What train stations should I book in and out of these Italian cities

Milan Centrale. Venezia S Lucia. Roma Termini. Florence...Firenze SMN or Siena. La Spezia &
Monterossa. Trains run to each of the CT villages via regional trains from La Spezia and Monterosso.

How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it. It does not include the Malpensa Express train, operated by a private company, which runs about twice per hour to Milan Centrale station. All five towns of the Cinque Terre have train service; just search for the one that is your destination. Guidebooks will also provide information about train station locations.

Sunny,

These are the stations to use......

• Milan - you'll first go from Malpensa station to Milano Centrale, and then connect with whichever station you're going to after that. There's no reason to book tickets for the Malpensa Express as it's a Regionale and you may not be able to connect with the train you book if your flight is late. Buy tickets at the airport station when you arrive. Note that the Malpensa Express has two destinations, Milano Centrale or Milano Cadorna, so be sure to board the correct train. Also, you MUST validate your tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot.
• Venice - most people go to Venezia Santa Lucia as that's the one right on the Grand Canal.
• Rome - the central station there is Roma Termini.
• Tuscany - that's a region so you won't be able to book tickets using that name. You have to know the name(s) of the towns you'll be going to. The main station in Florence is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, which is the one used most of the time.
• Cinque Terre - there are five towns so again you'll have to know which of the towns your destination is. I'm not sure what you're referring to as "north and south").

Also note that tickets booked on the "fast" trains such as Freccia or InterCity have compulsory seat reservations, which are specific to train, date and departure time. If you're booking a ticket for one of those trains to connect with your incoming flight and you miss the train for any reason, the ticket is worthless and you'll have to buy another at full price (Base Fare). If you board a "fast" train with the incorrect ticket, again hefty fines collected on the spot! It would be "safer" to just buy tickets for the first part of your journey when you arrive in Milan.

One other point to clarify - are you arriving at MXP Terminal 1 via a direct flight from the U.S.? If you're arriving at Terminal 2, the transportation arrangements are different.

I am arriving at Terminal 1 at MXP direct from the US.

Sunny,

Thanks! The previous information I posted is correct in that case. Use the Malpensa Express to get from MXP to Milano Centrale (DON'T forget to validate your tickets!). Also, be sure to board the M.E. that goes to Centrale.

To add to Ken's advice about the Malpensa Express, the trains to Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna leave from different tracks, so check the board and be sure you take the correct staircase/escalator, so you won't have to drag/carry luggage up and down twice.

Sunny, www.seat61.com gives a good blurb on this....