I'm mainly trying to find out about going from Milan to a hotel near the Malpensa Airport. Can anyone tell me how close we can get by train? I'd rather not pay for a taxi all the way. I'm also curious and would like opinions. I figured my last day in Rome we could take the Metro to Ostia Antica in the morning, head back to get the train in Rome for Venice late with some sandwiches for dinner (or the dining car, that'll work.) Does anybody think that's a good idea or should I scrap and either leave for Venice early or find something else to do. I'm going with my parents and my mother always wanted to see Pompeii but I figure Ostia Antica is a good compromise.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I believe there is a train that will take you from the central train station in Milan to Malpensa. The train from Rome to Venice is only a few hours (maybe 5). Don't count on a "dining car," but there will probably be a snack bar where you can buy sandwiches and such. I would recommend taking your food with you, if possible. In my opinion, you will be packing a lot into one day on the Rome-Ostia Antica-Venice day. Ostia Antica is not much like Pompeii. If you can arrange a day trip (maybe with a driver) from Rome to Pompeii, that might work.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32815 posts
I can't see you doing a last day in Rome, and a day at Ostia Antica, and the trip up to Venice, and a day discovering Venice, and its transportation system, finding your hotel and getting checked in, and getting to St Marks, and settling in for the dueling orchestras -=- all in just one day. You can't take the Metro to Ostia Antica. You take the Metro (or buses, or another train) to Metro Piramide (sp?) and then change to a train to the coast. I can't disagree with Swan because we chose to skip Pompeii and spend the time at Ostia Antica. It is a HUGE place with hundreds and hundreds of partially intact structures. Remember it was a Roman city and most of it is still there. We found it tiring because there is so much to see and do. We got there about 1 pm and they threw us out when it closed for the day - we'd seen maybe half of it. I ran through our video the other day, it brought back so many good memories. By the way, Ostia Antica being on the coast and further north than Pompeii we found the weather not bad. We stayed most of a week in Campagna so we thought that Pompeii would be too hot for us. The train from Roma Termini to Venice Santa Lucia runs about hourly (at xx:45) and takes about 3:48. According to this printout, snacks and beverages are available. Me, I'd go to the supermarket downstairs at Termini and pack a bag of food. An example: Roma Termini Mo, 21.02.11 dep 14:45 ES 9416 EuroStar Italia Subject to compulsory reservation, Global price, Snacks and beverages available, space for wheelchairs Firenze S.M.N. dep 16:30 Bologna Centrale dep 17:10 Padova dep 18:07
Venezia Mestre Venezia Santa Lucia Mo, 21.02.11 arr 18:33 I think its all too much in one day. I'll let others speak about Malpensa.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
For those who can't make it to Pompeii, Ostia Antica is indeed a good compromise. It's also very pleasant since it's not overrun by tourists.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Most of the hotels near the Malpensa airport have shuttles. Take the train or bus from Milan to the airport and call your hotel from the airport to come and pick you up.
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
Personally, I think this is not a good idea. Since this is your last day I would not venture too far away in case something happens, like a sudden rail strike, and you miss your flight home. Second, all you will really see is the inside of some form of transport while you are going from one point to another. Distances are not any shorter in Europe than they are here. Thirdly, you are not familiar with the locations of places or how to effectively use public transportation. A suggestion would be to check enjoyrome.com for a non-frills trip to Pompeii. We used them several years ago and it was satisfactory. Both Ostai and Pompeii are immense and you need a minimum of 4 hours to walk around. Buon viaggio,