Malpensa to Como by Train
 

Why pay a fortune to travel by taxi from Malpensa Airport to Lake Como when there is daily train service every 30 minutes? Here's how it works:

At the Malpensa Train Station, board the Malpensa Express Train (which goes all the way to Milano Cadorna Station), but get off at SARONNO Station. Departures every 30 minutes, 20 minutes travel time and ticket costs 5.00 Euros.

At the SARONNO Station, transfer to the Ferrovie Nord regional train direct to Como Nord Laghi (last stop). Departures every 30-60 minutes, 40 minutes travel time and ticket costs 1.95 Euros in second class or 2.95 Euros in first class. You purchase TWO tickets at Malpensa Airport.

At the Como Nord Laghi Train Station, walk across the square to the SPT Como Bus Terminal, where there are hourly busses to both Menaggio on the western shore, and Bellagio in the center promontory.

Alternatively, you can also walk to the boat dock, and take a hydrofoil or ferry to many points on the Lake. However, the busses are more frequent and much cheaper.

Thus, Malpensa to Como City is a mere 6.95 Euros by train, a mere fraction of the cost of a taxi.

SPT Como also has a direct airporter bus to Como City from Malpensa, but departures are only at 8:30, 13:30 and 18:30 daily. A one way ticket is 13 Euros. At Como City, you can connect to the local busses up the Lake.

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CORRECTION to my previous posting: at the Malpensa Train Station (lowest level, accessible by elevator from the arrivals area), you purchase one combined ticket for travel between Malpensa Airport and Como Nord Lago Station. Cost is 6.95 Euros, and travel time is as follows: 20 minutes from Malpensa to SARONNO Station; 38 minutes from SARONNO to Como Nord Lago Station; 31 minutes connection time at SARONNO. Total travel time: 89 minutes. YOU MUST CHANGE TRAINS AT SARONNO AND USE THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE TO CHANGE TRAIN TRACKS. The Saronno Station is very small, and the connection is extremely simple. Rail service is half-hourly, daily. The train at Malpensa is very modern and air conditioned. The train between Saronno and Como Nord Lago is old and non-air conditioned.

When you arrive at the Como Nord Lago Station, walk across the square (20 yards) to the Como City Bus Terminal, and purchase a bus ticket to Bellagio, Menaggio (2.75 Euros), or other points north. Bus Service is roughly hourly. There are also boats and hydrofoils nearby, but these are more expensive and less frequent that the bus.

GAC, thanks for this info. There will be 5 of us making this trip next September. I think we will train to Como and then either bus to Lanzo OR have the hotel pick us up. The other alternative is to stay in Varenna or Bellagio.

TIPS on taking the train between Malpensa Airport and Como City:

1. The Malpensa Express TRAIN leaves from the Malpensa Airport train station (lowest level, reachable by elevator from arrivals level) DAILY at 15 and 45 minutes after each hour. Purchase the ticket at the ticket counter in the modern ticket office. Stamp the ticket in the yellow machine before boarding the train. Fare is Euro 6.95 to Como Nord Lago Station, second class.

2. You reach the SARONNO Station in 20 minutes (35 and 5 minutes after each hour). You must use the underground connecting passage ("sottopassaggio") to change rail tracks, as the connecting train to Como departs from a different track. You cannot cut across the rail tracks. If you are very fast moving, it takes at least 30 seconds to connect.

3. The connecting NORTHBOUND train to Como Nord Lago Station leaves SARONNO at 6 and 36 minutes after each hour (but there is no service at 11:36)

4. If you RUN, you have 1 minute to connect. If you miss the connection, or simply don't care to run, you must wait 30 minutes for the next northbound train.

5. When you arrive at the Como Nord Lago Train Station, the bus station is across the small square, 20 yards away. The boat station is across the street from both the Nord Lago Station and the bus station. There is a cafe/bar next door to the bus station where you can purchase refreshments and wait for the next bus or boat. The Nord Lago Train Station, terminus of the Ferrovie Nord Commuter Rail Line out of Milano Cadorna Station, is different from the larger Ferrovie dello Stato (F.S.) Train Station, which is across town, where trains going between Milano Centrale Station and Zurich stop.

6. You can consult bus schedules at www.sptcomo.it Boat schedules at www.navigazionelaghi.it

7. Bus services are more frequent and cheaper than boat/hydrofoil services. You can store luggage in the underfloor luggage compartment of the bus. Bus service is roughly hourly, somewhat less on Sundays.

GAC,

I am trying to get to Lake Como from Salzburg Austria. According to railsaver, it takes about 10 hours and two stops. Any advice for making that trip easier?

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Topping one more time for Pawleys

How long does it take to go from Bellagio to Maplensa by bus, and train?

In theory this all sounds very good but when we arrive in Milan in September and meet up with another couple, we will be met by a car and driver to go to Bellagio. One of our party does not do well flying and will have had no sleep. Another can get around well for sightseeing but has a foot problem that would make pulling luggage, changing trains and making connections problematic. Sometimes it is just better to do the easiest thing rather than the least costly.

Thank you so much for such detailed info! I want to do part of this as a day trip. Will take a ferry somewhere at Como since I love boat trips. But coming back, how is the return schedule? Are the trains as frequent as in the daytime? How do they run say from 5:00 PM to 8 PM?

Note that you can now access the train schedules between Milano Malpensa Airport and Como Nord Lago Station on the Trenitalia website. Enter "Milano Malpensa" and "Como Nord Lago". The one-way fare in second class is currently 8.65 Euros.

The trip still requires a connection at the Saronno Station. Total travel time (including the connection) ranges between 59 and 100 minutes.

NOTE: You can also access the train schedules on the LE NORD website:

http://www.trenord.it/it-it/

NOTE: The SPT Como airport buses referenced in the original posting (from 2003) are no longer operating.

Once at Como Nord Lago Station, cross the street and take an SPT bus to your final destination (or a ferry boat/hydrofoil from the Dock, also across the street).

www.sptlinea.it

http://www.sptlinea.it/Lineeeorari/O...traurbana.aspx (Line C10 to Menaggio; Line C30 to Bellagio)

www.navigazionelaghi.it

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/c_orari.asp

DON'T get ripped off taking an expensive taxi to Lake Como, take the train!