Quick answer
Milan Linate Airport (LIN) is the closer of Milan's two main airports and, unlike Malpensa, is on a metro line.
Your main options: Metro M4 (about 12 minutes from the centre to the airport), a taxi, or a pre-booked private transfer.
A pre-booked transfer to central Milan is a fixed price quoted at booking; see the live From price on this page. The Metro M4 uses the ordinary ATM urban ticket at EUR 2.20 (zones Mi1–Mi3, January 2026 tariff).
Taxis are metered — there is no flat rate from Linate into central Milan, contrary to what a lot of travel advice says. The city tariff starts at EUR 4.10 on weekdays (6 AM–9 PM), EUR 6.60 on Sundays and holidays and EUR 7.90 at night (9 PM–6 AM), plus EUR 1.32 per km, and trips leaving Linate carry a EUR 16.00 minimum fare (Comune di Milano tariffario, July 2024). Tariffs are revised periodically, so check the current one before you travel.
Fixed-price private transfer
LIN Milan City Center
From€138for 2 passengers
Other destinations
What actually happens after landing
Linate is a single-terminal airport. The Metro M4 has an entrance at the terminal, and the Linate–Centrale shuttle bus stops in front of the terminal.
Taxis and pre-booked transfers are covered below. Use the official taxi rank and do not accept offers from people approaching you inside the terminal.
Transport options explained honestly
| Option | Price (EUR) | Time | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro M4 | EUR 2.20 | About 12 min centre to Linate (ATM) | Weekdays 7 AM–8 PM every 1–3 min | First train 05:40, last 00:26 |
| Taxi | Metered, EUR 16.00 minimum | On demand | On demand | No flat rate |
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed, quoted at booking | On demand | On demand | Name sign if included in your booking |
| Linate–Centrale shuttle bus | EUR 5.00 one way (EUR 10.00 return) | About 25 min to Milano Centrale | Linate departures 08:30–22:30 | Useful if heading to the train station |
Metro M4 is the direct rail link between Linate and the city. It stops at San Babila (M1), Sforza Policlinico (M3) and Sant'Ambrogio (M2), where you can change lines. On weekdays trains run every 1–3 minutes between 7 AM and 8 PM (Saturday every 3–6, Sunday and holidays every 4–6); the first train leaves Linate at 05:40 and the last at 00:26, after which NM4 buses replace the trains overnight.
Bus 73 is listed on an ATM route sheet (2023 edition) between Linate and Duomo M1/M3 on the ordinary ATM ticket; confirm that it is currently running. Check the ATM app or atm.it for the current timetable.
Taxis in Milan run on the meter, and there is no flat rate from Linate into the city — the fixed fares the Comune publishes from Linate are to Fiera Milano (Rho) at EUR 68 and to Malpensa airport at EUR 128, nothing else. The meter starts at EUR 4.10 on weekdays between 6 AM and 9 PM, EUR 6.60 on Sundays and holidays, and EUR 7.90 between 9 PM and 6 AM, then adds EUR 1.32 per km (rising to EUR 1.98 per km once the meter passes EUR 17.35) and charges waiting time at EUR 34.48 an hour. Any trip starting at Linate has a EUR 16.00 minimum. Milan's tariff is explicit that you pay only what the meter shows, apart from motorway tolls — there is no legitimate per-bag surcharge.
Realistic pricing expectations
| Destination | Transfer (EUR) | Taxi (EUR) | Metro/Bus (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duomo / City Centre | Fixed, quoted at booking | Metered, 16.00 minimum | 2.20 |
| Milano Centrale Station | Fixed, quoted at booking | Metered, 16.00 minimum | 2.20 |
| Navigli district | Fixed, quoted at booking | Metered, 16.00 minimum | 2.20 |
| Fiera Milano (Rho) | Fixed, quoted at booking | 68 (official fixed fare) | 2.20 |
The taxi column shows the minimum because a metered fare depends on route, traffic and time of day. Nights, Sundays and holidays start EUR 2.50–3.80 higher than the weekday start fare, and time in traffic is billed at EUR 34.48 an hour. Fiera Milano (Rho) is different: it is one of the handful of routes with an official fixed fare of EUR 68, which includes motorway tolls and any night or holiday supplement.
Transfer prices are per vehicle. A standard sedan fits 3 passengers with luggage. For groups of 4+ with bags, book a minivan; its fixed price is quoted at booking.
Late night arrivals
The last Metro M4 train leaves Linate at 00:26, and overnight NM4 buses replace the trains.
If you arrive after the last train, your options are NM4 buses, taxis or a pre-booked transfer. The taxi meter starts higher at night — EUR 7.90 rather than EUR 4.10 between 9 PM and 6 AM — and any trip leaving Linate has a EUR 16.00 minimum. A pre-booked transfer is quoted at booking; ask the provider whether a night supplement applies.
Families and luggage
All Metro M4 stations have lifts and escalators, and children up to 14 travel free on ATM services. With a stroller or heavy luggage, a pre-booked transfer is the easiest option; request a child seat when booking, giving each child's age and weight.
