Getting from Bergamo Airport to Milan: What Actually Makes Sense

Bergamo Airport can be confusing before you even leave the arrivals hall.

The airport is officially Milan Bergamo Airport and uses the code BGY, but it is actually next to Bergamo, around 50 kilometres from central Milan. You may also see it called Orio al Serio Airport.

That leads to the obvious question: if your real destination is Milan, should you go into Bergamo first and take a train?

For most travellers, no.

If you are heading to Milan or catching another train from Milano Centrale, a direct airport coach is usually the simplest option. Going via Bergamo railway station can work, but it adds another transfer and is rarely the most straightforward way to reach Milan.

The simplest route: Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale by coach

Several companies run direct buses between Bergamo Airport and Milano Centrale, including Terravision, Flibco, Autostradale and Orio Shuttle.

The airport itself lists Milano Centrale as a direct bus destination, so you do not need to travel into Bergamo first.

For most first-time visitors, this is the easiest route:

Bergamo Airport → direct coach → Milano Centrale

Current operator information puts the journey at roughly 50 minutes in normal conditions, although Milan traffic can make it longer. Terravision currently advertises departures around every 30 minutes, while Flibco also operates direct services throughout much of the day.

Starting fares vary by operator and booking conditions. At the time of writing, advertised online fares begin at around €5–€8 one way, but this is the kind of information worth checking again for your actual travel date.

The bigger advantage is not necessarily the price. It is the lack of transfers.

After a flight, especially with luggage, getting on one coach at the airport and getting off beside Milan's main railway station is hard to beat.

Do you need to go to Bergamo train station first?

This is where the airport name causes unnecessary confusion.

Bergamo Airport does not currently have its own operational railway station. If you want to use the rail network from Bergamo, you first need to reach Bergamo railway station by local bus.

The airport's official guidance says the ATB bus connects the airport with Bergamo station in roughly 10 minutes. From there, you can continue by train.

So the rail option looks like this:

BGY Airport → ATB bus → Bergamo station → train → Milan

Compared with:

BGY Airport → direct coach → Milano Centrale

For someone whose destination is Milan, the second option is usually simpler.

The Bergamo-station route makes more sense if you actually want to visit Bergamo, are staying there, or have another rail journey that works better from Bergamo station.

It is not necessary just because you searched for a “train from Bergamo Airport to Milan.”

Milan city centre and Milano Centrale are not the same place

Another small distinction can save you time.

The direct airport coaches normally take you to Milano Centrale, Milan's main railway station.

That is convenient if:

• your hotel is near Centrale;
• you are continuing to another Italian city by train;
• you want easy access to Milan's metro network.

But Milano Centrale is not the Duomo or the historic centre.

If your final destination is around the Duomo, Brera or another central neighbourhood, you will normally continue from Centrale by metro, taxi or local transport.

For the Duomo, Metro Line M3 runs directly from Centrale FS toward Duomo.

If you are unfamiliar with the station, our Milano Centrale Train Station Guide explains the layout, platforms and local transport connections.

Bus or train connection: which one makes more sense?

There is no need to choose the rail option simply because you are planning a train trip later.

For most passengers arriving at BGY and heading to Milan, the direct coach wins on simplicity.

The train connection through Bergamo adds another boarding step and another place where you need to handle luggage.

That does not make it a bad option. It simply solves a different problem.

Connecting to another train at Milano Centrale

This is where Bergamo Airport becomes particularly relevant for rail travellers.

Milano Centrale has long-distance trains toward cities including Venice, Rome, Florence, Bologna and Turin, so many passengers arriving at BGY are not actually staying in Milan.

If that is your plan, avoid booking an onward train too tightly after your flight.

A scheduled 50-minute airport coach journey does not mean you can safely book a train 60 minutes after landing.

You still need to account for:

• getting off the aircraft;
• passport control when applicable;
• baggage collection;
• finding the bus stop;
• waiting for the next coach;
• road traffic;
• walking from the coach stop into Milano Centrale;
• finding your platform.

Give yourself a realistic buffer.

Continuing your journey from Milan by train? Search routes and compare train options with the eutrain app.

What about a taxi?

A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option, but the distance from BGY to Milan means it will normally cost considerably more than the airport coach.

It may still make sense if you are:

• travelling as a group;
• carrying a lot of luggage;
• arriving very late;
• travelling to somewhere inconvenient from Centrale;
• prioritising door-to-door convenience over cost.

Traffic affects taxis just as it affects airport buses, so a taxi is not automatically faster during busy periods.

For one or two travellers heading to Centrale, the coach is usually the more practical starting point.

Is Bergamo Airport really a Milan airport?

Yes in the commercial sense, but geographically it is important to understand where you are landing.

BGY is commonly marketed as Milan Bergamo Airport, while the airport is located at Orio al Serio beside Bergamo.

Milan also has:

• Malpensa Airport (MXP)
• Linate Airport (LIN)

The transfer strategy is different for each one.

Malpensa has direct rail connections to Milan. If you are arriving there, see our guide to Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale by train.

Linate is much closer to central Milan and is connected to the city's metro network. See our Linate Airport to Milan guide if LIN is the airport on your ticket.

Do not follow transfer advice for one Milan airport when you are landing at another.

Going from Milano Centrale back to Bergamo Airport

The return trip is straightforward.

Direct coaches also run from Milano Centrale to Bergamo Airport, so you normally do not need to travel by train to Bergamo and then change to an airport bus.

Allow plenty of time before your flight.

Road conditions around Milan can vary, and airport transfer operators recommend leaving enough buffer for check-in and security rather than planning around the best possible journey time.

If you already know which coach operator you want to use, check the latest departure times directly before travelling.

What should you book?

For most visitors, the answer is simpler than the airport name makes it sound.

If you land at Bergamo Airport and your next stop is Milan:

take a direct coach to Milano Centrale.

If you actually want to visit Bergamo first:

take the local ATB bus to Bergamo station or the city.

And if Milan is only a connection point before another Italian destination, go directly to Centrale rather than adding Bergamo railway station to the journey unnecessarily.

For a broader overview of travelling around the country, our Italy Train Travel Guide covers Italian high-speed trains, stations, ticket rules and practical rail planning.

Bergamo Airport to Milan FAQ

Is there a direct train from Bergamo Airport to Milan?

No direct airport train currently operates from BGY. To use the railway, you first need to travel from the airport to Bergamo railway station by local bus, then continue by train.

Is there a direct bus from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale?

Yes. Several operators run direct coach services between Bergamo Airport and Milano Centrale.

How long does it take from Bergamo Airport to Milan?

Direct coach operators currently quote journey times of roughly 50 minutes, but road traffic can increase the actual travel time.

Is Bergamo Airport the same as BGY?

Yes. BGY is the airport code for Milan Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio Airport.

Should I take a train or bus from Bergamo Airport to Milan?

If Milan is your destination, a direct airport coach is usually easier because it avoids the transfer at Bergamo railway station.

How do I get from Bergamo Airport to Milan city centre?

A direct coach can take you to Milano Centrale. From there, continue by metro, taxi or other local transport to your final destination.

Can I go directly from Bergamo Airport to Milano Centrale?

Yes. This is one of the airport's main direct coach connections.

One last thing before you leave the airport

The useful distinction is not really “bus or train.”

It is:

Are you going to Bergamo, or are you going to Milan?

If the answer is Milan, travelling to Bergamo station first usually adds a step you do not need.

For most passengers, the direct coach to Milano Centrale is the cleanest start to the journey.

Planning the next part of your trip? Search European train routes and journey options with the eutrain app.