arriving p.m. Milan and going to CT same day or next?

I've been thinking through this, too, (only going to Lake Como after flying in) and ultimately decided to spend the first night in Milan. It always takes me a day or two to find my "travel legs" so I thought it would be best to spend the first crazy night in Milan and then head up to Como fresh, first thing the next morning. I also thought about this because in the event of a flight delay it wouldn't be a big deal to arrive later in Milan. I dug around on Venere.com and found a budget pension for 55 euros a night (but I think these places go fast!). If you have limited time, though, I would probably head straight for the CT...who wants to miss that for Milan? ;-)

A tradeoff. Malpensa airport is so far away from milan that it seems easier to head directly south. There are buses from airport to, for instance, navarro, from where you can catch train south to genoa. Or you can take the bus all the way to genoa. Going in to milan on express train (ride time 30 minutes)is 9 or 11 euro and does not put you by the central station, but rather on west side at cordona station. There are buses that take you to milan's central station. There is no train heading south from the airport. Only train out of the airport is the express to milan's cordona station.

Chere,

We are flying into Milan Malpensa and then planning on going straight to the Cinque Terre. We arrive around 8 in the morning though.

What I've read on other posts is to take a shuttle (bus) from Malpensa to Central Station. Here's a website someone provided on an earlier post:

http://www.malpensashuttle.it/e-default.htm

There are two IC Plus trains that go from Milan to Monterosso in the middle of the day. The IC Plus has fewer stops. These two trains will stop in Genoa but you won't have to change trains. The journey will take 3 hours.

thanks to all of you for the tips. I tried to find the train schedule on Deutsche's Bahn's web page but couldn't wade through it all and I know a lot of the smaller train routes aren't listed. I emailed the B and B I am staying in in Vernazza with this questions, so maybe she will know. We arrive Milan at 1:35 p.m. so if anything, we might take the tip to do the bus right from the airport to Genoa, get a good nights sleep and head out in the morning. Thanks everyone, ciao!

after researching Rail Italy from Larry's tips here, I have found that from the central station in Milan (taking a shuttle from Malpensa) I can go by train in about 3 hours to La Spezia and then the milk run to Vernazza goes about every hour until past 10 even in October! I should be able to pull this off. I think we will go for this, we can nap on the train and wake up to the Cinque Terre!

Larry,

We fly into Malpensa around 8 am, were planning to take the shuttle to Milan Central Train Station, and then take the train to Monterosso, where we are staying. There IS a train that goes direct from Milan Central to Monterosso? Do you know where I can find a timetable to see when that train runs? And should/can I get a reservation?

Thanks!

Amanda...there are several trains a day from Milan Central to Monterosso, some of them direct via ICPlus (run time just under three hours, cost about 21 Euro second class). You can find schedules, and book tickets at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html. Register first as a customer.

Amanda, there is a train leaving Milan Centrale at 11:10am for Monterosso. However, you will need to change trains twice during the journey - once in Genoa and once in Sestri. Total travel time is 3hrs 09mins hours. Or, there is a train leaving at 12:10 with no train changes but it does stop in Genoa. Not a big whoop. Travel time is 2hrs 52min.

Let's see if I can try the link Link

I'm trying to learn how to hyperlink on RS pages. If it works, you will see the word link. If not, you will see the entire link embedded between the quote marks. Larry

Yea, it works. Just click on "Link" and you'll see the schedule. Larry

THANKS EVERYONE! You were all so helpful and I feel much more confident about getting there!!!

There is a direct train at 12:10 - The IC 653 (Fausto Coppi). No train changes. Arrives 15:02. We are taking the same trip, arriving in Milan at 9am. Shuttle to Cardona Station and metro to Centrale to pick up the train.