Where you meet the driver
For pre-booked transfers, drivers wait in the arrivals area holding a name sign, if meet-and-greet is included in your booking.
Use the official taxi rank. Do not accept offers from people approaching you inside the terminal.
The Metro M4 has an entrance at the terminal; follow the signs.
Decision helper
Choose the Metro M4 if: you are travelling light, comfortable with public transport, and arriving between 05:40 and 00:26. It is cheap and, on weekdays, frequent.
Choose a pre-booked transfer if: you have heavy luggage, kids, or want door-to-door service without thinking about metro connections.
Choose a taxi if: you want door-to-door service without booking. Remember there is no flat rate: the meter applies, with a EUR 16.00 minimum from Linate.
Linate vs Malpensa context: If you have a choice of airports, Linate is the closer to central Milan and is on the M4 metro line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a metro from Linate Airport?
Yes. The Metro M4 (blue line) runs from Linate to the city centre in about 12 minutes (ATM), with connections to M1 at San Babila, M3 at Sforza Policlinico and M2 at Sant'Ambrogio.
How much is a taxi from Linate to central Milan?
There is no flat rate into central Milan — that is a persistent myth. The fare is metered: EUR 4.10 to start on a weekday daytime (EUR 6.60 Sundays and holidays, EUR 7.90 at night) plus EUR 1.32 per km, with a EUR 16.00 minimum on trips out of Linate. The final figure depends on route, traffic and time of day.
Is Linate or Malpensa closer to Milan?
Linate is the closer airport to central Milan and is on the Metro M4. A taxi between the two airports is a fixed EUR 128.
Does Bus 73 still run from Linate?
An ATM route sheet (2023 edition) lists Bus 73 between Linate and Duomo M1/M3 on the standard EUR 2.20 ticket; we could not confirm the current service, so check the ATM timetable before relying on it. Check the ATM app or atm.it for the current timetable.
Can I use a contactless card on Milan public transport?
Yes. Contactless bank cards and mobile payments work on the metro and surface lines. On the metro, tap at entry and again at exit; skipping the exit tap adds EUR 1.30.
How do I get from Linate to Milano Centrale?
By metro, take M4 to San Babila, then M1 to Loreto, then M2 to Centrale. The Linate–Centrale shuttle bus takes about 25 minutes.
Is there a shuttle bus from Linate to Milano Centrale?
Yes. A shuttle bus runs between Linate and Milano Centrale (Piazza Luigi di Savoia) in about 25 minutes, at EUR 5.00 one way or EUR 10.00 return. Linate departures run from 08:30 to 22:30.
Is there a taxi flat rate from Linate Airport?
There isn't one. The Comune di Milano publishes fixed taxi fares only for a short list of routes, and from Linate those are EUR 68 to Fiera Milano (Rho) and EUR 128 to Malpensa airport. Everything else from Linate, including the city centre, is metered with a EUR 16.00 minimum.
Linate is on the Metro M4, which makes reaching the centre simple, and taxis and transfers are the alternatives for luggage or late arrivals. Pick based on your luggage, group size and arrival time.
Sources (checked 2026-10-17)
- Taxi start fares, per-km rate, waiting rate, EUR 16.00 minimum from Linate, fixed fares (Linate-Fiera Rho EUR 68, Linate-Malpensa EUR 128), meter-only payment apart from tolls: https://www.comune.milano.it/documents/20118/68224/Tariffario+Taxi+(agg.+luglio+2024).pdf/a0372f46-b96d-11f6-3e03-9420e4f0cfd7?version=1.0&t=1746021632929&download=true
- Ordinary urban ticket Mi1-Mi3 EUR 2.20 valid 90 minutes, children up to 14 travel free (ATM tariff January 2026): https://www.atm.it/it/ViaggiaConNoi/Documents/TARIFFE%20ATM.pdf
- M4 timetable from Linate (valid from 15/03/2026): first train 05:40, last train 00:26, weekday frequency: https://orari.atm.it/M4_341.pdf
- M4 about 12 minutes from the centre to the airport, lifts at all stations, interchanges (San Babila M1, Sforza Policlinico M3, Sant'Ambrogio M2), NM4 night buses: https://www.atm.it/en/ViaggiaConNoi/InfoTraffico/Pages/M4passengerserviceinformation2.aspx
- Contactless bank cards on metro and surface transport, tap at entry and exit: https://www.atm.it/it/ViaggiaConNoi/pagamenti_servizi_digitali/Pagine/biglietto_Contactless.aspx
- Bus 73 route Aeroporto Linate - Duomo M1 M3 (ATM route sheet, 2023 edition; check the current timetable): https://orari.atm.it/73_12926.pdf
- Linate-Milano Centrale shuttle bus EUR 5 one way / EUR 10 return, about 25 minutes, Linate departures 08:30-22:30: https://autostradale.it/i-nostri-servizi/transfer-aeroportuali/milano-stazione-centrale-milano-linate/
- M4 entrance at the terminal (SEA reduced-mobility guide): https://resourcesols3cms.seamilano.eu/Resources/C_1_document_38_file_it.pdf