Reaching Turin Airport (TRN) from the city is quite easy because the town of Caselle, where the airport is located, is only 16 kilometres away. If you don’t have a car or want to save on parking, you can travel to the airport from the city centre by bus or train. In this article, I will advise you on how and where to get your ticket to take one worry away before you leave.
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Choosing Between Train and Bus: It Depends on Where You Stay
When deciding between the train and the bus to reach Turin city center from the airport, it’s important to consider not just the cost and travel time, but also where each service starts and ends.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO TURIN
Purchase the Torino + Piemonte Card online to enjoy free public transportation in Turin, as well as access to museums, castles, fortresses, and royal residences in Turin and the Piedmont region.
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The Arriva bus departs from Piazza Carlo Felice 39, right in front of Porta Nuova station, making it ideal if you’re staying in the city center or near Porta Nuova. The train, instead, connects the airport directly with Torino Porta Susa station, located on Corso Inghilterra, which may be more convenient if your accommodation is closer to Porta Susa or in the western part of the city.
There’s also the Flibco shuttle bus, which stops at Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 131, near the Politecnico area. This location might be more convenient if you’re staying in the Crocetta district or near the Politecnico di Torino. Take into account your hotel’s location to choose the most convenient option for your trip.
Choosing Between Train and Bus: What Saves You More
If you want to save money on your transfer from Turin Airport to the city centre, the train is generally the most budget-friendly option. With tickets costing around €3.60, it’s significantly cheaper than the bus, which starts at approximately €7.50 depending on the company.
However, price isn’t the only factor to consider, as trains might require more walking or connections to reach your final destination if you’re not close to Porta Susa.
While more expensive, buses offer more direct service to central locations like Porta Nuova or Politecnico, potentially saving you time and additional transport costs. So, while the train may be cheaper upfront, the bus could still be the better deal depending on where you’re staying and how quickly you want to get there.
Turin Airport by Bus: Comparing Arriva and Flibco Services
The bus is one of the most convenient ways to travel from the city centre to Turin airport, located in the nearby town of Caselle. The journey time is about 40/50 minutes from the city centre, near Porta Nuova train station.
After years of a monopoly by Arriva Italia, the Turin-Airport and Turin-Malpensa routes are now also covered by Flibco, which has led to a lowering of prices in recent years. Flibco’s prices are significantly lower, although I haven’t always had the best time with them.
Arriva Italia, instead, is a local public transport company that provides passenger transport services in northern Italy. It was the first bus company to operate the service between the city of Turin and the airports of Turin Caselle and Milan Malpensa.
Where to Catch the Bus to Turin Airport: All Departure Points Explained
Arriva buses leave from Piazza Carlo Felice 39, opposite the Porta Nuova railway station and take about 40/50 minutes to get to the airport. There are non-stop and with intermediate stops routes, so check them before boarding.
If you get on the bus with intermediate stops, it will stop at various towns around Turin, with the airport and Torino Porta Nuova (the railway station in the city centre) as a terminus.
The Flibco buses, on the other hand, leave from the bus station in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 131 in front of the Palagiustizia (the Turin courthouse) and are always direct. By not making intermediate stops, they are faster, about 30 minutes.
Take note that the bus station isn’t in the city centre. The Palagiustizia is near the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper (one of the only two small skyscrapers in Turin).
Several buses leave from the bus station, so always ask just in case. At the time of writing, the bus stand for the Turin-Airport route is no. 5.
As the two departure points are not very close, I always advise you to check the departure point carefully, especially if you have bought your tickets online on sites where the bus company isn’t specified, like on airline sites or tourist ticket sales.
Turin Airport Bus Tickets: Prices, Discounts, and Where to Buy
Arriva tickets from Caselle Airport to the centre of Turin (Turin Porta Nuova and Turin Porta Susa stations) and vice versa cost € 7.5 one way and € 11 return. The group ticket Caselle Family costs € 23 for two adults and two children up to 17 years of age. If you buy your bus ticket on board, there is a € 1 surcharge.
Flibco tickets online start at € 2.99, which makes them much cheaper. Check Flibco prices here. If you buy them online, they usually do not exceed € 3.99, so the round trip will cost you about half as much as the Arriva tickets, even without finding special offers. On the other hand, Flibco tickets bought on the ground cost € 6.
Where to Buy Bus Tickets for Turin Airport: Online and In-Person Options
You can buy your bus ticket for the airport bus either at the desk and machines in the arrivals hall, in a tobacco bar, on board, or via the app of the bus companies that operate this route.
Bus Tickets at the Airport
In the Arrivals Area of Turin Caselle Airport you will find both a Flibco desk and an Arriva ticket machine. You can also purchase Arriva tickets at the tourist information and sales point.
Bus Tickets on Board
If you cannot buy your bus ticket in advance, you can always buy it on board with a surcharge. Usually, there is no problem with buying the ticket directly on board.
However, sometimes, payment with debit or credit cards doesn’t work, and the driver may ask you to pay in cash. This hassle doesn’t depend on the driver (who works for the bus company) but on the network/ticketing machine.
