We will be leaving for Italy in 5 days!!! We will be staying in the Piemonte region (San Martino Alfieri). Looking foward to making a few day trips to Milan and I am wondering the best way to get there. We will have a rental car, but is that the way to go? Is driving into central Milan difficult? I assume parking is as scarce as any large metropolitan city. Would driving the 20 mins to Asti and then taking the train into Milan be an option I might want to consider? Thought? Tips? Thanx, Chris.

I would consider the train option seriously but there are no direct trains from Asti to Milan... you could consider driving to Alessandria but I'm not so confident with the area to tell you if there's a better place for you to take a train to Milan.
Otherwise I would consider driving to Milan and leaving the car in one of the parkings in the outskirts and going to the centre by underground. You might want to consider exiting the "highway-ringroad" (tangenziale ovest) at Assago - Famagosta and parking at Famagosta Parking (Underground Line 2).

You do not want to drive in downtown Milan.

Chris,

Drive to Voghera. From Asti to Voghera is about a half an hour. From there take the train directly into Centrale.

Driving in Milano, while not that difficult, can be nerve wracking and parking can be expensive. I do the Voghera train often (I drive to Alessandria or Tortona, and take the train from there).

So, i am confused, is Alessandria or Voghera a better place to drive to and park and take the train? It seems like I drive right through Alessandria to get to Voghera. Is it faster to drive to Voghera and then take the train?

Also, I did some mapping and it looks like I could take A7/E62 straight up until A7 dead ends at Famagosta stop, and Michelin maps shows there is parking right there. Anyhoo, I am willing to just be told the best way to do it. At since it will be my wife, my mother and a two year old, I am looking for the easiest way, first and foremost, cost effective would be nice but not the most important factor.

From Asti, get straight on the A21 headed for Piacenza. Fly past the A26 exit and the A7 exit. Get off at Voghera, find your way to the train station (it is not that big a city) and board there. No train changes necessary, you will be in Milano in around an hour. Here is a sample of the trains available. This is the fastest, easiest way I know of to get into Milano from this area in Piedmont. Going to Alessandria or Tortona is also possible. But from Alessandria you definitely have to change trains. Voghera is just the closest of the three to Milan, and has direct trains going in, so that is why I choose it most often.

that looks perfect. Thank you so much for the advice. I will be sure to post a reply when we get back on our experiences on taking this route, as well as all the other fun we have.

Thank you!
Chris

Good traveling! I look forward to reading about your trip when you return.

Cheers

Note: New speed trap (flash machine) on the SS30 between Acqui and Alessandria, both directions, between Cassine and Alessandria. Saw it yesterday.