Hello, my wife, four-year-old son and I are traveling from Zermatt, Switzerland to Milan in mid-March to fly back to the US. All we have is our return flight out of Milan (MXP) booked. Looking at the train times, we wouldn't be able to leave Zermatt on the same day to make it to the airport in time. Therefore, we are leaving the day before our flight, so I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation on where to stay between Zermatt and MXP? The train from Zermatt stops at Visp and Brig, with options of going straight to Milan or stopping in Domodossola, Italy. Do you recommend staying in Milan for a night or one of the small(er) towns in the Swiss or Italian Alps along the way?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7838 posts
Stay in Milan or at the airport
Posted by
Green Bay
22056 posts
What time is your flight from Malpensa? Are you planning on leaving Zermatt in the morning or end of the day?
If in the morning, spend the afternoon and night in Milan and your flight from Malpensa is not too early.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23770 posts
If it is the return flight home, then I don't like spending the last night being very far from the airport. I want options to get to the airport in the AM. The airport is about an hours train ride from Milan so I would stay in Milan the last night and enjoy the city.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
We fly out at 3 pm. Thanks for the help!
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1853 posts
Stresa is not so distant from MXP and if you study carefully the transportation to the airport should be a much safer bet than Domodossola. There should be shuttle buses, a taxi will be expensive but not impossible, and it would also be possible to take a train Stresa to Gallarate, and then a short taxi or bus ride Gallarate to MXP.
Posted by
Wengen
2916 posts
If you fly out a 3PM you can get there easily on the same day.
There is a regular bus service from Domodossola to Malpensa. You could for example book the 9:35 one. Gets you at the airport at 11:. which is fine for a 3PM flight. You could even take the 11:35 bus.
https://www.comazzialibus.com/ComazziAlibus
From Zermatt to Domodossola is easy by train and you would leave at 7:02 if you targetted the 9:35 bus, or 2 hours later if you went for the later one.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you all for the replies. Taking the train the day before our flight from Zermatt to Stresa sounds like a good plan. Staying in Stresa and then to the airport in the morning is what I'm leaning towards.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7838 posts
Airport bus from Stresa
https://www.safduemila.com/linee/alibus-malpensa-lago-maggiore/
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1853 posts
Actually Stresa is as distant from the airport as downtown Milan; the difference being that downtown to MXP has frequent train and bus service, while the service from Stresa is more infrequent. But as long as you study carefully your options, you are still in safety zone.