Train or rental car from Milan Malpensa to Varenna?

Hi Julie, you can travel that route by train. You will take a train into Milan, transfer and head to Varenna.

Julie,
As Jean has already mentioned, you can easily travel to Varenna from Milano Centrale via train.

Once you arrive at Malpensa Airport, you can take the 'Malpensa Express' train to Milano Centrale( 52 minutes travel time, runs every 30 mins.)
then transfer to another Regionale train heading for Varenna ( 1hr, 5 mins)

Make sure you sit on the left side of the train for best views of the lake.

If you intend to return to Milan, after your week in Varenna, make sure to buy your return train tickets (at the airport or at Milano Centrale) because the train station in Varenna is tiny & does not sell tickets.

Here are some useful websites you will need:

• Malpensa Express schedules:http://www.trenord.it/EN

• Train schedules within Italy: http://www.trenitalia.com You can switch to English by choosing the British flag icon (top right)

Varenna is such a gem, you will love it!

Edit:
Depending on where your villa is located, you may want to take a taxi when you arrive to Varenna.

You will find taxis just below the tiny station. Taxi drivers know the train schedules, so they line up & are ready for passengers.

Make sure you get the taxi company's phone #, so you can arrange for a taxi to take you back to the station, on your day of departure :-)

Edit #2:

One more thing.

Don't forget to validate your train ticket ( green & white machines) before boarding the train(s): https://www.flickr.com/photos/9142374@N05/9191820773/?ytcheck=1

This is only necessary for Regionale trains, such as the ones you will be taking from Malpensa>> Milano Centrale >>Varenna.

Enjoy your trip!

The travel agency, Tivano Travel is now located in Varenna's train station. It does close during the afternoon. If you look at Rick Steves' Italy 2016, it gives hours for the agency.

The ticket validating machines in Varenna are the older, yellow box like ones. (at least as of July 2014)

Varenna is so beautiful!

Holly thanks for the update!

When we were in Varenna (October 2014), the train station was closed as it was getting renovated,
so they may have upgraded their ticket validating machines too ;-)

Having said this, I did find the older yellow validating machines at
some of the smaller train stations in Italy.