I am worried about how I will get from Varenna to Milan for my 1030am flight back to the US. I will be leaving end of May. What time should I plan to be a the Milan airport? Is 2 hrs ahead enough time? Do I have to go thru customs/immigration in Milan or will that be when I arrive back in the US? If I have to go thru customs then I should probably allow more time I would think. How early does the regional train from Varenna depart? I think I have to take 2 seperate trains to get to the Milan airport. Is the connection close and easy to get to? How long would both trains take to get there? Should I plan on hiring a private driver instead? If so, any recommendations on who to use for that and what the cost might be for 2 people? Would appreciate any advice on this. Thank you
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You can find all train info at Trenitalia.com. You should be at the airport three hours ahead, you will have to change trains at Milano Centrale. Each leg of the trip takes about an hour, and you'll need time at the airport train station if you need to check bags. You'll go through security and passport control (perhaps more than once) at the airport.
I would spend the nigh before the flight in Milano or near the airport.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
There is a train at 5:37 to Milano Centrale that has a 15 minute change to Malpensa getting you to Terminal 1 by 7:46. That is a bare minimum for the time needed to make your flight. Safer would be to spend the night in Milan. You are depending on the train from Varenna to be right on time and running. Strikes happen, so you must stay informed if a strike could happen that day. They are always announced well ahead of time. If you are staying in Milan, you can also get a bus if the trains are not running. Its happened to me.
At Malpensa, you do have to check in at a special area all the way to the right in the building, and you need to go through a security line with a passport check and a boarding pass or other document showing you have a flight. Check your luggage there, then exit back into the main terminal and find your way to the gate, going through the Schengen exit line to get your passport stamped, then through security, then to your gate.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16709 posts
Patti, I think you'll get varying responses but personally I wouldn't stay in Varenna the night before a 10:30 AM international flight from Malpensa (if that's the airport you're flying out of). It's an hour or so to Milan by train, and then another 50 minutes or so by train from there to the airport. You''d also have to trust that there would be no issues with the train from Varenna-Esino to Milan; not a concern if staying in Milan...which is what I would do.
Just me, maybe, but I wouldn't feel comfortable being that far from the airport.
A driver would be very, very expensive from Varenna, and traffic would likely be a much slower go than by train.
You will go through immigration/customs at the your entry point into the U.S.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16209 posts
You should be at the airport by 8-8:30 at the very latest. You should spend the last night closer to the airport or at least in Milan. Varenna is too far, and it would be too risky if something goes wrong with the transfer. Besides why would you want to subject yourself to a 4am wake up call, when you can comfortably stay near the airport and wake up at 7am?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12054 posts
I will echo the others, stay near the airport your last night.
We stayed here when we had an AM flight from MXP, and would do so again.
Posted by
OP
Oregon, USA
115 posts
Thank you everyone for the input. Looks like I'll be staying in Milan the eve before the flight as lots could go wrong with getting there on time. Also won't have to get up so early. Good suggestion. Thanks again!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16709 posts
There are some interesting things to see in Milan so it won't be a waste of 1/2 a day at all.
Have a great trip!