Xian or Xi’an is one of China’s most popular destinations thanks to its rich culture and unique landmarks. Xian city centre itself offers numerous exciting activities for all tastes and it attracts visitors from all around the world.
To make your way from Xian Airport to downtown, you have three different transportation options. The most convenient one is to take a private transfer or taxi from Xian Airport to the city which will cost you approximately €17 (CNY 120) and will take about 45 minutes. Two cheaper options are the bus, which takes 80 minutes and costs €3.70 (CNY 25) for a single ticket or the metro, which takes 65 minutes and costs approximately €2.20 (CNY 15) per single ticket.
Xian taxi fares are relatively low compared to other popular cities around the world. Even though it's the most expensive transportation option, it's also the fastest and most comfortable one so unless you're travelling alone, it's definitely worth it.
Taking the metro is a really good and fast option to reach the city centre, especially if you're travelling alone. If you're travelling with a larger group, taking a taxi might be a more convenient alternative.
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How to get from Xian Airport to the city centre by taxi
The most comfortable and reliable way to get from Xian Airport to downtown or your hotel is by taking a Xian airport taxi or private transfer. They are available 24/7 and you can find different types of vehicles to match your needs.
Taxi fare from Xian Airport to the city centre
Xian taxis usually operate using a taximeter but for routes outside the city, rates can be higher. For up to 4 passengers, a Xian Airport transfer will cost approximately €17 (CNY 120) during day time and €21.50 (CNY 150) during the nighttime (from 23:00 to 06:00).
Where do I get a taxi from?
Xian Airport has three Terminals and there are taxi ranks located outside the Arrivals area of each one. Simply follow the taxi signs and you’ll reach the designated parking lots after about 100 metres.
Convenience
Taking a taxi from Xian Airport to the city centre is your best transportation option if you want to reach your destination directly, without having to worry about the crowds or line changes. Especially if your flight arrives early in the morning or late at night, getting an airport taxi can definitely take a lot of the stress off.
Useful Tips
Before you start your ride, make sure that the driver resets the taximeter to the base fare.
Xian taxi drivers usually don't speak English, so make sure to have your address written down in Chinese.
Always have some cash with you as most Xian taxis don’t accept card payments.
During peak hours from 07:30 to 08:30 and 17:30 to 19:00, it can be quite difficult to find a taxi; if you’re on a tight schedule, book a taxi in advance.
How to get from Xian Airport to the city centre by bus
There are several bus lines connecting Xian Airport to the city centre. The most convenient ones that will take you right downtown are Line 1 from Xian Airport to the Bell Tower and Line 2 from Xian Airport to Xian Railway Station. The journey with either of the buses takes about 80 minutes and terminates in the heart of Xian city so from there you can easily reach your final destination.
How much is the bus from Xian Airport to the city centre?
Xian buses that run outside the city usually have conductors onboard who issue tickets based on the distance that the passenger will cover; you can pay the conductor in cash. A journey from Xian Airport to the city centre costs €3.70 (CNY 25) per traveller. Children under 130cm can use any city bus for free.
Cost
€3.70 (CNY 25)
Trip Duration
80 min
The ticket price is calculated based on the distance covered.
Convenience
Safety
Value for Money
Line 1 runs every 20 minutes from 07:00 to 21:40 and Line 2 every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 02:00.
Where do I get the bus from?
Shuttle bus stops are located on the first floor of both Terminals 2 and 3. At Terminal 3 it might be easier to follow the signs to the General Transportation Center (GTC). You can go from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 on foot but Terminal 3 is further away so you’ll need to either take a taxi there or use the free cross-terminal shuttle bus.
Convenience
Xian airport bus shuttles are the cheapest transportation alternative to reach the city centre so they’re a good choice if you’re travelling on a budget. However, they can get very crowded during high season, so if you’re travelling with a lot of luggage or young children you might want to choose a more convenient method of transportation.
