3 hr layover in Milano Centrale

It is a train station. Rarely do I find any of them to be very exciting. Hop the subway to the Domma for a couple of hours - only two stops.

Donna, Milano Centrale is often very busy and chaotic, so I seriously doubt that you're going to "really enjoy it". I don't find it to be "scary" but you will have to be vigilant with your luggage. Since you've already bought your tickets, your choices are a bit limited. A few options you might consider.... > Stop for a long lunch. There are a few snack bars at track level, but more located two floors down by the ticket office. The WC's are one floor down from the tracks, but note these are "pay per use" - keep some 1€ coins at hand. > Store your luggage and take the Metro to the Duomo or Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele for an hour or so. One point to note - the Left Luggage office sometimes has a queue, so you'd need to be sure to leave enough time to retrieve your luggage. Missing your train would not be a pleasant experience! > If you're planning to pack along a book or E-Book Reader, have a hot meal and then read for awhile. There are some benches on one side in the hall where the tracks are located. However, last time I was there, there were TV's set up in that area with blaring commercials (very annoying!). Happy travels!

Donna, shopping is better at Milano Centrale than at most train stations. Posters are right about the left luggage lines being long. You would have time to take the Metro to the Duomo (you can take an elevator to the upper level, entrance is from the street outside the Duomo).

Thanks everyone - I do like your ideas - sounds like checking the luggage and seeing a few sights might be a possibility....is the luggage check secure? I would hate to think that something might be stolen. I have not purchased my tickets out of Milan yet - still looking for a better alternative - I have considered going to Lugano - Lucerne - Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen: as this would only be an hour layover, but I wouldn't arrive any earlier in the end - just more time on the train - which might be pleasant. Anyway - thanks for your help - I have a scary and overwhelming vision of train stations - I have no actual experience though :)
Donna

Donna, Since you haven't bought any tickets yet, that opens up lots of possibilities. Could you provide further information on where you'll be coming from and which destination you want to go to? A three hour layover may not be necessary after all, so the suggestions on what to do for three hours would be a "moot point". Cheers!

Hi Ken - any suggestions would be much appreciated. We are arriving in Milano Centrale from Venice on July 20th at 14:25. That ticket is already bought and set. We are trying to get to Lauterbrunnen from there as we have already paid for the night of July 20 in a chalet there. I have found options of a three hr layover than leaving for Brig, or a 4 hr layover before a train to Speiz. Maybe I am missing something?
Thanks for helping :)

Donna, if you are willing to make extra changes on the way, there is a regional train to Domodossola at 15:20. You would change trains ther, then at Brig, Spiez, and Interlaken Ost and arrive at Lauterbrunnen around 20:20. Or you could take the route via Lugano and Luzern, which is longer but more scenic. You would change trains at Arth-Goldau, Luzern, and Interlaken Ost. The Swiss rail site, rail.ch, is a good place to look for these routes and schedules.

Lola - thank you! I had not found that on my search, but going back and plugging in Domodosola, it did come up. I think that is what I will do - it gets us to Lauterbrunnen a full hour earlier :) I don't like waiting to buy tickets - I was hoping to get it all set, but since it is a regional train I guess I have to wait..... Do I just wait till that day or can I buy them in Venice a few days ahead? I don't think I will be taking a computer, so no way to online book. Thanks again!
Donna

You could buy in Venice a day or so ahead, or even the day of travel but that might be rushed. Remember with a Regional ticket you must stamp it. How are you traveling in Switzerland? If with a Swiss Pass or Swiss Card, coverage starts at Domodossola.

Thanks again Lola :) I would like to buy the tickets in Venice - and hope there is no train delay...ha ha that would be my luck! As for the Swiss travel - I considered the Swiss Card, but I think I will just go with the half off card - I checked the fare from Domdossola and it was only 29SF - so I thought that was pretty cheap. Our way out is to Bacharach Germany and the fare wasn't much for that either - so I don't think it warrants a Swiss Card. Thanks so much for your help!
Donna