In most big cities a train, metro or public bus is the cheapest way from the airport, and often the fastest. The table lists the airports each destination uses and the tip we give on its page.
By destination
Airport to city: how to get there
| Destination | Airports | Getting into the city |
|---|---|---|
| Abuja | Nnamdi Azikiwe International (ABV), about 40 minutes from central Abuja | Arrange a pickup or a trusted taxi before you land, especially for late-night arrivals. |
| Accra | Kotoka International (ACC) | Canadians need a visa for Ghana, so apply well before you travel. |
| Ahmedabad | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (AMD) | For trips across Gujarat, compare flying into Ahmedabad with Mumbai (BOM), which often has more international connections. |
| Algiers | Houari Boumediene (ALG) | Canadians need a visa for Algeria, so apply well ahead of your trip. |
| Amritsar | Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International (ATQ), with Delhi (DEL) often cheaper, then a train or short flight | Always compare flying into Delhi (DEL) and taking the Shatabdi or Vande Bharat train to Amritsar. Check India's visa rules for Canadians before you book. |
| Amsterdam | Schiphol (AMS) | Trains from Schiphol reach Amsterdam Centraal in about 15 minutes for a fraction of a taxi fare. |
| Athens | Athens International (ATH) | Metro Line 3 and the X95 bus link the airport with central Athens. Island ferries leave from Piraeus and Rafina. |
| Bali | Ngurah Rai International (DPS), in Denpasar | Bali charges international visitors a tourist levy, and Canadians can get a visa on arrival or apply for the e-VOA online before flying. |
| Bangkok | Suvarnabhumi (BKK), plus Don Mueang (DMK) for many budget airlines | The Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi costs a fraction of a taxi. Complete Thailand's free online Digital Arrival Card before you land. |
| Barcelona | El Prat (BCN), plus Girona (GRO) and Reus (REU) for some budget airlines | The metro's L9 line or the R2 train from the airport are cheaper than the Aerobús or a taxi. |
| Beijing | Beijing Capital International (PEK), plus Beijing Daxing (PKX), about an hour south of the city | The Airport Express train links Capital Airport (PEK) with the city, and Daxing (PKX) has its own express line. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your Canadian card before you go, because many places prefer mobile payments. |
| Bengaluru | Kempegowda International (BLR) | BMTC Vayu Vajra airport buses are the cheapest way into the city; allow plenty of time for traffic. |
| Boston | Boston Logan (BOS), with Providence (PVD) and Manchester, NH (MHT) sometimes cheaper | The Silver Line SL1 bus from Logan's terminals to South Station is free. |
| Cancún | Cancún International (CUN) | ADO buses from the airport to downtown Cancún and Playa del Carmen cost much less than private shuttles. |
| Casablanca | Mohammed V International (CMN), plus Marrakesh (RAK) and Tangier (TNG) for some flights | Trains connect the airport with central Casablanca, and Morocco's rail network runs on to Rabat, Fès and Tangier. |
| Chennai | Chennai International (MAA) | Chennai Metro has a station right at the airport, the cheapest way into the city. |
| Chicago | O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) | The CTA Blue Line (from O'Hare) and Orange Line (from Midway) reach downtown for a transit fare. |
| Colombo | Bandaranaike International (CMB), about 30 km north of Colombo | Canadians need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for Sri Lanka, applied for online before you fly. |
| Delhi | Indira Gandhi International (DEL) | The Airport Express metro line reaches New Delhi station in about 20 minutes. |
| Dhaka | Hazrat Shahjalal International (DAC) | Traffic from the airport into the city can be very slow, so arrange your pickup ahead and allow extra time. Check Bangladesh's visa rules for Canadians before you book. |
| Dubai | Dubai International (DXB), with Al Maktoum (DWC) for some flights | The Dubai Metro Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 and is far cheaper than a taxi. |
| Dublin | Dublin Airport (DUB) | Airport buses into the city cost far less than a taxi, and a Leap Visitor Card covers buses, Luas and DART. |
| Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood (FLL), with Miami (MIA) nearby | The Brightline train connects Fort Lauderdale with Miami and Orlando, handy for combining cities. |
| Georgetown | Cheddi Jagan International (GEO), with Eugene F. Correia (OGL) for some regional flights | Cheddi Jagan is about 40 km from Georgetown, so arrange your ride ahead. |
| Guangzhou | Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN) | Metro Line 3 runs from Baiyun Airport into the city, and high-speed trains link Guangzhou with Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go. |
| Hanoi | Noi Bai International (HAN), about 45 minutes from the Old Quarter | Grab and other ride-hailing apps are an easy fixed-price way into the city; the 86 airport bus is a cheap option to the Old Quarter. |
