Hi all,

I've just realized a mistake on my plane ticket, and am now stuck(?) with a 10 hour layover in Milan. Since we have never been to Milan before, we're making the best of this and considering a trip out to Milan while we wait for our plane to Genoa. Our layover is from 10:20am to 8:40pm on a July Saturday.

My questions (hope someone out there knows):
1-are there lockers in MXP for our carry-on luggage, like there are in Schipol?
2-will having a Schengen visa mean extra security check-in time? I'm budgeting for 2 hours to go through airport security, etc.

Thanks!
Margaret

There are several options for you 10-hour layover. You can take the train into the city and visit the famous Duomo, and the even more famous "The Last Supper" (reservations required). You can take the train to Lake Como and spend a few hours soaking up the views. Or, if you are in a mood to splurge, hire a car and driver to take you around.

Hello mcnyc, you are from NY correct? Or maybe not. Just going by your nick.

First of all, you do not take the train from Malpensa to the center of Milan. There is the shuttle bus from the Malpensa airport to the Centrale Train Station in Milan. It runs something like every 20 or 30 minutes.

I have not been in the new Malpensa airport. If they do not have luggage storage (and I would think they would) the Centrale Train station in Milan does.

Milan will be a wonderful city for you to spend some time in. Lucky you! After you get off the shuttle bus at the Centrale Train station take a taxi to the area of the Duomo and the Galleria. Go on the search box here on Fodors regarding other posters visits in Milan. If you like, make a reservation to see the "Last Supper". The shopping is fantastic. The window shopping is wonderful. Sounds like you need to be back at Malpensa Airport about 6:30pm. Again, you can take the shuttle bus from the Centrale Train station back to the Milpensa Airport. EXCEPT; I do have one question though. When you fly from Milan to Genoa, are you flying from Milpensa (where you landed) or are you flying from the Milan Linate Airport (which is east of Milan). Usually domestic flights (which Milan to Genoa Italy would be) are from the Linate Airport. Just wondering.

Do check on this!

I'm currently researching the Lake District since knowledgeable Fodorites like you say that MXP is very close to the Lake Como and Maggiore, and I know my mother would enjoy the lakes.

It really does depend on time, as while 10 hours may seem a lot of time, I'm factoring in an hour to deplane and go through customs. Then after playing, coming back to go through security, retreiving luggage, checking into flight, all of which I assume will take up 2 hours (more if I find out my uncle's Schengen visa will cause a delay). That means 3 hours in the airport alone, with 7 hours play time left.

I see that transportation to Como takes 2 hours, so rt would be 4 hours, which means 3 hours at Como. But if we head to Milan with the Milan Express, then there would be a 2 hour rt transportaiton, meaning 5 hours in Milan.

Did I get my travel time to Como right? As it is the beginning of our trip, I'm not sure I'm so willing to splurge yet, considering we'll be on a cruise the next day, and then traveling on our own after the cruise. What is the traveling time to Lake Maggiore from the airport? I can't seem to find it, or else my eyes are going...

Hi LoveItaly, I am from NYC, born and bred! And I'm making up for lost traveling time now, with the elders in tow.

We'll be flying out of MXP to Genoa, so thankfully, same airport, although I'm guessing the departure is from a different terminal. I've checked Milan's airport site http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/, but only see that they have a "Left Luggage" area.

Am already looking into getting reservations for "Last Supper", trying to sneak in window shopping by taking the long way around town and trying to get out of them what else they'd like to see (or else it'll be all about what I want to see).

Hi mcnyc, I KNEW you were were from NY!!

Listen, the mistake you made is a blessing, honest. Milano is fantastic.

The shuttle bus from Malpensa Airport is an easy ride. Again I am sure (but not 100%) they will have a place for you to store your luggage. If not, the shuttle bus to Milano will put the luggage underneath the bus and you can store it at the Centrale Train station when you arrive there.

Uhm, about the elders. If they are tired and do not want to walk around as you do some shopping, a suggestion. You will no doubt go to the Duomo. Facing the Duomo on the left is the Galleria. Inside (which is so fantastic) are cafes. You could get them a table, sit them down, and they could have a couple of drinks, relax and people watch while you scurry off to do some shopping. BTW, there are shops in the Galleria also.