Useful Tips
Only a few buses have the stops in English so make sure to write down your destination in Chinese.
In most buses, you can buy your ticket(s) from self-service machines so it's best to have change with you.
These are several bus lines with conductors that charge by distance. You can pay in cash to the conductor.
During peak hours, from 07:30 to 08:30 and 17:30 to 19:30, buses can get very crowded so it's best to avoid them if you can.
How to get from Xian Airport to the city centre by metro
All Terminals at Xian airport are connected to the metro so you can easily make your way to the city centre in about an hour. The Xi’an Airport Metro Line and Line 14 run from the airport to the North Railway Station. However, this is not the terminal station, so make sure to disembark there and take Metro Line 4, which makes several stops in Xian city centre.
How much is the metro ticket from Xian Airport to the city centre?
The ticket fare for the Xian metro is calculated based on the distance travelled. A single journey ticket starts from €0.30 (CNY 2). The ticket for the whole journey from Xian Airport to the city centre costs about €2.20 (CNY 15).
Cost
€2.20 (CNY 15)
Trip Duration
65 min
The final ticket fare varies depending on the distance travelled.
Convenience
Safety
Value for Money
The Xi'an Airport Metro Line runs from 06:00 to 22:20 daily.
Where do I get the metro from?
There is a metro station at all three Terminals at Xian Airport. After you reach the arrivals hall just follow the signs to get there.
Convenience
Taking the metro to get from Xian Airport to the city centre is quite cheap and is the second-fastest transportation option. This makes it a great choice if you’re travelling on a budget and have only carry-on luggage. However, don’t forget that the metro is also the locals’ main means of transport so if you’re travelling with more luggage or young children it can get quite uncomfortable during peak times.
Useful Tips
All the signs on Xi'an metro are available both in English and Mandarin.
You can purchase metro tickets by using the Xi'an Metro app or Alipay.
Children under 130cm can use the metro for free.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the distance from Xian airport to downtown?
Xian Airport is located in Xianyang city, which is approximately 38 km from Xian city centre. Getting there by car or taxi takes about 45 minutes in light traffic.
How can I get from Xian airport to the city of Xian?
Xian Airport might be far from the city centre but it is well connected. There are three ways to reach the city centre. The fastest one is getting an airport taxi, which will take about 45 minutes and cost €17 (CNY 120). If you prefer public transport, you can take bus Lines 1 or 2 that will take you there in about 80 minutes for €3.70 (CNY 25) per single ticket. The Airport Metro Line and Metro Line 14 will take you downtown in about 65 minutes for just €2.20 (CNY 15) per single ticket.
What’s the cost of a taxi from Xian airport to downtown?
Xian taxis usually operate using a taximeter but for routes outside the city, rates can be higher due to factors like tolls or “empty” kilometres for the driver. On average, a Xian Airport transfer will cost approximately €17 (CNY 120) for up to 4 passengers during day time and €21.50 (CNY 150) during the nighttime (from 23:00 to 06:00). For a competitive fixed fare, you may wish to pre-book your transfer with a top-rated company like Welcome Pickups.
The most comfortable and reliable way to get from Xian Airport to downtown or your hotel is by taking a Xian airport taxi or private transfer. They are available 24/7 and you can find different types of vehicles to match your needs.
Taxi fare from Xian Airport to the city centre
Xian taxis usually operate using a taximeter but for routes outside the city, rates can be higher. For up to 4 passengers, a Xian Airport transfer will cost approximately €17 (CNY 120) during day time and €21.50 (CNY 150) during the nighttime (from 23:00 to 06:00).
Where do I get a taxi from?
Xian Airport has three Terminals and there are taxi ranks located outside the Arrivals area of each one. Simply follow the taxi signs and you’ll reach the designated parking lots after about 100 metres.
