate is small, convenient and close to the city centre; Bergamo (technically nearer Bergamo than Milan) is the budget-airline airport, roughly 45 km out. All three have workable public transport links into central Milan.
From Malpensa Airport: the main options
Malpensa (MXP) handles most long-haul and many European flights, and sits about 50 km north-west of central Milan. The journey into the city takes roughly 40–55 minutes by train or around an hour or more by road, depending on traffic.
Malpensa Express
The Malpensa Express train is the fastest and most convenient way into the city, running from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna stations. Trains to Cadorna take around 40 minutes; to Centrale, around 50–55 minutes via a slightly longer routing. Departures run roughly every 15–30 minutes through the day, with a reduced but still regular service early and late. Tickets can be bought at station machines, online, or via contactless card readers at the gates on some services — no seat reservation is required. Cadorna is convenient for the city centre and links to two metro lines; Centrale connects to the wider rail network including trains to other Italian cities.
Airport bus services
Several operators (including Malpensa Shuttle and Autostradale) run coach services from Malpensa to Milano Centrale, taking around 50–75 minutes depending on traffic. Fares are generally a little lower than the train, and buses run frequently through the day and into the night, which makes them a useful option for late or early flights when train frequency drops.
Taxi from Malpensa
A fixed-rate taxi tariff applies from Malpensa to central Milan, which removes the uncertainty of a metered fare in traffic. It's a substantially more expensive option than the train or bus but journey time is broadly comparable, around 50–60 minutes outside heavy congestion, and it's a reasonable choice if you're travelling with a group and splitting the cost, or arrive very late at night.
From Linate Airport: quick and simple
Linate (LIN) is only about 7 km from the city centre and primarily handles domestic and short-haul European flights. It's by far the fastest airport to leave.
Metro Line M4
The extension of Metro Line M4 now runs directly from Linate to the city centre, reaching San Babila in the heart of Milan in around 12 minutes, with onward connections across the metro network. This is the fastest and cheapest way into the city from Linate and has largely superseded the old airport bus as the default option.
Bus 73 and airport shuttle buses
City bus route 73 runs from Linate to San Babila in around 25 minutes using a standard public transport ticket, a cheap if slower alternative to the metro. Dedicated airport shuttle buses to Milano Centrale also operate, taking roughly 25 minutes, useful if the railway station rather than the centre is your destination.
Taxi from Linate
A fixed-rate taxi tariff also applies from Linate, and given the short distance, the journey typically takes 15–20 minutes outside peak traffic — a reasonable option if you're travelling with luggage or arriving late.
From Bergamo Airport (Orio al Serio)
Bergamo Airport (BGY), used heavily by low-cost carriers, is around 45 km north-east of Milan — not to be confused with being close to the city. Despite the name, most passengers using this airport are indeed travelling to or from Milan.
Airport coach services
Several operators run direct coaches from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale, taking around 50–60 minutes. These are frequent, reasonably priced, and the standard way most travellers make this transfer — buy tickets online in advance or at the airport.
Train via Bergamo city
An alternative is a local bus into Bergamo's main railway station followed by a regional train to Milan, which takes somewhat longer overall (around 70–90 minutes combined) but offers more frequent departures throughout the day and is a useful backup if the direct coach doesn't suit your schedule.
Getting between Milan's airports
If you're connecting between Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo (for example, arriving on one airline and departing on another), direct inter-airport buses run between Malpensa and Linate, and between Malpensa and Bergamo, though journeys can take well over an hour depending on traffic and routing. Going via central Milan on the train, then out again, is sometimes just as practical and gives you more frequent options.
Getting into the city late at night
The Malpensa Express and M4 metro both have reduced but still-running services into the late evening; check the current timetable against your landing time for very late arrivals. Airport coach and taxi options generally run around the clock at all three airports, making them the reliable fallback for red-eye arrivals.
Practical tips for first-timers
- Validate paper train tickets before boarding where required — look for the small yellow or green machines on the platform.
- Milan's ATM public transport network (metro, trams, buses) uses a zone-based ticket that also covers Linate's bus and metro connections; a single ticket type works across most of the city's transport.
- Milano Centrale is a large, grand station with plenty of signage in English; allow a few extra minutes to find connecting platforms or taxi ranks.
- For onward rail travel from Milan to other Italian or European cities, high-speed services depart from Centrale — see our overview of rail travel for more on how reservations work on routes like this.
If you're continuing your trip by train after landing, our guide to rail travel further afield and the wider route guides section cover onward journeys from major European hubs like Milan.
Frequently asked questions
Which Milan airport is closest to the city centre?
Linate is by far the closest, about 7 km out, reachable by Metro Line M4 in around 12 minutes. Malpensa is roughly 50 km away (40–55 minutes by train), and Bergamo Airport is about 45 km away (50–60 minutes by coach).
What is the fastest way from Malpensa to central Milan?
The Malpensa Express train is generally fastest, reaching Cadorna station in around 40 minutes and Centrale in about 50–55 minutes, with frequent departures throughout the day.
Is Bergamo Airport actually in Milan?
No — Bergamo Airport (Orio al Serio) is around 45 km from Milan and is its own city's airport, but it's marketed and widely used as a Milan gateway by budget airlines. Direct coaches to Milano Centrale take roughly 50–60 minutes.
Do I need to book Milan airport transfers in advance?
Train and metro tickets can generally be bought on arrival without issue. Airport coaches from Bergamo are worth booking online ahead of time for the best price and to guarantee a seat on popular departure times, though walk-up tickets are usually available too.
Sources and further reading:
- Malpensa Express (malpensaexpress.it) — Malpensa rail connections.
- ATM Milano (atm.it) — Milan metro, tram and bus network, including the M4 Linate link.
- Milan Bergamo Airport (milanbergamoairport.it) — Orio al Serio transfer options.