Milan Malpensa Airport to Varenna by train

This is a question that seems to come up frequently on the Forum. Getting from MXP to Varenna is very straightforward (I assume you're arriving at Terminal 1 on a flight from the U.S.?).

Here's the route to follow.....

• After you've collected your luggage and gone through Passport control, head to the airport rail station and buy tickets from MXP to Milano Centrale on the Malpensa Express and also Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. You may also want to buy your outbound tickets from Varenna, as the rail station there is not staffed (although there is a local travel agency that sells tickets).
• Go to the departure platform and locate the Malpensa Express. Note that there are two trains going to either Milano Centrale or Milano Cadorna. Be sure to board the Centrale train!
• Prior to boarding, validate you ticket (time & date stamp) in the machine. Failure to do so may result in a hefty fine!
• The trip is about 52 minutes. When you arrive at Milano Centrale, locate your train to Varenna on the electronic board. Your train may have a destination of Tirano or Sondrio listed, rather than Varenna. That's the correct train. If in doubt, ask an official.
• Prior to boarding the train to Varenna, validate your ticket for that segment (again, hefty fines)!
• The trip to Varenna is 1H:03M. You'll go through a tunnel just prior to arrival. Be ready to disembark promptly, as the train doesn't stop for long. I'd suggest sitting on the left (when facing forward) as that provides the best views of the lake.

Regarding validating tickets, that's necessary on Regionale trains as well as Buses, Metro, etc. It's not necessary on the "fast" trains such as Freccia or InterCity, as those trains have compulsory seat reservations which are specific to train, date and departure time. The tickets for the fast trains can ONLY be used on the ONE train specified on the ticket, and therefore validation is not required.

(I must remember to prepare a "boilerplate" on this question).

Thank you so much, Ken. You have made it very clear and easy. Now I can relax!
Claire

Hello Claire,

Re Ken’s last dot point;

The stop before Varenna Esino is Lecco – the trip from Lecco to Varenna is approximately 21 minutes so set your watch and get your luggage ready.

As Ken says you need to be waiting at the door & be ready to get off as the train pulls in – the Trenitalia time table indicates a 1 minute stop.

Hello,
I've read that alternatively you can take a train or bus to Saronno from Milano Malpensa and then switch at Saronno to a train to Como, and from there catch a ferry across to Varenna - which sounds like a very scenic route and avoids going in and out of Milano.
Has anyone used this way before, does it take a similar time?
It's always handy to have another option when you're traveling

greta,

While that route may be possible, it will take longer and be more of a hassle (train changes, getting to the docks, etc.). It most definitely wouldn't be my choice after coming off a long international flight in a jet lagged state. The method I suggested earlier is the quickest, simplest and more direct route to Varenna (AFAIK).

While these trains are not reflected through some usual train schedule resources, they are at www.trenitalia.com and www.trenord.it. The timings in the Milan and Lake Como chapters of Rick's Italy guidebook were also up-to-date when I checked them earlier this spring.