Travelling from Zurich Airport to Varese (Milan airport)

You can get all-train connections taking about 5 1/2 hours. www.sbb.ch gives several routes. The ones going the long way around via Bern, Domodossolo are more expensive (97 chf) less scenic (2 very long tunnels, and the price is only as far as Gallerate, the last leg is on you. Other routes require a change of stations in Milan from Centrale to Porta Garibaldi, a real pain. The best route is the one leaving Zurich airport at 8:47, 10:47, and 12:47, goes through the Gothard Tunnel with lots of switch backs and spiral tunnels before and after, and along the east shore of Lake Maggiore, so scenery will be ample. SBB is showing 69 chf for adults, 1+ yo free, 5 yo 5 chf. It does have 4 changes, at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, Bellinzona, Cadenazzo, and Gallerate.

When the Zurich-Chiasso train passes through Mendrisio, you are actually only a few kms. from Varese, but there is no direct rail connection and it takes a lot of time to go all the way to Milan and then backtrack to Varese on a different rail line.

Direct buses Mendrisio-Varese run only twice per day, timetable at http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2014/62.523.pdf
For runs stopping at Gaggiolo (the border) there should be a corresponding Italian bus, I suppose the timetable is this:
http://www.ctpi.it/upload/orariextra/n05.pdf

Frankly, I do not advice to plan your trip around this quite flimsy commuter connection, but maybe you could enquire about a taxi from Mendrisio to Varese. The missing rail link is being built, it is expected to be ready in 2017 when direct rail service Lugano-Mendrisio-Varese-MXP will be possible.

@Sam @asps2

great tips and research!

thank you very much!