Hello all -

We are arriving at Malpensa near Milan and heading to Venice by train ( we couldn't get flight to Venice for the days we needed at an affordable price)

We are planning to go by train from Milan to Venice, so we'll have to take transportation to the Central Station in Venice. We have looked into starting the trip to Venice in Gallarate but the schedule doesn't work (we arrive at 9 am at Malpensa.

We have already learned that trains from Malpensa arrive in Cardona Station and a Metro is necessary to the Central Station. Hard to do with luggage?

There are lots of buses from Malpensa to Central Station. Any recommendations yeah or nay? Can I safely assume these buses are used to travelers with luggage and can accomodate them.

Money questions: Does Malpensa have ATMs (bankomats!) where we can get Euros? Is it better to arrive with some Euros or can we change US $$ at the airport?

We are thinking of coming back thru Milan early enough to see "The Last Supper". Are their places to check bags safely at the Central Station?

We are thinking of staying in Gallarate the night before our flight back. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Julie

Welcome to Slowtalk, Julie.

Have you seen Arriving and leaving from Milan on the main Slowtrav database?

I like the bus from the airport to the train station. It is equipped for luggage- someone loads it into the bottom of the bus for you. There are 2 busses, both leave from aprroximately the same place, the exit to your right as you leave the baggage claim. One requires purchasing tickets in the terminal, the other allows you to buy tickets at the bus from the driver. There are good instructions above each baggage claim, and you'll probably have enough time to memorize them as you wait for your luggage to appear. The bus is an odd sum- either 4 or 8 or 9 Euro, I think. I remember thinking on Christmas night that constantly having to make change must make the driver crazy.

The ticket windows and machines are around the corner from where the bus leaves you at the central train station. Or you can forget this, as I always do, and take the escalator (if it's working!) upstairs, then go to the other escalator to your left and take it down to the ticket sales area.

I've only taken the train from Malpensa to Cadorna once, and that was to meet a friend at the airport and then change continue into Milan to meet other friends. I remember thinking I wouldn't want to do it jetlagged and hauling a lot of luggage, but others seem to swear by it from what I've read here.

There are ATMs at Malpensa, easily visible when you leave baggage claim.

I'm sure there must be a manned luggage check area at the train station, but someone else will know for sure.

Thank you, Maureen. I did see the "arriving and leaving from Milan" feature and that's where I learned that the train from Malpensa goes to the Cardona station rather than Stazione Centrale. I love Slow Travel...it fits the way we like to travel.

We are pretty sure now we will stay near the Stazione Cardona on our way back. I understand it is close to Santa Maria della Grazie and then we can take the train direct to Malpensa the next morning.

Thanks again!

desert rat, the station is cadorna not cardona

We were in Milan last week took the bus Malpensa shuttle. It was 5 euros each way and runs from airport to train station every 20 minutes and from train to airport. It was on the hour, twenty after and 40 min after. It was very easy and just gave bus driver money for ticket.