Traveling in June- landing in Malpensa Airport from Paris at 3:30 pm- want to go directly to Stresa but looks like Alibus is at 6:30 pm? How long will it take to go thru immigration (US citizen) approx, and is it better and more economical to wait for bus at $12 euros a person rather than take a train? Is there a train that does not go to Milano Centrale first? Need advice please .
Thanks in advance
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Take a look at the Trenitalia website:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Looks like you can get to Stresa from Malpensa with the airport train connecting at Centrale to a regional train. Seems this connection works best at 15:44 and 17:44; the one at 16:07 takes an hour longer. Because these are regional trains, they don't need to be bought in advance. (But must be purchased BEFORE you board the train!) If you have a working smart phone, you can buy tickets online and display on your phone (seems Androids can use the Trenit app but iPhones not so easily; try the Trainline.eu app if you have an iPhone).
So...if you make the 15:44, that would be ideal. Yes, it's quite possible you could make it. You won't have to go through immigration again if you started in Paris - so it should be doable if your flight is on time. Checking bags increases the chance of a delay of course.
Can't help you with buses. Could be there's a direct bus, but I usually stick to trains unless they just don't work well.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
If you're flying from Paris, then you won't need to go through immigration again in Milan.
Sometimes there's a chance to connect at Busto Arsizo or Gallarate but the direct Trenord trains from Malpensa to those stops don't run as often and might not work for your afternoon arrival; see http://www.trenord.it/en/timetable/timetable.aspx and http://www.trenord.it/media/2155431/regionale_2018_a4_v00d.pdf.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16206 posts
If you go by train the faster option is to take a taxi to nearby town of Gallarate, to the train station (about 10-15 min by taxi from the airport). From there any train going north to Domodossola or beyond, will stop in Stresa (about 30 min train ride from Gallarate).
Check timetable:
www.trenitalia.com
from GALLARATE
to STRESA.
The bus is of course cheaper, because the taxi alone to Gallarate can be easily 20-25€, but if you miss the bus, and don’t want to wait hours for the next, you have options.
Posted by
OP
USA
423 posts
Hello ,
Thanks for all the great advice- upon further research I found out I can take a bus from Malpensa Airport to Gallarate Train Station and take a Regional train to Stresa- that works better with my timetable in case of a delay, ect.
GALLARATE
Departs from: Terminal 1 floor 1/ Railway station
From: 05:34, 06:05 *, 06:45, 07:15, 07:56, 08:29, 09:00, 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:15. S, 12:50S, 13:13 S, 13:53 S, 15:30, 16:28, 17:38, 18:45, 19:50*
Every day () from Monday to Friday /(*) from Monday to Saturday/(S) school term time
Duration: 25 minutes
Cost: Terminal 1 €1.80/Terminal 2 – €1.60, Tickets can be bought on the bus
For more details telephone SACO +39.0331.25841