Mcnyc, if you have time, would you do me a favor? You will no doubt enter the Galleria from the Duomo piazza side. If you have time, would you walk straight through the Galleria and out the other end. There will be the Pizza della Scala, and across the Pizza the La Scala Opera House. Facing the Opera house on the left is a hotel. There is a narrow street between the opera house and the hotel. This hotel use to have the name Il Mariano della Scala Hotel. It evidently has a new name now.

Only, and I stress only, if you have time to do this (I thought you might like to see the LaScala Opera House) would you give me the name of this hotel as it has obviously changed names and I haven't been able to determin what the hotel's new name is.

Have a beautiful time in Italy. And will you be staying in Genoa? I love that city too! My stepgrandmother was born and raised there.

Best wishes to you, have a wonderful trip!

Okay--another idea: you can take the shuttle bus from Malpensa to Lugano, Switzerland. It's an hour and ten minutes....drops you off at the Lugano train station. From there, you can take the short funicular ride down to the old center of town.

Once in Lugano, with maybe 4-5 hours...you can walk around, checking out the charming older areas/squares and the lakefront... maybe take a ferry to Gandria or Morcote. It's an enchanted place, I think. A little research on the ferry schedule should help you plan the day.

The shuttle bus schedule is at http://www.busexpress.com/shuttle.asp--I think it's 35 euros RT. The timetable for the Lugano ferry is at http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/framewo...x?menu_id=1501.

One of the nice things about this excursion is that you can have confidence in the punctuality of the Swiss ferry timetable....you should be able to plan your day, returning to the Lugano train station for the return shuttle bus easily.

Have a great trip!

I think going into Milan makes more sense than going to Como for that amount of time. There is a bus direct from MXP to Como but it only runs 3 times a day and the times would not work for you. Therefore, you'd have to take the train, which could be more like an hour and a half (you have to change halfway). Plus, once you get to Como, the city itself is not that interesting, and you don't really have time to go up the lake to the more interesting parts. I have not been to Lugano so can't comment on if that might work better.

To get into Milan from MXP the shuttle bus takes you to Centrale train station, but I think the train (direct from MXP) takes you to a more central part of Milan (closer to the Duomo). There is a poster here, GAC, who gives excellent directions for transportation in this area so try searching. I know this topic has been discussed many times. I took the shuttle bus to Centrale Station as I was on my way to Florence and that is where that train leaves from, but the local train from the airport is what you would want I think.

I assume your luggage is checked all the way through, right?

I know this is going to sound crazy but the train from Centrale to Genoa only takes 1 hour and 32 minutes....but maybe next time...

I'd stay in Milan; the trip up to Varenna for the mid-Lake Como area takes about 1 1/2 hours from centrale and they only run about every two hours...another next time perhaps...

Hi Intrepid1: Believe me, I know that the train takes us to Genoa in 1h 32m. I knew it before the plane ride, but since age won the battle, had to get the flight to GOA. Won't risk losing the return part of our ticket, so will be taking the flight. And yes, our luggage will be checked all the way through, which is causing a bit of angst on my part w/this long layover.

Hi LoveItaly: I will do my best to find this hotel's new name for you. I'll be going in July, so hope this won't be too late for your needs! I'll try and post while I'm there... Lovely ideas, but the elder units will want to tag along since they're anxious in foreign countries when I'm not w/them (not as if I can speak a lick of Italian...yet). We'll be staying a night in Genoa, and taking the last prudent train to Savona for our cruise to get whatever we can of Genoa.

Hi chicagobluesman: I think I'll leave Switzerland for another trip. Perhaps I'll tie a trip to the Lake District w/train travel there.

And thank you Isabel: you and LoveItaly are right. Makes more sense to go into Milan for the layover. Am already planning, but if anyone else has any other ideas...please post!!!

