I will be traveling to Italy in June or mid to late September or early October (depending on whether friends will be able to join us.)

We are going to land in Milan and plan to visit Venice and Zermatt in the 14 days that we are there. How should we break up our time between these three areas? (I am assuming we will need to plan for approximately 2 days in total travel time between areas.)

Also, we will be traveling by train. I have read about the train systems and it seems a bit confusing. Any suggestions on the best/easiest and most painless way to travel by train?

Finally, should I be about learning some Italian before I go? If so, any suggestions on books, web sites, etc?

Hi Prilla-

It seems to me a strange itinerary with flying into Milan but visiting Venice & Zermatt, which are at opposite directions from Milan. You will be spending a lot of time backtracking.

But to answer your question directly, the impeccable Swiss Rail website is
www.sbb.ch
Train traveling in Switzerland is a joy. It is the epitome of "most painless way to travel by train".

For train schedules in Italy, go to
www.trenitalia.com

Yep, the itenarary is a bit inconvenient but it's a long weird story that I'm sure you don't want to hear. Thanks for the info!

I would recommend that you spend more time in Venice than in Zermatt, unless you are an avid alpine hiker. Zermatt has great views of the alps, and you can travel up on a tram for even better views, but I think there is much more to do in Venice (palaces, museums, concerts, better food, shopping. It would probably be helpful to practice some common phrases and bring along a small dictionary. Trains are very easy, you can purchase tickets by machine with a credit card at each station if you wish, or at travel agencies in Europe, or allow extra time to wait in line at the train stations. I would also consider other locations in Italy, and stay away from Milan, excepts for maybe 2 days.

Hi

My wife and I went to Italy in June last year. We stayed in Milan for a few days before we took a train to Venice. I have posted a trip report with pictures on my personal homepage gardkarlsen.com Maybe you can find some useful information there. Have a great trip and get in touch if you have any questions.

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Thanks to everyone for the advice and info. What about Milan? How many days should we set aside there?

One day in Milan, if you must. I'd just as soon land and then jump on a train and head to Venice.

Prilla-

If you want to see Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper in Milan, you HAVE to reserve ahead of time.

The train travel in Italy is not that bad to arrange. If you know generally which days you will be travelling, you can go to the trenitalia site and look up the schedules. Print out the one that you like the best and take it with you - show it to the person at the window in the train station and you'll be more confident in getting exactly what you want.

I have a similar question. I'm arriving at Milan Malpensa and I want to get to Zermatt the easiest way possible. Seems like it should be easy to find out how to get from airport to the right train station and figure out schedules from there... but I've spent a lot of time looking and can't find what I need to know: From Malpensa, what is the best train station to catch a train to Zermatt? How do I get to that station from the airport? I'd sure appreciate any information!

Hi prilla,

Take the shuttle bus from Malpensa to Milan Central station.

From there you take the train to Zermatt, with a change in Brig.

See http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de

Sorry,

That should have been addressed to Juana.

Hi Ira.

Yes, I know I could go back into Milan and then back out again to Zermatt.... but there must be a way to catch a train without the extra backtrack in the opposite direction What is the station closest to malpensa to catch the train that begins at Milan Central? Anybody know? I can find the route from Milan Central to zermatt, but nothing that tell me what station to head for to intercept the train!

If Malpensa is supposed to be the big international connection airport, they could certainly improve the information they provide about going anywhere except into Milan!!

Joan

Juana39, I have always used the Malpensa airport commuter bus to go to/from the airport and Milano Centrale train station. Perhaps you are thinking of the other Milan airport, Linate? I am not familiar with that airport as all the major air carriers (UA, Lufthansa, American, etc.) fly into Malpensa.

If you decide to take the Malpensa shuttle bus into Milan, at the baggage claim/exit level, you can buy a ticket from the ticket counters near the door/street exit (they sell bus, shuttle tickets, convert currency, etc). Go outside the terminal and look for the large white Malpensa bus. The bus leaves every hour and takes approx. 50 minutes to get into Milan and delivers you right in front of the train station to catch your next train out.

juana39: from your post I think you might be a little confused - Milano Centrale IS the closest rail station to Malpensa, and Ira's post is correct. Take the shuttle bus from the airport to the train station.

Ok-- I'm looking at my Michelin map of Italy. Malpensa airport is quite a long way (29 miles) northwest of the city of Milan. Brig and then on to Zermatt are even further north west. Why would I go southeast into Milan and then back past Malpensa to get Zermatt? I see on the map a listing for Gallarate very close to Malpensa Airport, which according to SBB Online is also on the route from Milan Centrale to Zermatt. It's Milan Centrale, Busto Arsizio, Gallarate, Sesto Calende, etc... eventually Brig.

I'm pretty positive that I don't have to go into Milan and then back over the same route, but several of you have told me that, so maybe I'm really missing something here?? It looks like Gallarate is the stop closest to Malpensa. Is there any reason not to go directly there to get the same train that originates at Milan Centrate instead of a 60 mile round trip into Milan to get back to the same station????

Joan

My advice is simple - take the train by scenic lake Como to Tirano and then take the great train ride to St Moritz - part cograil twisting through magnificent country. We enjoyed that journey more so than the Glacier Express. From St Moritz to Zermatt, instead of the Glacier Express, you can work up the same routing at much less cost by consulting the Swiss or DB Rail web sites.

I wish I could! Unfortunately, I have to go first to Zermatt... and apparently that's not easy to do. I think I've found that the answer to my question is Gallarate station is closest to Malpensa... but I remain curious why others recommending going first into Milan Central. Anyway, thanks.

Joan