Bergamo Orio al Serio to Milan: a guide for low-cost flyers

Your ticket says "Milan Bergamo", but Orio al Serio airport sits on the edge of Bergamo: it is 57 km from Milan's Duomo, just under an hour of motorway in clear traffic. It is the low-cost airlines' airport, and people landing here usually want two answers: how long, and how much. Here they are, option by option.

1. Direct coach to Milano Centrale

Several operators run Orio–Milano Centrale, with frequent departures outside arrivals. The journey takes about 50 minutes when the A4 motorway is clear, longer at rush hour and on Friday evenings. It is the most common and cheapest choice. It only goes to Centrale.

2. Bus to Bergamo + train to Milan

A city bus links the airport with Bergamo station in about a quarter of an hour; from there regional trains reach Milan in about an hour. It works, but with two vehicles and two waits.

A direct train from the airport?

The rail link between Orio and Bergamo station is under construction and not yet in service. Its opening has been put back more than once: until it opens, there are no trains from the airport, whatever older guides may say.

3. Taxi

The rank is outside arrivals. Ask for the fare to your destination before you get in: Milan is a long ride, and the cost depends on the tariff applied. A standard taxi seats four.

4. Private transfer

A fixed price per vehicle, locked in when you book, luggage and tolls included. The driver waits in arrivals with a name board, up to 60 minutes after landing — useful, since low-cost flights build up delays as the day goes on. It makes most sense:

• for three or more, when the per-vehicle price split per head approaches the coach fare;
• with children (child seats on request) or bulky luggage;
• for evening arrivals, when coaches and trains thin out;
• if you are not going to Milan: Bergamo is the handiest airport for Bellagio and Varenna, 63 km away.

Low cost, real luggage

Low-cost travellers often pack light. But if you have paid for hold luggage, remember that on the coach you load it yourself, and at Centrale a second journey to the hotel begins. A transfer takes you to the exact address.

And if you need to get to Malpensa?

It happens to travellers landing at Bergamo and flying long-haul out of Malpensa. The two airports are 97 km apart: by public transport you must go through Milan, changing at least once. By car it is direct, about an hour and twenty minutes in clear traffic.