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Best way from MXP at 8:30 AM Sunday,to Monterosso?

Arriving MXP at 8:30 AM Sunday, need to get to Monterosso where we will be staying. Any advice? I've never been to Italy or even Europe. I'm concerned about being tired and confused, so I hope to have this figured out ahead of time.

Posted by
19630 posts

Take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale as soon as you get your luggage for 12 euro. At Milano Centrale, there is a train at 12:10 that will take you direct to Monterosso for 27.50 euro 2nd cl. That will get you to Monterosso in 3 hours.

Posted by
5187 posts

Mary,

You will take the 'Malpensa Express' train from Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale (Milan's Central train station- travel time 52 minutes) then you will transfer to a train that will take you to Monterosso. ( travel time 3 - 3.5 hours depending on which train(s) you choose)

Check train schedules on this website: http://www.trenitalia.com

Make sure you type the train stations in Italian:

MXP = Malpensa Aeroporto

Milan = Milano Centrale

Monterosso is the same.

Posted by
11294 posts

Just a caution. At MXP there are trains to two different stations, Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna; make sure you get a Milano Centrale train.

Posted by
14 posts

Thanks, everyone! This is extremely helpful!

Mary

Posted by
32171 posts

Mary,

A few additional comments.....

The Malpensa Express is a Regionale train so you MUST validate (time & date stamp) the ticket prior to boarding the train, or risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot. That's also true when using Buses, Metro, etc. THIS excellent website shows the older yellow validation machines (newer ones are green & gray). The trip to Milano Centrale will be ~52 minutes. You'll arrive at one of the "offset" tracks (Binario 1 / 2?) and will then have to walk into the main part of the station to find your next train.

You can buy tickets for both trains at the airport rail station, either from a Kiosk or staffed ticket office.

As it's your first time in Italy, you may be more comfortable using a direct train, rather than one with multiple changes (especially in a jet-lagged state). As Sam suggested, the direct departure at 12:10 is the first one you'll be able to use (travel time 2H:53M). As that train has compulsory seat reservations, you'll be assigned a Car No. (Carrozza) and a Seat No. (Posti). If you use that train, you'll have about a two hour wait at Milano Centrale. There are lots of restaurants there, so you could stop for a relaxing meal. Be sure to watch your luggage carefully, as there will likely be scammers wandering about looking for "opportunities".

If you'd like to arrive as soon as possible in Monterosso, there's an earlier train at 11:10, arriving Monterosso at 14:43 (time 3H:33M, 2 changes at Genova Piazza Principe and Genova Sturla). The latter two segments on that route are Regionale trains, so again you MUST validate prior to boarding the train. Changes are not difficult but in some cases involve hauling your luggage down stairs to a transfer tunnel and then up stair to the next platform. Packing light is an advantage!

Check the Trenitalia website for detailed information on the trains you'll be using. THIS video is a bit "erratic", but it will give you some idea what to expect at Milano Centrale.