Convenience
Taking a taxi from Xian Airport to the city centre is your best transportation option if you want to reach your destination directly, without having to worry about the crowds or line changes. Especially if your flight arrives early in the morning or late at night, getting an airport taxi can definitely take a lot of the stress off.
Useful Tips
Book a trusted, English-speaking driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular taxi
Learn moreThere are several bus lines connecting Xian Airport to the city centre. The most convenient ones that will take you right downtown are Line 1 from Xian Airport to the Bell Tower and Line 2 from Xian Airport to Xian Railway Station. The journey with either of the buses takes about 80 minutes and terminates in the heart of Xian city so from there you can easily reach your final destination.
How much is the bus from Xian Airport to the city centre?
Xian buses that run outside the city usually have conductors onboard who issue tickets based on the distance that the passenger will cover; you can pay the conductor in cash. A journey from Xian Airport to the city centre costs €3.70 (CNY 25) per traveller. Children under 130cm can use any city bus for free.
Line 1 runs every 20 minutes from 07:00 to 21:40 and Line 2 every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 02:00.
Where do I get the bus from?
Shuttle bus stops are located on the first floor of both Terminals 2 and 3. At Terminal 3 it might be easier to follow the signs to the General Transportation Center (GTC). You can go from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 on foot but Terminal 3 is further away so you’ll need to either take a taxi there or use the free cross-terminal shuttle bus.
Convenience
Xian airport bus shuttles are the cheapest transportation alternative to reach the city centre so they’re a good choice if you’re travelling on a budget. However, they can get very crowded during high season, so if you’re travelling with a lot of luggage or young children you might want to choose a more convenient method of transportation.
Useful Tips
All Terminals at Xian airport are connected to the metro so you can easily make your way to the city centre in about an hour. The Xi’an Airport Metro Line and Line 14 run from the airport to the North Railway Station. However, this is not the terminal station, so make sure to disembark there and take Metro Line 4, which makes several stops in Xian city centre.
How much is the metro ticket from Xian Airport to the city centre?
The ticket fare for the Xian metro is calculated based on the distance travelled. A single journey ticket starts from €0.30 (CNY 2). The ticket for the whole journey from Xian Airport to the city centre costs about €2.20 (CNY 15).
The Xi'an Airport Metro Line runs from 06:00 to 22:20 daily.
Where do I get the metro from?
There is a metro station at all three Terminals at Xian Airport. After you reach the arrivals hall just follow the signs to get there.
Convenience
Taking the metro to get from Xian Airport to the city centre is quite cheap and is the second-fastest transportation option. This makes it a great choice if you’re travelling on a budget and have only carry-on luggage. However, don’t forget that the metro is also the locals’ main means of transport so if you’re travelling with more luggage or young children it can get quite uncomfortable during peak times.
Useful Tips
Frequently asked questions
What’s the distance from Xian airport to downtown?
Xian Airport is located in Xianyang city, which is approximately 38 km from Xian city centre. Getting there by car or taxi takes about 45 minutes in light traffic.
How can I get from Xian airport to the city of Xian?
Xian Airport might be far from the city centre but it is well connected. There are three ways to reach the city centre. The fastest one is getting an airport taxi, which will take about 45 minutes and cost €17 (CNY 120). If you prefer public transport, you can take bus Lines 1 or 2 that will take you there in about 80 minutes for €3.70 (CNY 25) per single ticket. The Airport Metro Line and Metro Line 14 will take you downtown in about 65 minutes for just €2.20 (CNY 15) per single ticket.
What’s the cost of a taxi from Xian airport to downtown?
Xian taxis usually operate using a taximeter but for routes outside the city, rates can be higher due to factors like tolls or “empty” kilometres for the driver. On average, a Xian Airport transfer will cost approximately €17 (CNY 120) for up to 4 passengers during day time and €21.50 (CNY 150) during the nighttime (from 23:00 to 06:00). For a competitive fixed fare, you may wish to pre-book your transfer with a top-rated company like Welcome Pickups.
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