Malpensa to Milan: train, bus, taxi or car

Four options at a glance

Fares and timetables were checked against the operators' own information on 5 September 2026.

The train: fast, but only to a station

The Malpensa Express stops at both terminals. Terminal 2 has its own station, reached by a walkway opposite arrivals, so there's no need to go over to Terminal 1.

The line splits two ways, and you need the right one:

• to Cadorna, about 37 minutes;
• to Centrale via Porta Garibaldi, about 52 minutes.

The destination is shown on the departure board. Pick whichever station is nearer your hotel, because you'll still have to take the metro or walk the rest with your cases.

A single ticket is €15, or €7.50 for children aged 4–13. There's no night train: the last one leaves around 0:30 and the first around 5:00. On the plus side, it never gets stuck in motorway traffic.

The bus: cheaper, but at the mercy of the road

Terravision, Malpensa Shuttle and a few other companies run to the square beside Milano Centrale. Tickets are €10 to €19.90, and the ride takes 50–90 minutes depending on traffic.

The bus's big advantage is its night services, some of which are timed for late flights after the trains have stopped. Not all of them are, though, so check the timetable for your date before you fly.

A taxi from the rank

Official taxis wait at the rank outside the terminal. There's a fixed fare of €115 into the city, and the trip takes 45–60 minutes. You don't need to book, but at busy times there's a queue at the rank.

A pre-booked car with driver

A saloon for up to 3 people costs €100, a minivan for up to 8 is €150. The Duomo is 49 km away, normally 50–60 minutes. On weekdays between 7 and 10 in the morning and 17 and 20 in the evening, traffic on the A8 can add a further 30–60 minutes.

The difference from a taxi is that you don't go looking for the car. The driver stands in the arrivals hall with a sign, tracks your flight number and waits up to 60 minutes at no charge.

A licensed NCC car can enter Milan's Area C congestion zone without paying, so you'll be taken right to a hotel in the centre. Child seats are free; just give the child's age when you book. You pay at the end of the ride, by card or in cash.

Do the maths for your group

The train charges per head; the car is one price for everyone:

• on your own: train €15, car €100;
• two of you: €30 versus €100;
• three: €45 versus €100, and the saloon goes door to door;
• a family of two adults and two children aged 4–13: €45 by train against €150 for a minivan;
• four adults or more: the train costs from €60, while a minivan for up to 8 is €150 for all of you.

On top of the train fare, factor in getting from the station to your hotel. With two or three suitcases each, that last stretch is often the most awkward part of the trip.

Landing at night

The Malpensa Express doesn't run between 0:30 and 5:00. That leaves a handful of night buses, the taxi rank and a car booked in advance.

The airport is open around the clock, so a driver will meet a flight that touches down at three in the morning. If the plane is late, the pick-up moves to the actual landing time without charge. Any night-time supplement is shown when you book, and the price doesn't change afterwards.

Our advice

Flying alone, travelling light and landing in daytime? Take the Malpensa Express; at €15 it's the sensible choice. A car makes sense at night, with children, with lots of luggage and for groups of two or more.