Hello all! First time poster but I am in need of some help. We are leaving for Italy in September and flying first into Milan. Problem is we get in rather late - 10:30 pm. And after traveling from Seattle, I think the last thing we'll want to do is try to get to our hotel (which is about 32 miles from the airport) via public transportation. We are leaning towards biting the bullet and paying for a taxi which will no doubt cost at least 80 EUR. I am wondering if anyone knows of a better alternative? I've been trying to find airport to hotel shuttles like we have here in the US but so far that has been a bust - finding only one which was an exbortitant price and certainly made the taxi fare a much more reasonable thing to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1883 posts
Shuttles from airport to hotels in Italy don't really exist. They MIGHT do it for you, but you see it really costs.
To save money, just take the bus to the train station, then a cab from there to your hotel. It's a lot cheaper than a cab will ever be for 4 people. I hope you are packing light to make the transfers easy on yourselves.
If you'd known, you could have found a hotel within walking distance of the train station- we usually do that for at least the first night in a city, and sometimes just base from there.
Posted by
Beautiful Austin TX
582 posts
I'm going to Milan in November, and I'm doing what the poster before me said. If you take the subway to the main train station, you will avoid the traffic, and there is always traffic in Milan, I heard. I'll either take the bus or the subway. My hotel is pretty close to the train station. I could either walk, or take a short taxi ride. Taking a taxi from the airport can cost about 100 euros! I'm taking one backpack and the Rick Steves day bag, so I'm traveling lightly!
So, you do have some choices. But still, it's too bad Milan doesn't have from airport to hotel service. They did in Rome for $50!
Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
Auburn, WA, USA
7 posts
Thank you so much for the replies! Yes, I am traveling light so I think for expenses sake, I will find out the bus/train schedule to the station - which is much closer to our hotel. Hopefully it's an easy transition from the airport to the bus/train connection because, as I said, we get in rather late. Thanks again!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Is it too late to switch hotels to something within walking distance of the train station? And we've done the airport/bus connection and it was very easy during the day. I don't know how late they run, though.
Posted by
OP
Auburn, WA, USA
7 posts
Sadly yes, it is too late, but I checked the bus schedule and they run till midnight - or close to it. Assuming we are on time and get through customs, etc in time to make it to the bus, I think that's our best option. We get in at 10:30 pm, so I will prepare for taxi costs too...just in case. Thanks!
Posted by
Cave Springs, AR, USA
11 posts
We just got back from there. We took the Malpensa Shuttle bus service from the airport to the train station. You can buy tickets right at the bus, so assuming you get in on time and hightail it, you could probably get the last bus (looks like it leaves about 11:30 from Terminal 1). That late at night, I would think traffic wouldn't be a big problem but one never knows! It still is a good 30 minutes from the airport to Milano Centrale. Tickets are relatively cheap though ... 7 Euros each way. Then you could take a taxi to your hotel from the train station. That is, assuming your hotel is actually IN Milan!
Deb in Arkansas
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
Lisa -- there is NO subway to the main station. There is a shuttle bus but no direct subway to the station. You could take a train to the other train station and then the subway to the main station. The shuttle bus is your best and only public transportation option from the airport. It is an hour or a bit more from the airport.