Malpensa to Milan: Train, Bus, Taxi or Transfer, With Official Fares (2026)

Getting from Malpensa to Milan takes roughly 35 to 70 minutes, depending on whether you pick the train, a bus or a taxi. However, the airport sits northwest of the city, so no option is a short hop. This guide compares them with official fares, and it matches each one to the part of Milan where you sleep.

Last updated: September 27, 2026

Malpensa to Milan at a glance

In short, the train is the fastest and most predictable way from Malpensa to Milan. Meanwhile, the bus wins on price, and the taxi wins on comfort for groups. However, the right pick depends on your hotel. So choose your base first. Our Milan itinerary groups the city by area.

Which way from Malpensa to Milan suits you

Choose the Malpensa Express to Cadorna if you are staying near the Castello Sforzesco, Brera, Corso Magenta or the Navigli. Also, it is the quickest train into the city.

Choose the Malpensa Express to Centrale if your hotel is near the central station, Porta Nuova or Porta Venezia. It also suits travelers who connect straight to a train for Lake Como, Bergamo or Venice.

Choose a bus if cost matters most and you do not mind traffic. Also consider it when your flight lands after the last train.

Choose a taxi if you are three or four people with luggage. In fact, four adult train tickets from Malpensa to Milan cost €60, so the €114 taxi fare is not far off for a family that values door-to-door service.

Choose a private transfer if you want a driver waiting in arrivals, or you need a child seat.

Malpensa Express: the airport train from Malpensa to Milan

Trenord runs the Malpensa Express on two routes, one to Cadorna and one to Centrale. Trains start at Terminal 2 and then call at Terminal 1, according to the Malpensa Express timetable page (checked September 2026). So you board at whichever terminal you land in, then ride straight into the city.

Fares, kids and the return ticket

According to the official fares page (checked September 2026), a one-way adult ticket between Malpensa and Milan costs €15. Children aged 4 to 13 pay €7.50. In addition, a 30-day return ticket costs €25, but it is sold online only. Its outbound date is fixed, while the return date can change up to three times.

Pay&Go: tap your own card

You can skip the ticket machines. With Pay&Go, you tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, Maestro or American Express card, or an NFC phone, at the turnstile. Then you tap again when you arrive, according to the Pay&Go rules (checked September 2026). However, one card buys one ticket, so each traveler needs a separate card or phone.

Malpensa to Milan Cadorna: the quickest train

The RE54 line links Terminal 1 with Milano Cadorna in 37 minutes, according to the Malpensa Express line page (checked September 2026). Trains leave every 30 minutes. In addition, they stop at Busto Arsizio, Saronno and Milano Bovisa on the way. Also, the last train from Terminal 1 to Cadorna leaves at 00:26, which makes this the best late-evening train from Malpensa to Milan.

For most sightseeing, Cadorna is the more central of the two terminals. From there, metro lines M1 and M2 run through the station. As a result, the Duomo, Brera and the Castello are one short metro ride away, or a walk. Similarly, Santa Maria delle Grazie, home of the Last Supper, is close. If you have a timed slot there, read our guide to Last Supper tickets before you fly.

Malpensa to Milano Centrale: best for onward trains

The RE51 line connects the airport with Milano Centrale in about 50 minutes, according to Malpensa Express (checked September 2026). Trains run every 30 minutes. Then, on the way, they stop at Saronno, Milano Bovisa and Milano Porta Garibaldi, among other stations.

As a result, this route suits two groups. First, it suits hotels around Centrale, Porta Garibaldi, Porta Nuova and Isola. Second, it suits travelers heading on by rail, since Centrale is the main hub for high-speed and regional trains. For the bigger picture, see our guide to trains in Italy.

Airport buses from Malpensa to Milan

Meanwhile, several private companies run coaches from both terminals to Milano Centrale. According to the airport operator, SEA (checked September 2026), four operators serve this route, with a combined departure about every 20 minutes:

• Terravision: fares from €4 online, a departure every 30 minutes, and about 40 to 50 minutes to Centrale, according to its official page. It also sets no limit on luggage if there is space.
• Airport Bus Express (Autostradale): fares from €4.99 online and a ride of about 70 minutes, according to Autostradale. In Milan, it stops on the Via Sammartini side of the station.
• Caronte (Malpensa Bus Express): fares from €10 one way, a ride of about 70 minutes, and service around the clock, according to its official site.
• Malpensa Shuttle (Air Pullman): every 30 minutes, plus extra departures at 2:10 and 3:40 at night, according to SEA.