If you decide to buy the tickets on board, take some cash with you just in case. I haven’t found out how much there is a surcharge to purchase a Flibco ticket on board; as far as Arriva is concerned, it costs € 1 extra.
Bus Tickets in Turin
In Turin, you can buy any kind of bus ticket (airport, city, and suburban) in authorised shops. Usually, they are bars, tobacconists, and newsstands.
Theoretically, you should be able to pay everywhere with cash, debit, or credit cards. In Italy, however, almost every small business makes a fuss about accepting payment by debit and credit card because they don’t want to pay the bank commission.
Unfortunately, there is little you can do in these cases. Protesting is useless because they will not sell you the ticket. If you don’t have the cash to pay for your ticket, you can just leave a negative review on Google Maps and buy your bus ticket through the bus company app.
Bus Tickets on the App
The best way to get your ticket, avoiding queues or problems paying with cash, is to download the Arriva or Flibco app, depending on the ticket you wish to purchase.
Arriva and Flibco operate several airport routes, so from the same app, you can buy tickets to Malpensa from Turin or other airports, several provincial and regional routes in northern Italy, and more.
In my opinion, the app is the best choice because it allows you to buy your ticket from/for the airport bus at any time. Even a second before you get on. This is really useful because sometimes there are problems paying by card when you buy the ticket on board, plus you avoid any surcharges.
The Arriva ticket on the app has to be activated in front of the driver the moment you board and is very simple. The Flibco ticket, on the other hand, is already active.
Top Tips for Taking the Bus to Turin-Caselle Airport (TRN)
In my experience, Arriva buses to Turin Caselle Airport (TRN) are often late. Arriva buses run every half an hour, so you might even get on the earlier one late (this has already happened).
Otherwise, Flixbuses are less frequent but more punctual, and you can only board the next bus from the airport if your flight is delayed.
Arriva Bus: Pros, Cons, and What to Expect
Arriva Italia buses are a reliable choice due to their greater frequency, with journeys every 15 to 30 minutes alternating between direct and intermediate stops routes. They also have greater flexibility with the tickets. Unfortunately, they are also a much more expensive choice.
The drivers, however, always have a decidedly ‘sporty’ driving style. If you take a bus with intermediate stops, be prepared for jolts and buses filled to capacity. I haven’t yet found an explanation for this because the same route is very smooth by car with no potholes and no need for hard braking!
Flibco Shuttle: Pros, Cons, and What to Expect
In contrast to the competing company, Flibco is a much cheaper choice that saves you even half on bus tickets from/to Turin airport. I haven’t yet taken Flibco buses on this route, but I have many other times to Milan city, Malpensa Airport and Brussels Airport (in Belgium).
The cost is so low that it gets you over the hump. I recommend it, especially if you find any offers. Although I have had good experiences on several occasions, I have also had bad experiences at Brussels and Malpensa airports.
In Brussels, I once encountered a problem with the mobile site, which did not work correctly, and they charged me the cost of my trip for an incorrect ticket without offering me any reimbursement after I reported the anomaly with the error screenshot.
At Malpensa airport, the bus left in front of me (I was 30 seconds late, and I was waiving, running with my luggage). Again, I didn’t get any refund despite my customer service complaint.
Based on my experience, I recommend Flibco if you can find reduced tickets online and not at full price!
Train from Turin Airport: Trenitalia Route, Stops, and Ticket Info
You can also reach Turin Airport by train. In recent years, Trenitalia, Italy’s leading railway company, opened a new direct line that goes through Venaria Reale, known for the famous Reggia di Venaria. The airport railway continues to Alba, Asti, or Fossano, for tourists interested in visiting the Langhe.
Train tickets between Turin and the airport cost €3.70 one way. Children under 4 travel for free, and children under 12 pay half price.
You can purchase them from ticket offices or self-service stations and at points of sale, online or on the Trenitalia app by typing in ‘Torino Aeroporto di Caselle’. Or with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express contactless card directly at the validators marked with the TAP&TAP pictogram.
Final Thoughts: The Best Way to Reach Turin from the Airport
Whether you choose the train, the Arriva bus, or the Flibco shuttle, getting from Turin Airport to the city centre is simple and affordable. The train is the cheapest option and ideal if you’re staying near Porta Susa or looking to save on transport.
The Arriva bus offers frequent departures and takes you directly to Porta Nuova, right in the heart of the city. The Flibco shuttle, on the other hand, is perfect if you’re heading to the Politecnico area or nearby neighbourhoods.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your budget, your final destination in Turin, and how much luggage you carry if you have to reach a far departure point.
Now that you know all the options, all that’s left is to enjoy your stay in the elegant and fascinating city of Turin! And don’t forget to share your preference for bus or train to reach Turin Airport in the comments.
2 comments
It’s so good to see that finally Torino is getting the attention it deserves, as well as its airport, which is my first choice whenever I plan my trips. Until a couple of years ago, it used to be quite complicated to get from the city center to the airport and back, and even more complicated from where I live (Bra). Luckily enought, now there’s also a quick (and cheap) train service that I guess I’ll use very soon!
The new train line was created to connect your area! I’m not happy because they have now closed the old Dora station that’s near me, but honestly, with the new highway, I’m just 15 minutes by car, so I can’t complain.