Vernazza to Milan Malpensa airport

Other than the train, that you just mentioned, the only other options are:

1. Rent a car in La Spezia and drive (from La Spezia approximately 3+ hours plus pit stops, mostly freeway)
2. Get a private limo driver and have the limo driver do the driving (also approx 3+ hours for a cost of at least €500).
3. Private helicopter from La Spezia airport in Luni (not much faster since Luni airport is not that close, but maybe they can pick you up at the helipad next to the stadium in Levanto)

You could get a rental car and drive. But you'd first have to train to a town that had a car rental agency. So I don't think you'd save much time, by the time you did the paperwork drove, got gas, and dropped off the car. And you would need an International Driver Permit.

Since google directions says 3 1/2 hours drive time, and 4 hours might be more realistic with traffic, 5 hours ain't too bad.

I was just looking for the same thing! Going to take the train, spend the night in Milan, and fly out next day. Seems easiest.

The trains take 4 minutes from Vernazza to Monterosso, 3 hours from Monterosso to Milano Centrale and 51 minutes from Milano to Malpensa.

Anyway, since Milan's ring road is notorious for traffic jams, I'd use trains even if the journey took over 5 hours.

Thanks for the suggestions. Train option is better than the one I found----though the private helicopter did make me laugh!

Super helpful thread! Our game plan is to take the short train Vernazza to Monterosso. Then take the direct train Monterosso to Milan Centrale. Looked to be 3 hours. I was pricing out private transfer cars...on daytrip but $500+ for two people seemed crazy expensive. Glad to know this is the best option

This thread is back from April. Any hotel recommendations in Milan to stay one night. We fly out the next day...

@jillCO Similar strategy as you. Check out B&B Hotel Milano Sant'Ambrogio that's where we're staying one night. Can walk to train station that takes you to the airport.

As for going from Vernazza to Milan, we're hoping to stop at Santa Margherita Ligure, take a 15min ferry to Portofino and have lunch in that swanky area (it looks so pretty!) to break up the train ride then ride back to Milan. Especially since we have a hotel by the train station I don't mind getting into Milan closer to the evening then grab a quick dinner and head to bed before a long travel day.

If we end up absolutely loving Milan (Flying in there to start our north Italy trip) or wanting to spend a bit more time there, we might try that 3hr 20min direct train from Levanto (10 min train ride there from Vernazza).