Airport transfers

What is the fastest way to and from Europe's main airports?

Express train, metro, bus or taxi? Journey times from ten airports, what each option costs in 2026, and when a taxi is cheaper than the train.

By the Time to Travel teamUpdated 16 October 20264 min read

The short version

At most big European airports, the train is the fastest way into the city and it does not get stuck in traffic. The quickest links take 10 to 20 minutes: Zurich, Copenhagen, London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Stockholm Arlanda and Oslo. In Paris, Rome and Munich the rail trip takes 30 to 45 minutes. Taxis win late at night, with heavy luggage or for groups: from Rome Fiumicino, a €55 taxi for four costs less than four €14 train tickets. One change to note: Vienna's City Airport Train is running as a coach service from 7 September 2026 until about the end of October 2027.

Who is this guide for?

Travellers landing in or leaving a major European city who want the quickest reliable connection, and anyone choosing between an express train, ordinary public transport and a taxi. Journey times and fares were checked on 16 October 2026. Where an operator's own site confirmed a figure, we say so; others come from airport and travel guides and are labelled in the sources.

Fastest scheduled train to the main central station, in minutes; orange bars take 30 minutes or more. *Vienna's rail service is replaced by coaches from 7 September 2026 to about 31 October 2027. Sources: operator websites (Heathrow Express, City Airport Train, Arlanda Express, Flytoget) and airport and travel guides for the others, checked 16 October 2026.

The fastest links share a pattern: a dedicated line or a main-line station under the terminal, with trains every 10 to 15 minutes. Oslo's Flytoget runs every 10 minutes, Heathrow Express every 15, and Arlanda Express every 12 to 15. Paris and Munich are slower because their airports are farther out and the trains stop along the way.

What do the trains cost in 2026?

London Heathrow Express: £26 standard single on the day, or from £10 if you book at least 30 days ahead, according to the operator.
Paris CDG and Orly: one airport ticket now covers both airports, €14 for adults and €7 reduced, from 1 January 2026, according to Île-de-France Mobilités. An ordinary metro ticket is not valid.
Rome Fiumicino: the Leonardo Express costs €14 one way. The slower FL1 regional train is cheaper but does not go to Termini.
Vienna: the City Airport Train costs €14.90 one way or €24.90 return, with discounted fares from €7. Its coaches run every 12 minutes while the line is closed.
Stockholm: Arlanda Express advertises fares from 199 SEK; prices depend on when and how you book.

Two practical points. In Paris, the Roissybus to Opéra stopped running at the end of February 2026, so the RER B is now the main public link from Charles de Gaulle. In Madrid, the suburban train runs only from Terminal 4; from the other terminals, the metro is the rail option.

Train, bus, taxi or private transfer?

Ways to get between airport and city centre, compared as of October 2026
Option	Example price	Speed and reliability	Flexibility	Pros	Cons
Express airport train	£26 Heathrow; €14 Rome; €14.90 Vienna	Fastest; no traffic	Walk-up tickets on most; advance fares may be fixed to one direction	Frequent, simple, space for luggage	Premium price per person; ends at one station
Regular train or metro	€14 Paris RER B	Slightly slower; stops on the way	Any train within the ticket's validity	Cheaper; reaches more of the city	Crowded at rush hour; harder with big bags
Airport bus	Varies by city	Slowest at busy times	Walk-up	Often cheapest; drops at several stops	Traffic; some routes have closed, such as Roissybus
Fixed-fare taxi	€55 Rome Fiumicino; €56 to €65 Paris CDG	Door to door, but traffic can add time	Any time, from the rank	Cheaper than the train for 3 to 4 people in some cities	Costly alone; only applies inside the central zone
Pre-booked private transfer	Set by the company	Door to door	Depends on the booking's cancellation terms	Driver waits with a sign; useful late at night	Usually the most expensive; must book ahead

Who should pick what: travelling alone or as a couple, take the train: it is faster and cheaper almost everywhere. For three or four people, compare the fixed taxi fare with the train: in Rome, four Leonardo Express tickets cost €56 against €55 for a taxi, and in Paris four airport tickets cost the same €56 as a taxi to the Right Bank. Arriving after midnight, or with small children and lots of luggage, book a taxi or transfer in advance.

Buy airport train tickets in the operator's app before you land to skip the machines.

Heathrow Express Arlanda Express Flytoget

Goes to the official operator site.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Vienna City Airport Train running in 2026?

Not as a train. From 7 September 2026 the City Airport Train runs as a coach service every 12 minutes while the main line is closed, expected until 31 October 2027.

How much is the train from Paris CDG to the city?

Since 1 January 2026, the Paris Région airports ticket costs €14 for adults and €7 reduced. It covers the RER B from Charles de Gaulle and the metro or Orlyval from Orly. An ordinary metro ticket is not valid.

How fast is the Heathrow Express?

15 minutes from Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 to London Paddington, with trains every 15 minutes. A standard single costs £26 on the day, or from £10 booked at least 30 days ahead.

Is a taxi cheaper than the train from Rome Fiumicino?

For a group, it can be. The fixed taxi fare to central Rome is €55 per car for up to four people, while the Leonardo Express costs €14 per person, so four tickets cost €56.

Where the figures come from

Checked on 16 October 2026. Operator sources first; secondary sources are labelled.