- Recommended
Museo Civico e Archeologico, Castello Visconteo
Locarno's main museum inside the Visconti castle, presenting archaeology, local history, and period collections in a landmark setting.
Cheapest price
$177
Average price
$179
Fastest journey
1 h 10 m
Average duration
1 h 15 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
84 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Milan to Locarno is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Milan to Locarno will cost around $179 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $177.
Of the 3 buses that leave Milan for Locarno on Thu, Aug 06, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Thu, Aug 06 the direct buses cover the 84 km distance in an average of 1 h 15 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 1 h 10 m .
On Thu, Aug 06 the slowest buses will take 1 h 20 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.






Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Milan to Locarno among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $8. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 1h 41m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $8, and a train costs an average of $12.
Distance: 52 miles (84 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$12 Average price Cheapest | $16 Average price | $94 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 11m Average total duration Fastest 1h 41m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 19m Average total duration 1h 49m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 52m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Milan to Locarno:
A bus is $3 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Milan to Locarno costing on average $16.
Other travel options to Locarno take longer:
Train takes on average 1h 49m.
You'll arrive about 11m sooner (1h 41m by bus vs 1h 52m by car) and save roughly $82 compared to fuel and tolls ($12 vs $94). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, Infobus, Calanda Viaggi, Marino Autolinee.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 12:00AM | Arrival Time 02:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $248 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 01:00AM | Arrival Time 03:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $248 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 02:00AM | Arrival Time 04:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $264 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 03:00AM | Arrival Time 05:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $649 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 04:00AM | Arrival Time 06:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $649 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00AM | Arrival Time 05:00AM | Duration 1h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 06:10AM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 05:00AM | Arrival Time 07:15AM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $649 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:10AM | Arrival Time 06:30AM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 05:45AM | Arrival Time 08:30AM | Duration 2h45 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $271 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 06:00AM | Arrival Time 08:15AM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $262 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 09:15AM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $262 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:10AM | Arrival Time 08:10AM | Duration 1h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $5 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:30AM | Arrival Time 08:00AM | Duration 0h30 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $4 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 10:15AM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:45AM | Arrival Time 10:30AM | Duration 1h45 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:50AM | Arrival Time 10:00AM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 10:30AM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 11:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 11:00AM | Duration 1h40 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 10:50AM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:40AM | Arrival Time 11:00AM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 10:30AM | Duration 0h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:10AM | Arrival Time 11:20AM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 12:30PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 01:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 11:45AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $197 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 02:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:20PM | Arrival Time 01:30PM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 12:45PM | Arrival Time 03:15PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 12:50PM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $6 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 03:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 02:00PM | Arrival Time 04:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 02:15PM | Arrival Time 04:45PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $271 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 05:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:30PM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 1h00 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Sun | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator RegioJet a.s. | Departure Time 03:40PM | Arrival Time 05:00PM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $12 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:50PM | Arrival Time 04:30PM | Duration 0h40 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 04:50PM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri | Cheapest price $4 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 06:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 06:00PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $8 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:40PM | Arrival Time 06:10PM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $13 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 05:50PM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 07:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $271 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 06:00PM | Arrival Time 08:30PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 07:00PM | Duration 0h30 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $10 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 09:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:10PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator BlaBlaCar Bus | Departure Time 07:55PM | Arrival Time 09:05PM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $11 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 10:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 09:00PM | Arrival Time 11:15PM | Duration 2h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $560 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:20PM | Arrival Time 11:50PM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 10:00PM | Arrival Time 12:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 1h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $181 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:10PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 0h50 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $7 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 10:15PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 1h15 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $177 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 10:20PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 1h10 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $178 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 12:30AM | Duration 1h30 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $9 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 11:00PM | Arrival Time 01:30AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price $249 |
Operator GoOpti | Departure Time 11:30PM | Arrival Time 02:00AM | Duration 2h30 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $296 |
The table below shows live departures for Milan to Locarno buses for today, Wednesday, August 5. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FlixBus | 8:45 AM Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano | 1h45 | 10:30 AM Arbedo-Castione, Via Stazione (FS) | 0 transfersDirect | |
4739 | 7:55 PM Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano | 1h10 | 9:05 PM Lugano, Via Ciani | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Milan to Locarno run on average 12 times per day, taking around 1h 41m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $8 if you book in advance.
There are 11 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:50, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 52 miles (84 km) distance in 1h 20m.
Distance 52 miles (84 km) |
Average bus duration 1h 41m |
Cheapest ticket price $8 |
Buses per day 12 |
Direct buses 11 |
Fastest bus 1h 20m |
First bus 12:50 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 4 days |
Discover the best of Locarno — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Locarno trip today.
Locarno's main museum inside the Visconti castle, presenting archaeology, local history, and period collections in a landmark setting.
Important modern and contemporary art museum in the old town, known for quality exhibitions and works linked to Swiss and international artists.
House museum in nearby Brissago devoted to painter and writer Raffaele Leoncavallo, offering insight into regional artistic life.
Locarno's lively main square is framed by arcades and historic buildings and is essential for strolling, events, and people-watching.
The lakeside promenade offers palms, mountain views, and a relaxed walking route ideal for sunsets, photos, and easy access to central Locarno.
Charming old town streets with arcades, boutiques, and historic houses, perfect for wandering and discovering Locarno's everyday urban character.
Risotto made with Ticino Merlot wine, giving it a rich color and local character. It reflects the canton’s rice tradition and famous red wine.
Slow-braised beef cooked in Ticino Merlot until tender. A classic festive dish in the region, often served with polenta.
Creamy cornmeal polenta, a staple of Ticino mountain cooking. It is traditional comfort food and often paired with cheese, stew, or mushrooms.
Elegant Michelin-starred dining with refined Ticino and Italian influences in a polished lakeside setting at Villa Orselina above Locarno.
Historic grotto-style venue known for traditional Ticino dishes, hearty polenta, local wine, and a relaxed, rustic atmosphere.
Well-known restaurant at Hotel Belvedere serving seasonal cuisine with regional products, plus panoramic views over Locarno and the lake.
Locarno is pricier than many nearby Italian towns. Hotels, dining, and local transport are typically Swiss-priced, though budget snacks and supermarkets help control costs.
Service is usually included. Round up or leave 5-10% for great restaurant service. Round up taxi fares and small cafe bills, but tipping is not obligatory.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Milan to Locarno by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Locarno, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Milan to Locarno buses use the Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano to Lugano, Via Ciani station pair. Use this guide to compare Milan and Locarno bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano is 5 km from Milan city centre. Public transport options include:
Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafeteria Lampugnano (in the station), Trattoria Milano (0.5 km), Pizza Express (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano.
Available at Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Milano, Autostazione Lampugnano: Elevators, ramps.
Milano has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Multiple fast food and dining options available.
Free Wi-Fi available for 30 minutes. ATMs are aTMs available in the main hall.
Ticket office support is available at Milano.
Available at Milano: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Milano: Wheelchair accessible facilities available.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need