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how to get from milan malpensa to varenna by train...

Will be arriving at MXP. Want to take train to Milan Centrale then transfer to a train to Verenna (on the east side of Lake Como). Can someone supply the details?

Posted by
32523 posts

Take the Malpensa Express and make sure that you don't get on the one to Cadorna. You want the one to Milano Centrale. It goes at xx:43 and xx:13.

Take the TreNord to Varenna-Esino, usually one per hour at xx:20 past each hour.

Get your return ticket when you get the outbound. There is no ticket office at the station at Varenna.

Posted by
72 posts

It is very easy, as Nigel says. Although there is no ticket office in Varenna, there is a travel agency in the train station building, where you can get tickets. They have regular hours and were open on Sunday, at least in September when we were there. FWIW, a sign on their door stated, if they were closed, you could buy tickets from the conductor on the train. Has anyone tried that?

Posted by
16028 posts

You can also buy print-at-home tickets from Milan to Varenna and back on the TreNord website before you leave home. Although you specify a time, they are not reserved seats and the ticket is good for six hours on that day. Saves waiting in line for a ticket machine at Milano Centrale, and. Trip to the travel agent in Varenna. We did this last week and it worked well.

http://www.trenord.it/EN/

Posted by
32173 posts

Nigel provided a good description of the route to get to Varenna. One important point to mention is that you MUST validate your tickets prior to boarding both the Malpensa Express and the train to Varenna on the day of travel. Failure to do that may result in hefty fines, which will be collected on the spot.

Regarding tickets, the easiest solution would probably be to take a few minutes when you arrive and buy all the tickets you'll need at the MXP rail station. The tickets don't become effective until validated. Don't validate early as they have a "shelf life" once they've been stamped of about six hours.

Posted by
57 posts

One important note...at Milano Centrale, you won't see "Milan Centrale to Varenna-Esino" on the train departure board.

You will see a train to Tirano. That's the train you want. Varenna-Esino is about half way to Tirano...so you just got off at that stop.