10 Most popular Low-Cost Airports: How Not to Go Broke on Transfers

The list includes 10 airports served by Wizz Air and Ryanair.

For each airport, you will find out:

• its name and code. Using the code, you’ll already know exactly where you’re flying while searching for tickets;
• the distance to your final destination and how quickly you can get there;
• the cost of public transport and taxi rides.

Eindhoven (Amsterdam)

Airport code: EIN.

Distance to Amsterdam: 120 kilometers.

A taxi to Amsterdam will cost from €140, with a travel time of about 1.5 hours.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

Step 1. Get to Eindhoven railway station by taxi (around €25) or by bus No. 400 or 401 (a one-way ticket costs €3.98, a return ticket €7.96). The journey takes about 20 minutes.

Step 2. Take a train to Amsterdam Central station. A one-way ticket costs €19.5 if purchased online or €20.5 at the ticket office (includes a disposable OV-chipkaart). Travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.

Option 2

In Eindhoven, you can also take a FlixBus to Amsterdam. A one-way ticket costs €9–11, and the journey takes 1 hour 40 minutes. From Amsterdam Sloterdijk station, where the bus arrives, you can reach the city center by tram, train, or metro.

Option 3

Air Express Bus coaches run from Eindhoven Airport to Amsterdam Central. Travel time is 1 hour 45 minutes; a one-way ticket costs €25, a return ticket €40. Tickets must be booked online no later than 48 hours before departure.

Memmingen (Munich)

Airport code: FMM.

Distance to Munich: 110 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Munich will cost around €200, with a travel time of about 1.5 hours.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

5–10 times a day, depending on flight arrival schedules, Allgäu Airport Express buses depart from the airport and take passengers directly to Munich Central Station in 1 hour 20 minutes without stops. A one-way ticket costs €15 if purchased online or €20 when bought from the driver.

Option 2

Step 1. Get to Memmingen railway station by bus No. 2 or 810/811. The fare is €3 (free if you already have a train ticket), and the journey takes 8 minutes.

Step 2. Take a direct train to Munich. You will arrive at Munich Central Station in 1 hour 25 minutes; a one-way ticket costs €22. A more budget-friendly alternative is a FlixBus coach for €5–15.

Stockholm Skavsta

Airport code: NYO.

Distance to Stockholm: 100 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Stockholm will cost approximately €180, with a travel time of about 1.5 hours.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By Flygbussarna coach, which will take you to Stockholm Central Station in 1 hour 20 minutes for €19.5 (199 SEK). A return ticket costs €39 (398 SEK); discounts are available for groups of 10 or more and passengers aged 8–17. The ticket is valid for 3 months from the date of purchase. The schedule is coordinated with flight arrivals, and the bus usually departs about 30 minutes after landing.

Option 2

Step 1. Take bus No. 515 to Nyköping, which stops near the train and bus stations. Travel time is 10 minutes; the ticket costs €5.8 (60 SEK), with a 20% discount when purchased online. Please note that cash payments are not accepted on the bus — payment by card only, or purchase a ticket at the Pressbyrån shop at Skavsta Airport.

Step 2. Take a train to Stockholm. The journey takes just over an hour; a one-way ticket costs from €27 (280 SEK). A cheaper alternative is a FlixBus coach for €12–15.

Frankfurt-Hahn

Airport code: HHN.

Distance to Frankfurt: 120 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Frankfurt will cost around €200, with a travel time of about 1.5 hours.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By bus from Luxembourg, which passes through the airport and continues to Frankfurt (stopping near Terminal 1). When purchased online, tickets cost €5–16; from the driver — €19. Children under 4 travel for free. Travel time to Frankfurt Central Station is between 1 hour 50 minutes and 2 hours 15 minutes.

Option 2

By FlixBus coach. You will arrive at Frankfurt Central Station in 2 hours 10 minutes; the ticket costs €13–15.

Sandefjord (Oslo)

Airport code: TRF.

Distance to Oslo: 110 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Oslo will cost from €250, with a travel time of about 1.5 hours.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By Torp-Ekspressen coach, whose timetable is coordinated with flight arrivals. You will reach the bus terminal in Oslo in approximately 1 hour 35 minutes; a one-way ticket costs €27.5 (279 NOK).

Option 2

By taxi (about 5 minutes) to Fokserød station, then by TIMEkspressen, Lavprisekspressen, or Sørlandsekspressen coach to Oslo. Travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes; tickets start from €10.5 (99 NOK).

Option 3

By train from Torp station, which can be reached from the airport by a free shuttle bus in 4 minutes. Ticket prices start from €26 (249 NOK); during sales, cheaper options can be found from €10.5 (99 NOK). Travel time to Oslo Central Station is 1.5 hours.

Beauvais (Paris)

Airport code: BVA.

