Airport transfer: when booking one pays off

You have landed, your bags have arrived – and now? The last few kilometres from the airport into town are often the most tiring part of the journey: ticket machines in a foreign language, a long queue at the taxi rank, or a driver offering you a ride at the exit. There are three options: public transport, a taxi or ride-hailing app, and a pre-booked transfer. Here is how far it is from ten popular airports to the centre, which option fits when, and how a booked transfer works.

How far is it from the airport to the centre?

Driving times: route calculation based on OpenStreetMap to a central point (for example Rossio in Lisbon, Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona, Châtelet in Paris, Trafalgar Square in London, Termini in Rome, Sultanahmet in Istanbul), without traffic. At rush hour, allow about a third more – in Bangkok, Istanbul and Rome often considerably more.

The table already shows the key point: in Lisbon and Barcelona the airport is almost in town, so an expensive ride rarely pays off. In Rome and Istanbul, on the other hand, you are on the road for an hour – and with tired children and three suitcases, that is a different matter.

Option 1: train, metro and bus

At most large airports in Europe, public transport is the cheapest option and often the fastest, because it does not get stuck in traffic. In Lisbon the metro leaves right from the terminal, in Amsterdam the train stops beneath the airport, in Rome the Leonardo Express runs non-stop to Termini, and London Heathrow has three rail links into the centre.

The catch: trains and the metro take you to a station, not to your door. With changes, stairs and the last stretch on foot, a quick ride can easily turn into an hour. And late in the evening, many services run less often or not at all. Timetables and tickets are on the airport's website.

Option 2: taxi and ride-hailing apps

A taxi takes you straight to your accommodation and is there at once if the queue is short. Always take a taxi from the official rank outside the terminal, never an offer from people who approach you in the arrivals hall. In some cities, fixed fares apply from the airport to the centre, for example in Paris and for rides from Fiumicino to the historic centre of Rome. Where they do not, the meter has to run.

In some cities – Prague, Istanbul and Bangkok are often named – travellers keep reporting drivers who do not switch on the meter, take detours or ask for inflated fares. After a long flight and without local knowledge, you will hardly notice. Ride-hailing apps show the price in advance, but they are not allowed at every airport and need mobile data right after landing.

Option 3: pre-booked transfer

With a booked transfer, you reserve the ride before you travel. Providers such as Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi or GetTransfer arrange drivers and vehicles in many cities, for example airport transfers in Lisbon^*. The process is similar everywhere:

1. Book: You enter the airport, the address of your accommodation, your flight number, the number of people and bags, and choose the vehicle class – from a small car to a minibus.
2. Fixed price: The price is fixed when you book, regardless of traffic or detours. At GetTransfer, different drivers and companies make offers on your request, and you pick one.
3. Flight tracking: According to the providers, they follow your flight via the flight number and adjust the pick-up time if you land earlier or later.
4. Meet & greet: The driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign showing your name. A certain waiting time after landing is included in the price – how long is stated in the booking terms.
5. The ride: The driver helps with your luggage and takes you to the door.

When a booked transfer pays off

Late arrival: If you land after 10 pm, trains and buses often run only rarely, and the taxi queue is long. A driver who is already waiting is worth a lot.

With children: Most providers let you add child seats when you book. Taxis at the rank rarely have them. More tips for travelling with kids are in our article on city breaks with kids.

Lots of luggage: With suitcases, a pushchair or sports equipment, changes and metro stairs are a struggle. With a transfer you choose a vehicle that fits everything.

Groups of four or more: If you share a minibus, the price is split among everyone – and you all arrive together. Compare it with train tickets for the whole group.

Cities with taxi fare trouble: Where travellers often complain about inflated taxi fares, a fixed price takes the haggling off your hands. In Istanbul, for example, you can book a transfer^* in advance and know before landing what the ride of just over an hour costs.

First visit, foreign language, foreign script: In Bangkok or Istanbul it helps if the driver already knows the address.

When you do not need a transfer

If you travel alone or as a couple with hand luggage, land during the day and stay close to a metro station, public transport is almost always the better choice. In Lisbon, Amsterdam or London, the train is often faster than the car. In Barcelona, too, the Aerobús takes you to Plaça de Catalunya in under half an hour when there is no traffic.

What to check when you book

• Give your flight number: Only then can the provider track your flight.
• Check the waiting time: How long the driver waits for free after landing differs between providers. With long queues at passport control, it can get tight.
• Be honest about luggage: Four people with four large suitcases do not fit into every car.
• Know the meeting point: Read in the confirmation exactly where the driver waits and how to reach them.
• Read the cancellation terms: Until when you can cancel free of charge is stated in the booking terms.
• Phone number and data: Save the driver's or provider's number offline in case you have no signal after landing.

Do not forget the way back

The same applies to the return trip, only with more time pressure. A booked transfer picks you up at your accommodation at the agreed time, so you do not have to wait for a taxi. If there is half a day between check-out and your flight, drop off your bags first – how that works is in our article on luggage storage on departure day. In Paris, for example, Welcome Pickups takes you from your accommodation to Charles de Gaulle or Orly.

Rome trip planDay by day, with map and tips

How YesTrip helps on arrival

In YesTrip you add your flight and transfer to your trip plan. On the day, the Today view shows what is next and how to get there – on foot, by public transport, by car or by bike. Your plan and tickets are stored on your device and are there even without a signal, and you can download the map of your destinations beforehand with the offline package. With the weather for your travel days, you know before you fly whether the rain jacket goes in your hand luggage.

* Ad – Partner link: if you book there, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same.