Malpensa Express & Milan Airport Transfers

Malpensa: train or bus?

From Malpensa you have two sensible options: Trenord's Malpensa Express train or a shuttle bus to Milano Centrale. The train runs to a timetable and doesn't care about motorway traffic; the bus drops you at Centrale with your suitcase in the hold, no stairs or ticket gates.

The train station is on level -1 of Terminal 1, and Terminal 2 has its own stop. Trains run on two lines:

• to Milano Cadorna, platform 1, in the historic centre: about 37 minutes, stopping at Busto Arsizio Nord, Saronno and Bovisa;
• to Milano Centrale, via Porta Garibaldi: about 51 minutes, with more stops.

Both run about every 30 minutes, every day. Staying near the Duomo, Sforza Castle or the Last Supper? Cadorna is closer. Staying by the main station or catching a train onwards? Take the Centrale line. The very last service of the night from Terminal 1 to Cadorna is a bus, leaving from level -1.

Which Malpensa Express ticket

A ticket is valid all day on the date you choose, until the end of service, not for one specific train, and there's nothing to validate. Buy it up to departure on malpensaexpress.it, in the Trenord app, at ticket offices (the two at Terminal 1 open 7am–9pm) or from machines. Online you can pay by card, PayPal or Satispay.

Fastest of all is Pay&Go. Tap your contactless card or phone on the gate or totem before boarding and again when you get off; you're charged the €15 adult fare. It works at Cadorna, Centrale, Garibaldi, Bovisa and both terminals. If an inspector comes by, show the same card. Using Apple Pay or Google Pay? The inspector needs the virtual card number from your wallet app, not your physical card.

The €25 return is sold online only. You can move the return date up to three times, as long as it's within 30 days of the outbound trip; the outbound date can't change. If you see a round trip on Tiqets or GetYourGuide, compare it with this fare first.

Linate: just take the M4

Linate is the closest airport, and since the M4 (blue) metro opened you don't need anything else. It runs from Linate to the centre in 12 minutes on the standard ATM €2.20 ticket, valid for 90 minutes, so you can change lines on the same ticket. At San Babila, Sant'Ambrogio and Sforza-Policlinico you go out and back through the gates to change; the same ticket or card works.

At night the M4 is replaced by NM4 buses on the same route.

Bergamo Orio al Serio: bus it

Plenty of low-cost flights land at Bergamo. Into Milan, the practical option is a direct bus to Milano Centrale. Orio Shuttle, for one, runs 24 hours a day, every day, with luggage included and frequent departures; other operators run buses too.

Bus fares aren't fixed: operators quote "from" prices, so check the fare when you buy. Tiqets and GetYourGuide resell tickets for the same buses, handy if you want every transfer in one app, but double-check date, time and stop before you travel.

Tips that save money and stress

• Don't pay transfer prices for a train ride. For one or two people the Malpensa Express or the bus is the cheapest way in. A private transfer only makes sense with small kids and lots of luggage.
• Families: with two kids aged 4–17, Malpensa Family at €36 always beats single tickets.
• Strikes happen in Italy and hit trains and airport buses. Check Trenord or the bus operator's notices the day before.
• Engineering works: malpensaexpress.it posts planned changes. If a replacement bus is running, add time.