Hello. I am going on a RSE 17 Day Tour of Italy in September. I am so excited as this has been a dream of mine. I have never traveled Internationally and will be going solo until I meet the group in Varenna. So I have a couple of questions. What is the easiest and safest way to get from MXP to Milan City proper? I will be arriving at MXP from SFO in the afternoon. Then after the tour, I will be staying in Rome overnight then heading to the airport (FCO) early the next morning. Should I hire a driver or what should I do to guarantee I will be at the airport on time for my flight back to SFO. Thanks in advance for your comments/suggestions.
Posted by
North Carolina
2502 posts
Congratulations on your first foreign travel! The trains are your friend. If you look at the Trenitalia website, you’ll see trains from the airport to the main train station every few minutes. The main station in Milan is Milano Centrale, and in Rome, is Roma Termini.
Posted by
Freedonia
16496 posts
From MXP, take the Malpensa Express direct to Milano Centrale (rail station.)
From Rome Termini (rail station), take the Leonardo Express to FCO.
Or you can take a taxi from your hotel to FCO for a fixed rate of 48 Euros. (If the rate has changed, someone will chime in.)
Posted by
Minnesota
579 posts
When it gets closer to your tour date, RSE will send you detailed instructions for how to travel between the airport and your hotel. Usually these instructions include cheaper options (like public transportation) and more expensive options (like cabs). At the end of the tour, the guide will often help people arrange transportation (for instance, sharing a cab). Also, the hotel can help arrange a very early morning taxi. RS guidebooks also have good information about your options. Have fun!
Posted by
Huntsville, TX, USA
319 posts
The fact that you are traveling alone makes the Malpensa Express and the Leonardo Express trains good options. Knowing these tours frown on over packing you will likely have very little luggage. I would suggest that you look at some YouTube videos to familiarize yourself with the train stations. Your first time traveling internationally can be a little overwhelming but if you utilize the resources out there you can assuage that uneasiness. If you decide to hire a driver I would suggest www.suntransfers.com. I have used them both to and from MXP and FCO and have never had an issue. Good luck!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16168 posts
The Malpensa Express trains go to 2 stations:
MILANO CADORNA
MILANO CENTRALE
Milano Cadorna trains get there faster and Milano Cadorna is close to the Castello Sforzesco (near the Duomo). If you plan to stay to visit Milan first and your hotel happens to be in the Duomo area, you should take the Malpensa Express to Cadorna station.
If you plan to go to Varenna right away, then you need to take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale. The MXP Express to Centrale takes about 15-20 min longer to get to destination, but since the Tirano Regional train (for Varenna) departs from Centrale, you need to go to Centrale.
You should also take the train to Centrale if you stay in a hotel near Centrale.