Train from Malpensa Airport to Milan Centrale station...

Posted by TS (Orange County, CA, USA) on 12/01/13 02:39 PM

We're arriving at Malpensa Airport on an international flight on a Monday in April around 6:15pm with 2 children. At this point, based on the posts below and some additional research, I'm leaning towards taking the Malpensa Express over the regional trains since there are no connections. Can anyone confirm if a ticket on the Malpensa Express "guarantees" a seat?

Based on my arrival time, any suggestions as to what would be a "safe" train time to take? 6:43pm or 7:43pm? If I miss the time on the Malpensa Express ticket do I have to buy a new one? Seems like the tickets are good for 60 days so I could take the 7:43pm train if I miss the 6:43pm train, correct?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/mxp-to-florence-trains

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/trains-from-milan-airport-to-florance

Posted by stan

The Heartland USA

12/01/13 03:47 PM

9079 posts

TS this is simple. Take the Malpensa Express-the one to Milano Centrale, not Cadorna. Buy your ticket when you arrive at airport, and get on the next one available. Think of it as more like a local subway train full of commuters so don't worry about reservations or pinning down a time. Signs all over airport, made simple for harried travelers.

Posted by Larry

Elk Grove, CA, USA

12/01/13 04:41 PM

6898 posts

TS, the Malpensa Express is a Regionale train operated by Trenord. It is not a Trenitalia train. Your online Trenord ticket is good for 4 hours from the chosen date and time on the ticket. Tickets are not refundable nor can they be exchanged. Says all of this on the www.trenord.it website. Why buy tickets online when it is so easy to buy them at the MXP airport after you get your luggage and clear immigration. You can buy your tickets to Florence from the MXP ticket office as well. Of course you will need Euros or your credit card. Note also that the trip from MXP to Florence is about 3 hours by train. But, I see from one of your other posts that you may be spending the night near the Milano Centrale train station. Just buy your 10Euro ticket and take the express to Milano Centrale.

However, I believe that you intend to go to Florence. For this part of the journey, you can buy the 50Euro Trenitalia ticket in advance online for 19Euro. You can do this 119 days out from the time of travel (which is fast approaching). Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Since you will be near the Milano Centrale train station, you should have no difficulty in getting to the train in time.

Posted by mjruffus

12/13/13 03:45 AM

16 posts

dont forget to validate your ticket before you go down the escalator at Malpensa to catch the express to Milan central or Cordona. The validation machines are right next to the top of the down escalator. there is no ticket validation machine on the platform. we did not buy our tickets in advance. we just got them after we cleared customs. the ticket office is right next to the escalator that is directly above the Express platform. Oh the signs on the platform tell you if the express is going to centrale or cordona