Distance to Paris: 70 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Paris will cost from €170 during the day and from €200 at night. Travel time is 1–1.5 hours.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By airport shuttle. Its schedule is aligned with flight arrivals, and it will take you to the Pershing car park in Paris in 1 hour 15 minutes without stops. To save money, tickets can be purchased online: a one-way ticket costs €15.9 for adults and €9.9 for children aged 4–11; round-trip tickets cost €29 and €19.8 respectively. Tickets are valid for one year from the date of purchase.

Option 2

By train from Beauvais station, which can be reached in 15–20 minutes by Corolis bus (€4) or by taxi (€13–16), to Paris Gare du Nord. The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes; a one-way ticket costs from €15.

Kastrup (Copenhagen)

Airport code: CPH.

Distance to Copenhagen: 8 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Copenhagen will cost from €25, with a travel time of around 30 minutes.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By metro. From the airport, you can reach Nørreport and other central stations (Christianshavn, Kongens Nytorv) in 15 minutes. During the day, trains run every 2–6 minutes; at night, the interval increases to 15–20 minutes. You will need a 3-zone ticket costing €5 (36 DKK), which can be purchased at the ticket office or vending machine at the airport (machines accept cards and coins only).

Option 2

By train to the Central Station (København H). Trains depart every 10 minutes from Københavns Lufthavn station in Terminal 3, with a travel time of 20 minutes. A 3-zone ticket costs €5 (36 DKK) and can be purchased at a DSB ticket office or from a vending machine (cards and coins only).

Option 3

By bus. The most popular 24-hour route is 5A, which includes the Central Station (30–35 minutes), City Hall Square, Nørreport station, and other locations in the city center. Buses No. 35 and 36 are also available. A 3-zone ticket costing 36 DKK is required.

Orio al Serio (Milan)

Airport code: BGY.

Distance to Milan: 45 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Milan will cost around €90, with a travel time of 40–50 minutes.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By Terravision bus from the airport to Milano Centrale railway station. Services run from 4:00 to 23:30 every 20 minutes, with a travel time of 45 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €5.

Option 2

By Orioshuttle bus from the airport to Milano Centrale railway station. Services operate from 4:25 to 23:40, 1–3 times per hour, with a travel time of 50 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €4.

Option 3

By ATB bus from the airport to Bergamo railway station (departures every 30 minutes from 5:17 to 00:30, travel time 10 minutes, ticket price €2.3), then by train to Milan (from €5.5, travel time from 50 minutes to 1 hour). A taxi to Bergamo costs around €30.

Berlin Schönefeld

Airport code: SXF.

Distance to Berlin: 22 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Berlin will cost from €65, with a travel time of around 40 minutes.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By S-Bahn suburban trains (lines S9 and S45) or regional trains (RE 7, RB 14, RB 22) from the station located a 5-minute walk from the terminal. Travel time to the city center (Alexanderplatz, Hauptbahnhof) is around 30 minutes, with departures every 10 minutes.

Option 2

By bus. The airport is connected to other parts of Berlin by the X7 express bus, routes 163, 164, and 171, as well as night buses N7 and N60. A single ticket for 3 zones (the airport is located in zone C) costs €3.4 and can be purchased from a ticket machine or at a ticket office. For groups, a group ticket (up to 5 people) for €20.8 is a good option; it is valid from the moment of validation until 3:00 a.m. the following day, with unlimited trips.

Ciampino (Rome)

Airport code: CIA.

Distance to Rome: 15 kilometers.

A taxi to the center of Rome will cost approximately €30–40, with a travel time of around 50 minutes.

How to get there by public transport

Option 1

By Terravision bus, which operates 12–15 times a day, to Termini railway station. A one-way ticket costs €5, while a round-trip ticket costs €9. Travel time is 40–45 minutes.

Option 2

By RomeAirportBus (also arriving at Termini station), which runs from 4:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. with intervals ranging from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours. A one-way ticket costs €5.9, and a round-trip ticket costs €9.9.

Option 3

By bus to Anagnina station (Line A) in 20 minutes for €1.2, then by metro (€1.5; the ticket is valid for 100 minutes from the time of validation).

4 tips for budget travelers

1. If you are not planning to pay for a taxi or transfer, check bus and train schedules before buying your flight ticket. It may turn out that at night there is no other way to get to the city, and you will have to book a hotel near the airport (many airports close their terminals after midnight until morning), which means extra expenses.
2. Read the fare conditions of the chosen carrier carefully: discounts are often available when purchasing tickets online or when buying a return ticket at the same time. Children, students, seniors, and travelers in large groups (10 people or more) may also qualify for reduced fares.
3. Tickets for early-morning bus departures (for example, at 5 a.m.) are sometimes 2–3 times cheaper than daytime ones.
4. If you are traveling with a large group, find out the cost of renting a car or booking a private transfer. This is often cheaper than using public transport.