Is it difficult to change trains in Milan…how much time will I need?

We did the oppposite 8 years ago and I remember no problems. See what the man in seat61 has to say: https://www.seat61.com/stations/milan-centrale.htm.

Milano Centrale is an “end station” where the trains pull in to a stopping point, where there is a large lobby area connecting all the platforms. From the platform where you get off your train from Varenna, you walk toward the front of the train ( follow everyone else) and you will reach the area with the signboard announcing the train departures and the track numbers. Wait for your train to be posted and then note the track number and walk there—it is all on the same level, no need to go down below to cross under the tracks. The one problem is that it can be very crowded, so just be patient.

I would be comfortable with 15-20 minutes between trains, but it is always possible you incoming train will be late and that could make it tight. We are in Italy now, and while some trains have been on time, others have run 5-10 minutes late.

It is important to know the number of the next train you are catching, and the final destination, as that is the destination that will be listed on the signboard.

And it’s helpful to stand up and wait near the train door five minutes before the train arrives at Milano Centrale, so you can exit quickly.

@Lola, Thanks for your advice. In October, we will be going through Milano Central a few times to Varenna, Stresa, Kastelruth, and finally back to Rome. Most scheduled transfers have plenty of time between trains but 1 has only 5 minutes. At the moment, I’m not booking any trains so I may have to factor in time to find and purchase the tickets. First run will be Bologna to Varenna which shows 5 minutes to transfer and if we miss it, the next train is an hour later. Then we would find a coffee shop to wait and the seat61 link earlier has lots of good info.

since the train goes head first to the end of the track on arrival in Milano Centrale, if you are concerned try to get a seat on the train from Varenna towards the first couple of cars on the train so your walk is shorter.

The track numbers in Milano Centrale are simple - completely in order sequentially. Each board and screen will have the train number and destination, along with platform number. Know your train number and final destination.

Find your train number and platform and just walk to that number and get on.

The station is in fact very large but changing platforms is simple there.

We found Milan to be easy. No stairs was nice. I wouldn't feel comfortable with five minutes to change but strategically seating and queuing up early to get off the train at the station would definitely help. I agree that knowing the train number and the end destination makes all the difference when watching the train boards. Also, remember the station that comes before yours to give you a head-up on when to get ready to get off. There's a lot of stops in Cinque Terra and the train doesn't stay for long.

Most scheduled transfers have plenty of time between trains but 1 has only 5 minutes

which shows 5 minutes to transfer

On trenitalia.com? It's strange, Trenitalia's official transfer time to have a protected connection at Milano Centrale is 15 minutes (or more).

Even if you are transferring into a Regionale train and you don't really need a protected connection, the official site shouldn't show impossible transfers. 5 minutes is a very little time in Milano Centrale.

Milano Centrale is very large, but you don't have to exit the tracks area (and start shopping around) if you don't need to.