From Malpensa airport to Milan: how much the train, bus and taxi cost
Malpensa Airport sits well outside Milan. After landing, you have one question: how to get to your hotel and how much it costs. Below are three reliable options with prices and travel times.
The Malpensa Express train takes you to Milano Cadorna or Milano Centrale station (as of 09/2026, official Trenord website). The bus goes to the bus terminal next to Centrale and costs less (as of 09/2026, Terravision). A taxi charges a fixed amount per car, so traffic doesn't change the price.
The choice depends on your luggage and arrival time. With suitcases and a late flight, a taxi is the more relaxed option. During the day and traveling light, take the train.
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Three ways to get to Milan from Malpensa
💡 In short:
- Malpensa Express train: one ticket to any Milan station (as of 09/2026, current fare).
- Bus to Milano Centrale: direct service with no transfers (as of 09/2026, Terravision schedule).
- Taxi: fixed price per car, not per person (as of 09/2026, taxiamilano.com).
- Prices and schedule: as of 09/2026, verified on the carrier's official website.
Option | Price | Travel time | Where it drops you |
|---|---|---|---|
Malpensa Express | 15 € (Trenord fare table) | under an hour | Milano Cadorna and Milano Centrale |
Bus | cheaper than the train (Terravision bus) | about 50 minutes | bus terminal next to Milano Centrale |
Taxi | 114 € per car (taxi rates) | depends on traffic | any address within Milan |
The difference between the train and the bus is mostly the drop-off point. The express arrives at the railway station, the bus at the bus terminal next to it. From the terminal you step straight into the carriage or the bus, with no transfers.
Malpensa express train to cadorna and centrale
The train is the most predictable option. The Malpensa Express departs directly from the terminal, no need to go outside. Trains run on two routes: to Milano Cadorna and to Milano Centrale. Departures are roughly every 30 minutes, and the ticket is valid for any Milan station (as of 09/2026, Malpensa Express schedule).
© Lorail · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lorail, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsA ticket costs 15 € for an adult, 7.50 € for a child aged 4-13, and children under four travel free (as of 09/2026, ticket fares). A 30-day return ticket is cheaper than two separate trips, but it is only sold online. Buying in advance is more convenient: there is a line at the ticket machine in the morning.
Buy your ticket at the machine or at the ticket office near the information signs. Card and cash payments are accepted everywhere. Before boarding, validate your ticket in the yellow stamping machine, otherwise it is not valid. Online tickets are purchased in the Trenord app.
The train to Cadorna stops near Sforza Castle. Milano Centrale station is convenient for the metro and connections throughout Italy. The trip takes under an hour, so the express also works for a short layover.
Bus to the bus station at Milano Centrale
The bus is cheaper than the train and runs nonstop directly to the bus station at Stazione Centrale (as of 09/2026, official Terravision website). The trip takes about 50 minutes, but the time depends on traffic leaving the airport. You get off at the station, where you can take the metro to any part of the city.
Several operators run services to Milan: Terravision, Malpensa Shuttle, Flibco, and others. Malpensa Shuttle has a package fare from 19.90 €: the ride plus Milan city transport for one to three days (as of 09/2026, malpensashuttle.it). This option is convenient if you plan to use city transport a lot.
Check the schedule on the carrier's website on the day of travel. Night services run less frequently than daytime ones, and luggage is already included in the price with most operators. If your flight lands late, check the last bus time in advance.
The bus station is next to the railway station. You can walk to the metro transfer, no need to call a taxi.
Taxi from Malpensa at a fixed rate
Taxis in Milan operate at a fixed rate: 114 € per car for up to four passengers, including luggage (as of 09/2026, Milan fixed taxi rates). The amount does not change due to traffic, time of day, or terminal number. The rate applies to any address within the city.
Cars wait outside the arrivals hall, with official price lists posted at the stands. Booking in advance is not necessary, but the line can be long at night. Important: only take an official taxi with a meter and a license on the doors.
How to get to Linate and Turin
If Malpensa is a transfer point for you, the route works differently. Separate shuttles run to Linate Airport; Malpensa Shuttle has a dedicated line for this (as of 09/2026, Linate line). The trip between the two airports takes considerably longer than the ride to the city center, so leave a buffer for your connection.
© Saggittarius A · CC BY-SAPhoto: Saggittarius A, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsGetting to Turin is easier by bus: it goes directly, while the train requires a change at Milan station. Check the schedule for both routes on the carrier's website.
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does the Malpensa Express train cost?
One ticket is valid to any Milan station (as of 09/2026, fare page). See the table and the train section for adult and child prices. A return ticket is valid for 30 days and is sold online only.
Train or bus: which should I choose?
The train is not affected by traffic and departs from the terminal itself. The bus is cheaper and takes you to the bus station next to Milano Centrale (as of 09/2026, route page). Traveling light, take the train; on a tight budget, take the bus.
How much is a taxi from Malpensa to Milan?
Taxis operate on a fixed fare per car for up to four passengers (as of 09/2026, fare guide). See the table and the taxi section for the amount. The price is the same day and night and does not depend on traffic. It applies from both terminals to any address within the city.
Do trains run at night?
At night, services run less frequently than during the day, so check the times on the carrier's website before your flight (as of 09/2026, carrier's website). If you arrive late, it is more reliable to take a taxi or book a transfer in advance.
How do I get from Malpensa to Linate?
Direct shuttles run between the airports, with a dedicated line operated by Malpensa Shuttle (as of 09/2026, Malpensa Shuttle website). See the Linate and Turin section for travel time and a connection tip.
In short: what to book
A quick summary. Light luggage and a daytime arrival: take the Malpensa Express, it is predictable and not affected by traffic. Suitcases or a night flight: book a transfer to your hotel. If you are traveling as a group of four, the fixed taxi fare saves you from doing the math.
- Light luggage, daytime: train.
- Heavy luggage, nighttime: transfer or taxi.
- Lowest price: bus.
Book trains in Italy and Milan tours in advance. Choose hotels in Milan near Centrale or Cadorna so you don't spend the first morning getting there.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.