Arrival Brief

The first thirty minutes

Airport Arrival Guides

Arrivals halls are where scams concentrate, because that's where travelers are tired, unoriented, and carrying everything they own. Each brief walks you from the gate to a legitimate ride.

  • AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol Amsterdam Schiphol — the tap-in train to Centraal, the official rank, and the Plaza taxi touts.
  • ATH · Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Athens Eleftherios Venizelos — the metro line 3, the flat-fare taxi, the X95 express bus, and the pickpockets on the line in.
  • BCN · Barcelona El Prat Barcelona El Prat — Aerobús, R2 train, metered taxis, and the pickpockets who ride the airport corridor.
  • BER · Berlin Brandenburg Berlin Brandenburg — the FEX express and regional trains, the S-Bahn, the honest taxi, and the ticket habit.
  • BKK · Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Suvarnabhumi — the official metered-taxi queue, the Airport Rail Link, and the limousine whisperers.
  • BOG · Bogotá El Dorado Bogotá El Dorado — the official taxi desk, the apps, the TransMilenio, and the one arrival rule that matters.
  • BUD · Budapest Ferenc Liszt Budapest Ferenc Liszt — the 100E airport express bus, the official Főtaxi, Bolt, and the touts to skip.
  • CAI · Cairo International Cairo International — Uber and Careem, the pre-booked hotel car, and the arrivals-hall taxi touts to skip.
  • CDG · Paris Charles de Gaulle Paris CDG — the official flat-fare taxi rank, the RER B, and the terminal touts to walk past.
  • CLO · Cali Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Cali Alfonso Bonilla Aragón — the official taxi, the apps, the airport shuttle bus, and the ride from Palmira.
  • CPT · Cape Town International Cape Town International — Uber and Bolt, the pre-booked shuttle, the MyCiTi bus, and the arrival habits that matter.
  • CTG · Cartagena Rafael Núñez Cartagena Rafael Núñez — the ride apps, the official taxi fare, the hotel transfer, and the arrival overcharge to skip.
  • DEL · Delhi Indira Gandhi Delhi Indira Gandhi — the Airport Express metro, the prepaid police taxi booth, app cabs, and the diversion to refuse.
  • DPS · Bali Ngurah Rai Bali Ngurah Rai — the hotel pickup, the Grab/Gojek apps, the official airport taxi counter, and the taxi 'mafia' to skip.
  • DXB · Dubai International Dubai International — the Metro, the honest metered taxi, Careem, the visa and money notes, and the (very few) things to know.
  • EZE · Buenos Aires Ezeiza Buenos Aires Ezeiza — the official remis/taxi desk, the ride apps, the airport shuttle, and the change to check.
  • FCO · Rome Fiumicino Rome Fiumicino — official taxis, the Leonardo Express, and the touts to walk past.
  • GIG · Rio de Janeiro Galeão Rio de Janeiro Galeão — the app rides, the official taxi desk, the BRT/bus, and the one arrival rule that matters most here.
  • HAN · Hanoi Noi Bai Hanoi Noi Bai — Grab, the pre-booked hotel car, the reputable taxis, the airport bus, and the meter games to skip.
  • IST · Istanbul Airport Istanbul Airport — the three taxi tiers, the M11 metro, Havaist buses, and the meter games to expect.
  • JFK · New York John F. Kennedy New York JFK — the yellow-cab flat fare, the AirTrain to the subway/LIRR, the apps, and the 'car service' touts to skip.
  • KUL · Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) Kuala Lumpur KLIA — the KLIA Ekspres train, Grab, the airport-taxi coupon, and the meter games to skip.
  • LHR · London Heathrow London Heathrow — the Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line, the Heathrow Express, black cabs, and the minicab touts to skip.
  • LIM · Lima Jorge Chávez Lima Jorge Chávez — the official taxi desks, the apps, the airport express bus, and the one arrival rule that matters most.
  • LIS · Lisbon Humberto Delgado Lisbon Humberto Delgado — the metro red line, Bolt as the default ride, and the taxi-rank supplements to know.
  • MAD · Madrid Barajas Madrid Barajas — the flat-fare taxi, the Metro line 8, and the Cercanías train into the center.
  • MDE · Medellín José María Córdova Medellín José María Córdova — the official taxi, the apps, the airport shuttle, and the long ride from Rionegro.
  • MEX · Mexico City Benito Juárez Mexico City Benito Juárez — the authorized-taxi desk, the app pickup, the Metrobús, and the one arrival rule that matters most here.
  • MXP · Milan Malpensa Milan Malpensa — the Malpensa Express train, the airport coaches, the taxi flat fare, and the pickpocket caution at Centrale.
  • NAP · Naples Capodichino Naples Capodichino — the Alibus to Centrale and the port, flat-fare taxis, and the Garibaldi hustle to expect.
  • NBO · Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta — the apps, the official taxi, the safari transfer, and the arrival habits that matter.
  • NRT · Tokyo Narita Tokyo Narita — the Narita Express, the Keisei Skyliner, cheap highway buses, and why the taxi is the one thing to avoid (on price).
  • PRG · Prague Václav Havel Prague Václav Havel — trolleybus to the metro, Airport Express, app rides, and the exchange counters to walk past.
  • PTY · Panama City Tocumen Panama City Tocumen — the official taxi coupon, Uber/inDrive, the airport bus, and the ride to the city.
  • RAK · Marrakech Menara Marrakech Menara — the fixed taxi tariff, the riad pickup that solves the medina maze, and the touts to skip.
  • SGN · Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat — Grab, the pre-booked hotel car, the reputable taxis, the airport bus, and the meter games to skip.
  • SJO · San José Juan Santamaría San José Juan Santamaría — the official orange taxis, Uber, the rental-car pickup, and the arrival habits that matter.
  • SMR · Santa Marta Simón Bolívar Santa Marta Simón Bolívar — the taxi fare to agree, the apps, the hotel transfer, and the short ride in.
  • SVQ · Seville Seville Airport — the EA airport bus, the taxi flat fare, ride apps, and the short ride into town.
  • VCE · Venice Marco Polo Venice Marco Polo — the Alilaguna water bus, the bus to Piazzale Roma, and honest water-taxi facts.
  • VIE · Vienna Schwechat Vienna Schwechat — the CAT train, the cheap S-Bahn S7, the City Airport Bus, and the honest taxi.
  • ZNZ · Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume — the pre-booked hotel transfer, the taxi fare to agree, the visa and money notes, and the arrival touts.