Transfer Options from Kunming Airport to City Centre

Kunming is the super-modern capital and central transportation hub of China’s southern Yunnan province. Filled with beautiful attractions such as the Green Lake, Dragon Gate, Yuantong Buddhist temple, and the sprawling Xishan Forest Park, Kunming is a great place to explore China’s rich culture.

When travelling from Kunming airport to the city centre, you have three options; taxi, bus or metro. Taking a Kunming airport taxi is the most convenient option as it takes just 30 minutes to reach the city and costs around €13 (CNY 90). Taking the metro line 6 is another fairly fast transfer option, as it takes 25 minutes to reach the East Bus station, and costs just €1 (CNY 6) per ticket. Your final option is to take one of the Airport Shuttle Buses, which take around 50 minutes to get from Kunming airport to the city and cost €4 (CNY 25) one-way.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Kunming at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Taxi	€13	30min	24/7
Bus	€8	50min	09:00–23:30
Metro	€2	25min	06:20–22:20

How to get from Kunming Airport to the City Centre by Taxi

Taking a Kunming airport taxi is the only way to get directly to your hotel from the airport, making it an extremely fast and convenient transfer option. The journey time from Kunming airport to the city is just 30 minutes and the cost will be around €13 (CNY 90), based on a taximeter.

Cost of a taxi from Kunming Airport to Kunming City

The average cost for a taxi from Kunming airport to the city centre is €13 (CNY 90). This fare will include the airport expressway toll, but it is subject to change depending on the level of traffic and your exact destination in the city.

If you’d prefer to take a Kunming airport transfer with a fixed rate you can rely on, we recommend booking with Welcome Pickups in advance.

Cost

€13 (CNY 90)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24 hours a day from Kunming airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Kunming Airport?

Taxis are readily available 24/7 from directly outside the arrivals hall at Kunming airport. Simply walk to the taxi rank and ask for the next available car.

Convenience

Taking a taxi from Kunming airport to Kunming city is the most convenient and stress-free way to travel. You won’t have to worry about navigating public transport or trying to transfer from metro and bus lines to reach your hotel. Instead, you can enjoy a door-to-door service in just 30 minutes.

Editor’s Note

Taxis in Kunming are extremely affordable, especially when compared to other major cities. For your convenience, I highly recommend choosing this transfer option, even if you're travelling on a budget.

Useful Tips

Ensure your driver switches on and resets their taximeter before you leave the airport.

There will be an airport expressway toll added to your fare.

You can fit 4 passengers in a standard Kunming airport taxi.

How to get from Kunming Airport to the City Centre by Bus

There are many different Airpot Shuttle bus lines that run from Kunming Airport to the City. For example, Bus 1 goes to the centre of the Wuhua District, Bus 2 to Jinjiang Hotel, Bus 4 to the Southern Bus Station, and Shuttle Bus 6 to Kunming Railway Station. Collectively, the buses run from 09:00 to 23:30 and take around 50 minutes to reach the city. The cost of a one-way bus ticket on any of the Airport Shuttle buses will be €4 (CNY 25).

How much is the bus from Kunming Airport to Kunming City?

The cost of a one-way ticket on the Airport Shuttle bus from Kunming airport to Kunming city centre will be €4 (CNY 25). The tickets can be purchased from the driver as you get on the bus.

Cost

€4 (CNY 25)

Trip Duration

50 Min.

*There's a waiting time of 30 minutes for the bus.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The buses run from 09:00 to 23:30 every day of the week.

Where do I find the bus at Kunming Airport?

All Airport Shuttle buses stop right outside exits 2 and 3 on level B1 at Kunming airport.

Convenience

Although taking the bus from Kunming airport to the city centre is a fairly cheap transfer option, it’s not the most convenient. The journey time is long, at 50 minutes, which will become longer if you need to make an additional transfer after reaching the city centre to reach your hotel’s precise location.

