Train Travel in Italy
 

My sister and I are planning a trip to Italy next April and we are having trouble finding information on train travel in/out of Milan Airport.

When we arrive into Milan Airport, we need to travel to Como.

When we depart from Milan, we will be coming from Vernazza (Cinque Terre) on a Sunday late afternoon. We are staying at an airport hotel and flying out on Monday morning.

Also, would appreciate thoughts on Milan Airport hotels??

Thanks so much. I am sure I will be back with more travel questions.

Did you go to this website looking for train info?

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

(I hope that worked)

I believe you need to put the Italian words even though it is an English language website. I would put Malpensa to see if that works.

Oh, yeah, just pick random dates (same weekday though) to get an IDEA of the frequency and price of the trips. The april schedule is probably not up.

I don't know anything about Como or what station to go into but hopefully you have already found that info (maybe in a guidebook)

From Malpensa you will need to take the transfer bus into central Milan which will put you right at the train station. Trains to Como are pretty regular and about an hours ride.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I have been to the website and did not find anything specifically for Malpensa Airport. I was hoping to avoid going into Milan first.

I think there is a bus service from Malpensa to Como and I will look further into that.

On my return from Vernazza, I may have to go through Milan Central first and then connect to airport.

Assuming you're arriving at Malpensa, trenitalia isn't the wrong site for getting to Como.

Ferrovie Nord - an independent railway company - operate the trains to Malpensa, and also have a separate railway line to Como Lago. You don't need to go into Milan for this: change at Saronno. www.ferrovienord.it

Or get the bus: details at the Malpensa website

I meant: Trenitalia is the WRONG site for getting from Malpensa to Como

Hi MG - Your quickest route by train will normally be the Malpensa Express via Saronno.
At Saronno you have to change train to Como.

For timetables Malpensa-Saronno see:
http://www.malpensaexpress.it/en/index.php

For timetables Saronno-Como see:
http://tinyurl.com/3eeyzn

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. The Malpensa Airport website for public transport connections is:

http://tinyurl.com/5k3f8q

I have taken the Como to Malpensa bus - it runs frequently (though perhaps i remember something recently about it being reduced?)

anyway takes you right to the boat dock in Como

The Como-Malpensa bus no longer runs, unfortunately :(.

The service was suspended earlier this year.
http://www.sptcomo.it/

Steve

But, I think there is still a MXP to Menaggio bus twice daily--do you know for sure, Steve?

So is the town of Como your final destination on Lake Como? If not, a train to Varenna or a bus to Menaggio might make more sense.

If you are not familiar with taking trains in Italy, there's a really informative article at Slow Travel: www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

I hope no one will be terribly offended if I point out that many people in this thread are offering advice without really knowing what the travel options are. One does NOT have to go into Milano to get a train connection or a bus connection to Como. Steve James has offered excellent advice for getting to the town of Como on Lago di Como by train from Malpensa. Other destinations on the lake can be reached by bus.

mgiuliano,

Are you sure you want to stay at an airport hotel the night before your departure? Malpensa airport does not have an in-airport hotel. Some of the hotels near the airport advertise free shuttles, but many are hard to reach without going to the airport first, sometimes the shuttles don't operate early in the morning, and often the hotels are isolated from restaurants. Plus, they are seldom bargains.

Staying in Milano can be pricey, but you can easily and cheaply get to the airport by either bus or train quite early in the morning. You will only spend about a half hour longer doing so than if you stay at an airport hotel. And you can find wonderful restaurants in Milano, some of the best in Italy, as well as sights to enjoy in the afternoon before your departure.

If you don't like big cities, you can reach the town of Stresa on Lago Maggiore via a train connection through Milano on your way back from le Cinque Terre. There is a regular bus connection from Stresa to Malpensa Airport that is available quite early in the morning, is cheap and takes about 50 minutes.

You can use tripadvisor and Venere to find hotels in Stresa. Ask your hotel to book a reservation on the airport bus for you.

zeppole - What's the link for the bus between Stressa and Malpensa?

The schedule is on the Malpensa airport site, listed under Lago Maggiore:

http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/en...=come_arrivare

By the way, in my own post I implied that there is bus service to destinations on Lago di Como from Malpensa. There are no direct, one-seat connections as far as I know.

The First Hotel is very near MXP and has a wondeful trattoria right next door. They also have a dependable shuttle service and are a 4 star property. We have stayed there and liked it.

Bob - The MXP-Menaggio service is suspended too.

There used to be several buses daily between the airport and Como town - a couple of which then continued to Menaggio.
No more ... :(

There is however the regular SPT bus service Como-Menaggio-Colico (- connecting all the towns on the west side of the lake).

Steve

How does one get to the First Hotel without a car?

Bus to the terminal and call the hotel for shuttle pick up. Airport hotels are used to that.

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