If you can pick your airport, Bergamo is closer: 178 km, 3 h 25 min and €355 in a saloon.
Four ways to get there
Operators' timetables and fares were checked on 5 September 2026. Fewer services run in winter, so look up the timetable for your own date.
A chain of three changes
Leg one is the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale. From there a Trenord train takes 2 h 30 min to Tirano. There are around fifteen a day, the earliest at 06:20 and the last at 21:20.
At Tirano you switch to a Perego bus, which runs to Livigno via Bormio and the Foscagno Pass. Between Bormio and Livigno the buses come roughly every three hours.
Door to door, that adds up to 6–8 hours. Your skis and suitcases travel with you all the way, and you carry them off and on at every change.
The Forcola Pass trap
In summer a direct bus runs from Tirano to Livigno over the Forcola, a pass at 2,315 m, and search engines are happy to show you its timetable. But while the lifts are open, the pass is closed and that service doesn't run.
In winter there are only two ways into Livigno:
- the Foscagno Pass (2,291 m) from the Bormio side, open around the clock;
- the Munt la Schera tunnel from Switzerland, single-lane and tolled, with traffic taking turns on a timetable.
On winter Saturdays the tunnel is open towards Switzerland only until 09:00. If your route goes through Switzerland, we factor that into the plan.
Driving
The year-round route is the SS36 to Lecco, the SS38 along the Valtellina to Tirano and the SS301 over the Foscagno. From October to April you must carry chains, and winter tyres are a legal requirement. On the winter climb to the Foscagno the chains really do come out.
Our cars have both winter tyres and chains, at no extra charge. The driver picks the road on the day, depending on the weather and which passes are shut.
Livigno is a duty-free zone, and customs sometimes run spot checks on the Foscagno, so you may have a brief stop at the top.
Where you'll be dropped
The centre around Via Plan is pedestrianised, but cars can still reach the hotels inside it, so the driver will take you to the door.
In winter a free bus with four lines runs around the village and out to Trepalle.
Skiing in 2026/27
The three areas, Mottolino, Carosello 3000 and Tagliede, add up to more than 115 km of pistes and 31 lifts. The season is due to open on 28 November 2026 and close on 3 May 2027. With an Alta Valtellina ski pass you can ski Bormio as well.
In 2026 the Mottolino and Carosello 3000 slopes hosted the Olympic freestyle and snowboard events.
Fares by route
Tap a row to book this route.
Once your booking is confirmed, the price for that route is fixed. Motorway tolls, luggage, ski carriage and 60 minutes of waiting after landing are already included.
A child seat is fitted free of charge. The journey back costs 10% less. You settle up with the driver on the spot, in cash or by card; no deposit needed.
Which to choose
Getting there by train and bus is doable, but it eats a whole day. Four people in a minivan pay around €132 each, and the trip is 2.5–4.5 hours shorter with no changes. If you land late, the car saves you a day on the slopes.
Questions
What's the cheapest way from Malpensa to Livigno?
Train to Tirano, then the bus via Bormio. Tickets come to €25–35, with 6–8 hours of travel and three changes. In winter, check services for your date.
Does the Tirano–Livigno bus run over the Forcola in winter?
No. The Forcola is closed in winter, so buses take the long way round via Bormio and the Foscagno.
Will we need chains?
On the winter climb to the Foscagno, yes. From October to April chains must be in the car, and winter tyres are compulsory too.
How long is the drive from Milan to Livigno?
From central Milan it's 219 km, about 3 h 55 min, €435 in a saloon. From Malpensa, 213 km and 3 h 30 min.
Which airport is nearest to Livigno?
Bergamo: 178 km and 3 h 25 min, with a saloon at €355.