We will arrive in Milan via train from Bern, then to hotel at airport. We'll want to go back into the city for the evening, and thence back to airport hotel to leave the next morning. (I presume there are no Bern -MXP trains.)
Can we do this by train/transit, or do we use taxis?
Thanks.
You can take the Malpensa Express airport train or a bus or a taxi. A taxi is probably quicker outside of rush hour traffic
There is an hourly train from Lugano to Malpensa Airport, but Lugano is a little awkward to get to from Bern.
There are 5 direct buses from Domodossola, which is on the direct rail link from Bern to Milan.
The train to Cadorna station is only 37 minutes and goes every half hour. Cadorna is closest to the Duomo area of central Milan. Last train back to Malpensa is at 11:27 pm. Cost is 13 EUR pp each way.
Some international trains from Bern stop in Gallarate, that is only few kms. (by taxi or shuttle bus) from MXP. If you can arrange to travel on one of these trains, you would spare almost two hours. - You could also get out at Domodossola and board a regional train to Gallarate - it would still be the shortest itinerary, but regional trains are slow.
The Malpensa express train runs twice hourly (we just did this) and costs I believe 12 Euro. There are a couple of stations at MXP, stops at Milan Centrale. Takes roughly 50 minutes start to stop. Easy to find at Centrale, farthest left departure tracks, pretty well marked.
