Advice for a stop in Milan

What’s the date?

I would purchase fast train tickets Venice to Milan (2’27”) as soon as available- as long as you are firm on date.

Check your options on Trenitalia for the Milan-Monterosso leg.
https://www.trenitalia.com/content/tcom/en.html
Get the easy to use app.

There are many options- just looking at a day in late April. All 3-4 hours or so.

Regional trains-usually 2 changes- can’t sell out, fare never changes. Purchase on app or at station when ready to leave Milan. Be sure to validate if purchased at station.

Fast train/regional and IC options-you’ll pay Base Fare if you purchase day of- app or at station.

I see an IC train at 16:05 that I'd keep my eye on- direct 3 hr.

If your date is past 6/11 you won’t see all options yet- schedule will be updated 6/11-6/12.
You can check schedules/fares by choosing any “same day of week” as your travel date from now til then. Won’t change much.

3 hours seems a bit short for a stop in Milan. Be sure to figure time to get to/from Centrale to whatever sight you are seeing.

Be sure to know how late you can arrive for check in at your Monterosso lodgings

Milanese flock to the seaside on summer Fridays; not to the Cinque Terre, but the IC trains that call at Monterosso also stop at less touristy towns along the coast where Milanese do go in season.

Trenitalia.com is programmed to sell through tickets minimising the time of travel. If you want to a 3 hours stop you will have to make two separate purchases.

3 hours would be enough to drop your luggage, take the metro to the Duomo, see it from the outside while walking around it, get the most expensive coffee outside Venice and go back to the train station

I'm considering a stop in Milan between Varenna and Venice in the fall. Are there lockers at the train station for carry on luggage? It seems a shame to be so close to the Duomo and not stop to see it and it would be a nice chance to work off a little energy before getting back on the train.

Thank you for the advice!! I guess Christine, I guess I'll need to wait on tickets since my travel date is 6\12... ugh. Wanted to nail that down now. KRS, I am bringing a friend along who I'd love to show the Milan duomo, hence our reason to get off the train as well. May end up deciding against it though. Dario, thanks for the insight on time to do this! Really just seeing the duomo was the main objective, but I don't want to arrive in Monterosso late either. Do the trains normally run close to scheduled times?

@KRS. There is a luggage storage room at Milano Centrale. Give yourself enough time to pick up your luggage as there may be a line. But then, going to Varenna, there are trains once an hour, so if you miss your planned train, just wait for the next one.

Sherry
Trenitalia is already showing some trains on June 12-- Venezia S Lucia to Milano Centrale and Milano Centrale to Monterosso
You'll probably see more added before June 12.

Thank you Christine!