Four of us will be arriving in Milan Malpensa airport in June. We would like to go immediately by train to Lake Como for two days then we would like to go from Lake Como by train to Venice. We've looked at many different trains. we would like to know the easiest way to do this. Do we buy a ticket in advance or do we buy it as we go? We would appreciate any information you have on this.
Posted by
Green Bay
20103 posts
The trip to Lake Como will be by Regionale trains, no reservations. Just buy at the airport train station.
Where on Lake Como are you going? There are several rail routes depending where on the lake you want to go.
You can save money by getting the tickets from Lake Como to Venice now, as they will involve a reserved Freccia train from Milan to Venice and there are discounts for nonrefundable tickets which gradually disappear the closer you get to you travel date.
After Venice?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
janet,
Some further information to add.....
TRAVEL FROM MILAN / MXP TO MILANO CENTRALE
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. Buy tickets when you arrive at the airport station either from a Kiosk or staffed ticket office, and the cost is currently €13 PP. 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.
If you're arriving on a budget flight at Malpensa Terminal 2, you can use either the Malpensa Shuttle (Bus) or the Malpensa Express (train). Travel time for the bus is about an hour (depending on traffic), and the Bus also terminates at Milano Centrale. Travel time for the train is a bit longer than from Terminal 1. You can buy bus tickets from the driver or at ticket machines inside the terminal. The Malpensa Shuttle also serves MXP Terminal 1, so if you'd prefer to travel by Bus that's also an option.
As Sam mentioned in the previous reply, it would be helpful to know exactly where you'll be going on Lake Como. It's hard to provide specific directions without that information.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Only advantage to be had is buying the Freccia segment Milan to Venice when they go on sale, which is 90 days ahead for Italy.
Posted by
Green Bay
20103 posts
Which they are right now, for up to half price.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
which is 90 days ahead for Italy.
It's 120 days for trenitalia's Freccia-something high speed trains. On the regional (slow) trains it's the same with a little difference: 120 in advance but not after the next timetable change. Trenitalia is the state owned company.
Regarding italotreno.it/en , the private competitor that runs only high speed trains on major routes, it isn't set in stone : it should be 120 days in advance, too, but they often reduce it to 90. As their prices are always lower than trenitalia's, I think we can forgive them.
Posted by
Paris
9580 posts
I took Italo yesterday from Turin to Florence and loved it.
Posted by
Green Bay
20103 posts
Italo is very nice, but they don't go direct from Milan to Venice, you have to change trains in Bologna and that costs more and takes longer. Just buy tickets from Trenitalia and it will include the Regionale train from Como area, which by the way, we still have no idea where.
You say traveling in June, and I believe this is within 90 days of today.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
We are going to Varenna in Lake Como.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
After Venice, we are going to Florence.
Posted by
Green Bay
20103 posts
You can buy tickets at Malpensa airport train station when you arrive. Just tell them you want to go to Varenna. You wll get a ticket to Milano Centrale and changing to a train to Varenna-Esino. Make sure you validate the ticket in the stamping machine and get on the train to Milano Centrale (NOT Milano Cadorna).
Are you traveling to Venice after June 10? If so, there is a slight problem as Regionale trains after that date are not officially scheduled yet and you have a Regionale train back to Milano Centrale to get your train to Venice. You can buy the Milan-Venice segment now to get a discount, and buy the Varenna-Esino to Milano Centrale segment later when you are in Varenna. Just get a train that travels after noon so you have time to get an early enough train to make it to Milano Centrale. Remember to use the Italian station names when searching and buying tickets. Milano Central, Venezia S. Lucia, Firenze S. M. Novella.
So you can also buy the Venice-Florence leg now for a discount. The discount tickets are train specific. The tickets are valid on the trains indicated, and no other. They will include seat reservations.
BTW, are all 4 people traveling adults? Children get discounts on Freccia trains, 50% for ages 4 to 14. 15 and over are adults.
Tickets at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en