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Varenna to EXPO to Malpensa... logistics help needed!

Posted by on

In need some help as I can't seem to figure out some of this stuff on my own. But I do know this... In early October 20I5 'll be leaving from Varenna, Lake Como and taking a train to Milan (or Rho?) to go see the EXPO for one day before departing the next day back to the States out of Malpensa airport. I want to avoid as much train and bus-hopping as possible as I only have 1 day to see the expo. I'm also hoping to stay somewhere that's within walking distance to a train station that will take me straight to the Malpensa airport the next day. I would prefer a quick train as opposed to paying for a taxi or shuttle. So this is the basis for my questions below...

1) Is there a singular train that would go from Varenna to the area the EXPO is in? It's in the town of Rho and not in Milan-proper. Or is there no choice but to do a lot metro-hopping from Milan to eventually reach the EXPO after I get off my main train from Varenna?

2) Is there a main train that would take someone from the EXPO area straight to Malpensa? Or would this too require metro-hopping?

3) My desire is to stay in a town that night that is within walking distance to said train station (which again - would take me "straight" to Malpensa...I'm hoping). That said, I don't know if I should stay in Rho, Legnano, or Busto Arsizio?

4) I'm also having a hard time finding out which of these hotels I'm looking at are within walking distance to a train / metro station. I also want to avoid paying $25-$50 for a shuttle from the hotel. I wish there were a map that would show you lodging PLUS train / metro routes on the SAME map.

Suggestions? Even if you have input on only one of my questions above, that would be fine too.

Frustrated Planner

Note: The riots on opening day for the EXPO are not my concern.

Posted by
3301 posts

According to the maps on the website, your best bet would be a hotel near Cadorna station in Milan. This would be one change at Milano Centrale to the metro to Cadorna. Drop your bags at hotel and continue on the same metro line to Expo ( and back). Next day take the direct line from Carorna to Malpensa airport.

Posted by
21462 posts

There are a group of hotels about 2 blocks from Milano Centrale. Hotel Berna, Hotel Garda, Hotel Bernina, Ideal Hotel Plus, Hotel Flora, BW Atlantic. Berna is the best of the bunch, but one of these should have a room, even with the Expo. The Metro station is at the end of the block half way to Milano Centrale.
From Varenna, maybe check-in and drop bags at the hotel, then go to the Expo.
To Expo you can take the Metro Green Line to Cadorna, change to the Red Line to Rho Fiera, or walk about 4 blocks to Piazza Republica and take one of the many S trains from the underground station direct to Rho Fiera. Metro or S train should cost the same.
Milano Centrale has trains every half hour to Malpensa.
Use google maps to see hotel and station locations.

Posted by
5308 posts

Laneygayle,

  • You will need to take the Regional train from Varenna to Milan ( Milano Centrale). There is no direct train to the Expo.

  • I'd stay in a hotel near the Cadorna station which is near the historic center.

  • You will need to take the 'Malpensa Express' train to the Malpensa Airport.

  • The Malpensa Express train only takes 30 minutes from the Cadorna station ( vs 52 minutes from Milano Centrale)

  • We were in Milan this past October & we stayed at Hotel Palazzo Stelline which is very close to the Cadorna station. We took a taxi from the hotel to the station the morning of our flight and it cost us €5 :http://www.hotelpalazzostelline.it/en

  • Milan's Expo site is located about 15km (10 miles) northwest of Milan in the municipalities of Rho and Pero & you can easily get there via Metro-- you will need to take the red M1 line to Rho Fiera (from Cadorna station)

  • Here is a map of Milan's Metro:http://www.atm.it/en/ViaggiaConNoi/Pages/SchemaReteMetro.aspx

  • You may want to refer to this website for more information regarding the Expo:http://www.milanworldsfair.com/index.htm

  • Make sure you take the correct subway train as the red line (M1) line splits. Read this for more information:http://www.milanworldsfair.com/site.htm

Enjoy your trip!

Posted by
14 posts

Thank you guys for the feedback! I now know that I can't take a direct train from Varenna, Lake Como to the EXPO area. Instead I will take the train to the Cadorna station and will get a hotel near there. Then will take the metros to the EXPO and back. Then the next day I'll be close to the train station that will then have a train to take me straight to the airport.

Problem solved! Thank you for the suggestions. :-)

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