Timetables

Airport Shuttle Buses

Editor’s Note

All of the Airport Shuttle Buses have different routes and operating times, be sure to check with the transport kiosk in the airport to see which bus you need to take to reach your hotel.

Useful Tips

Try to arrive 10 minutes before the bus departs to ensure you get a seat.

There's storage space below the bus for large luggage items.

Airport Shuttle Bus Line 1 has the most central route, it will drop you off near the Green Lake in the Wuhua District.

How to get from Kunming Airport to the City Centre by Metro

Kunming airport is connected to the city centre by metro line 6, which runs to the East Bus Station. From there, you can then take a bus to anywhere in the city. The journey time from Kunming airport to the city is 25 minutes and the cost of a ticket is just €1 (CNY 6), making it the cheapest transfer option.

How much is the metro from Kunming Airport to Kunming City?

The cost of a one-way ticket on the metro from Kunming airport to the city is just €1 (CNY 6). You can purchase your tickets from the kiosk or automatic ticket machines at the metro station in the airport.

Cost

€1 (CNY 6)

Trip Duration

25 Min.

*There's a waiting time of 15 minutes for the metro line 6.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The metro line 6 runs from 06:20 to 22:20.

Where do I find the metro at Kunming Airport?

As you exit the main doors of T1 at Kunming airport, you will walk to your left, past a parking area. The metro station will then be in front of you, outside of the T23 building.

Convenience

The metro is a very quick transfer option from Kunming airport to Kunming city. However, as metro line 6 only stops at the East Bus Station, you will need to find alternate transport from there to your hotel, which adds time, uncertainty, stress and cost to your journey.

Editor’s Note

Metro line 6 runs to the East Bus Station. Here you can either switch to the metro line 3 to enter another area of the city centre, or switch to a bus and try and find a stop close to your hotel.

Useful Tips

There's no storage space on the metro train, you will need to travel light.

Be sure to purchase your tickets before entering the train.

Keep your metro tickets with you as you travel as there are random checks on board and ticket gates to go through.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the average Kunming airport to downtown taxi fare?

The local taxis will use a taximeter to calculate the cost of your journey from Kunming airport to the city. The average cost will be approximately €13 (CNY 90), but this may change. If you’d prefer the peace of mind that comes with a set rate fare, you can pre-book your taxi with Welcome Pickups.

 How can I get from Kunming airport to the city centre?

There are three ways to get from Kunming airport to the city centre; taxi, bus or metro. Taking a Kunming airport taxi is the most convenient option, with a travel time of 30 minutes and a cost of €13 (CNY 90). The metro is also a very quick transfer option, with a journey time of 25 minutes and a one-way ticket price of just €1 (CNY 6). Your final option is the bus, which takes 50 minutes and costs €4 (CNY 25) one-way.

What’s the distance from Kunming airport to Kunming city centre?

The distance from Kunming airport to Kunming city is around 27.5 km. Taking an airport taxi will take about 30 minutes, the metro line 6 will take 25 minutes and the Airport Shuttle buses will take approximately 50 minutes to reach the city centre.

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How to get from Kunming Airport to the City Centre by Taxi

Cost of a taxi from Kunming Airport to Kunming City

Cost

€13 (CNY 90)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24 hours a day from Kunming airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Kunming Airport?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Kunming Airport to the City Centre by Bus

How much is the bus from Kunming Airport to Kunming City?

Cost

€4 (CNY 25)

Trip Duration

50 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The buses run from 09:00 to 23:30 every day of the week.

Where do I find the bus at Kunming Airport?

Convenience

Timetables

Airport Shuttle Buses

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Kunming Airport to the City Centre by Metro

How much is the metro from Kunming Airport to Kunming City?

Cost

€1 (CNY 6)

Trip Duration

25 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The metro line 6 runs from 06:20 to 22:20.

Where do I find the metro at Kunming Airport?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Frequently asked questions

What’s the average Kunming airport to downtown taxi fare?

How can I get from Kunming airport to the city centre?

What’s the distance from Kunming airport to Kunming city centre?

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