All operators quote their own fares, and they change often. So check the price on the operator’s site before you travel. Also, motorway traffic into Milan can add a lot of time. Therefore, if you have a timed entry that afternoon, the train is the safer choice.

Taxi from Malpensa to Milan: the fixed fare

Taxis from Malpensa to Milan charge a fixed price set by the region. According to Regione Lombardia (checked September 2026), the fixed fare is €114 between Malpensa and any street in Milan, in either direction. The same regional list sets €94 from Malpensa to the Fiera Milano exhibition center in Rho. It also sets €128 between Malpensa and Linate.

• Use the rank. Take a licensed taxi from the official rank at the terminal.
• Confirm the fare. Tell the driver your address and confirm the fixed fare before you set off.
• Ignore touts. Decline offers from drivers inside the arrivals hall.

Tipping is optional on a fixed fare. For more, see our guide to tipping in Italy. Also, before you pay for your hotel, check the city tax in our guide to the Italy tourist tax.

Private transfer or car rental

A private transfer is the most comfortable way from Malpensa to Milan, especially for families. The driver meets you in arrivals and takes you to the door. However, there is no official fare for this service. So agree the price, pickup time and luggage allowance in writing.

Renting a car makes sense only if you are heading straight to the lakes or the mountains. In fact, central Milan has traffic restrictions, and parking is scarce. So if you do rent, read our guide to driving in Italy first.

Straight from Malpensa to Lake Como or Bergamo

Of course, you do not always need to stay in the city. For Lake Como, take the Malpensa Express to Centrale or Cadorna, and then pick up a Trenord train to Varenna or Como. Our guide from Milan to Lake Como compares every route, and the Lake Como itinerary helps you choose a base.

Similarly, Bergamo is an easy rail trip from Milano Centrale. Our guide to visiting Bergamo covers the old upper town. Note that Bergamo also has its own airport, Orio al Serio, so check which airport your ticket really uses. According to Regione Lombardia, the fixed taxi fare from Orio al Serio to Milan is €128.

From Linate instead: the M4 metro

By contrast, Linate is Milan’s city airport, and it is much closer to the center than Malpensa. In fact, since the M4 metro line opened, getting into town is simple. According to ATM, the city transport company (checked September 2026), the airport is 12 minutes from the city center. A standard €2.20 ticket covers the ride, valid for 90 minutes in zones Mi1 to Mi3.

• Connections: change at San Babila for metro line M1, or at Sant’Ambrogio for line M2.
• Hours: the M4 runs every day from early morning until about 00:30. After that, NM4 night buses replace it.
• Payment: the same ticket, contactless card or phone works when you change lines.

In short, from Linate the metro beats every other option on price. By contrast, Malpensa always involves a longer ride.

Your first day in Milan

Once you have dropped your bags, above all keep the first afternoon simple. For example, a Duomo rooftop tour puts the cathedral and the skyline in one visit. If you booked the painting early, a Last Supper tour in Milan pairs well with a Cadorna arrival. For a fuller plan, see our guide to things to do in Milan. Planning the cathedral on day one? Our guide to Milan Duomo tickets explains which pass to buy.

Tours and experiences after you land in Milan

These experience pages on our site suit a first visit, with prices and ratings read on Viator:

• Milan Duomo rooftop tour: the cathedral terraces with a guide.
• Last Supper tour in Milan: a guided visit to Leonardo’s mural.
• Lake Como day trip from Milan: the lake without planning the trains yourself.
• Lake Como boat tour: the villas and villages from the water.
• Bergamo tour: the walled upper town, an easy day out.
• Lake Maggiore tour: the lake closest to Malpensa.

For more choice, see our best tours in Milan for first-timers, the day trips from Milan and the Lombardy travel guide.

Malpensa to Milan: frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way from Malpensa to Milan?

The Malpensa Express to Cadorna is the fastest option, at 37 minutes from Terminal 1. A taxi can match it door to door when traffic is light, but it is less predictable.

How much is a taxi from Malpensa to Milan?

The fixed fare is €114 to any street in Milan, according to Regione Lombardia (checked September 2026).

Should I take the train from Malpensa to Milan Centrale or Cadorna?

Pick Cadorna for hotels near the Castello, Brera, Magenta and the Navigli. Pick Centrale for Porta Nuova, Porta Venezia or onward trains.

Can I pay by card on the Malpensa Express?

Yes. Pay&Go lets you tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstiles, tapping in and out, with one card per traveler.

How do I get from Linate to central Milan?

Take the M4 metro. It reaches the city center in about 12 minutes on a standard €2.20 ticket, according to ATM.