What is the cheapest way from Milan Malpensa Airport to the city centre?

The shared shuttle coach (Autostradale, Terravision or Airport Bus Express) from the terminal to Milano Centrale, about €10 walk-up or about €5–8 booked ahead on the operator's app, taking roughly 50–70 minutes.

Is the bus or the train cheaper from Malpensa?

The bus. The shuttle coach costs about €10 (or €5–8 booked in advance) versus €15 for the Malpensa Express train — the train is faster and skips traffic, but costs more.

How long does the Malpensa Express take?

About 37 minutes to Milano Cadorna or about 52 minutes to Milano Centrale, with trains roughly every 15–30 minutes between about 04:00 and 02:00.

How much is a taxi from Malpensa to Milan?

A fixed €104 flat fare into central Milan — several times the cost of the €10 shuttle coach or the €15 train.

What is the best way from MXP to downtown Milan?

For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest: the shuttle coach to Milano Centrale for about €10 (about €5–8 booked ahead). Take the €15 Malpensa Express only if you need speed or it's rush hour.

Do I need to book the Malpensa shuttle bus in advance?

No — buy it at the desk on arrival for about €10, but booking on the operator's website or app before you land drops the fare to about €5–8 for the same bus.

How do you get from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to downtown Milan — the cheapest way?

The cheapest way from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) into downtown Milan is the shared shuttle coach (Autostradale, Terravision or Airport Bus Express) to Milano Centrale, for about €10 walk-up — or about €5–8 if booked on the operator's app in advance — in roughly 50–70 minutes. The Malpensa Express train is faster and traffic-proof at 52 minutes to Milano Centrale (37 to Cadorna) but costs €15. A taxi is a fixed €104 flat fare, several times more for the same trip.

How to find it

AIRPORTMilan Malpensa Airport
01Exit arrivals and find the coach bays right in front of the terminal — buses start at Terminal 1 and call at Terminal 2 about 10 minutes later. Several companies share the bays; take whichever leaves next, but note the ticket is operator-specific.
02Buy the roughly €10 ticket at the desk, or cheaper on the operator's app before you land.
03Ride about 50–70 minutes (longer if the A8 motorway is busy) to Via Sammartini, alongside Milano Centrale station — from there the M2 and M3 metro lines reach the whole city.
CITY CENTREMilan

Ticket

Shuttle coach single ticket to Milano Centrale (Autostradale / Terravision / Airport Bus Express)

Where to buy: At the bus-company desks and machines in the arrivals halls of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, on the operator's website or app in advance (cheaper, about €5–8), or from the driver.

How to pay: Pay by card or cash; an advance online ticket gives you a QR code to scan as you board.

Local's trick: Book the coach on the operator's website or app before you land — advance fares drop to about €5–8, roughly half the walk-up price, for the exact same bus. Since several companies share the same bays, just take whichever departs next.

Trap to avoid: Skip the taxi — Malpensa to central Milan is a fixed €104 flat fare — and ignore the private 'transfer' desks. The Malpensa Express train is legitimate but €15, more than the coach.

All ways to downtown, compared

Option	Price	Time	Ticket
BusCheapest route	€10.00	1 h	Shuttle coach single ticket to Milano Centrale (Autostradale / Terravision / Airport Bus Express)
Train	€15.00	52 min	Malpensa Express single ticket (Trenord) to any Milan station

Frequently asked

What is the cheapest way from Milan Malpensa Airport to the city centre?: The shared shuttle coach (Autostradale, Terravision or Airport Bus Express) from the terminal to Milano Centrale, about €10 walk-up or about €5–8 booked ahead on the operator's app, taking roughly 50–70 minutes.
Is the bus or the train cheaper from Malpensa?: The bus. The shuttle coach costs about €10 (or €5–8 booked in advance) versus €15 for the Malpensa Express train — the train is faster and skips traffic, but costs more.
How long does the Malpensa Express take?: About 37 minutes to Milano Cadorna or about 52 minutes to Milano Centrale, with trains roughly every 15–30 minutes between about 04:00 and 02:00.
How much is a taxi from Malpensa to Milan?: A fixed €104 flat fare into central Milan — several times the cost of the €10 shuttle coach or the €15 train.
What is the best way from MXP to downtown Milan?: For budget travellers the best way is the cheapest: the shuttle coach to Milano Centrale for about €10 (about €5–8 booked ahead). Take the €15 Malpensa Express only if you need speed or it's rush hour.
Do I need to book the Malpensa shuttle bus in advance?: No — buy it at the desk on arrival for about €10, but booking on the operator's website or app before you land drops the fare to about €5–8 for the same bus.

Last verified: Jul 3, 2026. Prices and timetables change — confirm at the official transport source.