1. ARRIVAL IN MILAN AT THE MALPENSA AIRPORT

    2. -The airport is 45km northwest of Milan city.
    -There are cash machines (ATMs), banks, and change offices at the airport.
    -You may want to buy a phone card at the tabacchi shop.

  2. GETTING FROM MALPENSA AIRPORT TO MILAN CITY


    3. a. Take a bus!  There are 2 companies running a direct shuttle service from the airport to Milan's central  train station:  Malpensa Shuttle and Malpensa Bus Express, (also called Air Pullman).  The ride lasts about  50 minutes and costs 4-5 Euros.  There are usually 1-2 buses leaving every 15 minutes.  Pay the bus driver.  You can catch these buses at airport exits 5 and 6.

    b. Train: Malpensa Express train will take you to Milan's Cordona train and subway station in 40 minutes. Grab a taxi or connect with the subway, but there's nothing to see or do there as it's a residential and commercial neighborhood.  Price is 9.50 Euros.

    c. Taxi: costs up to 80 Euros, although we paid about 40 when we took a taxi from Cordona station to the airport with no traffic.

  3. GETTING FROM MILAN CITY TO VARENNA


    4. a. Train:  you must start at the main station, the Stazione Centrale.  Look for trains heading to Tirano or Sondrio.  Make sure the train stops in Varenna by reading the small print on the departure schedule, called Partenze.  The trains leave mostly hourly, usually at 15 min past the hour.  The trip takes a little over 2 hours.  From the Varenna train station you may want to hop on a taxi to your hotel to unload your luggage. It's a 20 minute uphill walk to the Villa Cipressi.  There is less uphill and distance to the Hotel Du Lac and Albergo Milano, see map.

    b. Train and Ferry:  if you're not just off the plane and in need of a soft bed, try this alternative.  Take a train from Milan (leaving from Stazzione Centrale, Stazione Cordona, or Stazione Giribaldi) and go to the city of Como, at the southern tip of Lake Como.  Then hop on a ferry and enjoy a scenic and leisurely route on the lake that will eventually arrive at Varenna. The trip takes about 2 hours and costs 5.20 Euros.  The ferries depart about every hour.  From the ferry station, you can walk or take a taxi to the hotel, remembering that the hotels are all uphill, see map.

  4. GETTING FROM MILAN MALPENSA TO VARENNA


    5. a. Train: anticipate 3+ hours traveling time.  Take the bus to Stazione Centrale as in 2a.  Then get on a train heading to Tirano or Sondrio.  (See 3b)

    b. Alternate train choice:  Take the Malpensa Express train from Malpensa to Cadorna station (40min). (See 2b)  Then find a train going to the city of Como (1hour).  Finally, hop on to a ferry to Varenna (2hours). (See 3b)

    c. Taxi!  If you're tired, consider this expensive alternative.  The trip will take a little over an hour and you won't have to drag the luggage around and wait for train and ferry connections.  We were quoted a price of $110 last year.  Maybe you'll be able to share a taxi with other guests.

    d. Rental Car & Parking:  It probably takes a little over an hour to drive as there is no direct route.  Be aware that there is very little parking in Varenna.  The hotels Albergo Milano and Villa Cipressi don't have available parking; the Albergo Du Lac does for an extra fee.  After unloading your bags at the hotel, look for parking at the ferry terminal.  White lines on the pavement mean free parking, blue lines mean metered parking (2hr max unless overnight), and yellow lines mean for residents only.