Airport Transfer Costs in Europe: 8 Airports Compared (From Free to €15.10)

Based on real trips, actual tickets, and personal experience (Updated: August 2026)

Introduction

Almost every price and time below comes from a trip I took myself, with a ticket I bought.
Two of the eight — Gdansk and Madeira — were verified the same way by kanpoan contributors who travelled the route and provided their tickets. Prices as of May–June 2026.

The short version: the transfer costs nothing in Belgrade and €15.10 in Munich — for a nearly identical journey time.

Complete Overview – All Airports at a Glance

What the Table Shows

• Belgrade is the only airport of the eight where the transfer costs nothing — public transport in the city is free.
• Munich is the most expensive at €15.10, nine times the price of Gdansk (€1.65) for the same journey time.
• Berlin has the shortest ride: 20 minutes on the FEX.
• Madeira is the only one where you cannot pay by card — the Aerobus driver takes cash only.
• Munich and Berlin are the opposite: ticket machines refuse cash.

Jump to Your Airport

• Athens (ATH) – Metro
• Gdansk (GDN) – Train & Bus
• Prague (PRG) – Trolleybus + Metro
• Belgrade (BEG) – Free Bus
• Munich (MUC) – S-Bahn S1/S8
• Madeira (FNC) – Aerobus
• Dresden (DRS) – S-Bahn
• Berlin (BER) – FEX Train
• Sofia (SOF) –Metro
• Ljubljana(LJU) –Bus

Athens (ATH) – Metro Line 3

Full article: Athens Airport to the City Centre by Metro – Cheap and Direct

"The journey to Syntagma Square takes about 40 minutes and costs €9."

Line: Metro Line 3 (Blue Line)
Travel time: 40 minutes to Syntagma
Ticket price: €9 one-way (reduced €4.50)
Last train: 23:34 from the airport
Special: Ticket valid 90 minutes on all city transport

"Important: the airport section is a separate fare zone – the standard €1.20 city ticket is not valid here." Late night tip: After 23:34, take the X95 bus (24/7, €5.50) – it's the only public transport option.

Gdansk (GDN) – Train & Bus

Full article: Gdansk Airport to City Centre: Train, Bus & Taxi (2026 Guide)

"The easiest way to get from Gdansk Airport to the city centre is by train. It takes around 35 minutes and costs just €1.65."

Best option: PKM train (35 min, €1.65)
Cheapest option: Bus 210 (€1.15)
Night bus: N3 (hourly)
Taxi estimate: ~90 PLN (€21.25) during daytime

"Direct trains have been reinstated as of 2025. That said, direct trains are infrequent and if your flight arrival doesn't fit with the train timetable, you will still need to change at Wrzeszcz."

Ticket tip: Buy from vending machines or use apps (Fala, GoPay, mobile).

Prague (PRG) – Trolleybus + Metro

Full article: How to Get from Prague Airport to the City Center by Public Transport

"I bought a 90-minute ticket for 50 CZK (April 2026)."

Route: Trolleybus 59 → Metro A
Travel time: ~40 min (20 min bus + 20 min metro)
Ticket price: 50 CZK (≈ €2.10)
Change point: Nádraží Veleslavín (final stop)
Important: Validate your ticket before boarding (yellow machines)!

"Don't worry about missing your stop – it is the final stop of the bus."

Alternative: The Airport Express (AE) bus goes directly from the main station for ~200 CZK (≈ €8.30) – no stops along the way.
Article: Prague City Center to the Airport

Belgrade (BEG) – Free Bus

Full article: Getting from Belgrade Airport to the City Center by Public Transport

"Public transport in Belgrade is free!"

Lines: 72, 72N, 600, 607, 860
Travel time: ~40 minutes
Ticket price: 0 € (completely free!)
Bus stop: Directly outside the terminal

"Buses 72, 72N, 600, 607 and 860 take you straight to the city center in about 40 minutes. It's easy, cheap (well, actually free!)"

Sightseeing tip: The Aviation Museum is a 10-minute walk from the terminal – but currently closed (as of October 2025).
Website: https://www.muzejvazduhoplovstva.mod.gov.rs/eng

Munich (MUC) – S-Bahn S1 / S8

Full article: Munich Airport to Munich City Centre by Train (S1 & S8 Guide)

"A single ticket from the airport to Munich Central Station costs €15.10."

