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Timing - Getting to Cinque Terre from Milan

Posted by (Chicago) on

Hello, My boyfriend and I plan on taking the train from the Milan Central Station to the Cinque Terre. It is to my understanding that there is a shuttle at the airport to take us to the station...

I am a bit nervous about booking our train tickets, as I am not quite sure how much time I should allow after landing to get baggage and shuttle to make the train. My same concern lies with the return, as we will have to leave the CT very early to factor in the 3-3/2 hour train ride back to Milan and then to the airport.

Is there a seamless approach to this itinerary? We arrive in Milan at 8:35 am on our arrival day and leave Milan at 12 noon on our departure day.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Posted by
48 posts

Rebecca, I think I would know my options for trains to the CT on your arrival date but not buy tickets. This way, if there are any delays or other complications, you can be very flexible and not miss your train and buy new tickets. On the return, I would think about returning to Milan the day before your flight out and try to see some sites in Milan - if you have that flexibility. Things to see include the Duomo, Shopping and Last Supper. Of course this depends upon your flexibility. I have used the trains many times but there are others that know the trains better than me that may have a different opinion.

Posted by
6898 posts

As a note, it would be soooooo helpful if you provided your dates of travel and the CT town of your destination. If this info is not a secret to you, it shouldn't be one kept from us on the site (who can help). Some of the CT towns get fewer trains than others.

Next, it is so easy to buy train tickets from Milan Centrale to the CT that it way outweighs to risk of buying them in advance and missing your train if your plane is late.

The bus run from Malpensa to Milan Centrale is just over an hour. Figure that you won't be able to do anything at Milan Centrale until 10:30am except to buy your train tickets (hopefully at the self-service kiosk). CLICK HERE to see a typical train schedule for 8/20 to Monterosso.

For your return, I've seen this question before. You have to leave quite early from the CT to get to Milan in time to take the bus back to the airport. Your train from the CT cannot leave any later than 5:30am to get you to Milan by 8:30. And, there are variables. The train from Vernazza leaves at a different time than Monterosso which is why we need to know where you will originate in the CT. Also, are you traveling on Sunday? Schedules can be slightly different on Sunday.

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