Train from Malpensa to Bolzano

You can buy the ticket(s) you need at the train station in the airport itself. However, you do need to change trains twice (in Milano Centrale and Verona) for most scheduled trips on that route. No big deal, transferring on both is easy.

donna, That's actually a fairly easy trip, although it's going to take about four hours+ from the airport. I'm assuming you're arriving at Terminal 1? When you've collected your luggage, go to the airport rail station where you should be able to buy tickets for your entire journey. The first leg will be via the Malpensa Express from the airport to Milano Centrale. As I recall, there are two "branches" of the Malpensa Express, one going to Milano Centrale and one to Milano Cadorna, so be sure to board the correct one! You could also take the Malpensa Shuttle (Bus) from T1 to Milano Centrale. It's a bit slower (depending on traffic), but I believe the cost is about the same as the train. What time does your flight arrive? Hopefully you'll be able to connect with one of the trains that only has two changes at Milano Centrale and Verona Porta Nuova. Some of the other routes shown involve a trip to Cadorna, where you'll have to haul your gear down into the Metro to get to Milano Centrale (NOT the option I'd choose). You might want to pack along a printout of the Trenitalia schedules, so you'll be able to refer to it when you arrive at MXP to check the details of the trains that will be departing at about that time. The trip from MXP to Bolzano is going to be a bit of a grueling effort after a long international flight, but in the same situation I'd press on and get to the destination. I've had similar long rail journeys after a long flight on my own trips (including this year) and managed just fine. Happy travels!

Thanks to both of you! Ken you're always so knowledgeable. This time the question is on behalf of my 28 year old son (I gave up hiking years ago)!
Surely he'll be able to tough it out after an all nighter across the pond.