I thought the trip from Varenna to Malpensa was about 1 hour, however the site I was on shows 21/2 to over 3 with 1 to 3 changes. My understanding was Varenna was the most direct route to Malpensa on Lake Como. Suggestions would be very helpful. Need to be at airport in time for 5:00 p.m. flight in early June.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8446 posts
Malpensa, the airport for Milano, is not on Lake Como; Varenna is on Lake Como. From Varenna to Malpensa by train, you have to go to Milano, which is about an hour, and Malpensa is about an hour from Milano. So yes, you have to change at least once.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
shelley,
Which rail websites are you looking at? The trip from Varenna-Esino to Milano Centrale is "officially" 1H:03M, while the Malpensa Express from there to Malpensa / MXP is about 50M. You will have to change trains at Milano Centrale (which is very easy). The shortest combined trip will be ~2H:04M. Use the TreNord website to check the details.
Posted by
OP
Idaho
57 posts
Thanks Ken
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
You may have seen a Varenna-Milan time estimate and though it was to Malpensa, but it's not, as you now understand. Glad your flight is in the evening; this discovery might have been a bummer for a morning flight. Buon viaggio!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
shelley,
You're very welcome! One additional point to mention....
You may already be aware of this, but DON'T forget to validate your tickets prior to boarding the trains on the day you'll be travelling!!! Failure to do so may result in hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!
Posted by
Saint Helens, OR, USA
304 posts
We stayed near the harbor in Varenna. There is a walk of about a half a mile from there to the train station. But the train to Milan Centrale is great. Going on memory it was a little more than an hour. You exit the train station and purchase your bus ticket to Malpensa Airport at the bus. It's about 10 euro, and that trip also takes about an hour.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23268 posts
I would stick with the train to the airport. A little faster and not traffic dependent.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
shelley,
Could you confirm that you'll be travelling to MXP Terminal 1 and not Terminal 2?
If you're using a budget airline (eg: EasyJet), it will be departing from MXP Terminal 2 so transportation arrangements to the airport will be different. If you're using one of the other airlines or heading directly back to the U.S., you'll likely be departing from Terminal 1.
Posted by
Summerfield, FL, USA
5 posts
I too will be traveling from Varenna to Milan to catch a "fast train" to Rome for a departure the following day to the US. Has anyone had experience making that connection?