public transportation from Malpensa Intl. to Varenna

Easy Peasy. Take the train or bus from the airport to Milan main station. From there you will find frequent train connections to Varenna. It’s a lovely town. Enjoy!

Train from airport to Milano Centrale station. Change trains to Varenna.

bob,

You'll first have to travel from MXP to Milano Centrale using the Malpensa Express (train). You can buy tickets at the airport and there should also be at least a Kiosk to buy tickets for the ongoing trip to Varenna (it's been awhile since I travelled that route, so can't remember). The station is officially called Varenna-Esino. The trip takes about 52 minutes and the train will arrive on Binario (track) 1 or 2 in the corner of the station. You'll have to walk from there into the main hall to find your next train. The Malpensa Express is a Regionale so DON'T forget to validate your tickets prior to boarding the train or you'll be subject to hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! Also note that the Malpensa Express has two routes, one going to Milano Centrale and one to Milano Cadorna. BE SURE to board the right train!

If you bought a ticket for the train to Varenna at the airport, check the large display boards to determine which track no. it's departing from. Note that the departures board may not show "Varenna", but rather Tirano or Sondrio. Varenna is an intermediate stop on that line. Again, don't forget to validate the ticket prior to boarding the train. I'd suggest sitting on the left side of the train (when facing forward) for the best views. Travel time is 1H:03M. You'll go through a tunnel just prior to arrival in Varenna. Make sure you're familiar with the door release mechanism, an be prepared to disembark promptly as the train doesn't stop for long.

To add to Ken's excellent reply.

Where ever you buy your tickets to Varenna be sure to buy your return tickets. There are no ticket facilities in Varenna.

Make sure you get off at Milano Centrale, not Milano Garibaldi as some trains stop there first.

There is a travel agency close to Varenna-Esino train station that sells all kind of tickets. Plus a tobacconists shop on the main street that sells Regionale trains tickets.

To add to Dario's post, yes there are the ticket resources he has listed; you just have to make sure to buy your tickets when they're open and don't wait until the last minute, lest you need to get on a train at an hour/day when they may be closed.