Bergamo Il Caravaggio International Airport (IATA: BGY) is one of northern Italy’s busiest airports and Ryanair’s main Italian hub. It sits approximately 5km southeast of Bergamo city centre and about 50km northeast of Milan - which means most passengers passing through BGY are actually heading to Milan, not Bergamo. Here is how each transfer option works, in both directions.
Shuttle Bus to Milan: The Most Popular Option
For travellers heading to Milan, several coach operators run direct shuttle services between the airport and central Milan. The main operators are Terravision, Autostradale, and FlixBus (routes change seasonally - check current availability at the airport).
Destination: Most services terminate at Milan Central Station (Milano Centrale) or at the Lampugnano metro stop on Milan’s M1 (red) line. Some services also serve Milan Cadorna or the Fiera Milano area.
Cost: approximately €5–€10 per person one way as of 2026. Tickets booked online in advance are often cheaper than those bought at the airport kiosk.
Journey time: 50–80 minutes in normal traffic. Allow extra time on weekday mornings (07:30–09:30) and Friday evenings - the A4 motorway between Bergamo and Milan experiences heavy congestion at these times.
Frequency: departures are timed to coincide with major Ryanair arrivals, typically every 30–45 minutes. Late-night services are available for evening flights. Check the operator’s timetable before you fly, as schedules vary by season.
Luggage: stored in the undercarriage of the coach. Standard suitcases are fine; oversized items may be charged extra.
Local Bus to Bergamo City Centre
If you are actually staying in Bergamo rather than Milan, the AT (Arriva/TEB) local bus connects the airport to Bergamo’s main bus and rail station (Stazione di Bergamo, on the edge of the historic lower city).
Route: Line 1 (marked “Stazione” direction) departs from the bus stop directly outside the arrivals hall.
Cost: approximately €1.70–€2.00 per person as of 2026. Buy tickets from the automatic machines at the stop or from the driver (exact change preferred).
Journey time: approximately 12–15 minutes to Bergamo railway station in normal traffic.
Frequency: roughly every 20–30 minutes during the day. Evening and weekend services are less frequent - check the AT timetable before travelling.
From Bergamo railway station, the funicular (Funicolare Bergamo Bassa–Alta) connects the lower and upper city (Bergamo Alta) in about 4 minutes, running frequently throughout the day.
Official Taxi
Licensed taxis are available outside the arrivals exit. Bergamo taxis operate on the meter - there is no fixed flat rate equivalent to the Rome taxi system.
Typical fares as of 2026:
- Airport to Bergamo city centre: approximately €15–€20
- Airport to Milan Central Station: approximately €100–€130 (traffic-dependent)
Journey times:
- To Bergamo city centre: 10–15 minutes
- To Milan: 45–70 minutes depending on traffic
Licensed taxis have a yellow and black TAXI sign on the roof. Avoid drivers who approach you inside the terminal offering fixed prices - these are unofficial and typically charge far more.
For the journey to Milan, the taxi fare is significantly higher than the shuttle bus. Unless you have a group of four splitting the cost, or significant luggage that makes the bus impractical, the shuttle is better value for this route.
Private Transfer: Pre-Booked and Fixed Price
A pre-booked private transfer is worth considering if you are travelling as a family, have heavy luggage, or need a guaranteed pick-up time for an early-morning flight. Services like Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, and GetTransfer let you book in advance with a fixed price and a named driver waiting in arrivals.
Typical costs as of 2026:
- Airport to Bergamo city: approximately €30–€45 for a standard sedan
- Airport to Milan Central: approximately €75–€100 for a standard sedan (minivans for groups available at higher rates)
What you get: a driver with your name on a board, direct journey to your destination, assistance with luggage. No queues, no metered uncertainty.
This option is particularly good for late-night Ryanair arrivals (BGY has a high proportion of late-evening flights) or early-morning departures when shuttle buses may not be running on full schedules.
Getting to Bergamo Alta (Upper City)
Bergamo Alta is the historic walled upper town - reached by funicular from the lower city. If you are staying up there, the most practical route from the airport is:
- Take the local bus (Line 1) to Bergamo railway station (12–15 min)
- Walk 5 minutes to the Funicolare Bergamo Bassa station (near Viale Vittorio Emanuele II)
- Ride the funicular to the upper city (4 min, approximately €1.40 one way)
Alternatively, a taxi from the airport direct to Bergamo Alta is approximately €20–€25 - the driver can drop you at the lower funicular station or, for select streets inside the walls, closer to your accommodation.
Train Connections from Bergamo City
Once you reach Bergamo city, the railway station connects to the regional rail network. Useful connections include:
- Bergamo to Milan Centrale: approximately 50 minutes by regional train, trains run frequently (every 30 minutes during peak hours), approximately €5–€6 as of 2026
- Bergamo to Brescia: approximately 45 minutes, useful for continuing east towards Verona or Venice
- Bergamo to Lecco (Lake Como): approximately 1 hour, useful for the eastern shore of Lake Como
These connections make Bergamo a reasonable transit point for exploring Lombardy even if your flight is at BGY.
Ride-Share Apps
Uber operates in the Bergamo and Milan area in licensed taxi mode (UberBlack or UberComfort) rather than peer-to-peer. Fares are typically comparable to or higher than official taxis. Free Now and itTaxi aggregate licensed local taxis - useful for tracking your driver without standing at the rank.
Designated ride-share pick-up areas are outside the main arrivals exit. Check the app for the current location, which may differ slightly from the official taxi rank.
Late-Night Arrivals
BGY handles a high volume of late-evening Ryanair flights (often landing after 22:00). Late-night options:
- Shuttle buses to Milan: most operators run services up to around 23:30–00:00 timed to late flights; confirm the last departure time with your operator before travelling
- Taxis: available 24/7 outside arrivals
- Private transfer: Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, and GetTransfer operate overnight - provide your flight number when booking so the driver tracks any delays
For very early departures before the first buses run (typically before 05:00), a private transfer or taxi is the only practical option.