Train Travel in Italy: Malpensa Airport to Venice, Italy with Eurostar City
Train travel in Italy tips for travelling from Malpensa Airport to Venice taking Eurostar City. Travelling in Italy by train can be quite daunting, especially if you are not familiar with the system. Here you will find tips on train travel for Italy taking the train from Malpensa Airport to Venice.
Getting off the plane at Malpensa you need to go to the underground station which is located in Terminal 1, as you get out of customs. Take the lift and go to Level -1 which is clearly marked Trains. The ticketing office can't be missed and buy your tickets there. You cannot get a direct ticket from the airport to Venice, you have to get your ticket from Malpensa to Cadorna Station first. This costs 11.00 euros, one way.
The Malpensa Express also stops at Milan Bovisa and Saronno stations, so don't get off too early! The first train departs Malpensa at 06.45, the last train departs 21.45. The trains leave every 30 minutes for Cardorna.
Take the escalators down the the station below and the Malpensa Express leave every half hour for Cadorna. Here is your first train travel in Italy tip: be aware, that although there are no signs telling you this, there is a little green box on the stations where you need to validate your ticket before you get on the train. Failing to do so will result in a hefty fine, and you may also be put off at the next station if you are very unlucky. Insert your ticket and wait for the green light. If you get a red light you will need to revisit the ticket office.
Get off Cadorna after about a 40 minute ride and buy a ticket for Milan Centrale which is Milan's Central Train Station. This will cost you 1 euro. To catch this train you will need to take the green line that goes to the end of the line at Gessatte but you get off the train at the Milan Central Station after about a 10 minute ride.
Get off at Milan Central and buy your tickets at the Trenitalia ticketing office which is up a very long flight of stairs. If you have lots of luggage or heavy luggage, send one person off to get the tickets while the others wait.
For train travel in Italy you can either purchase a ticket online if you are travelling alone, this would be better, as really those steps are very steep, and very long. If you have loads of time after your flight leaves and where you need to be, and you are not travelling during peak season, buy your ticket at the station. If not, by your ticket online on the Trenitalia website
Tickets are purchased in 2 types of classes; 1st Class and 2nd Class. A first class ticket during December, 2009 cost us E40.50 while a second class ticket was going for E28.00. Sometimes there are specials on the website, so it is always wise to check before you go.
Once down then take the unmarked passage way directly to the left of the main station stairs which will take you into the station. Get onto the escalators on the left which head up to the trains. At the top of the escalators, turn right and immediate left where you will be standing under the big station clock. You should be able to see the platform for Venice from that position, look for Platform 8, which is where the train usually leaves from.
Trains for Venice, Italy leave roughly every hour, but check this and the platform before you travel in case things have changed. If you are at the station and need to check anything there is a big poster to the right of the bottom of the stairs which has the schedules.
Here's another train travel in Italy tip: When looking for your seat, look at your ticket for those of you who have purchased 1st Class tickets as these are pre-seated tickets and your seat number will be on the ticket. 2nd class tickets are not pre-seated. On your ticket will be a number with "Carrozza 1" or "Carrozza 2". A corrozza is a carriage and there are usually two carriages reserved for 1st class, thus the distinction.
The train does stop at several stations along the way, including a place called Venezia Mestre, which is a grubby little suburb on the mainland and not true Venice itself, so don't get off too soon! You want to get off at Venezia d.s. Lucca which is on the island. The trip from Milan Central to Venice takes about 2 and a half hours.
To get out of the train, wait for it to stop; the platform will be on your right. The doors will not open automatically. So, if you are the only one in the carriage here is your last very valuable train travel in Italy tip: Look for the button next to the door on the top right and press it until you hear the door click. Now you can disembark. Leaving the train, go out towards the exit, down the stairs and the main vaporetto ticket office is in front of you, on the right.
Purchase your ticket there and wait for your boat which shouldn't be long - about 10 minutes. Be warned, tickets on the Grand Canal are expensive. We paid 6 euros 50 each just to go as far as Ca'd'Oro which was only 4 stations away!
There is also a ticket validating machine which you will need to use before getting on the boat. The box is next to the stations.
Train travel in Italy needed be stressful as long as you are prepared, informed and vigilant.
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"Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go."
~ Truman Capote
Gondolas in Venice, ItalyNAVIGATION BAR
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