Milan Airport Transfer
 

I'm arriving in Milan (MXP) Tuesday morning at about 10:30. Debating whether to use a taxi/car service, or take the train to Cadorna and then a taxi to the hotel. I've never been to Milan before and am weighing the cost vs the convenience of a driver after a long, overseas flight and luggage (albeit wheeled luggage). Thoughts?

You can also take the train to Milano Centrale if that's closer to your hotel. (It's a different train.) I'm usually too cheap to spring for a taxi. You can also take a subway or tram from the train station to your hotel once you get into Milan, but if you have a lot of bags or are just too tired, taking the taxi from the train station in Milan is probably not expensive or difficult. The train itself is easy enough.

It is a bit of a distance from MXP to the center of Milan city, so taxi is not a realistic option. There is a bus service to the Central Train station as well as train service.
http://www.malpensashuttle.it/en/index.html

We used the bus service a number of years ago before they upgraded the rail service, and it is a fine, cost-effective alternative, albeit a bit slower, but you do get to see a lot of Milan on the drive in.

Someone, with more recent travel experience please correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a nice ground transportation information desk you will find just opposite the exit from the customs area. They were very helpful for me and my family, but this was a number of years ago. If I'm correct, you may reasonably assume they will help you with up to the date information, so you really to not have to feel you need a final answer before you travel.

We HAVE used a taxi to and from a hotel in Milan. No, it is not cheap; yes it IS the most convenient way.

Given the distance I don't think taxis are too expensive, I wouldn't dream of taking a train with luggage and then take a taxi from the station.

The current (fixed) rate is 95 EUR. You can read about it here:
http://mediagallery.comune.milano.it...A/Taxi/tariffe

I was just in Milan in June and took a taxi from Central Milan to Malpensa Airport as I wouldn't even think of trying to schlep luggage on public transportation. I had originally booked my flight in of and out of Linate Airport, but at the 11th hour my flight from Milan-Linate Airport was changed to Milan-Malpensa Airport. So, the difference in the taxi fare became 17 Euro (Linate Airport to Central Milan) to 95 Euro (Central Milan to Malpensa Airport).

I had flown from LAX to CDG-Paris (non-stop) and then changed planes and flew on to Milan-Linate Airport as I usually book my overseas flights in and out of Paris.

Happy Travels!

Carol - The Malpensa Express train service is very convenient. It has 2 routes to Milan - the first to Milano Cadorna which maybe close to your hotel and the second to Milano Centrale which goes via Milano Porta Garibaldi.

It is very efficient and cheap. There is usually a long line of taxis just outside the station of Cadorna.

Although I do not live in Milan I would never dream of taking a taxi unless my final destination was somewhere which was not easily connected to Milano Cadorna or Milano Centrale.

There is no difference in "schlepping" your luggage to the airport taxi stand and 'schlepping" your luggage to the airport bus shuttle. It is the same distanc and you can ask either the taxi driver or the bus ticket seller to put your luggage in luggage hold for you. The bus will take you ,right to the taxi stands at the central train station in Milan. So you can take a taxi from there to your hotel if you are not staying within walking distance of the central station.

My recollection is that the bus costs under 15 euros. Most taxis from the central station to any hotel in central Milan will cost less than 10 euros, even with luggage.

25 euros is a significant cost savings from 95 euros when there is so little advantage to taking a taxi over the bus.

Wanted to add that if I am staying in a hotel in Milan, I prefer taking the bus to Milano Centrale station rather than the commuter train to Milano Centrale. Not only is the train often delayed, but there is no reason to walk through Milano Centrale train station unless you are switching to another train to leave Milan right away. The bus lets you off outside the station, at ground level, where it is much easier to walk to your hotel if it is nearby or take a taxi -- which is right there -- if you need one.

If your Milan hotel is close to Cadorna Station, especially if it is close enough to walk, it makes sense to use the Express train to Cadorna station. There are also taxis lined up outside Cadorna station, and my recollection is that it is a flat walk from the train platforms to the street (Not sure, but seem to remember that). So if you are staying in a hotel in the southwestern sectors of Milan, you might save a few minutes by using the train to Cadorna & proceeeding from there on foot or by taxi. And it will still cost you a lost less than 95 euros.

massimop - why take the bus to Milano Centrale rather than the Malpensa Express to Cadorna which would appear to be the station of choice of the OP?

