Do any trains leave directly from the Malpensa Airport to the Lake Como area, or do I have to take the Malpensa Express to Milan and change trains there?
The answer to your first question is NO. You will need to get to the Milan train station first. Central is the main train station in Milan and is served by a shuttle bus from the airport -- about an hour. And the trains to Como leave from this station. The Express goes to the other train station (forget the name) and you have to take the subway or a cab to the Central station. The shuttle bus is your best bet.
thanks Frank. After much hunting, I found that info on the Internet. That source also recommended the shuttle bus to the Central Station.
There are no direct trains from Malpensa Airport to Lake Como area. Your options are to take the Malpensa Express to Saronno and a local train to Como or take a bus to the main train station and a train to Varenna. You can take a hydrofoil or boat from Como to several other towns on the lake (1 or 2 hours from Como to Varenna). Note that the Malpensa Express arrives at the Cadorna station in Milan, so you would need to take either the metro or a cab to the main train station. Buses go directly from the airport to the main train station.