I've tried to figure out the best way to get from downtown Milan to Malpensa. Can some one who has done it help?
Do you leave from the central train station or is there a bus terminal some where (if a separate bus terminal exactly where is it?) Also, what is the best locationfor a hotel to see a lot of sites one day and then get that bus to the airport the next morning. Thanks.

From Milan Centrale station you can get the "Malpensa Shuttle" bus. It runs every 20 minutes, 7 days a week with the first departure from the train station at 05:20 and the last at 22:30. First departure from Malpensa is 06:40 and the last departure at 00:15. Cost is 4.50 euros. Bus stops at both terminal 1 and terminal 2. Depending on traffic it can take from 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. It is something like 25 miles from center city to Malpensa.
Larry J

Take the EXPRESS Malpensa Shuttle it's an extra few euros but TOTALLY worth it. The little bus terminal is just outside of the train station (on sidewalk just outside of side entrance) it's very easy to find. I would wait to board the bus until the last minute if you put your bags in storage area b/c nobody is watching for theives.

just of curiosity is thee a train from Malpensa to the Central Station?

or about how much would a taxi cost?

do any of the hotels offer a shuttle service to the airports? (it's common here in the US)

thanks in advance,
Mary-Ellen

There is no direct train service between Malpensa Airport and Milan Centrale station. There is a train between Malpensa and Milan Cadorna station. This train operates over the Northern Milan Railway and not the national railway (Trenitalia) and takes 40 minutes. From Centrale station the Malpensa Shuttle bus is to my mind the best option and only costs 4.50 euros and runs every 20 minutes. As for a taxi; the distance is about 25 miles and traffic can be very heavy. I wouldn't even want to guess what that could cost even with an honest taxi driver.

Larry J

We preferred the train from the Cadorna station to Malpensa... More comfortable than the bus and not subject to traffic jams.

Taxi from downtown Milano to Malpensa can easily cost in the range of 50-70 euro, depending on the traffic: I would also opt for the Malpensa Express train from Cadorna, which is not subject to traffic and the train ois brand new and very comfortable.

If you have no need to go to Milano Centrale, then you should be all means take the train to Cadorna...it's not all that far from Centrale and equally well suited for getting wherever it is you might decide to stay!

To twin1chrisssy: I'm not sure what bus you are speaking of. The "regular" bus is an Express (I think there are 2 companies--does one charge more than the other?) and is right outside Milano Centrale. Am I missing something?

To brucelegs: I don't know of any hotel shuttles from Milano tho some of the nearby hotels do offer such service. The last time I took a taxi was pre-Euro and was about $80, traffic was terrible in town just trying to get on the expressway.

There are two companies, anbd both companies' buses depart from right outside the Centrale station, on the right side of the station.

Yes, there are two companies - the Malpensa Shuttle and the Malpensa Express. The Express is not any faster, they are both non-stop. The Express is slightly more expensive possibly because they seemed to have newer, more comfortable buses.

If you want to save 1 Euro per ticket, take the Malpensa Shuttle. If cost is not an issue, take the first one to depart (Malpensa Shuttle v. Malpensa Express, both express airporter buses to/from Milano Stazione Centrale/Malpensa).

Let me also say that none of the buses is as fast or as comfortable as the train, and that if yo ares taying in the center of Milano, Cadorna station is far more handy. I live here and when I fly out of Malpensa I use the train: better value!