Milan Malpensa to Zurich.
From the arrivals hall at Malpensa to Zurich Airport or any Zurich address, through Ticino and the Gotthard tunnel: about three and a half hours to the city, a little more to the airport.
Landing in Milan, heading for Zurich.
A trip can start at Malpensa and end in Zurich: a long-haul arrival into Northern Italy with a meeting in Zurich the next day, or a week on the Italian lakes before a flight home from Zurich Airport.
By train the trip takes more than four hours, with at least one change and the luggage carried through each one. By car it is about 270 kilometres to the centre of Zurich and about 285 to Zurich Airport, roughly three and a half to three and three-quarter hours when traffic is light, from the arrivals hall to the door.
At Malpensa, Terminal 1 serves most airlines and Terminal 2 the low-cost carriers. Your flight number tells the office which one, and the chauffeur waits in the right arrivals hall after customs. In Zurich the car stops at your hotel, your office or the departures area at the airport. Malpensa is about fifty kilometres north-west of Milan, on the side that faces Switzerland, so the drive never has to cross the city.
The same car can end the trip elsewhere in German-speaking Switzerland. Beyond the Gotthard the route runs along Lake Lucerne and through the canton of Zug, so Lucerne and Zug are a short way off the road, and a hotel there can be the drop-off instead of Zurich.
Through Ticino and under the Gotthard.
From Malpensa the car heads north past Varese and crosses into Switzerland at Gaggiolo, less than an hour after leaving the airport, or at Chiasso-Brogeda on the motorway from Como. The A2 then runs through Ticino past Lugano and Bellinzona to the Gotthard road tunnel, about 17 kilometres long. On the north side the road runs along Lake Lucerne and on to Zurich.
The Gotthard is where the queues form. On holiday weekends, at Easter and in summer above all, the wait at the tunnel entrance can be long. When it is, the chauffeur can take the San Bernardino tunnel and Chur instead, about 55 kilometres longer, and decides on the day which way costs less time. The route crosses the border between Italy and Switzerland: carry the documents required for your nationality.
- Distance
- about 285 km to Zurich Airport
- Driving time
- about 3 h 45
- Via
- Lugano and the Gotthard tunnel
- Border
- Italy to Switzerland
- Pick-up
- Malpensa arrivals, Terminal 1 or 2
| From Malpensa to | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich Airport | about 285 km | about 3 h 45 |
| Zurich city centre | about 270 km | about 3 h 30 |
| Zug | about 235 km | about 3 h 15 |
| Lucerne | about 235 km | about 3 hours |
Vehicles and capacity for the drive north.
All vehiclesFor one or two travellers with work to do, First Class (Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7, Audi A8 or similar, 3 passengers and 3 bags) has screens in the back and tinted windows. The Van First Class (Mercedes V-Class or similar, 6 passengers and 6 bags) turns the cabin into a small meeting room, with four seats facing each other around a table.
A family with more luggage fits the Van Standard (Ford Tourneo, Mercedes Vito or similar, 7 passengers and 7 bags), and groups the 12-seat van or the 14-seat minibus. In winter the SUV (Range Rover, Mercedes GLS, BMW X7 or similar, 5 passengers and 5 bags) adds all-wheel drive.
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Standard Class
Mercedes E-Class or similar
3 passengers · 3 bags
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First Class
Mercedes S-Class or similar
3 passengers · 3 bags
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SUV
Range Rover, GLS, X7 or similar
5 passengers · 5 bags
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Van First Class
Mercedes V-Class or similar
6 passengers · 6 bags
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Van Standard
Ford Tourneo, Vito or similar
7 passengers · 7 bags
Included from Malpensa to Zurich.
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In the arrivals hall at Malpensa
The chauffeur waits after customs in the arrivals hall of the terminal you land at, with a tablet showing your name or your company's logo. In Zurich the car stops at your door or at the airport.
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Landing early or late
With your flight number the office follows the flight and moves the pick-up if you land early or late. The chauffeur's contact details reach you before landing.
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Waiting at the airport and in town
At airports, ports and train stations, drivers wait up to 60 minutes in case of delays beyond the scheduled arrival time, at no extra charge. At hotels, offices and private addresses, 15 minutes of waiting are included. For extended delays, our team will assist you in finding the most suitable solution.
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Luggage declared, boot to match
Declare skis, golf clubs and oversized bags when you book, so the office assigns a vehicle with the right boot, an SUV or a van.
Malpensa to Zurich, answered.
How long is the transfer from Malpensa to Zurich?
About three and a half hours to the centre of Zurich and about three and three-quarter hours to Zurich Airport, for about 270 and 285 kilometres. Queues at the Gotthard on holiday weekends can add time.
How does it compare with the train?
The train takes more than four hours with at least one change, and you move the luggage at each one. The car goes from the arrivals hall to your door in Zurich without a change.
Where do we cross the border?
At Gaggiolo, near Varese, or at Chiasso-Brogeda on the motorway from Como; the chauffeur chooses according to traffic. Carry the documents required for your nationality.
What if the Gotthard is queued?
The chauffeur can switch to the San Bernardino tunnel and Chur. It adds about 55 kilometres, and on a day with a long queue at the Gotthard it can still be the quicker way.
Do you drive from Zurich to Malpensa too?
Yes, from a Zurich address or from the arrivals hall at Zurich Airport. You can ask for the outbound and the return in one quote.
Can we stop in Lugano or Lucerne on the way?
Yes, ask for it when you book so the stop is in the plan. Lugano is on the route and Lucerne close to it; a detour or a longer stop can change the price.
Is the price fixed?
Yes. Fixed price before payment. Tolls and airport parking are in the quote. What you approve is what you pay.
Can we cancel?
Yes, free of charge up to 24 hours before the pick-up. Under 24 hours, contact our assistance team.
More routes from Milan Malpensa.
See the price for Malpensa to Zurich.
Enter your flight, the Zurich address and the date. The price is fixed before you pay, and what you approve is what you pay.