If anyone can give me any advice I would be really grateful. I have searched and searched online for connections and nothing seems to be clear cut. My husband thinks that lugano is closer to the airport than Milan but I can't see it.
Thanks!

..Nicola, what is your general question? Whether Lugano is closer that Milano airport?

Oh yes, sorry.

The question is - which train station (ie, Milan or Lugano) is nearer to Malpensa airport.

Ok, you need to from Zug to Milan Central (Also known as Cadorna) Use the www.sbb.ch web site for times.

Once you are there you need the www.malpensaexpress.it It leaves direct from the Central train station every 30 mins and takes about 40 mins.

Will take you about 5 hours in total!!!!

Simples

Oh, I see....not sure which on is closer, but all the trains run through Lugano anyways directly to Malpensa Airport

http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?OK#focus

Let me know if you need further help.

sorry, this is the correct link:

http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe...43698&OK#focus

Most men will never ask for directions anyways.

You are going from Zug to the the airport in Milan by train? The train stops in Lugano.

Not sure if you can get a train to Malpensa from lugano?

..yeah, they all go to Malpensa from Lugano.

There you go, learn something new everyday

Probably Lugano is closer but you have better links from Milan.

In Lugano you get a bus from near the station (about 200m away) for 35 chf

There are 15 buses a day, basically hourly from 6 am to 6 pm and it should take 1h20

http://www.starstation.ch/pagina_orari.php

In Milan you'll need to take a metro from Stazione Centrale (FS) to Stazione Cardona (Ferrovie Nord who operate the Malpensa Express)
which runs every 30 minutes. It takes 30-35 minutes and costs €11

http://www.malpensaexpress.it/en/il_...o/servizio.php

(timetable lookup is useless, it only works in Italian)

There is no train directly to Milan Malpensa Airport from Lugano or any Swiss train station.
You need to take a train to Milan - Central station and then a coach from Milan - Central Station to Malpensa (Euros 7.50).

The alternative is a coach from Lugano to Malpensa Airport.
www.malpensaexpress.ch

There are proposals to build a railway track from Mendrisio - Ticino to Malpensa Airport which would make the journey only 35 minutes from Lugano. With Italy being involved you are looking at years if ever!

No you can't yet, they're building the line. It'll be open in a couple of years.

According to Wiki it'll be 2013

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweiz...#Region_Tessin

oh, I just checked..some of thema re buses.

I stand corrected Cadorna is not the same place as Central

Indeed, now I think you can see how I was getting so confused!

Anwyay, thanks very much guys for all your fantastic advice.

In summary the options you have are:

- bus from Lugano
- bus from Milano Centrale (main train station you would get to by train from Zurich or Zug)
- tram from Milano Centrale to train station Milano Cadorna and then train from MI Cadorna to airport Malpensa

I usually take the bus from Milano Centrale. It is very easy, they are around the corner on the left side of the train station (when you go out from the main entrance to a big open square, go on your left and turn the corner, they all stand there).
Some of the buses go to Bergamo airport, but it is clearly marked, otherwise just ask "Malpensa?" to be sure. You can by the ticket directly with the drivers there.

Why would anyone want to go to Malpensa ?

As Malpensa is further out that the other Milan airport (Linate) from the centre of Milan, it's not worth down all the way there. If I were you, I would get off the train in Lugano and get the coach directly there (there are two companies leaving from or around the station) and it only takes 1 hour if the the traffic is not too bad. That way you'd also avoid the possibility of ending up in Bergamo through getting on the wrong coach.
www.starstation.ch
www.malpensaexpress.ch

Hallo, Just a question that if I have the flight on 13.20 at Malpensa airport, an international flight to Hong Kong. Do you think I can check in at Malpensa airport on or before 11.20am? Seems difficult if I depart from Zug early morning to Milano Centrale and could only arrive 10.35am. It takes 1.5hrs(??) from Milano Centale to Cordona and then Malpensa express to the airport. Or by bus, as you suggest, not faster than train I assume. So, I need to go to Milan the nite before. Any tips for me?

Cheers,
CHIN