Anyone got suggestions on the quickest way to get from Milan Malpensa to Genoa. I'll be arriving at 1.00pm. Have heard there is a bus service - does it need to be prebooked?
Thanks

go to trenitalia.it click on english (unless you speak Italian)
punch in malpensa in the "from" box and Genoa in the "to" box pick your date and time frame and bingo bango you got a roughly 3 hour train ride direct from Malpensa Aeroporto to Genoa. now some might say/warn you of having problems with purchasing tix via the trenitalia site, but I am here to tell you I have NEVER had a problem purchasing tix via the website ..and I am in the USA in NC. I like to purchase online if I do have concrete plans to travel point to point because often you can score reduced fares via the website rather than buying at the train station. All you need when you purchase is the "PNR" code on the ticketless form when you buy via the web..I normally just print the confirmation which contains this code that the train conductor will need to punch into his machine to validate your ticket when he/she comes around....simple.

There is bus service between Malpensa and several cities in Italy and Switzerland (operated by Autostradale in partnership with Lufthansa), but the daily departures for Genova are at 12:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

http://www.autostradale.it/sito2_grande/english.html

Personally, I wouldn't advance purchase train tickets for a journey commencing after a flight because there's always a chance the flight will be delayed or cancelled.

Do this a lot

Always just hop the bus in front of MXP

to Milano Centrale for 7 euro

then buy fast train ticket to Genoa no need to reserve

they go every hour or so easy pretty cheap quick

Intercity/Regional trains slower cheaper from 2-5 euro/hr

Train far better easier than bus.

www.tigercarrental.com have also rented a car in the past

for more of a road trip but lots more costly.

Have fun,

The best and less risky option is to go to Milano Centrale train station by either bus or new train service that just started and then transfer to Genoa train from there. If train is chosen then I presume you can purchase your ticket to Genoa in Malpensa rather than in the central station. Also there is one per day bus (12:35pm) directly from Malpensa to Genoa http://www.volpibus.com/?c=orari.asp&l=19

Guys, I just saw the question and realised I could do with similar advice from Bergamo (also called Milan) best advice?

bilboburgler, you're going from Bergamo to Genova? There is a bus from Bergamo to Malpensa and another bus from Malpensa to Genoa:

http://www.autostradale.it/sito2_grande/english.html

But it would most likely be faster to just take the train from Bergamo to Genova (change at Milano Centrale).