I had an 8 hour stopover in Milan 5 years ago. Having a Schengen visa doesn't mean any delay, i.e. not more than the usual queue. It's a visa like any other. I left my luggage at the airport. There's an office for left luggage. Flying with Alitalia allowed me to use the Alitalia train from the Airport to the Central Station in Milan for free. Anyway, from the train station there is the Castello Sforzesco, a medieval castle in a big park, somewhere to the left, behind some buildings, not far, a few minutes walking. People would be able to guide you. After I visited this castle I walked towards the Dome. It is a 10 minutes walk, maybe 15. Again people will easily guide you. I visited the Dome, climbed on it, walked around, then strolled through the city, had a pizza and then returned to the airport. I had 8 hours. Ten hours will definitely allow you more things to do.

Gabriel

Hello mcnyc, thank you for your response. Please, do NOT go out of your way to get the name of this hotel. I just thought while you are in Milan you might want to at least see the opera house and in doing so could get me this information. But I sure do not want to interfere with your day.

BTW, I will not be in Milan this year, so if you do get this info posting it on your return home would be just great! Again, only if it works out with your plans.

I honestly feel that you will enjoy Milan, although I know travelling with elders can be a bit of a strain at times. Well, all of you can "flop" at one of the cafes in the Galleria and enjoy some wonderful drinks and also the people watching.

Gabrieltraian suggestion about visiting the Castello Sforsesco is an excellent idea. If your older co-travellers are not good at walking a quick taxi trip could get you there.

I am glad you are deciding to stay with the plan to go to Milan. IMO this is a good decision.

By very best wishes to you and your family for a beautiful vacation!

No worries LoveItaly. I'm sure it'll be on my way, as I love roaming European city streets. I do want to see the Galleria (and step on the bull) as well as the Opera house, so now it just depends on how my parents and uncle fare.

I have been looking at the metro stations around central Milan, and thought it would be a hoot for them to take a "subway" since they're not fond of it here in NYC. The Last Supper is one thing they all want to see, so am going to call the SM della Grazie first thing tomorrow morning for a reservation. Yay!

Thanks Gabriel, for that Alitalia tidbit. We are taking Alitalia, and am glad to hear there's a shuttle that takes us near the Castello Sforsesco, which I hope still exists (will call to find out).

I'm really looking forward to spending my few hours in Milan, and then going back w/an empty suitcase to fill up! If only I had a salary that could care less about the exchange rates...

I had a similar problem, an 8 hour layover in Milan before continuing to Bologna. I called Al Italia about just leaving the flight in Milan and taking the train to Bologna -- how do I keep from having my return cancelled by the computer? And they told me ....

When I check in (in Boston for me), just tell the check-in person that I want to de-plane in Milan and cancel the Bologna leg. Since I am checked in on the flight to Milan, the return will not be cancelled. I don't get any money back, but also I don't have to pay a re-scheduling feel.

So that's what I'm gonna do.

Hi capxxx,

I called up Alitalia today and was told to call back a day before the flight to confirm and change the flight route to end at Milan. The Alitalia man said that I would not lose my return flight. Of course, right now, I'm still trying to impose upon the parental units the wonders of train travel, of which we'll be doing plenty once we're off the cruise.

In the end, I don't care either way how we get to Genoa, as long as there's no whining!!!

mcnyc: I am flying into Milan on Friday and have been researching the best options to get to Genoa. I am travelling with my 73 YO mother and am very familiar with the area and train travel.

If I were alone, I would take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale and then the train to Genoa. But, luggage loading and unloading for both of us will be a struggle as will the steps my mom will have to climb. There are SO many considerations when travelling with seniors!

There is also a direct bus to Genoa that leaves at 11:30. They load and unload your luggage and this would be my first choice but the times do not coincide with my flight arrival at 11:59. I will just miss it!

The bus station in Genoa is right downtown. I find Genoa an easy city to get around in.

The acquarium there is terrific and would provide a lovely, air conditioned diversion for you and they for a few hours.

Just my thoughts!

Just to follow up -- it did work to cancel the second leg at check-in, although I had to stand in 3 lines and explain myself before I got the person authorized to do it. She just hit the delete key and the problem went away.

The train to Bologna (actually Forli) was easy. There is a good shuttle bus from Milan airport to the train station (5 euros for the shuttle), and the station was easy to negotiate.

Noticing your other question: it looks like having a Schengen visa means your entry into Italy will be expedited -- they seemed to get the short lines.

Enjoy your trip!