| Havana | José Martí International (HAV) | Canadians need a Cuban tourist card, which is often included with package flights, so check whether yours is. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Tan Son Nhat International (SGN) | Ride-hailing apps like Grab are an easy, fixed-price way from the airport into the city. |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong International (HKG) | The Airport Express reaches Central in about 25 minutes, and an Octopus card covers most transport. |
| Honolulu | Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL), plus Kahului (OGG) on Maui and Kona (KOA) on the Big Island | TheBus runs from the airport to Waikiki for a normal fare. |
| Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International (HYD) | TGSRTC Pushpak airport buses connect HYD with the city for far less than a taxi. |
| Islamabad | Islamabad International (ISB), with Lahore (LHE) about four to five hours away by motorway | The airport is about 30 km from the city centre, so arrange your pickup ahead. Check Pakistan's visa rules for Canadians before you book. |
| Istanbul | Istanbul Airport (IST), plus Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) for many budget airlines | The M11 metro links Istanbul Airport with the city, and an Istanbulkart card covers metro, trams, buses and ferries. |
| Karachi | Jinnah International (KHI) | Arrange your airport pickup in advance. Check Pakistan's visa rules for Canadians before you book. |
| Kingston | Norman Manley International (KIN), with Montego Bay (MBJ) on the north coast | Compare Montego Bay (MBJ) too; Knutsford Express coaches link the two cities cheaply. |
| Lagos | Murtala Muhammed International (LOS) | Canadians need a visa for Nigeria, so apply well ahead. Arrange your airport pickup in advance and read the Government of Canada travel advice. |
| Lahore | Allama Iqbal International (LHE), with Islamabad (ISB) about four to five hours away by motorway | Compare Islamabad (ISB) as well, since fares can differ a lot. Check Pakistan's visa rules for Canadians before you book. |
| Las Vegas | Harry Reid International (LAS) | Compare hotels by total price including resort fees, which are often added on top of the nightly rate. |
| Lisbon | Humberto Delgado (LIS), with Porto (OPO) sometimes cheaper, then a 3-hour train | The metro's red line runs from the airport into the city for a normal fare. |
| London | Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN) and London City (LCY) | From Heathrow, the Tube's Piccadilly line or the Elizabeth line cost far less than the Heathrow Express. Canadians need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying. |
| Los Angeles | LAX, plus Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), Ontario (ONT) and Orange County (SNA) | Compare the smaller airports, which can be cheaper and closer to where you're staying. The FlyAway bus is cheaper than a taxi from LAX. |
| Los Cabos | Los Cabos International (SJD), in San José del Cabo | Shared airport shuttles cost much less than private transfers to the hotel zone. |
| Madeira | Madeira Airport (FNC), also called Cristiano Ronaldo International, about 20 minutes from Funchal | Airport buses and taxis link the airport with Funchal. Strong winds sometimes divert or delay landings at Madeira, so leave some slack before a connecting flight home. |
| Madrid | Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) | Metro Line 8 links the airport with the city, and the airport express bus runs 24 hours. |
| Manila | Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), with Clark (CRK) as an alternative | Arrivals must complete the free eTravel registration online before landing. |
| Maui | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Rental cars on Maui sell out in peak season, so book early; public transport around the island is limited. |
| Mexico City | Benito Juárez International (MEX), plus Felipe Ángeles (NLU) for some budget flights | Metrobús Line 4 runs from the airport to the historic centre for a small fare. |
| Miami | Miami International (MIA), with Fort Lauderdale (FLL) about 45 minutes away and often cheaper | Always compare Fort Lauderdale. Metrorail connects MIA with downtown. |
| Montego Bay | Sangster International (MBJ) | Compare all-inclusive packages with booking separately. Knutsford Express coaches link the main towns cheaply. |
| Mumbai | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM) | Prepaid taxis and app-based rides are the simplest way into the city; allow extra time for traffic. Check India's visa rules for Canadians before you book. |
| New York | JFK, LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR) | Compare all three airports, since Newark is often cheapest. The AirTrain plus subway or NJ Transit costs far less than a taxi. |
| Orlando | Orlando International (MCO), plus Orlando Sanford (SFB) for some budget flights | Buy theme-park tickets ahead online rather than at the gate, and compare a rental car against rideshares if you're visiting several parks. |