For years we used the Milan Shuttle Bus and we were happy with the service. Now we use the Blacklane Limo service, which is more expensive, but they provide door to door service.

Buon viaggio,

massimop - bus rather than train to Milano Centrale? Do you really have knowledge of traffic issues of the autostrada from Varese to Milan? If not it is better left to the locals.

Again - the preference of the OP was for Cadorna.

I took the bus from Malpensa to Milano Centrale in 2009 because there was no train to Centrale yet (opened soon after). I could either have taken the train to Cadorna and a subway back to Central or just taken the direct bus, which made the most sense (my hotel was by Centrale anyway).

But I hate long bus rides, and it wasn't a quick ride. I got motion sick on the bus (something that usually doesn't happen on trains), and we got stuck in traffic. I wound up wishing I'd taken the train to Cardona after all. In 2011, I had to fly out of Malpensa, and I indeed took the direct train from Centrale, which had opened by then.

95 Euros for a taxi would be a ridiculous luxury for me, especially traveling alone, but we all have different travel styles.

nochblad, sure. I'd rather not go all through Milano Centrale unless I'm switching trains there. (OFten the locals don't use the airports as much as the non-locals do.) The OP should definitely use Cadorna if that is closer to their hotel.

Since I now fly Emirates business class almost exclusively, I get a free taxi to any destination within 90kms of Milan, so I usually go someplace else (like Pavia or Lodi, etc.)

My recollection is that the buses and the taxis coming from Malpensa both use the HOV lanes. Has that changed?

I also got a bit queasy once on the bus to Milano Centrale, so the next time I took the commuter train to Milano Centrale. The train stopped between stations for about 25 minutes, going nowhere on a hot day, plus I found getting to the train within the airport much less luggage-toting friendly than walking to the bus right outside the terminal.

The one time I used the Cadorna station I was very happy with it -- but I was going the other way. But I don't think I would bother if my hotel was closer to Centrale.

Although I definitely like the free taxi from Emirates, I'm not sure I would plan to pay for it on my own. I'd plan to take the bus or the Express to Cadorna. If I got off the plane feeling terrible, maybe I'd reconsider & pay for a taxi.

We took the train with 2 pieces of luggage on wheels and 2 backpacks and it was so easy!!! The train is clean and spacious. We got to Milano Centrale and although we walked to our hotel (chosen for that purpose) there were taxis waiting outside the station.
I wouldn't go any other way especially if you arrive on a morning flight. (Maybe I would consider another form of transportation for a late night flight.)

massimop - being based in Como Emirates is OK for JFK as there is a flight from Dubai to JFK via Milano Malpensa (very non ok with the US airlines).

However, my trips are usually to either west coast USA or either China so Emirates in not optimal for me. As I also fly business Swiss or Luffthansa and IMO is preferable.

nochblad,

I wasn't encouraging you to take Emirates. I was just pointing out that I no longer take public transportation out of Malpensa.

Another poster in the middle of the thread posted that arriving in Malpensa jet lagged, they were not about to start "schlepping" luggage, so they paid 95 euros to take a taxi into Milan. My reason for posting about the bus is to point out you have to schelpp your luggage to the taxi, which is right next to where you get on the bus, so ....

While I remember how easy it was to use the Cadorna station leaving Milan to get to the airport, I have no recollection of how easy it was to get to the check in gates once I'd arrived at the airport with my luggage. Besdies, I usually mind less "schlepping" my luggage when I am wide awake in the morning than when I am jet lagged.

Another poster has just reported such a good experience taking the train to Milano Centrale they would never do it another way. But I had a bad experience using the same train, and when it comes to schlepping luggage, I was doing a lot more dragging it around using the train to Milano Centrale than had I taken the bus.

So the OP will need to pick their poison. There is some risk of a bad experience no matter which option one chooses.

The cost of a taxi is not excessive by comparison if you are traveling with a family or friends. At 13 euro for the train, a family of 4 costs 52 euro and, of course, you are not yet at your hotel when you reach Milan; there may still be a taxi or more public transportation to reach your ultimate destination. While the taxi is a significant expense, it was still the best choice for our family due to convenience (we didn't suffer through any traffic issues) and relative cost. Expensive in an absolute sense, but well worth it for us.