Malpensa Airport to Milan

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is about 50 km north-west of the city, further than Linate or Bergamo, so the transfer is part of every trip. There are three ways in: the Malpensa Express train, the airport coaches, and a taxi at a fixed fare. This guide gives the times, prices and stops for each as of September 2026, and where to catch them at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Malpensa Express train

The Malpensa Express, run by Trenord, leaves from the stations under Terminal 1 and next to Terminal 2 and runs on two branches into Milan. The Milano Cadorna branch takes about 37 minutes from Terminal 1 with no intermediate city stops and arrives beside the Castello Sforzesco, on metro lines M1 and M2. The Milano Centrale branch takes about 52 minutes and calls at Milano Bovisa and Milano Porta Garibaldi on the way, which suits passengers changing to high-speed trains at Centrale or to the Garibaldi business district. Each branch runs about every 30 minutes, so there is a train into the city roughly every 15 minutes.

A ticket between the airport and any Milan station costs €15 for adults and €7.50 for children aged 4 to 13; children up to 3 travel free with a paying adult, and a 30-day return sold online costs from €25. Buy at the station machines, in the Trenord app or online, and validate paper tickets before boarding. The first train from Milano Cadorna leaves at 4:57 am and the last at 11:27 pm; from the airport the service runs from roughly 5:30 am until around midnight. There are no night trains.

Coaches to Milano Centrale

Three companies run coaches between both terminals and the coach stands beside Milano Centrale: Malpensa Shuttle, Malpensa Bus Express and Terravision. The journey takes 50 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, tickets cost about €10 one way and a little less bought online, and departures run every 20 to 30 minutes through the day with a thinner service at night. Coaches leave from the bus stands outside the arrivals level at Terminal 1 and from the stop outside Terminal 2; the train is faster to Cadorna, but the coaches are the cheaper option to Centrale and the only public transport with any overnight departures.

Taxi and private transfer

Taxis wait at the signed ranks outside arrivals at both terminals. A journey between Malpensa and central Milan is charged at a fixed fare set by the Milan taxi regulations, around €110 to €114 in 2026, including luggage and the motorway toll, for a drive of 45 to 60 minutes. Confirm the flat rate before setting off and use only the white licensed taxis at the rank; unlicensed drivers who approach passengers in the arrivals hall charge far more. Pre-booked private transfers cost a similar amount for a car and more for a van, and the Sheraton quotes €140 for a private car to Linate.

Which to choose

For a hotel near the Duomo or Cadorna, the Cadorna train wins on time and price. For Centrale, Porta Garibaldi or a connection to Trenitalia or Italo, take the Centrale branch of the train or, on a budget, a coach. For a group of three or four with luggage, a taxi at €110 to €114 costs about the same as four train tickets and a taxi from the station combined. Passengers landing after midnight or flying before 6:00 am are the ones the airport hotels exist for: the Sheraton inside Terminal 1 and the Moxy at Terminal 2 remove the transfer altogether, and the terminal guide explains which terminal each airline uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way from Malpensa to central Milan?

The Malpensa Express train to Milano Cadorna, about 37 minutes from Terminal 1 with no stops in the city, for €15. Cadorna is next to the Castello Sforzesco and on metro lines M1 and M2. The Milano Centrale branch takes about 52 minutes and also calls at Porta Garibaldi and Bovisa.

How much is a taxi from Malpensa to Milan?

Taxis from the official ranks charge a fixed fare to central Milan, around €110 to €114 as of 2026, including motorway tolls and luggage, for a 45 to 60 minute drive. Use only the white taxis at the signed rank and confirm the flat rate before leaving; ignore drivers who approach in the arrivals hall.

Are there trains and coaches from Malpensa overnight?

Trains do not run overnight: the last Malpensa Express leaves the airport around midnight and the first leaves Milano Cadorna at 4:57 am. Some coach operators run a reduced overnight service to Milano Centrale; otherwise the choice is a taxi or a hotel near the airport.

Information last verified: September 23, 2026