Can you give us directions how to get from Milan airport to Milan train station. How long will it take? The Milaln train station is huge, no doubt. How difficult (how much time to allow)is it to find the correct train to Locarno? (I begin Italian lessons in January!) I've read the train takes 1 1/2 hours to Locarno. Correct?

If the airport is Malpensa, then there is the Malpensa Express bus to Milan Central Train Station. The Milan train station is large but not overwhelming.
Assuming that you have a ticket in hand, finding your track will not take too long.

I did not find a 90 minute train. I found a two hour train and a 2 & 1/2 hour train. [www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk]

There is a shuttle bus from Malpensa to Lugano, which is more convenient. The stop in Lugano is right at the railway station, where you can change for Locarno (with another change in Bellinzona).

The shuttle runs every hour. See www.starbus.info for details and reservations.

Do you recommend flying into Milan (closer)to bus/train to Locarno....rather than zurich?

Yes, it is a bit quicker to go from Milan to Locarno in spite of flying into Zurich.

On the other hand, I do not fly to Switzerland (live in Germany and drive or take the train) and so I cannot comment on the airports. From what I have heard Zurich airport is more convenient.

I've always found that Malpensa is a bit of a pain - you either take the Cadorna Express train that doesn't really go where you'd like it to go (to Milano Centrale, of course...), or you have to take shuttle buses that don't really go where you want to go, either.

Like to Lugano instead of Locarno (then you have an hour on the train from Lugano to Locarno), or to Gallarate from where you have two or three hours by train to Locarno, or the dreaded bus to Milano Centrale where to take a train to Locarno that can take anywhere from two to almost three hours after the hour-long bus ride.

So - for comfort as much as for speed, I would definitely fly into Zuerich. You'll get pretty mountain and lake views as a bonus. It will take either 3:19 or 3:32 by train to Locarno, the trains leave right from underneath the airport complex, and you have to change trains in one, two, or three locations depending which train you pick.

If you have tons of luggage, then none of the above are good solutions except an expensive taxi from Malpensa to Locarno. Other than that, the train from Zuerich wins hands-down in my experience.

Check www.sbb.ch for trains from Zuerich, check http://plannerint.b-rail.be/bin/quer...p;L=profi& for trains from anywhere to anywhere.

WK

I'm with WK on this. Zurich flughafen is a pleasure, and the ride from there to Locarno is a lovely welcome to Switzerland. J.

Dear Willis,

Stayed in Locarno in June. I can recommend the Hotel Garni Rondinella. We had a nice 6th floor room with a large corner balcony with a good view of the lake. (Room 51)

We traveled by train from Switerland via the Rhone Valley, Domodossola and the Centovalli. Gorgeous scenery!

Best wishes, SusanEva