Train to Locarno, Switzerland

Just buy tickets in the station(s). These won't fill up nor be very expensive. The last connection or two may be by S-Bahn local train that Italian stations don't sell.

Looking Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the Deutsche Bahn train schedule link and tips for using it. Neither the Italian nor the Swiss railway web sites are likely to reflect schedule options that include more than one connection in the other country.

Mal,

Wow, 35 days in Locarno..... lucky you! It's a beautiful city.

After arrival at Malpensa Terminal 1, the first thing you'll need to do is make your way to the airport rail station and buy a ticket for the Malpensa Express, which will get you to Milano Centrale. Here's a brief description of the process.....

"The quickest and easiest way to get from MXP Terminal 1 into Milan is to use the *Malpensa Express (train). There are several departures each hour and the trip takes 52 minutes. You can buy tickets at the airport station either from a Kiosk or staffed ticket office, and the cost is currently €13 PP. Note that some departures have a change at Milano Nord Cadorna, so try to choose a train that goes directly to Centrale, unless Cadorna is your desired destination. There are a few important points to note. First, the M.E. has two routes, one to Milano Centrale and one to Milano N. Cadorna, so be sure to board the correct train! Next, it's necessary to validate (time & date stamp) your tickets prior to boarding the train, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! You'll arrive at Milano Centrale on Track (Binario) 1 or 2, and will then have to walk into the main hall to either connect with another train or exit the station."*

You should also be able to buy your tickets to Locarno at the airport rail station. You'll have two routes to choose from, either the "regular" train which I believe uses the Locarno / Muralto station, or the FART train (Cento Valli Railway) which is very scenic. The two stations are side-by-side (although the FART station is underground). You will have two or three changes, depending on which train you're able to connect with.

The Bahn.de website that Laura provided will show you all the solutions.

Definitely take the Centovalli train (Locarno to Domodossala, Italy) at some point during your stay.

Lugano and Bellinzona are two nearby, interesting places. I especially enjoyed the Postbus trip from Locarno up the Verzasca Valley (to Sonogno), and I've read good things about the bus trip up the Maggia Valley as well. I believe your pass will cover the postbuses (as well as a lot of lake boats)--but double check on that, because I have not been to Switzerland in a very long time.

There are two small, picturesque villages outside Lugano that I liked, Gandria and Morcote. However, they were fairly touristy even back in the 1980s and could have gone too far in that direction by now. Perhaps ask your contacts in Locarno about whether they are still worthwhile destinations.

The route with the Centovalli is the long way, taking 3 1/2 to 4 hours, and fewer departures from Gallarate. The earliest arrival is 5:22 pm, assuming you land on time. Going the other side of Maggiore via Giubiasco, you have 2 departures every hour and it takes 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours. You could be there by 3 pm, certainly by 4 pm.

The Centovalli is a famous scenic railway. However, if you are getting a Swiss Flex Pass, you might want to incorporate into an excursion on one of your days off. Then it will be free.

Sam: thanks for asking for clarification. My routing is the same. Still going from airport in Milan to Locarno. Still very confused, but I will buy ticket at airport and ask for quickest: routing to Locarno. I read that there is a one transfer routing Malpensa Aeroporto to Cadenazzo, change here to Locarno total time 2 hr 33 min. I hope this is correct. I will arrive on 14th May, thus, not upset about my confusion, but concerned with confidence that it will work out okay

Yes, there is one single connection itinerary during the day. It is at 2:19 pm from Gallarate. But if you get to Gallarate before then, there are earlier departures with 2 connections, at Mendrisio or Varese and Giubiasco that will get you there earlier in the same amount of time. 12:07, 12:23, 1:07 pm, 1:45 pm. The 12:23 has 3 connections, but they all have a 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hour travel times.

Sam, thank you again. It is apparent that the Professor’s advice is outdated. The sample photo of train schedule has a date in small print, which I overlooked, that is from May of 2015. It showed a train schedule print out showing Malpensa airport to Cadenazzo changing to Locarno, total time of 2 hrs. 33 min. Your information is surely much better. What is your suggestion for the quickest routing for my 10:30 flight arrival, assuming it is on schedule.? Your help is greatly appreciated, Thank you

What I do arriving at Malpensa is get through Schengen Immigration and get luggage and exit the "Nothing to Declare" door. This could be 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours after your plane lands. Now look at your watch and check the time. There are buses to Gallarate station at 11:30 and 12:15 and it takes 28 minutes to get to the station. If you can't make the 12:15 bus, then go to the train station and buy a ticket from Malpensa to Locarno. There is a 1:19 pm train, with changes at Mendrisio and Giubiasco that gets to Locarno at 3:59 pm.

If you can make the 11:30 or 12:15 bus, take that to Gallarate train station and buy tickets there to Locarno. Trains at 12:07, 12:23, 1:07 pm.

You can look at schedules at www.bahn.com. If this journey is to take place after June 8, the current schedules are not out yet, and you will have to go on faith that they will not change after June 8. They usually do not. If the trip is after June 8, recheck the schedule for your date of travel after June 8.

Sam thank you very much. I will land on Tuesday, just four days from today. Thus, your help is extremely timely for this trip. I feel comfortable now.