Hello! What is the recommended way to travel from Malpensa Airport to Menaggio via public transportation? I will be landing at 1220 on monday, 7/29 .
I will go on to Florence from there and would appreciate learning the best way for that as well.
Thank you very much!
Time necessary between legs to reach the next leg and where to purchase the Ferry ticket!!
Claudia,
You can take the Malpensa Express train from Malpensa Airport to Milano Centrale where you’ll take the Regionale train to Varenna. Once you arrive to Varenna, you can take a ferry to Menaggio.
After your visit in Menaggio, you’ll take the ferry to Varenna then the train to Milan ( Milano Centrale) where you’ll transfer to a train to Florence.
You can check train schedules on
Trenitalia.com.
You’ll need to type the names of the stations in Italian, and these are the ones you’ll need:
You can book your Varenna to Florence train tickets in advance (up to 120 days) at substancial savings.
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you Priscilla! Very clear and straightforward, much appreciated.
Peace, Claudia
I will be flying in from Paris, will I have to go through Customs and how much time should I allow for my train departure time?
From your other post it appears you will have been in Paris for several days. Therefore there is not customs or immigration/passport control to deal with when you arrive in Milan.
It would be like flying Seattle to Portland, as far as procedural formalities are concerned
Claudia,
Joe has answered your other question but I forgot to mention something.
You can buy your train tickets from Malpensa to Milano Centrale at the airport. I’m not 100% sure if you can also buy your tickets to Varenna at the airport or you may have to get them at Milano Centrale.
Either way, you will need to validate (date/ time) stamp these tickets prior to boarding the Malpensa Express train, and the Regionale train to Varenna, to avoid hefty fines.
Happy travels!
Edited to add...
One more thing, try to sit on the left side of the train on your way to Varenna for better views of the lake. The train journey will be a bit over an hour, and the train stops very briefly (1 - 2 minutes) once it arrives to Varenna. Make sure to get your stuff and be ready to disembark
when the train stops- you’ll see others doing the same.
There’s a tiny unmanned station in Varenna.
When you get off the train, you walk down to the ferry dock. Check google maps ( street view) to get a better idea.
When we visited Varenna we took a taxi to our hotel.
During your visit, do go back to Varenna and walk along the beautiful lakeside promenade, (left of the ferry dock when facing the lake) and enjoy a gelato at Gelateria Riva!
Enjoy!
Since both the Malpensa Express trains and the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino are operated Trenord, I see no reason why they would not sell them at the Malpensa ticket window, and there is also a Trenord ticket vending machine there as well.
Another way to Menaggio is to take the Malpensa Express train to Saronno and change to the train to Como Nord Lago station by the Como water front, then a ferry to Menaggio from there. Need to look at the ferry schedule. http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/doc/pdf/orari/como/NLC_Como_Colico_E2019_.pdf
Thanks Sam!
I’d forgotten this...
Since both the Malpensa Express trains and the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino are operated Trenord, I see no reason why they would not sell them at the Malpensa ticket window, and there is also a Trenord ticket vending machine there as well.
When we went to Varenna we were traveling from Verona (with a transfer at Milano Centrale)
I’ve only bought the Malpensa Express tickets at the airport.
Thanks again!
You can also take the train to Como and then the bus directly to Menaggio.
Thank you everyone for the great advice!
Further clarification please!: how long should I allow between train connections and where do I purchase the Ferry ticket?
Just buy a train ticket when you arrive at Malpensa airport train station to your rail destination, whether Varenna-Esino or Como Nord Lago. They will take care of the train transfer time. You can buy boat tickets at the dock.
Thank you Sam! I seem to always think that I have to do everything myself! This info is a great relief.
Peace!
The fastest way is probably via Varenna by train, then ferry from Varenna to Menaggio, as suggested above.
However I highly recommend that at least once (either going to or leaving Menaggio) you also try the fast ferry from Como to Menaggio (or Menaggio to Como).
The lake Como is shaped like a Y upside down. Each of the 3 legs is called branch (“ramo”): Lecco branch, Como branch, Domaso branch.
The Como branch is the most beautiful and should be seen from the boat.
