Train Tickets

I'll just respond to one of your questions. The train from the airport to Milano Centrale, is frequent urban commuter transportation. No advantage to buying tickets in advance, since you don't know exactly when you'll arrive and make it through immigration. Just follow the signs to the train station and buy your ticket from the kiosk when you get there, and catch the next available train.

As far as buying the ticket to Venice in advance, I wouldn't, as you cannot predict with much accuracy if your plane will land on time, and how long it will take to get through Immigration and get your luggage. Business class tickets are only 60 EUR on the Frecciarosso, and 54 EUR 1st class on a Eurocity train.

There is a Trenitalia kiosk at the Malpensa airport train station (near the ticket window) where you can buy a ticket with a credit card. Estimate getting a train 2 hours from that time as the trains to Centrale are every half hour (and you could be just missing the train and needing to wait 1/2 hour for the next one). Its a little less than an hour train ride, so that will get you at least 1/2 hour after arriving to locate the Venice train's platform, maybe grab a snack and comfortably board the train.

For the other train tickets, yes, buy now to get the best nonrefundable price. You know you're going to be there and you can commit.

Jim, The ticket from Malpensa airport to Milano Centrale is the only one you should not buy in advance (opposite way around to what you say). This is because it is a local ticket, there is no discount for advance purchase, and you cannot be sure when you will emerge from airport arrivals and therefore which train you will be getting. This ticket will need validating (timestamping before you get on the train).

For the other three trips (Milan to Venice, Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome) it will be a lot cheaper if you buy in advance. You can buy online at the Italian Railways site: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
You will get a "print-at-home" ticket sent to you as an e-mail attachment. You can also buy the ticket at the station on the day (at the ticket machine or manned counter), but it is a lot cheaper to buy in advance. It is unlikely business class will be sold out, business travellers travel at short notice!
These are High Speed trains, the tickets are for a specific train. The ticket (whether you buy it on the internet or at the station) will list date, train ID, time, coach number and seat number. It will only be valid on that train and will not be changeable. Because it is already timed and dated it doesn't need validating.

I did some sample price checks, Milan to Florence.
For travel today, prices from €77 to €144. Only business or "executive" was available, standard was sold out.
For 23rd May: standard from €28, business from €38.50. It pays to buy in advance.

P.S. the station in Florence is "Firenze S. M. Novella", you already have the correct names of the others.

Jim,

Could you clarify if you're staying for a few days in Milan after you arrive? If you're going straight to Venice after arrival, I would not recommend buying that ticket in advance. As Chris and others have mentioned, tickets for the express / high speed trains come with compulsory seat reservations which are specific to train, date and departure time. If you miss the train you've booked because your flight was late or whatever, your ticket is worthless and you'll have to buy another at full (Base) fare.

There's absolutely no reason to buy your ticket from MXP to Milano Centrale in advance, since the Malpensa Express is a Regionale train and there's no discount for advance purchase. As others have suggested just buy the ticket when you arrive, either from a Kiosk or staffed ticket office. However, you must validate (time & date stamp) the ticket prior to boarding the train or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!

As I mentioned in anther of your threads, you can easily buy tickets using www.trainline.eu . For the Milan - Venice, Venice - Florence and Florence - Rome routes, you can use either Trenitalia or Italo Treno high speed trains. You can buy tickets for either one at the website linked above.

In response to the last contributor, I will be in Milan for two full days, arriving early on 5/9 and departing on the morning of 5/11. I started this solo trip with the intent of taking the RS Venice/Florence/Rome tour, coming early to see The Last Supper and the Milan cathedral, and staying over a few days in Rome after the tour. Having had short visits to Florence and Rome 10 years ago I found that some of the places I'd seen were on the tour and others I wanted to see were not, so I'd be seeing them on my free time. The more I looked into it the idea of a two week trip on my own took shape. I hope to use the first day to unwind from the flight over and get familiar with their Metro system, and the second day to see some of the center city. My appointment is at 15:30 on 5/10, so I have the morning to go to the cathedral and other sites. My hotel is one block from Milano Centrale, so getting out of Milan will be simple and convenient.

Thank you all for your input.

Jim