| Osaka | Kansai International (KIX), plus Itami (ITM) for domestic flights | The JR Haruka express and Nankai trains from Kansai Airport cost far less than a taxi, and Kyoto is about 75 minutes away by Haruka. |
| Paris | Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY), plus Beauvais (BVA) for some budget airlines | The RER B train from Charles de Gaulle to central Paris is much cheaper than a taxi. |
| Phoenix | Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), plus Phoenix–Mesa Gateway (AZA) for some budget flights | The free PHX Sky Train links the terminals with Valley Metro light rail into Phoenix and Tempe. |
| Port of Spain | Piarco International (POS), in Trinidad | Piarco is about 25 km east of Port of Spain. For Tobago, the fast ferry or a short domestic flight links the islands. |
| Puerto Vallarta | Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International (PVR) | Compare all-inclusive packages with booking flight and hotel separately. |
| Punta Cana | Punta Cana (PUJ), with Santo Domingo (SDQ) sometimes cheaper | Compare all-inclusive packages against booking flight and hotel separately. The Dominican Republic requires a free online e-Ticket form for arrival. |
| Reykjavík | Keflavík International (KEF), about 50 km from Reykjavík | The Flybus runs between Keflavík and Reykjavík. Renting a car is the easiest way to see the Golden Circle and the south coast. |
| Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International (GIG), plus Santos Dumont (SDU) for domestic flights | Use a registered airport taxi or a ride-hailing app from Galeão; the drive to Copacabana takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. |
| Rome | Fiumicino (FCO), plus Ciampino (CIA) for budget airlines | Airport buses from Fiumicino cost less than the Leonardo Express train. Italy's state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month. |
| San Francisco | San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) and San José (SJC) | Compare Oakland and San José too. BART runs from SFO into the city for far less than a taxi. |
| San José, Costa Rica | Juan Santamaría International (SJO), plus Liberia (LIR) near the Guanacaste beaches | Compare Liberia (LIR) if you're heading to the Pacific beaches, since it can save hours of driving. |
| Seoul | Incheon (ICN), with Gimpo (GMP) mostly for domestic and regional flights | The all-stop AREX train from Incheon is much cheaper than the express. Use a T-money card for transit. |
| Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) for international flights, plus Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic flights and high-speed trains | The Maglev train from Pudong reaches Longyang Road metro station in about eight minutes; Metro Line 2 is the cheaper, slower option. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go. |
| Singapore | Changi (SIN) | The MRT runs from Changi into the city, and you can tap a contactless bank card to pay. Complete the free SG Arrival Card online before you land. |
| Sydney | Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) | Canadians need an Australian ETA, applied for through the official app. Airport buses avoid the train's station access fee. |
| São Paulo | São Paulo–Guarulhos International (GRU), plus Congonhas (CGH) and Viracopos (VCP) for domestic flights | Airport buses and the Line 13 train link Guarulhos with the city. Allow plenty of time, because São Paulo traffic can be very heavy. |
| Taipei | Taoyuan International (TPE), plus Songshan (TSA) for some regional flights | The Taoyuan Airport MRT express reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35 to 40 minutes. |
| Tokyo | Haneda (HND), close to the city, and Narita (NRT) | From Narita, the Keisei trains cost much less than a taxi. A Suica or Pasmo card makes trains and buses simple. |
| Vadodara | Vadodara Airport (BDQ), mainly domestic flights; Ahmedabad (AMD) is about two hours away | Compare flying into Ahmedabad (AMD) or Mumbai (BOM), then taking the train or expressway to Vadodara. |
| Vijayawada | Vijayawada International (VGA), with mostly domestic flights; Hyderabad (HYD) is a common gateway about five hours away by road | Always compare flying into Hyderabad (HYD) and continuing by train, bus or a short domestic flight to Vijayawada. |
Questions
Common questions
What is usually the cheapest way from the airport to the city?
A train, metro or public bus. Taxis and shuttles are simpler but cost more, and the gap can be large in cities such as London, Paris and Tokyo. The table lists the cheaper option we know for each place.
Should I pre-book an airport transfer?
It can be worth it after a long flight, late at night, or with children and a lot of luggage. For a short ride in a city with a fast train, public transport is usually cheaper and just as quick.
How current is this?
Each tip comes from the destination's airport or transit website when we last reviewed the page. Fares and timetables change, so check the operator before you travel.