Lines: S1 or S8
Travel time: 35–40 minutes
Ticket price: €15.10
Last train: 01:24
Special: Deutschlandticket is valid here!

"The S8 is usually the faster option because it follows a more direct route into the city."

Walking times: From Terminal 1, it's about 7 minutes to the platform; from Terminal 2, only 3 minutes.
Payment: Ticket machines accept cards only – no cash!

Madeira (FNC) – Aerobus

Full article: How to Get from Madeira Airport to Funchal

"A one-way adult ticket is currently €6.70 and a child ticket is €3.30 (May 2026)."

Line: SIGA Aerobus
Travel time: ~50 minutes to Praia Formosa
Ticket price: €6.70 (adult) / €3.30 (child)
Frequency: every 30 minutes
Payment: cash only – pay the driver
Stops: 26 stops across Funchal

"Once onboard, simply tell the driver where you're staying – they're used to helping visitors and will let you know the best stop to get off."

First and last bus: First departure from airport at 8:30 – last at 22:00.

Dresden (DRS) – S-Bahn

Full article: Fast and Cheap Ways to Get from Dresden Airport to the City Centre

"The journey to Dresden Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) takes around 25 minutes with direct connections and no transfers required."

Line: S-Bahn
Travel time: 25 minutes
Ticket price: €3.60
Operating hours: 5:00–23:00
Important: Validate your ticket before boarding!

"The S-Bahn operates daily from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM."

Alternative route: Bus 77 → Tram 7 (change at "Dresden Infineon Nord 1").
Official info: https://www.dvb.de/en-GB/

Berlin (BER) – FEX (Airport Express)

Full article: Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin central station (Hauptbahnhof) by Public Transport

"FEX trains run every 15 minutes, between 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The journey takes about 20 minutes to Berlin central station (Hauptbahnhof)."

Line: FEX (Flughafen-Express)
Travel time: 20 minutes
Ticket price: €5.00 (ABC zone)
Platform: 3 or 4
Payment: Machines accept cards only!

"The FEX (Airport Express) leaves on platform 3 or 4."

From Terminal 2: Walk about 8 minutes to Terminal 1 – that's where the train access is.

Sofia (SOF) – Metro Line M4

Full article: How to Get from Sofia Airport to the City Centre by Public Transport

"Sofia Airport is the last station on Metro Line M4. This makes things easier, as there is only one direction you can travel from the airport."

Line: M4 (Metro)
Travel time: 25–30 minutes to Serdika
Ticket price: €0.80
Frequency: every 12–15 minutes
Operating hours: approx. 05:30 to midnight – no night service!
Payment: cash, card, or contactless – but one card per passenger!

"The metro entrance is next to the Departures area of Terminal 2 and is quite easy to find."

From Terminal 1: No metro station here. Take the free 24-hour shuttle to Terminal 2, or bus 84 into the centre in 35–50 minutes.

Ljubljana (LJU) – Arriva Coach

Full article: Ljubljana City Centre to Ljubljana Airport by Bus (and Back)

"Ljubljana Airport is modern and easy to read. Leave the building at Departures. The bus stop is in front of the terminals, with a shelter and a ticket machine."

Line: Arriva coach to Ljubljana AP
Travel time: 30 minutes scheduled – mine took 40
Ticket price: €4.00 from the driver
Frequency: roughly hourly, but with gaps of up to two hours
Operating hours: 06:06 to 21:00 – no night service!
Payment: card only on board – my driver refused cash!

"This stop serves several destinations, and buses from different lines pull in here, so check where each one is going."

Watch the gaps: Nothing departs between 07:46 and 10:00, or between 16:31 and 18:31. Going the other way, the last bus from the city to the airport leaves at 20:10.

Pre-Departure Checklist

• Check ticket type – Airport zones are often more expensive than city tickets
• Validate your ticket! – Otherwise you risk a fine
• Check last departure – After 23:00, only night buses may run
• Cash vs. card – Munich and Berlin: card only; Madeira: cash only!
• Plan connections – Especially for late-night arrivals

This guide is based on real trips and current prices (May–June 2026). All prices and times may change – please double-check before you travel.